Evaline:
The ballroom was glimmering under crystal chandeliers, the soft golden light creating an illusion of warmth over polished smiles and poised bodies.
I stood beside River, like his silent shadow, my senses sharper than ever. He carried himself like he always did - graceful, sharp, intimidating - but tonight, I saw just how much effort it took to wear that armor. He hadn’t eaten a bite, nor touched anything unless it came from a tray Jasper had vetted earlier. But Jasper was nowhere in sight now.
I remained close, watching the way people gravitated toward him. Alphas, Betas, and their elegantly dressed Lunas constantly approached with false politeness and predatory eyes.
He offered them his usual detached courtesy - no more, no less. But it was the younger women, the daughters of power-hungry families, who caught my attention. Dozens of them were floating around the ballroom like moths, every gaze flickering toward him. They wanted him. But none dared to walk up on their own. It was always their parents initiating introductions, which River dodged with silent glances and cold nods.
Still, the tension among them was palpable. And the glares I received from across the room didn’t go unnoticed. After all, I had danced with River. And with Kieran. And Draven. I wasn’t naive enough to think people hadn’t noticed. Especially not the girls who had come here dressed to seduce the infamous Thorne Brothers.
When I finally excused myself for a bathroom break, I welcomed the moment of solitude. The bathroom was as lavish as the ballroom - marble counters, golden accents, and soft white towels stacked neatly by the sink. I closed myself in a cubicle, letting my body rest for a second.
But then, the click of heels echoed in the space, and a pair of giggling voices followed. I would have ignored them... until I heard one of them say River’s name.
I froze.
"You saw that too, right? That girl dancing with River, and with Kieran? Who the hell does she think she is?"
"She danced with Draven too. I saw them together. I don’t care how pretty she is, she clearly doesn’t know the rules here. You don’t touch all of them like that."
"God, the nerve of her. Whoever she is, she’s going to regret showing off like that."
My stomach tightened. They were talking about me, clearly. But I stayed quiet, my hand clenched tightly into my dress.
Another voice joined them, more hushed and secretive, yet laced with venom. "Forget her. I have bigger news. My mother overheard Alpha Renwyn talking to his Luna and beta - he’s planning to propose a marriage between Celeste and River. Probably in next couple of days."
My breath caught in my throat. A marriage?
The girl went on, "But I’m not giving up that easily. My parents already made plans. They even got me the elixir."
"Elixir?" another girl whispered. "What elixir?"
"Something rare. A powerful stimulant and emotional enhancer. If River drinks it, he’ll feel... euphoric, responsive. If I play my cards right, I can get him alone, and then..." She giggled. "Well, the rest will fall into place."
"That’s risky. He doesn’t drink anything not vetted by his beta."
"He has to drink. He’s the Rogue Alpha King. If he refuses a toast from another Alpha, he risks starting tensions. All we need to do is get the right Alpha to initiate it. And that’s already handled. My father knows what to do."
They all giggled again before footsteps echoed, their voices fading as they exited the bathroom.
I remained frozen for a long moment, every cell in my body burning with disbelief.
River’s going to be drugged.
The girls didn’t know who I was - thank the goddess - but that didn’t lessen the threat. My plan of staying low-key had failed spectacularly. They were after me already. But River... this was worse. Far worse.
I burst out of the cubicle, quickly washed my hands, dried them, and stepped out into the ballroom once again, my eyes sweeping the crowd frantically.
River was standing near the center now, surrounded by a circle of Alphas, all of them laughing and toasting. In his hand was a glass of golden liquid. His smile looked real. His composure, solid. But now I knew better.
I scanned the room. There were too many people. Too many unfamiliar faces. I had no way of knowing which of those women had the elixir or which Alpha had passed it to River.
I couldn’t just walk up to him and blurt out what I heard. He wasn’t alone for a single second. He was playing politics. He couldn’t afford to show vulnerability. And yet I couldn’t just watch him drink it either.
Worst of all, there was no sign of Kieran or Oscar, and Draven was surrounded by his group of friends and some other young Alpha heirs.
I made my way to River, staying close enough to intervene if needed, but helplessly unsure of what to do. Fifteen minutes passed. Twenty. I watched him take occasional sips, but never finished any drink. I thought maybe, just maybe, he was still safe.
But then, around the thirty-minute mark, something shifted.
He turned slightly, speaking to the Alpha beside him, when his hand suddenly jerked. It was so subtle that I had missed it completely if not for how closely I was observing him. The glass trembled in his grip. Then, with barely a glance toward the people around him, he stepped forward and grabbed my wrist.
His hand was cold and trembling.
"Evaline," he said in a low voice. "We need to go."
I looked into his eyes... and my heart dropped.
The sharp awareness in them had dulled. His pupils were slightly dilated, his breathing shallow. His composure was beginning to crack.
"Come with me," he murmured, almost pleading.
I nodded, panic coursing through me as I quickly adjusted his grip so I could steady him. His fingers clung to mine like I was his anchor in a storm.
He had been drugged.
No one else noticed. They were too busy laughing, drinking, dancing. And River still looked composed to everyone but me.
But I could feel it - the slight unsteadiness in his steps, the way he blinked just a second too long. He was fighting it, whatever was in that drink. But it was getting to him.
I guided him away from the crowd, weaving carefully between dancers and servers, aiming for the quieter hallway that led to the terrace.
His grip tightened on mine.
"Don’t let go," he whispered. "I can’t think straight."
"I won’t," I promised as my heart raced.
And as we disappeared behind the tall velvet curtains, I knew one thing for certain...
Whoever had dared to drug him was going to regret ever stepping into this ballroom.
And I... I was going to make sure he didn’t fall into anyone’s trap tonight.