Chapter 3
POV: Amara
The dining hall was somehow even more intimidating at night.
Warm golden lights illuminated the enormous space while long dark oak tables stretched beneath vaulted ceilings carved with ancient pack symbols. Wolves filled the room in smaller groups, conversations blending softly with the clinking of glasses and silverware.
The moment I stepped inside, my body immediately became aware of him.
Riven.
It didn’t matter that he sat at the far end of the main table.
Didn’t matter that he wasn’t even looking at me.
My entire nervous system recognized him instantly.
The strange heat beneath my skin tightened sharply.
God, this was getting ridiculous.
“Relax,” Lyra murmured beside me, clearly noticing the tension in my posture. “Nobody’s going to eat you.”
“I’m not nervous.”
She gave me a look.
Okay.
Maybe I was a little nervous.
Mostly because Riven Oak somehow managed to feel overwhelming without even trying.
He sat at the center of the table wearing another dark shirt with the sleeves rolled to his forearms, one large hand wrapped loosely around a glass while Beta Joseph spoke animatedly beside him.
Unlike Riven, Joseph practically radiated warmth.
He looked younger by several years, his lighter brown hair slightly messy while an easy grin played constantly at his mouth. Even from across the room, his energy felt approachable in a way Riven’s absolutely did not.
The contrast between them was almost absurd.
Joseph noticed us first.
“There she is,” he said immediately, standing from the table with an easy smile. “Doctor Vale.”
“Amara is fine.”
“Only if you stop calling me Beta Joseph.”
I blinked once.
Then laughed softly despite myself.
“Deal.”
“See?” Lyra muttered smugly under her breath. “One friendly Oak. We do exist.”
Joseph rolled his eyes before pulling out a chair for me near Lyra.
Unfortunately—
Directly across from Riven.
Of course.
Because apparently the Moon Goddess herself wanted me dead.
I sat carefully, hyperaware of him even while trying not to look directly at him.
Big mistake.
The second my eyes lifted, his were already on me.
The impact hit instantly.
Heat spread through my chest so fast I nearly forgot how breathing worked.
God.
How was one man this intimidating?
Riven’s expression remained unreadable as he gave me a small nod.
“Doctor Vale.”
“Alpha.”
His jaw tightened slightly at the formal title.
Interesting.
Before the strange tension between us could become even more awkward, another woman approached the table carrying a stack of files beneath one arm.
She was beautiful in a sharp, practical way, with dark blonde hair braided tightly down her back and intelligent green eyes.
A silver Oak insignia marked the shoulder of her black uniform.
“Amara,” Joseph said warmly, standing to pull her closer to his side, “this is my mate, Guinevere.”
Mate.
Something odd twisted briefly in my chest at the word.
Guinevere smiled softly while offering her hand. “Welcome to Oak territory.”
“Thank you.”
“She’s one of our head guards,” Lyra added proudly.
Joseph grinned. “And currently pretending she doesn’t belong at the Beta table.”
Guinevere sighed dramatically. “Because I spent the last seven years sleeping in barracks with soldiers while you people discuss politics over wine.”
“You threatened three council members last week,” Joseph reminded her fondly.
“One of them deserved it.”
I laughed before I could stop myself.
The atmosphere eased almost instantly after that.
Not because Riven relaxed.
He absolutely did not.
But the others did enough talking to keep me from hyperventilating every time I accidentally looked at him.
Dinner arrived soon after, and conversation shifted toward territory management, patrol rotations, and mine production.
Mostly, I listened.
Until Joseph suddenly turned toward me with visible curiosity.
“So,” he said, leaning back slightly in his chair, “is it true your stabilization research is what led to the redesign of the northern purification systems?”
I blinked.
“A version of it, yes.”
Joseph looked genuinely impressed. “That system increased silver extraction efficiency by almost forty percent.”
“It also reduced mineral waste by sixty-two,” I corrected automatically.
His eyebrows shot upward.
Lyra laughed softly beside me. “Oh, I like her.”
Heat crept into my cheeks, but for once it wasn’t because of Riven.
Talking about research grounded me.
Comforted me.
I set my fork down carefully before explaining, “Most packs overheat raw silver during purification because they focus on speed instead of molecular balance. The structure destabilizes before refinement fully completes.”
Joseph frowned thoughtfully. “So the loss happens during the heating phase?”
“Exactly.” Excitement slipped naturally into my voice now. “Traditional systems force silver into unstable separation too quickly. I developed a delayed thermal regulation method that slows the destabilization process while maintaining purity.”
Joseph stared at me.
Then slowly looked toward Riven.
“Do you understand anything she just said?”
“No,” Riven answered calmly.
My lips twitched despite myself.
“But,” he continued, those impossible blue eyes settling on me again, “I understand Oak Pack spent centuries accepting limitations Doctor Vale solved before thirty.”
Silence fell briefly around the table.
Not awkward silence.
Surprised silence.
Because it was probably the first genuinely complimentary thing he’d said to me all day.
And somehow…
Coming from him?
It hit harder than it should have.
Joseph leaned forward again immediately. “Michael’s been losing his mind all afternoon, by the way. I thought he might actually propose marriage after meeting you.”
I laughed softly. “That’s slightly concerning.”
“He gets emotional about silver.”
“As he should,” I replied solemnly.
Lyra pointed at me dramatically. “See? I knew I liked her.”
Even Guinevere smiled at that.
The conversation flowed easier after that.
I explained some of my current projects while Joseph asked question after question with genuine interest. Even Lyra seemed fascinated once I began discussing silver-based medical applications and purification techniques.
And through all of it—
I felt Riven watching me.
Not constantly.
Not obviously.
But enough.
Every single time I forgot about him for a moment and glanced up, I found those cold blue eyes already fixed on me.
Studying.
Measuring.
Listening.
And every time it happened, that unbearable heat inside my body tightened further.
By the time dinner ended, my skin felt too warm again.
“I should let you rest,” Lyra said as everyone slowly stood from the table.
Joseph stretched lazily. “Tomorrow Michael will probably chain you inside the labs for twelve hours.”
“I’d allow it willingly.”
That earned another laugh.
Even Riven’s mouth twitched faintly at the corner.
Tiny.
Brief.
Gone instantly.
But I saw it.
And for some reason, that tiny almost-smile affected me far more than it should have.
“Goodnight, Doctor Vale,” Guinevere said warmly before following Joseph toward the exit.
Lyra squeezed my shoulder lightly. “If you need anything during the night, my rooms are two floors above yours.”
“Thank you.”
Then suddenly it was just me and Riven standing near the table.
Alone.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Heavy.
Sharp.
My pulse sped up.
Riven’s gaze lowered briefly toward my throat before returning to my face.
“You handled Joseph well,” he said quietly.
I frowned slightly. “Handled?”
“He talks too much.”
A surprised laugh escaped me. “I noticed.”
Something dangerously close to amusement flickered across his expression again.
God.
Why did tiny reactions from this man feel like victories?
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Alpha.”
His jaw tightened at the title again.
“Riven,” he corrected after a pause.
My breath caught unexpectedly.
“Right,” I said softly. “Goodnight… Riven.”
The way his name sounded leaving my mouth changed something in the air between us.
I saw it happen.
Saw his shoulders go tighter.
Saw his hand flex once at his side.
Then he stepped back like instinct demanded distance.
“Goodnight, Amara.”
My name sounded rough in his voice.
Low.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
And somehow that followed me all the way back to my rooms.
Sleep should have come easily after such a long day.
Instead, I tossed beneath the blankets for almost an hour.
Too warm.
Too restless.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him.
Those blue eyes.
That deep voice saying my name.
The image of his large body standing motionless on the running trail while his scent wrapped around me like smoke.
Eventually exhaustion dragged me under anyway.
And then I dreamed.
I stood somewhere dark.
Warm hands closed around my waist from behind while cold rain filled the air around me.
Riven.
I knew it was him before he even spoke.
My body recognized him instantly.
Heat exploded low in my stomach as his chest pressed against my back, massive and solid and overwhelming.
“Amara.”
The sound of my name in his voice sent something aching through me.
I could feel his breath against my neck.
His hands tightening slightly at my waist.
And God—
I wanted him closer.
The realization shocked me so hard inside the dream that I woke abruptly, breathing heavily into the darkness of my room.
My skin burned.
My heart raced painfully fast.
And low in my body, that strange pressure pulsed again.
I sat up slowly, pressing a hand against my stomach.
Okay.
Something was definitely happening.
Maybe being around an unmated Alpha affected hormones differently.
That had to be it.
Back home, my Alpha was nearly seventy and happily mated with six grandchildren.
Riven Oak was…
My thoughts stumbled briefly.
Young.
Powerful.
Unmated.
Maybe my wolf simply reacted instinctively to strong Alpha pheromones after years around calmer pack dynamics.
Yes.
That made sense.
Probably.
Even if none of it explained why my entire body still ached from a dream about his hands on me.