As soon as they returned, River rushed to his father's room to search for the ring while Rain stayed downstairs, tending to the baby.
River grew more and more frustrated when the ring was nowhere to be found. In a fit of anger, he threw everything to the ground.
"Where's the goddamn ring?!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the room. Deciding to ask Rain if he knew anything, River stormed downstairs.
Before he could speak, a guard entered and bowed.
"Alpha, the same beta from yesterday is asking to see you..."
"I don't have time to entertain guests! Send him away!" River snapped.
"But Alpha... he has a Minor family ring," the guard interrupted.
River froze.
"Pa's ring?" Rain whispered, glancing at River, who looked just as stunned.
The guard nodded. "He said that Mr. Adkin gave it to him."
"What nonsense! Why would Pa give a stranger our family ring?!" River growled. The guard lowered his head, and River scowled.
"Bring him in."
Moments later, the guard returned with a beta who offered an awkward smile at the two brothers.
The alphas glared back in silence. The beta was moderately built—not overly masculine, not feminine either.
His soft features made him appear more like an omega, if not for his lack of pheromones.
As soon as the guard left, River seized the beta by the throat.
"Who the hell are you?! And why do you have the Minor family ring?!"
The beta coughed, struggling to breathe as he tried to push River away.
Rain's eyes widened in horror as he rushed forward, still holding the baby.
"River! Stop! Calm down!" he pleaded, but River didn't listen.
The baby suddenly began to cry, sensing the heavy alpha pheromones in the air.
Finally, River released the beta and turned his attention to soothing his brother instead. The beta stumbled back, rubbing his throat and coughing.
Infants were always sensitive to pheromones—family or not. The baby's cries grew louder as River cradled him gently, whispering soft words.
"I wasn't prepared for such… hospitality," the beta rasped.
River's glare was cold and sharp.
"Who the fuck are you?" he demanded again, his voice lower now so as not to upset the child.
"Finally, Alpha decides to ask my name," the beta said with a faint, amused smile.
"My name is View. View Saeng. As for the Minor family ring... Mr. Adkin gave it to me before he left on his mission."
River and Rain exchanged a look of pure confusion. Their father? Giving the family ring to a stranger?
Seeing their disbelief, View continued smoothly,
"Mr. Adkin knew that mission was a trap. He entrusted the ring to me—to keep it safe until his return. And if something happened to him..."
He reached into his pocket and revealed the ring. It gleamed in the light, unmistakable.
Both alphas recognized it instantly. River moved to snatch it, but View pulled his hand back.
"Give it back! That ring belongs to the Minor family!" River barked.
"I know," View replied softly, smiling with infuriating calm. "I know exactly who it belongs to."
"Then why aren't you returning it?" Rain demanded, irritation clear in his voice.
View glanced at him, as though amused, and reached out as if to pat his head. River swatted his hand away.
The beta didn't flinch. Instead, his gaze softened strangely when it landed on River... and then shifted briefly to the baby in his arms.
"Give us the ring and leave," River ordered coldly.
"If I leave," View said, his tone sharpening, "the ring leaves with me, Alpha."
River's eyes narrowed. "What the hell do you mean?"
View let out a sigh, shaking his head slowly. Then his lips curved into something between a smirk and a challenge.
"Alpha... I'll return the ring to you. But only if you take me as your mate."
The room fell silent. Both brothers stood frozen, stunned into disbelief.