Chapter 220: I Can, But I Don't Want To

Chapter 220: I Can, But I Don't Want To
Evelyn's POV

The hospital room afternoon ended late.

Nobody wanted to leave. Just that kind of atmosphere—everyone sitting there, talking, then not talking, just staying.

Sophia finally broke it.

"We've got cleanup tomorrow." She stood and looked around the room.

That got people moving, but slow. Real slow, like they were dragging their feet on purpose.

Mark made it to the door and turned around. "You sure you don't need someone on night watch?"

Sophia pushed him from behind. "Out."

"I'm being serious—"

"So am I. Move."

Watching from the bed, I couldn't help smiling a little.

---

Woke up the next morning with light coming through the curtains. Didn't get up right away. Just laid there feeling something I hadn't felt in forever—like I could actually breathe without something sitting on my chest.

Didn't last long though. Still had one thing left to deal with.

Acacia's trial.

Elliot gave me the details through the mind link—third day post-battle, main hall, anyone could show up.

Alpha Adam says we're not dragging this out, Elliot's voice cut through. Bad for everyone. Get it done, move on.

Didn't answer him. Just thought about whether I actually wanted to be there.

You're going, my wolf said.

Yeah. I know.

Morning of the trial, I left the hospital and headed for the main hall. Got about halfway when Lucian appeared out of nowhere and blocked my path. Shoved something in my hand before I could ask.

Looked down. Candy wrapper.

"What's this for?"

"Case you get nervous. Sugar's supposed to help or whatever."

"I'm not nervous."

"Then eat it anyway." He shrugged. "Not gonna kill you."

Wrapped my fingers around it and kept walking. Lucian fell in step beside me, dropped his hand on my shoulder like it was the most normal thing in the world. My face heated up but I pretended it didn't.

Magnus was already at the entrance when we got there. Stepped aside when he saw me but didn't go far. Just stayed within arm's reach without saying anything about it.

Right before we went in, Orion leaned over. "You know you don't gotta talk today, right? You're just here to watch."

"Yeah, I know."

"Good. Then chill. I'm here."

Unwrapped the candy and stuck it in my mouth. Strawberry. Glanced at Lucian.

"Any good?"

"It's fine."

"Fine means you like it."

Cyrus walked up from somewhere, face blank as usual. "They brought Acacia's father back last night."

Stopped walking. "Where was he?"

"Border. Griffin's team got him." Brief pause. "Word is he cried when they caught him."

Didn't know what to say to that. Some people just collapse the second they lose everything.

Cyrus walked off without adding anything else, but I knew the story was already making rounds.

Main hall was packed when we got inside. Found seats off to the side with my team—nothing special, just regular observation spots. I'd made it clear I didn't want any kind of VIP treatment.

Mark muttered, "Would've been cool to sit up front though."

Sophia didn't even look at him. "Quiet."

"Yeah, okay."

And he actually shut up.

Alpha Adam stood at the front with Griffin and the triplets flanking him.

Hall went dead silent. The whole process was straightforward—Alpha Adam read the charges one by one, each backed up with proof. Cyrus had pulled together all the surveillance footage beforehand, like thirty pages of documentation. Nadia helped sort and translate everything.

Alpha Adam flipped through it. "Thorough work."

"Just doing what needed doing," Cyrus said.

Acacia sat where they'd put her, looking worse than I expected. No makeup. Hair everywhere. All that careful image she used to maintain had completely crumbled, leaving behind just... the real version. Whatever that was. Her father sat across from her with his head down, didn't say a word the whole time.

When the charges were done, Alpha Adam asked if she had anything to say.

Acacia looked up. I thought maybe she'd try to defend herself or something, but she just looked at Alpha Adam, then the triplets, then me. Held my gaze for maybe two seconds. Then looked down again without speaking.

That silence was harder to watch than anything she could've said. Too real. Like seeing something completely hollow up close.

She's got nothing, Mark said through the link.

Didn't respond. Just watched.

Judgment came down simple: exile, stripped of all pack status, permanent, starting now. Acacia's father got the same for helping set up the control magic and lying to the Alpha.

Quiet settled over the hall for a second before people started murmuring to each other.

Griffin brought his people forward and led both of them toward the exit. Acacia stopped at the doorway. Didn't look back or anything. Just stopped for half a second. Then kept going until she disappeared. Her father followed with his head still down, walked out, didn't come back.

The doors closed.

Few seconds of total silence.

"It's over," Elliot said.

Alpha Adam sat back down and looked at the triplets. "Get me a list of the training equipment that got wrecked. I'll have someone order replacements."

"Got it," Magnus said.

Lucian frowned. "You're thinking about that now?"

"Been thinking about it. Just hadn't said anything yet." Alpha Adam headed for the side exit.

Lucian turned to me. "He's always like that. Never fully on just one thing."

"That's 'cause he tracks everything at once," Magnus said.

"Yeah. Pretty impressive." Lucian paused, then just grabbed my wrist. "Come on."

"Hold on—"

"Let's go."

"I said hold on."

"For what?"

"I didn't even—"

"You can tell me while we walk."

"Could you maybe let go first?"

"I could." Beat. "But I don't want to."

Orion spoke up from beside us. "Lucian."

"What?"

"You can hold her hand. Don't grab her wrist like that."

Lucian blinked, then slid his grip down and laced our fingers together. "Fair point. Now let's go."

Face went red instantly. Didn't say anything else. Just followed him out.