Chapter 30 – Evelyn’s Request
Dinner was supposed to be over by now, but no one had moved from the long table. The candles had burned lower, the scent of roasted venison still lingered in the hall, and yet Evelyn — the alpha’s daughter who had arrived this morning — looked as if she’d just begun her night.
I kept my eyes on my cup of water, tracing the rim with my finger. Do not look at Hardin. That was my mantra for the night.
But of course, the more I told myself not to look, the more my eyes betrayed me.
He sat across the table, broad shoulders relaxed, sleeves rolled up. He was listening to Evelyn, or at least pretending to, as she chattered about the mountain ranges in her father’s territory.
“She’s practically glowing,” Tia whispered beside me, leaning so close her hair brushed my arm.
“I hadn’t noticed,” I lied.
Tia gave me a knowing look. “Sure you didn’t.”
I ignored her, keeping my expression neutral. I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of admitting that I’d been watching Evelyn’s every move since she stepped through the doors of the pack house.
Evelyn rested her chin on her hand, gazing at Hardin as if he were the moon itself. “You know,” she said sweetly, “I was telling my father earlier that this territory is more beautiful than I imagined. The forests, the rivers… everything feels alive.”
“Glad to hear that,” Hardin replied, his tone polite but distant.
She tilted her head, eyes shining. “I would love to stay longer. One night is simply not enough to appreciate it all.”
Sebastian, sitting at the head of the table, stiffened. “Your father mentioned you’d be leaving tomorrow after the signing of the contract.”
Evelyn smiled, showing perfect white teeth. “I told Father I’d like to spend a few days here. He didn’t object. After all, it’s important to understand one’s allies.”
Allies. Sure. I took a sip of water so I wouldn’t snort.
Tia kicked me lightly under the table. “Stop glaring at her,” she whispered.
“I’m not glaring,” I muttered.
“Yes, you are. You’ve been stabbing her with your eyes for ten minutes.”
I inhaled slowly. “I’m just… observing.”
“Right,” she said, clearly unconvinced.
Sebastian cleared his throat. “We’ll have to make arrangements if you’re staying longer.”
Evelyn’s gaze slid back to Hardin. “I was hoping I could stay closer to the training grounds. Maybe in the east wing where Captain Hardin stays.”
The room went quiet for a heartbeat. Even the warriors at the far end of the table paused in their eating.
I nearly choked on my water. Did she just…?
Hardin raised an eyebrow. “The east wing isn’t exactly set up for guests.”
“Oh, I don’t mind,” she said quickly. “As long as I’m near the training grounds. I’d love to watch the warriors train. I hear you’re the best.”
Tia pressed her lips together to hold back a laugh, and I kicked her under the table this time.
“I’m flattered,” Hardin said, his tone unreadable. “But the guest quarters in the west wing are more comfortable.”
“I like the east wing,” Evelyn insisted with a light laugh. “Besides, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind a neighbor for a few days.”
The warriors exchanged glances. I caught one of the elders at the far end giving another elder a raised brow.
Neighbor? Really?
I stared at my plate, trying to keep my face blank. Inside, my wolf shifted restlessly.
Sebastian’s voice cut through the tension. “If you’re staying, you’ll follow our house rules and respect everyone’s space. We’ll arrange a suitable room for you.”
Evelyn nodded sweetly, but her eyes were still on Hardin. “Of course, Alpha. Thank you.”
Tia leaned toward me again. “She’s relentless. I love it.”
“Stop enjoying this,” I hissed.
“I can’t help it. Watching you pretend not to be jealous is like watching a cat deny it saw a cucumber.”
“I am not jealous.”
“Uh-huh,” Tia said, drawing out the syllables until I regretted ever speaking.
When the meeting was dismissed, everyone stood, chairs scraping softly against the polished floor.
As we left the hall, Tia whispered in my ear, “You’re going to dream about them standing too close, aren’t you?”
“Shut up.”
Later that evening, I sat at the edge of my bed staring at the moonlight pouring in through the window. The pack house was quiet except for distant footsteps of the guards changing shifts.
I thought of Evelyn’s sparkling laugh, the way she leaned just a little too close when speaking to Hardin, the way the elders were whispering after she left.
It doesn’t matter, I told myself. She’s just here for the alliance… and maybe to annoy me.
Tia, sprawled on the bed with her phone, broke the silence. “You’re brooding.”
“I’m not.”
“Yes, you are. Your ‘I’m-not-brooding’ voice is exactly your brooding voice.”
I sighed and flopped backward. “Fine. I’m brooding. Happy?”
“Ecstatic,” she replied with a grin. “Want to talk about it?”
“No.”
“Want me to talk about it for you?”
I groaned and threw a pillow at her. She caught it easily and hugged it.
“She’s just visiting,” Tia said more gently. “Don’t let her get to you.”
“I’m not letting her get to me,” I said too quickly.
Tia chuckled. “Whatever you say.”
A soft knock at the door startled us.
“Come in,” I called.
Hardin’s deep voice answered from the other side, “It’s just me.”
Tia gave me a smirk and mouthed, Good luck. She practically skipped out of the room, muttering something about needing a snack.
Hardin stepped in, dressed down in a dark shirt and loose pants. His hair was damp from a shower, and a faint scent of pine clung to him.
For a moment, we simply looked at each other
"so” he said finally, “there’s a small hunt planned for tomorrow morning. Evelyn asked to join. We’ll be leaving at dawn.”
Of course she did. I forced a polite smile. “That’s nice.”
He studied me for a second, then said, “You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.”
“I wasn’t planning to,” I said, perhaps too quickly.
His lips curved slightly, as if he found my tone amusing. “Good night then.”
“Good night,” I replied, watching him leave.
When the door closed, Tia poked her head back in. “So? What’d he say?”
“That there’s a hunt tomorrow,” I replied, lying back down.
“Evelyn’s going, huh?”
“Apparently.”
Tia grinned. “You’re going to stew over it all night.”
“I am not.”
“Sure you aren’t. Sweet dreams.”
She closed the door, still smiling to herself.
I lay awake for a long time, staring at the ceiling, listening to the faint night sounds of the pack house.
I tried not to picture Evelyn riding alongside Hardin through the woods at dawn, laughing at his jokes, winning over the warriors.
Eventually, exhaustion pulled me under, but my last thought before sleep was a quiet, stubborn vow:
I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care.
Even though, deep down, I did.