Chapter 32: Dinner Bet
By the time we rode back into camp, the clearing was buzzing again. Warriors were dragging in the tiger, cheering, and the smell of smoke and pine filled the air.
I climbed off my horse, brushing dirt from my sleeves, pretending I didn’t notice the way everyone’s eyes kept flicking between Hardin and me.
Evelyn stood by the long table near the fire pit, her perfect hair still flawless despite the hunt. The moment she saw Hardin, her expression tightened — just a little — before smoothing into a practiced smile.
“Well,” she said sweetly, “there you are.”
Hardin stopped a few steps away. “Here I am.”
Her tone sharpened. “We were supposed to be a team, remember? You disappeared halfway through the hunt.”
He kept his voice even. “I saw Rhianna and Tia in trouble. I went to help.”
Evelyn’s eyes widened in mock offense. “And left me alone in the forest? What if something had attacked me?”
Someone near the fire coughed to hide a laugh.
“I made sure you had three warriors with you,” Hardin said calmly.
“That’s not the point,” she snapped. “You abandoned your partner. Do you always run off for just anyone?”
Her gaze flicked toward Tia, sharp as a blade. “Or do you like her?”
Tia blinked, caught completely off-guard. “Oh, hell no! Don’t drag me into this!”
A few people actually laughed out loud.
Evelyn’s voice rose, slicing through the chatter. “Then what is it, Hardin? Because it certainly looked like you couldn’t stay away from your brother’s mate.”
And just like that, the whole clearing went silent.
Every sound — the wind, the fire crackle, the murmurs — vanished.
I froze. Even the warriors standing behind Evelyn exchanged awkward looks.
My heart pounded so loud I was sure everyone could hear it.
Hardin’s jaw tightened, but his voice stayed calm — steady enough to make everyone else look small. “That’s enough, Evelyn.”
Her chest rose and fell, fast. “Is it? Because everyone can see it. You running after her. Protecting her. Looking at her like—”
“I said enough.”
His tone was low, commanding, threaded with Alpha steel.
Evelyn flinched, but she didn’t back down completely. “Then explain yourself, Hardin. Explain why you left your partnerin the middle of the woods.”
“I already did,” he said, voice clipped. “You weren’t in danger. Rhianna and Tia were.”
“You chose them over me!” she burst out.
“Over you?” he repeated, tilting his head. “You mean over your pride. Yes, I did.”
That made the pack gasp. Even Tia muttered, “Damn.”
Evelyn’s eyes gleamed — she wasn’t going to let him walk away clean. “Then you should apologize again. Properly. Not just words. Actions.”
Hardin sighed, clearly out of patience. “I already apologized, Evelyn.”
“Not enough,” she said sweetly, stepping closer. “If you really mean it, you’ll cook me dinner. Now.”
The pack collectively froze — then murmured started, low and rippling through the clearing.
Cook for her?
Hardin blinked once, clearly not expecting that. “You want me to what?”
She smiled. “Cook for me. It’s a fair trade for leaving your partner alone in the woods, don’t you think? It’s what a gentleman would do.”
Tia whispered under her breath, “Someone’s lost her damn mind.”
I bit my lip to stop a laugh.
But Hardin didn’t argue. He just stared at Evelyn for a long, unreadable second — then gave a small nod.
“Fine.”
Evelyn blinked. “Fine?”
“I’ll cook,” he said flatly. “If that’s what it takes to end this conversation, fine.”
A murmur rolled through the crowd. Some laughed. Some whispered. A few of the older women actually looked impressed.
“See?” one elder whispered to another. “He’s humble. That’s what a true Alpha does — owns up.”
“He’d make a good mate,” another voice murmured. “Maybe this alliance wouldn’t be so bad after all.”
I felt something twist deep in my chest. Something hot and uncomfortable.
Evelyn smiled like she’d won a war. “Good. I accept your apology then.” She glanced at me, just for a heartbeat — victorious — before turning to the others. “You all heard him. Let’s see what the mighty Hardin Wolfe can do with a pan.”
The laughter returned, light and teasing, and the crowd began to disperse toward the dining tent.
Tia leaned close to me as we followed. “She’s got nerve, I’ll give her that.”
“Yeah,” I said quietly.
Hardin walked ahead, jaw clenched, his broad shoulders cutting a path through the whispering crowd. Evelyn floated beside him, triumphant.
And I trailed behind, my chest tight for reasons I didn’t want to name.
Because even though everyone was laughing — even though this whole thing was supposed to be a joke —
I couldn’t shake the thought that maybe Evelyn wasn’t the only one feeling something she shouldn’t.