Chapter 175: The Olive Branch
Sierra’s POV
Morning came too fast. I barely slept. I kept thinking about Evelyn and her perfect apology. About her tears that didn't quite reach her eyes. Adrian held me close. "We don't have to do this," he whispered. "We can send her away. No one would blame us now." But I shook my head. "If we send her away without giving her a chance, we're hypocrites. We have to at least let the pack decide."
The pack meeting was tense. Everyone gathered. Evelyn stood at the front. Her hands clasped together. Her head bowed. The perfect picture of remorse.
"I'm here to apologize," she said. Loud enough for everyone to hear. "I hurt this pack. I hurt your Luna and your Alpha. I faked a pregnancy because I couldn't accept that Adrian didn't want me." She paused. Let the words sink in. "I was jealous, desperate and I let that turn me into someone cruel."
She listed everything. Every lie, threats, manipulation, everytime she tried to make me look bad. No excuses, no justifications, just confession.
When she finished, the room was silent. No one knew what to say. Then Dr. Mara stood. "I worked with Evelyn years ago. She was skilled and careful. If she's really changed, we need help at the medical center. We're understaffed." Other pack members murmured. Some nodded. Some looked suspicious.
We voted. Hands raised. We counted carefully. The result was close. So close. But in the end, more people voted yes than no. Evelyn could stay and volunteer. She could try to prove herself but one wrong move and she was gone. Everyone understood that including her.
"Thank you," she whispered. Tears streamed down her face. "I won't waste this chance. I promise." My gift screamed but I ignored it. Maybe I was just being paranoid.
Days passed. Evelyn worked hard, showed up early and stayed late. She helped Dr. Mara with everything. Wound care, inventory, patient records. She never complained. Never asked for special treatment, just worked quietly. Some pack members started warming to her. "She seems different," they'd say. "Maybe she really has changed." But I watched her carefully looking for cracks.
And I found them. Small things, tiny things. The way her smile didn't reach her eyes when she looked at me. The way she touched Adrian's arm when she didn't need to. The way she positioned herself between us during pack events. Nothing I could prove or point to. Just a feeling. She was playing a game and we were all pieces on her board.
Two weeks later, I was checking the medical center making sure everything ran smoothly. I walked past the supply room. The door was cracked open. I heard Evelyn’s voice talking to someone.
"Yes, I'm in. They trust me now or at least they're starting to. It's working perfectly." My blood ran cold. I pushed the door open. Evelyn stood alone with the phone pressed to her ear. She saw me and her face went pale.
"I'll call you back," she said quickly and hung up. She smiled at me, that perfect and practiced smile. "Sierra. I was just ordering supplies. The vendor wanted to confirm our address."
I didn't believe her. My gift screamed lies. But I had no proof, just suspicion and fear. "Who were you talking to?" I asked. My voice was steady. Evelyn's smile never wavered. "The medical supply company like I said."
I stepped closer. "I heard you say 'they trust me now.' What did that mean?"
Evelyn laughed. "Oh, that. I was talking about the supply company. They were hesitant to deliver here after everything that happened. The attack, rebuilding. But I convinced them we're safe now. That they can trust us." Her answer was smooth. She'd prepared for this.
I wanted to grab her, shake her and demand the truth but I had nothing, just a feeling and my gift whispering danger.
"Stay away from my family," I said quietly. "Stay away from Adrian, Alexander. Do your work and nothing else."
Evelyn's eyes flashed just for a second. Cold, hard and calculating. Then the softness returned. "Of course, Sierra. I would never overstep. I'm just trying to help."
I left. My hands shook. My heart raced. Something was very wrong but I couldn't prove it. I couldn’t even explain it.
That night, I told Adrian what I'd heard. He listened. His face darkened. "We'll watch her closer and document everything. If she's planning something, we'll catch her." But I knew Evelyn. She was smart, Strategic. She wouldn't make it easy.
Days turned into weeks. Evelyn continued her perfect act. Helpful, humble and hardworking. More pack members accepted her and trusted her.
Even Dr. Mara praised her work. "She's been invaluable," Dr. Mara said. "I don't know what I'd do without her now." My warnings fell on deaf ears. I looked paranoid. Jealous like I couldn't let go of the past.
But then things started happening. Small things. My medical files went missing then reappeared. Alexander's baby monitor stopped working. Twice. Security cameras glitched during Evelyn's shifts. Nothing major or provable but too many coincidences. Too many accidents. I knew deep in my bones. Evelyn was behind it. She was building something and we were all walking right into her trap.