Chapter 176: The Mask Cracks

Chapter 176: The Mask Cracks
Sierra's POV

I was walking through the square with Alexander in my arms. He was babbling, pointing at birds. His little hand grabbed my hair and pulled. I laughed and kissed his chubby cheek. 

Then I saw Evelyn standing by the medical center entrance. Her eyes locked on us. On Alexander. Her face changed just for three seconds, maybe less but I saw it. The mask slipped.

Her eyes went dark. Her mouth twisted into something ugly. Pure rage flashed across her features. Jealousy so raw it made my stomach turn. 

She looked at my son like he was a disease like he'd stolen something that belonged to her. My arms tightened around Alexander. My heart pounded. Then just like that, the mask came back. Evelyn's face softened. She smiled, waved at us and called out cheerfully. "Good morning, Luna. What a beautiful day."

I didn't wave back. I couldn't even move. My feet felt frozen to the ground. That look, hatred. It was real. 

Alexander squirmed in my arms. I turned away from Evelyn and walked straight home. My hands shook the whole way. I kept seeing her face. That twisted, hateful expression. She hadn't changed, not even a little. Everything was an act.

Adrian was in his office when I burst through the door. He looked up, saw my face and stood immediately. 

"What happened?" I told him everything. Described the look, the rage, the jealousy. How it disappeared so fast I almost thought I'd imagined it but I hadn't. My gift confirmed it. Adrian's jaw clenched. His eyes went hard. "That's it. She's gone. Today. Right now. I'll exile her myself."

I wanted to agree because I wanted her gone more than anything but I grabbed his arm. "We can't. We have no proof. Just what I saw." 

Adrian shook his head. "I don't care. Your instincts are enough for me. She's dangerous." But I thought about the pack, the vote and how many people believed Evelyn had changed. "If we exile her for a facial expression, we look paranoid. They'll say I'm jealous and I can't let go."

Adrian pulled me close. "I don't care what they think. I care about keeping you and Alexander safe." His voice cracked. "I won't let her hurt you." 

I leaned into him, breathed in his scent and let it calm me. "We watch her. Document everything. Build a real case. Then when we exile her, no one can argue." 

Adrian didn't like it. I could feel the tension in his body. But he nodded. "Fine but the second she steps out of line, she's done."

Three days later, I was making lunch. Alexander played on the floor with wooden blocks. Stacking them. Knocking them down. Laughing every time they fell. Someone knocked on the door. I looked through the window. Evelyn stood on the porch. She held a basket of muffins and smiled that perfect smile. I opened the door but didn't invite her in. "What do you want?"

Evelyn's smile never wavered. "I made these for the pack house. Thought I'd drop some off for you and Alexander." She looked past me and saw Alexander on the floor. Her eyes lingered too long. 

"He's getting so big. So beautiful." Her voice was too sweet like honey hiding poison. I blocked her view. 

"Thank you for the muffins. I'll take them." I reached for the basket. She pulled it back slightly. "Actually, I wanted to ask you something."

My muscles tensed. "What?" Evelyn's eyes went soft. "I know you don't trust me yet. I understand that. But I was hoping maybe I could help with Alexander. Babysitting. Just for an hour or two when you're busy. It would give you a break and it would let me prove myself." 

My blood went cold. Every instinct screamed no. "Absolutely not." The words came out harder than I meant them to.

Evelyn flinched. Her eyes filled with tears. "Sierra, please. I know I made mistakes but I would never hurt a child. Never. I just want to help." 

I stepped forward and lowered my voice. "You will never be alone with my son. Ever. Do you understand?" Evelyn's face crumpled. A tear slid down her cheek. "I understand. I'm sorry for asking. I didn't mean to upset you."

She set the basket down on the porch. Turned to leave but her shoulders shook like she was crying. Two pack members walked by and saw the whole thing. Saw Evelyn crying. Saw me standing in the doorway looking cold. 

They whispered to each other. Looked at me with disappointment. 

Great. Perfect. Now I was the villain. I grabbed the basket, slammed the door. Threw the muffins in the trash. I didn't trust anything she touched.

That night, whispers started spreading through the pack. "Luna won't even let Evelyn near the baby." "She's being too harsh." "Everyone deserves a second chance." "Maybe Sierra's jealous that Evelyn used to be with Adrian." The words reached me through pack members who thought I should know. Each comment felt like a knife. They didn't understand. 

Dr. Mara visited the next day. She looked uncomfortable. "Sierra, can we talk?" I invited her in, made tea. She sat at the kitchen table. Cleared her throat. "The pack is concerned about how you're treating Evelyn. She's been working so hard. Trying so hard to make amends and you won't even give her a chance." 

I set my teacup down carefully. "Did she send you here?"

Dr. Mara looked shocked. "No. Of course not. I came because I care about pack unity and fairness." 

I leaned forward. "Evelyn faked a pregnancy. Lied for months. Tried to manipulate Adrian into marrying her. She threatened me countless times. Made my life hell and now she's back with perfect apologies and perfect tears. But I don't believe her. I can't." 

Dr. Mara sighed. "I understand your history with her but people can change. I've seen it happen."

"Just trust me," I said quietly. "Please. Something is wrong. I feel it." Dr. Mara reached across the table and squeezed my hand. "I do trust you, Sierra but I also believe in redemption. In second chances. Maybe try to be a little more open. That's all I'm asking."

That evening, Adrian came home. His face was tight and angry. "What happened?" I asked. He threw his jacket on the chair. "Council meeting was a disaster. Half of them think you're being unfair to Evelyn. They want me to talk to you. To convince you to be more forgiving." 

My chest tightened. "You're kidding." He shook his head. "I told them no. Told them to mind their own business but Sierra, the pressure is building. If we don't do something soon, this could divide the pack."

I paced the room. "So what do we do? Pretend everything's fine? Let Evelyn near our son just to keep everyone happy?" 

Adrian grabbed my shoulders. Looked into my eyes. "Never. But we need solid proof. Something undeniable. Otherwise, we're fighting shadows." He was right. I knew he was right but how do you prove someone's intentions? How do you show people what you feel in your bones?