Chapter 94 CHAPTER 94
Michael’s POV
Jasper was the first person I saw when I opened my eyes.
“Hey,” he said. “That was a close one, wasn’t it?”
My head hurt as I tried to turn. “So I'm not dead? Pretty much felt like it.”
I looked around for Evelyn. “Where is she?”
“She is around. I think she went to use the bathroom.”
I could tell something was off from his tone. “What is the matter?”
“I’m worried about you, Alpha Michael,” he said. “What are you going to do about her?”
“What do you mean?” I asked him. “Did something happen to her?”
“No,” he said. “I’m talking about you. Her kind. This is going to ruin a lot of things, especially once the truth comes out. You know their kinds aren't really accepted.”
I clenched my jaw. That was not the business of anyone but me. My only concern was my father.
“I know,” I responded. “We’ll keep it hushed until the elections are over.”
“This isn’t just about the elections, Alpha Michael,” he pressed, then lowereed his voice. “She is a nine tailed fox. You remember, don’t you?”
I wasn’t sure I got what he was trying to say fully.
The handle of the door turned and the door was pushed open. Evelyn stepped in, smiling.
“You are back,” she said.
I smiled and tried to pull myself up to a sitting position. I felt a sharp pain.
“No, no,” she said. “Lie down, please. You can’t be sitting up now.”
Jasper stepped aside. “I’ll check with the doctor on discharging date,” he said and slipped out of the room.
There was a sadness in her mood. “Why are you sad, Evelyn? I’m right here.”
She sniffed. “Yes, I know. I know. And I'm so happy you are here.”
She sat on the bed and hugged me gently. I held her, wanting to feel the softness and warmth of her skin against me forever.
“I was scared, Evelyn. I thought I would never see you again,” I said, baring my emotions. “Today feels like the first day of my life. I don’t want you to leave my side again.”
She sobbed gently and tightened her grip on me. “Me too,” she said.
“Don’t cry.” I pulled her from my chest and wiped her tears. “You won’t ever cry again. I will make sure I make each and everyone involved in this pay.”
She laughed sadly. “Don’t make too much promises, Alpha Michael."
“I mean it,’ I said. “More than ever.”
I reached for the ring I had traveled with on the bedside cupboard. “This ring is a promise, Evelyn," I said, popping the box open.
She stared at the ring and smiled. “It’s beautiful.”
“For you.” I reached for her hand and slipped the ring on her finger. “You must promise me that you won’t lose this one. I saw the previous one with your fake letter.”
She looked at the ring for a long time. “How did you know I didn't actually run away?”
I held he hand and kissed the ring, then kissed her hand. “Because I know you, Evelyn Moon.”
“You said those same words to me when you first met me, only you meant it in a negative way,” she said, teasing me.
“I was completely wrong about you, Evelyn. Totally. I’ve never been more brutally wrong than that.”
She wringed her fingers nervously.
“Is there something you want to tell me, Evelyn? You look nervous. Or upset. I’m not sure.”
She leaned against my chest. “I’m just tired.”
I rubbed her back affectionately. “I want you sleeping in my arms like this from now till the end of our lives. Promise me that, Evelyn.”
Her voice cracked as she spoke. “I promise.”
We both slept off shortly after that.
—
She was still sleeping when I woke up, but not on my chest. She was in the first room, lying on the couch. I thought of what Jasper had said. He was right. Now that the identity of Evelyn was known by Rosaleen, bringing her back would make her tell the truth to the whole world.
I wasn’t scared of the truth. I was concerned about what it would do to my father’s lifelong dream. He’d never forgive me. So, I had to find a way to keep her from Rosaleen until everything was over.
Jasper’s other concern wasn’t really relevant to me. I didn’t consider Evelyn to be as bad as some of her kinds. I closed my eyes, trying to force away the harrowing experience I had with a nine tailed fox when I was younger.
The memory filled my mind.
I was only eight and I knew that my mother was expecting another baby because I could see the obvious swelling of her tummy. She told me it wasn’t a baby and we’d argue for minutes until she sent me away. But what I didn't know was that she was trying to hide the bump because the baby was not for Alpha Raymond. She’d had an affair when Alpha Raymond left for a long time and she got pregnant.
The image resurfaced in my mind despite how I tried to fight it. That evening I was returning from school, excited to show her my teacher’s remark on my school work. I didn’t think anything was weird when I didn't meet the aroma of food on entering the house. Not until I pushed the door of the kitchen and saw her lying in a pool of her own blood. She had bled to death.
They said I screamed so much and went mute for months. The trauma had been so much that it shattered my connection to my wolf. Then I found out the most brutal part of the whole story. A nine tailed fox had attacked her to harvest the unborn baby for black magic.
I thought of Evelyn. I was sure it was not going to cause any problems with me but my family would never want her.