Chapter 205: I've Always Been Pretty Capable

Chapter 205: I've Always Been Pretty Capable
Evelyn's POV

Up on the observation balcony, Acacia's father pulled out his phone. His fingers jabbed at the screen a few times before he lifted it to his ear. Waited two seconds. Frowned. Jabbed again.

Sophia was suddenly standing next to him, leaning against the railing. Her voice came out casual, almost lazy. "Ugh, the signal up here sucks. Might need to head downstairs if you wanna make a call."

Signal jammer's running, Cyrus said through the earpiece.

Beautiful, Mark replied, barely keeping the laugh out of his voice.

I took a breath and pushed through the crowd toward the head table.

Magnus and Lucian were still on stage with security around them. Acacia stood off to the side, boxed in but trying to look unbothered. Her father kept trying his phone on the balcony, face getting darker every failed attempt.

Looked stable enough. Wasn't.

The real issue sat at the head table.

Alpha Adam was there, back straight, face calm. Anyone walking past would see a guy who looked a little worn out from hosting. That's it.

I knew better. The "looking fine" part was what scared me.

His eyes gave it away. Not the obvious blank stare Magnus and Lucian had. This was buried deeper—like looking at still water with nothing living underneath. If I hadn't spent weeks watching for this exact thing, I might've bought it too.

Orion had already claimed the seat on Adam's right. He was talking, keeping his tone light and natural. "Security setup tonight's pretty solid. How'd you work all that out?"

Adam turned his head. Slow, but smooth enough to pass.

I sat down on Adam's left.

He didn't react. Well, he did—some automated response that registered movement. But there was nobody home behind it.

I pulled the last charm out of my bag and set it in my lap. This one looked different. Darker purple, almost black, with gold threading the edges. Juniper had warned me this version was for the deep cases. The ones that had been under longest.

Cost more too. Time and energy both.

I closed my fingers around the charm and let my other hand rest on the table. Reached out with my aura, just enough to feel what I was working with.

Heavy. Way heavier than the triplets.

The control wrapped him up tight, layer after layer, every thread dug in and holding.

I shut my eyes and started the spell. Had to go slow with this. Real slow. Each word sliding in careful, like melting ice with warm water instead of smashing it apart.

Rush this and it breaks. Probably him with it.

Third line in, Adam's fingers twitched.

Barely moved. But I caught it, and so did Orion. He shifted forward in his seat, just enough to block anyone looking over from the hall.

I kept going.

The words kept coming, one after another, and the charm started heating up in my hand. Maybe two minutes later, Adam tried to stand. Looked natural too—like he'd just remembered something across the room.

Except it wasn't natural. It was wrong in a way I couldn't name. Like watching a puppet try to move like a person.

Orion's hand came up, casual, redirecting Adam's attention. "Oh hey, check it out. Griffin's talking to someone over there. That one of the new guys?"

Adam's head turned. He looked where Orion pointed and sank back into his chair.

I breathed out and kept the spell moving.

Three more minutes and Adam tried it again. This time Orion just put his hand on Adam's arm. Light touch, but firm.

"Actually, I meant to ask," Orion said, still sounding relaxed, "you were gonna change up the patrol routes, right? What'd you end up doing with that?"

Adam blinked. Started answering. Voice came out stiff, but he was talking.

I watched Orion work and almost lost my place in the spell. This guy made it look easy. Every move perfectly timed, nothing overdone. If this were me, I'd probably be sweating through my dress by now.

Eyes on the prize, my wolf cut in. Lose focus and we're back to square one.

I know, I know.

I pulled myself together and finished the incantation.

Last few words and the charm was burning. I held on, forced the final syllable through.

Crack.

The thing dissolved into ash right there in my palm. Fine gray powder spilled onto the table.

Adam sucked in air like he'd been drowning. Long, shaky breath. His eyes opened slow. He looked left—saw Orion. Looked right—saw me.

Confusion first. Like waking up somewhere you don't recognize and trying to remember how you got there.

Then it cleared. Confusion turned into understanding, understanding turned into something sharper. Recognition maybe. Or regret. Hard to tell which.

He stared at his hand, then at the ash on the table. Didn't say anything for a while.

"Feels like I've been asleep forever."

His voice came out rough but real. No more of that flat mechanical tone. This was him.

Orion leaned back. "Yeah, basically."

Adam lifted his head and took in the room. Magnus and Lucian on stage. Acacia hemmed in by security. People talking in clusters but nothing out of control.

His eyes came back to me. Something complicated moved behind them. Not guilt exactly. Not gratitude either. More like he was seeing me different than before.

"You've gotten stronger."

I paused. Smiled. "I've always been pretty capable."

Adam went still for a second. Then he smiled too—small, barely there, but genuine. Not the polished Alpha smile he wore in public. The real thing.

"Yes," he said. "Isabella and I never doubted that."

Griffin's voice carried across the hall right then. He was giving orders to the guards, that steady command voice back in place.

I glanced over. He stood there, shoulders square, eyes clear and focused.

Command chain just snapped, my wolf said. Adam wakes up, everyone else shakes loose.

Yep.

I stood up to leave.

"Hold on."

Adam's voice stopped me. I turned back. He'd gotten to his feet too, something urgent in his expression. "Where's Isabella?"

"Pack house," I said. "She's been somewhere safe this whole time. We've got people with her."

Adam nodded, pulled in a breath, then looked at me dead-on. "Thank you."

I didn't know what to say. Just nodded.