Chapter 206: Enough

Chapter 206: Enough
Evelyn's POV

When Alpha Adam stood up, the hall went quiet like someone had hit mute.

He didn't say anything. Didn't make any special gesture. The pack just naturally shut up.

I stepped aside, giving him space.

This was what an Alpha was supposed to look like. No yelling needed. No threats. Just him standing there, and everyone else knew to fall in line.

He walked across the hall. With every step, the chatter around us died down a little more. By the time he reached Acacia, you could hear his footsteps on the floor.

Acacia was still boxed in by security, trying to look unfazed. When she saw Adam heading her way, that fake composure started coming apart.

Adam stopped in front of her. 

His expression was completely flat. Not angry, not disappointed, just calm. The kind of calm that came from seeing the whole picture and not liking what he saw.

"Stay put," he said. Voice wasn't loud, but clear. "Someone will come investigate."

Acacia's mouth opened, but Adam had already turned away.

"Delta Griffin."

Griffin walked out from the crowd. Posture straight, eyes sharp. He nodded at Adam, then looked at Acacia.

That's when Acacia turned to the stage.

Magnus wasn't looking at her. He was staring at something across the room, face blank.

Lucian wasn't looking either. He was talking to Orion about something, sounding completely normal.

Orion glanced at her once.

Just once. His face gave nothing away. Not anger, not pity, nothing. Like she was a stranger he'd walked past on the street.

Acacia swayed on her feet.

She took a step toward Griffin. Then the tears started.

Not the delicate kind. The ugly kind. The kind that happens when everything you've been holding together falls apart at once. Tears everywhere, mascara streaking down her face.

"Magnus—" Her voice broke. "You lied to me. You said—you promised you'd—"

Magnus turned around.

No words. Just turned his back and walked away.

One movement.

Acacia's voice died in her throat. Tears still wet on her face, body frozen. She stood there for maybe two seconds. Then her voice came back, high and desperate.

"Evelyn!"

Every head in the room swung toward me.

I didn't move.

"This is all you!" Acacia's voice kept climbing. "You ruined everything! You've always been poison to this pack! When your mother—"

"Enough."

Adam.

Two words. Flat tone, not even that loud, but the whole room went cold.

Acacia's voice cut off like someone flipped a switch. She looked at Adam, body pulling back. Then she seemed to realize she'd flinched and her face twisted.

Adam didn't look at her again. Just gave Griffin a nod.

Griffin stepped up. "Let's go."

Acacia stood there, lips moving but no sound coming out. Finally she just dropped her head and followed Griffin to the side exit.

You could hear her crying as they walked down the corridor. Griffin said something too quiet to make out. Then silence.

The tension in the hall eased up.

Some of the older pack members started leaving. Natural movements, like the party had just wrapped up on schedule. The younger ones followed, talking in low voices.

The lights stayed on.

The flower arrangements were still up, ribbons still hanging on the walls. Acacia's throne sat empty on stage, wilting flowers piled around it.

The whole thing looked ridiculous. Like someone had built an elaborate set and then the play got canceled.

I stood there looking at it all. My brain felt kind of empty.

Freya showed up next to me, hands shoved in her pockets.

"Thought she'd put up more of a fight," Freya said. "But yeah. Smoother than expected."

I shook my head. "It's not over."

Freya looked at me, eyebrow raised.

I didn't explain. Just kept staring at that empty chair and the dying flowers.

Acacia was down. But whoever was pulling her strings hadn't made a move yet.

The magic controlling everyone. The barrier keeping us trapped. The people hiding in the shadows casting all this—that was the real problem.

You're overthinking, my wolf said. Getting this many people back tonight was already pretty good.

I know.

Then don't look that far ahead, she said. One step at a time.

I took a deep breath, watching the last guests file out of the hall.

She was right. One step at a time.