'Got to leave for work. Get down after freshing up.' — It was what the letter said.
Evelyn had woken up with teary eyes, muffled sobs and a throbbing ache between her thighs. Michael had kept his promise to ravish her body and surely everyone would be able to smell him on her but she wasn't ashamed. Last night was something she'd always feel . . . connected to, both physically and emotionally.
After many tiring rounds Michael had let her rest and she fell in an immediate slumber, cuddled in his arms. But the disappointment she bore this morning crushed her heart brutally. The sky was clear and the sun shone brighter than every morning, however she couldn't feel the same tingling sensation from last night, the warmness of his touch or the shivering presence of his brawny strength that kept her safe all night.
Suddenly she felt hopeless until her eyes hovered over a piece of paper on the table beside his bed. Although it didn't help alleviate her hopelessness, she was ensured that he was somehow compelled by the situation to leave. She was glad last night wasn't just a fling―that'd be a disaster.
She obeyed to the letter and got herself soaked in a bubble bath. The ache hadn't left her and she almost had to drag her limping legs to the bathroom. She cleaned herself nicely but the mirror demonstrated every little mark on her body hinting towards her unforgivable sin. Last night was forbidden, it was a forbidden love making and the father of all sins she could think of.
But instead of sensing fear running in her blood, she smiled. She smiled coyly at her image that depicted her tainted beauty. His harsh kisses and hickeys ran a long way down her throat and clavicle. But they didn't stain her, nonetheless they added to her beauty. She was no longer naive, she wasn't a novice but a woman.
After running herself a bath and dressing elegantly for her newfound life, she exited the door and walked down the stairs.
She was in high spirits just like the greatly illuminated hallway unlike last night. The stairs weren't veiled in darkness nor any corners were hidden against their will. She traced down the staircase's end until her feet tapped at the floor of the hall.
It was silent. There were wolves everywhere but one could tell from the off-putting mood in the room and the strangling silence that something was roaming in the shadows. As much as Evelyn wanted to avoid this interaction with the pack, she had no choice.
Almost everyone seemed to be there except for the alpha, his beta and gamma. All the pack members turned their terrified and bothered gazes to her, like a thief finding someone to put the blame on. Before she could stir her thoughts to make out something, a she-wolf stood beside her.
She was likely a teenager and one of the wolves who'd warmed up to Evelyn so far. Susan was her name perhaps.
"Where's your alpha?" Evelyn questioned, glancing at the little she-wolf. In her eyes, Susan did look like a little girl finding her place in the world.
"He's in his study." She answered shortly, disputing with herself whether to go on or not. There was a piece of information she wasn't willing to hand over and Evelyn decided to wave it off. It'd been a whole night and she wanted to see her mate and cuddle in his arms.
She walked away to where she'd remembered the study to be. All the way she was quite confident and determined to see him though when she was standing just a door apart, a bad feeling arose in her stomach, making her question her actions twice.
She was caught in the dilemma to head back to her room and to be a luna and enter his study with her pride and glory. She disputed again and again with her hand on the doorknob, about to twist and turn.
'He's angry . . . he needs us.' Selene commented feeling the rise of heat in their body as if she wanted to come out on the surface but the heat didn't belong to her, it was Xavier's.
It was all it took for Evelyn to take the next step, the mention of him and she burst into the study, not paying heed to the foreign and some familiar scents when her eyes locked with his. Michael was surprised but not too shocked, he must've smelt her moments ago but he couldn't have imagined her to walk in with such pride as if she practically owned the place.
His sight was comforting and he should've felt the same as the heat quickly died down, replaced by another want and crave. Evelyn caught him discreetly licking his lips at the sight of her, and to which she reacted with a wide blush across her cheeks. Maybe she should've just chosen an ordinary outfit instead of a top that put her cleavage and stomach on show, a jacket that glorified her top with blue jeans.
Lost in his gaze, she forgot the seconds or minutes that passed by, she was too taken by his beauty and smile. Not until now she had known that she was likely head over heels for him.
Their little who-can-stare-longer game was interrupted by several coughs and fake clearing of throats. Evelyn wanted to roll her eyes but couldn't be that rude so kept shut instead.
She walked over to her mate, attitude and pride well written features on her face as she rightfully claimed her place beside him. Should she be scared? She didn't know. Although she'd known for a fact Michael would never deprive her of her right.
She gave a warm smile to Michael before turning to face the guests in front of her and all at once, her courage and bravery burnt into soot, leaving her face to pale upon seeing those ever so familiar faces. She could never forget them—how could she when growing up she'd seen him almost everyday of her life?
She could never forget his face or his alpha demeanor. She instantly regretted walking into the room and silently hoped 'he' wouldn't recognize her.
"Evelyn Osborne." He called, both in bemusement and shock.
'Yep he remembers us!' Selene panicked as Evelyn began to fumble with her fingers. She didn't expect him to show up here! What in the world was he doing in his enemy's pack?
"Alpha Asher." She called back, remembering the name her father had always praised wholeheartedly. William honestly loved Asher like one of his brothers if not more―they even shared the same creepy smirk and pale brown eyes.
And now she was alarmed. If not already, today after this encounter, William would know everything about her daughter. How she went behind her own pack and mated—Goddess help her! Evelyn tensed as she remembered her scent wasn't hers, she must be smelling like him.
"What brought you here Asher?" Michael grumbled beside her, breaking the awkward silence and drawing Asher's attention from Evelyn's face to his.
He cleared his throat and straightened his back before muttering, "I've come as a mediator with a request from my friend, alpha William."
"I'm not handing her over." Michael made his demand crystal clear through gritted teeth, leaving no room for argument.
"Hear me out first. I've come with a deal." Asher pleaded, sounding desperate in his presence. He didn't look scared but uneasy to spend another moment in this study; he looked like he wanted to make a run for the door more desperately than Evelyn.
Michael gestured with his finger for him to go on as his eyes faintly searched Evelyn's face from its corners. He wasn't letting that angel go under any circumstance. The only reason he hadn't ripped Asher apart into pieces was because he'd come in peace, as a mediator.
"After his daughter went missing, William sent out a search party for her but they returned empty handed. From one of his close alliances he got to know that you hold his daughter captive in your pack and he immediately wrote a letter to the Council—even traveled all the way to the East to greet them personally."
Evelyn's mouth was slowly felling as she took in Asher's words. She hadn't thought William would search for her let alone go through all the process and troubles just to get her back.
'Who am I kidding? That sick man just wanted to put on a show about how much he cares for me.' Evelyn internally rolled her eyes at the thought and even though William couldn't see or hear her, she silently cursed him after a long time. 'That man craves nothing but fame and power!' She felt enraged now that she'd understood William's true colours once again.
"Get to it Asher!" Michael growled lowly, seemingly bored by him blowing his friend's trumpet. Moreover, Michael now not only had to deal with his inner wolf but hers as well. Evelyn was getting tensed by the second and she was well aware Michael could feel that as his hands reassuringly squeezed around hers, telling her that she was safe.
They both turned to Asher to look into his eyes waiting for his final words but nothing came.
Michael attempted to speak but was midway interrupted by Asher. "I guess if you don't have anything to say—" Michael muttered.
"He wants to exchange Evelyn for Anastasia." Asher end shortly, avoiding Michael's darkening eyes and thinning pupils. Evelyn thought it was only her who misheard him but everyone else looked the same pale akin to her, like they'd all seen a ghost or more likely heard of one.