Evelyn pov
I’m rooted to the floor, frozen from the words that make my blood run cold. “What did you just say?” “She’s admitted everything…”
“And you have a witness, someone else was with you…Nate?”
He looks at me for a moment before shaking his head gently.
“No..” “No! So why should I believe you? This could be your new plan to get close to the children, to take them from me.”
“No, Evelyn I would never do that. I’m telling you the truth. She admitted it as she held a gun to my head.”
A gun to his head? My mind is spinning, too much information in one setting. She pointed a gun to his head and he was shot? What on earth had happened at the Red Stone pack. “Evelyn…” He takes a step towards me but I side step away around the circular table.
“Don’t.” I place my hand out to him, warning him not to come any closer. “If I had known, if I had an inkling that the hatred you held for me was on false pretences…I would have..”
“You would have what Reuben? Fought for me? Told her to leave…killed her?” My tone sounding slightly high pitched.
“But don’t you see, this changes everything.” His eyes light up, as if this solved all our problems. Like nothing had ever happened. That he didn’t also hurt me.
“Oh my goddess Reuben..” My frustration leads to my hands gripping at my hair and pulling at the ends.
“My parents are still dead. Nothing will bring them back. My father’s head was severed…no matter how much therapy I endure, I can’t get the thought of his head out of my dreams.” Hot wet tears stream down my face, my voice cracking from my emotions. But I can’t leave it there. There is so much more to say.
“But she’s won again hasn’t she? She’s now stolen my children’s first four years with their father. You won’t get those years back Reuben and what hurts is you were shacked up with her playing happy mates.” Perhaps not so happy if she was seducing a guard and held a gun to Reuben’s head but he still picked her. And I can’t undo that, I can’t forgive that.
He takes a step closer to me again and I go to step away but he reaches out for me and grabs my arm. He pulls me into him, the motion forcing me to crash into his muscular hard chest.
Those annoying tingles explode on my arm at his touch and his eyes burn into mine, as if he was trying to read my mind.
Like I said before, this level of intense closeness wasn’t good for me, for us. I step out of his hold and place my hands on the back of a chair.
Four years. For four years my anger, my revenge has been misdirected. The things I could have said to Rex and Elspeth about their father would have been unforgivable. But thankfully I hadn’t, I had always thought they deserve to make their own mind up, their own choice when older.
But he wasn’t there for their births, for their night time feeds and bed time stories. Vicky has not only hurt me but she’s now messed with the early years of my children. They’ve never known their grandparents thanks to her, grandparents so evilly killed.
Something is happening to me, something strange. My wolf is whining in my head from her pain but she isn’t exuding anger, that seems to be all me. I felt hot, like I was burning up, like I did in labour. My body struggling to keep my emotions in check…
“Evelyn….” Reuben’s voice is soft, his face startled. I was trembling, my head shaking. She really was a she-devil and I needed to make her pay. I needed to make her suffer.
“Where is she?” I seethe out, my voice venomous.
“I don’t know, I’m working on it. But so far she’s given us the slip.” What was that old saying? If you want something done, do it yourself.
I needed to find her, I needed to make sure she would no longer be a threat to my children and my pack. I wouldn’t let her do to others, what she has done to me. I spin on the spot and storm towards the door only to be pulled back my Reuben before I reach it.
“Get off me.” I growl lowly to him. He can’t keep manhandling me this way. Here I was Alpha, and he a guest. This was my pack. A pack I had bled and sweated for.
“What are you going to do, go after her?” He growls back at me.
“Absolutely.” I sneer.
“You aren’t thinking straight. You’re letting your anger get the better of you. “Don’t tell me how to be angry Reuben.” I roar at him, fighting against him but he manages to pull my arms up and pins me up against the wall.
“Just calm the fuck down. That’s why we are here…that’s why I am here. To help.” His nose is very close to mine, as he brushes them together.
My breathing hitches at his touch, his closeness creating its own storm of intensity. I slam my eyes shut, trying not to let his scent, his touch get to me.
“I let her into your life and for that I am sorry. More sorry than you ‘ll ever know. The anger you feel is justified, fuck you’re holding it together better than I would…but for them, for me… you can’t do anything reckless.” He takes a deep intake of air, as if smelling me. His eyes turn from the bright sea blue to that of his wolf’s.
“I’ll never be able to make it up to you, for the shit I did. But I won’t rest until she’s no longer a threat to you, the pack and our children.” I could see the absolute in his eyes. He meant every word, a life promise he has made to me. That he wouldn’t stop until he has found her.
I’m becoming light headed, my faster breathing finally catching up with me, as my chest rising up and down, struggling to contain my overworking lungs.
His nose moves along my jaw line, slowly creeping along my skin leaving traces of tingles and I have to slam my mouth shut not to let out a gasp. His hands are still holding mine above my head, against the wall but they have loosened slightly. I could easily break away, but I can’t.
He seems to know, his smirk is arrogant as he sniffs the air around us, can he tell my lower core is throbbing…
I move my legs slightly, to cross them to calm myself below. I freeze when his nose goes to the nook of my neck. When his lips place a kiss on my skin, a desirable moan escapes me before my legs start to give way.
A hand is there instantly, snaking around my lower back and resting on my hip, keeping me upright. “Show me around, show me your training. I want to make sure you are ready because when she comes, she’ll bring hell.”
Reuben POV
I could claim her right here, claim her as mine. As she should be. But I’ve fucked it all up. Putting my trust in someone from my past, someone who has threatened my future.
The old me would mark her here and suffer the consequences later. But I’m already living my consequences and I have a lot of proving to do.
“How long?” Her husky voice vibrates against my lips on her neck. I move my head back to look her in the eyes. “How long will you be here?”
“Until it is done.” I look at her with determination.
“I can handle it…”
“I have no doubt. I just want to see the set up. No tricks, no ulterior motives. It’s for my peace of mind. To make sure they are safe, that you are safe.”
“Then you’ll leave?” Her words sting me at little bit I don’t let on. This was my doing, her pain and attitude towards me were the consequences I am living.
“If that is what you want.” Is that what she would want? Is that what I would want?
“Very well…” She pushes her back off the wall and I stand back from her. “Lets join the others and I’ll take you all on the pack tour.”
