Chapter 18

DOMINIC’S POV As I dropped Evelyn back into her room she leaned into me, her delicate arms wrapping around my neck, her breath warm against my skin. Her body trembled slightly as if she was barely holding herself together. I had seen her like this before—fragile, vulnerable, like she might shatter if I let go. I knew that I mattered to her the most. Before she disappeared we were together all the time. We made so many promises to each other, fell for each other. And now even though she was here it didn’t feel the same as if there was an invisible wall separating us. “Dominic…” she whispered, her voice thick with unshed tears. “I don’t want this anymore. I don’t want the Luna position.” I frowned, pulling back just enough to look into her tear-filled eyes. “What are you saying?” She gave me a broken smile, shaking her head as if exhausted. “This is hurting Olivia too much. Can’t you see? It’s destroying her. She’s making more mistakes because of it.” A tear slipped down her cheek. “I can’t do this anymore. I think… I think it’s best if I leave.” An uneasy feeling twisted in my gut. She wanted to leave? No. I couldn’t let that happen. I gripped her shoulders, holding her steady. “Evelyn, stop. You are important to this pack, whether you take the Luna position or not. And you are important to me.” My voice was firm, certain. “I will protect you. No matter what happens.” And I meant every word. I didn’t care what Olivia or any other person in the pack thought. Evelyn was important. She was with me when I was at my lowest, and I can’t let her go now when she needs me the most. That would be cruel to her. A sob wracked through her, and she clung to me tighter. “But the pack—Dominic, they hate her, because of me.” Her voice broke, and she hesitated as if reluctant to continue. “On my way here, I overheard some of them talking… wondering when Olivia would be punished. They can’t accept that their seer was murdered, and as long as she’s here, they won’t stop and I can’t help but think that all of this is happening because of me, believe it or not but she is my friend. I do care about her, but as long as I am here the pack won’t treat her as the Luna.” My entire body went rigid. Evelyn’s words echoed in my mind, colliding with the doubts that had been forming since my conversation with Jason. The pack did want justice. They wanted closure. And they had already decided who was guilty. I exhaled sharply, rubbing my temples. Evelyn must have sensed my hesitation because she suddenly pulled back just enough to look at me, her golden eyes searching mine. “I know what this is really about, I can already see it,” she whispered. I tensed. “What?” She bit her lip, as if debating whether to say it. Then, with a shaky breath, she whispered, “You’ve fallen for her, haven’t you?” My head snapped up. “What?” She let out a small, sad laugh, her fingers grazing my chest as if trying to comfort me. “It’s okay, Dominic. I see the way you look at her. The way you react when James is near her.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “You love her.” A sharp denial rose in my throat immediately. “No,” I growled. “I could never love someone like her. She is a cruel woman who can never love anyone and I am certain that I don’t love her. Don’t think of such nonsense.” But even as I said the words, something inside me twisted—something that felt a lot like a lie. My wolf scoffed. Then why did you want to rip James apart for touching her? Why does it drive you mad every time you see her in pain? I clenched my jaw, ignoring him. Evelyn smiled, tilting her head. “You can say that all you want, but I know you, Dominic. Anyways I trust you.” Her fingers traced slow, lazy circles over my chest. “You’re too tense… too exhausted. Let me help you relax.” I stiffened as she trailed her hands lower, her fingers brushing against my belt buckle. For a split second, the familiarity of it pulled me in—the years of longing for her, of waiting for this moment when we could finally be together again. But something was wrong. The way she touched me now—it felt wrong. I caught her wrists and gently pushed her away. “No.” Evelyn blinked in surprise. “Dominic—” “Until things between Olivia and I are officially over, this—” I gestured between us, my voice firm “—this isn’t happening.” A moment of silence stretched between us, and then, to my surprise, she smiled. Not the hurt, heartbroken expression I expected. Not even anger. Just… a smile. “Oh, Dominic,” she sighed, shaking her head. “I wasn’t trying to seduce you. I just wanted to help. I am sorry, I think I was crossing a line that I shouldn’t have.” “Its not that, but I can’t do this until I release Olivia. I owe it both of you.” I tried to made her understand. “Relax Dominic, I understand. You don’t have to explain anything to me.” I frowned, unease creeping up my spine at her behaviour. Jason’s words from earlier echoed in my mind. Evelyn was the one who suggested the patrol shift change that night. Before I could hesitate, I met her gaze and asked the question that had been eating at me since Jason left my office. “Did you meet with Alyosha before his death?” Her reaction was subtle. A slight pause. A flicker of something in her eyes—so brief that if I hadn’t been watching closely, I might have missed it. But I didn’t. And for the first time, doubt sank its claws into my mind. Evelyn quickly shook her head. “No, of course not. Why would you ask something like that?” I studied her. Her face was calm, unreadable. But something was off. She had denied it too quickly, too smoothly. Was James lying? Was the rumor about Evelyn sneaking into Alyosha’s chambers just a ploy to clear Olivia’s name? I didn’t know what to believe anymore. Before I could press the matter further, a sharp voice echoed through my mind—my Beta’s mind-link. Alpha. His tone was urgent. We’ve captured the Omega servant who was caring for Elder Alyosha. She was caught trying to flee the pack’s borders. My brows furrowed. Why would she run? My pulse quickened. She must have known something. Or worse—she was running because someone had told her to. My gaze flickered back to Evelyn. She was still watching me, still smiling. But for the first time, I wasn’t sure if I was looking at the woman I had once loved… Or at the woman who had deceived me all along.