Chapter 13

The news came as a shock to me, leaving a cold, sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Five years ago, in that fateful accident, my wolf had been gravely injured and had fallen into a deep, unshakable slumber. I had spent years grieving the loss of a part of myself, my soul, my other half who would have helped me in a lot of ways even today, it was hard for me accepting that she might never wake again. But now, with Evelyn’s sudden return, another disturbing truth had surfaced—her wolf was injured too. How is that possible? Why is everything getting so confusing? What detail am I missing from five years ago? I am certain I wasn’t involved in any way but things are getting hazy now. And that wasn’t all. The mark that had mysteriously vanished from my body had reappeared—on hers. Coincidence? No. This was too precise, too calculated and all of this started happening when she arrived. The pieces of the puzzle were beginning to align, forming a horrifying picture. But before I could think further, Dominic’s body tensed beside me. His jaw tightened, his brows furrowing as his gaze turned distant. Someone must be mind-linking him. Moments later, he pushed up from the chair, his expression hardening and he turned into his Alpha mood, completely devoid of emotions. I knew this face for quite some time now. Something serious must have come up. “I have to go.” His voice was clipped, urgent. Evelyn, who also had been watching closely from across the room, immediately stood as well. “I’ll come with you,” she said sweetly, reaching for his arm. Dominic had barely risen from his seat when Evelyn, ever the opportunist, was right beside him, her delicate hand brushing against his arm in a way that sent irritation crawling under my skin. “No. It’s pack business,” Dominic said firmly, stepping away from her touch as if it burned him. His voice was clipped, emotionless. “You should return to the Alpha’s residence and rest.” It wasn’t a suggestion. It was an order. For the first time, I saw something flicker across Evelyn’s perfectly controlled expression—something dark. Displeasure. Annoyance. A crack in her well-maintained mask. She didn’t like the way he spoke to her. Especially not in front of me. But as quickly as the crack appeared, she smoothed it over, replacing it with a look of soft concern. “Are you sure?” she asked, voice coated in sugar. “I could help—” “Evelyn.” Just her name, spoken with cold authority. His tone sharpened, leaving no room for argument. His patience, thin as ice, was running out. “I said no.” Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she quickly forced out a sigh, as if reluctantly relenting. “Alright,” she murmured, lowering her gaze just enough to appear demure. “Just… be careful. I’ll wait for you at dinner.” And then, she moved. I watched as she leaned in toward him, her head tilting slightly, lips parting ever so slightly— My breath caught. Was she really going to kiss him? Right in front of me? His wife? The audacity of this woman! First, she pretends to care about me and my child, spinning her web of fake concern and sugary words, and now she is making a move on my husband as if I don’t exist? I knew her game. I knew why she was here. She wanted to erase me, to remove the last obstacle in her way so she could reclaim her place at Dominic’s side. And the worst part? He hasn’t even divorced or rejected me yet. She was already acting like I was nothing more than a ghost, a forgotten stain in his past. I clenched the sheets beneath my fingers, my nails digging into the fabric as a slow, seething anger burned in my chest. But then— He dodged. It was quick, subtle, but unmistakable. Dominic turned his head away at the last second, his body shifting slightly to the side so that her lips barely grazed his cheek instead. My heart stuttered. For a moment, Evelyn’s entire face darkened, a storm brewing in her gaze. But just as quickly as it came, it was gone, replaced by her usual saccharine sweetness. “I’ll see you soon.” She whispered. But Dominic left without another word, shutting the door behind him. Now, we were alone. The moment his footsteps faded down the hall, Evelyn dropped the act entirely. Gone was the gentle concern. Gone was the warmth in her voice. Instead, a cruel, knowing smirk spread across her lips. “Its good to see you here, Olivia.” Her voice was laced with quiet malice. “If you value your life—and your pup’s—I suggest you stop getting in my way” A chill ran down my spine, my fingers instinctively moving to cradle my belly. My heart pounded so loudly I thought she might hear it. I swallowed my fear, forcing myself to glare at her. “This is all you, isn’t it?” I hissed. “You’re the one who killed Elder Alyosha. You framed me.” Evelyn didn’t even blink. Instead, she tilted her head slightly, as if amused. “Did I?” she murmured. Then, she let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head. “Oh, Olivia. I think you’re confused. You’re the one who killed him, remember? After all all the evidences are against you.” I clenched my fists, rage burning through me like wildfire. “Liar.” She let out a dramatic sigh. “Believe what you want.” “Why?” My voice was sharp, demanding. “What do you gain from this?” Evelyn’s smirk widened. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Something inside me snapped. I surged forward, only for her to take a step back, her laughter mocking me. “Careful, Olivia,” she purred. “You’re in no position to be making threats. Not when you’re so… vulnerable.” My stomach twisted violently. She wasn’t just threatening me. She was threatening my child. My breaths came shallow, my nails digging into my palms. Evelyn turned to leave, but before stepping out, she paused, glancing back at me with a wicked glint in her eye. “You can fight all you want, but it won’t change anything because you can’t prove anything.” Her voice was almost playful. “Dominic will never believe you.” And then, without another word, she walked out, the door clicking shut behind her. I sat there, my whole body trembling, my hand resting on my slightly swollen belly. This wasn’t just Evelyn’s doing. She wasn’t working alone. And no matter what her true intentions were, I would not let her harm my child.