Chapter 31
Heidara hadn’t been exaggerating about the heat.
Evelyne was grateful she had woven her hair into a long braid.
At least it kept the sticky sweat from clinging to the back of her neck.
The warmth still made the leather stifling, the material sticking uncomfortably to her skin.
Yet, she had to admit, she didn’t miss the dresses, or the corsets.
Still, wearing a cropped leather vest that bared her stomach in front of others left her feeling exposed. Not that anyone seemed to notice, except for Alaric. The moment she approached the wooden sled to check on him, he bolted upright, his tired eyes widening slightly.
A familiar, flirty smirk curled his lips. “Lady Evelyne,” he drawled, his voice still hoarse from exhaustion. “You do wear leathers well.”
Her cheeks flushed slightly, and for a second, she had the urge to smack that smirk right off his face.
But what struck her most was the absence of the usual fluttering warmth his voice used to stir in her.
There was no racing pulse, no stolen breath, just the easy familiarity of friendship.
And maybe that was all they should be now.
Just friends. Whether he felt the same, she wasn’t sure.
The afternoon sun blazed mercilessly as they continued their trek, and Evelyne felt the burn of it across her forehead.
Despite the canopy of trees, their path remained oddly exposed to the brutal sunlight.
One of the elders must have noticed her struggle, because she tossed a thin cloth over her head—a small mercy in the unforgiving heat.
She walked near the center of the pack, flanked by the elders.
Kaldrek led the front, with Holden trailing close behind him.
The woman beside her met Evelyne’s glance with a smile and a quiet explanation.
The alpha and beta—Holden, as Evelyne now recognized—guided the front, while the pack’s elders and vulnerable remained safely nestled in the center.
The strongest warriors and scouts took the rear, guarding the pack from behind.
Their structure and fierce loyalty to one another awakened something in Evelyne. A sense of respect, perhaps. And this, she’d come to learn, wasn’t the only pack in the eastern lands. There were dozens more, though most had gone into hiding or fallen under Vaelora’s control.
Curiosity burned within her, an eagerness to know more about the wolves and their world.
But exhaustion pressed down on her shoulders, reminding her she’d need her strength to keep going.
She silently thanked the fact that she’d been an active runner back home—she would have collapsed by now if she’d spent her days lounging in parlors and sipping tea like many women of her standing.
She found herself thinking of Caltheris, of her father and Seraphine. Was he still looking for Cillian? Was he looking for her? And how was Seraphine taking her absence? She would have given anything for her handmaid’s calming presence.
A painful twist in her stomach pulled her back to the present—hunger.
How were they still walking? She couldn’t remember anyone stopping to eat or even to relieve themselves.
Heidara had warned her they wouldn’t take many breaks, but she hadn’t expected this relentless pace.
If they didn’t stop soon, she would drop on the forest floor.
Heidara jogged up from the back of the pack, falling into step beside Evelyne with ease. “How are you holding up?” she asked.
Evelyne eyed her suspiciously. Not a single sign of exhaustion. Just a little sweat glistening on her sun-kissed skin. Meanwhile, Evelyne was pretty sure she looked like she had been dragged through hell and back.
“I’m still standing,” she panted, pushing a stray strand of hair from her face.
Heidara smiled. “Impressive.”
“Barely,” Evelyne muttered under her breath.
Heidara chuckled. “Well, we’ll be stopping soon to rest. Alaric thinks we’ll reach the outpost by tomorrow.”
Evelyne nearly collapsed from relief. Fatigue was manageable. Hunger and a full bladder, however, were not so easily dismissed.
“I have to admit, I’m surprised you lasted this long,” Heidara said, giving her a teasing glance. “No offense, but I figured a southern lady wouldn’t have the stamina.” She had a glint in her eyes, no doubt remembering Evelyne’s words to Kaldrek the night before. I am a southern lady.
Evelyne scoffed. “I’m surprising myself, too.”
As they walked, Evelyne glanced over her shoulder, her eyes landing on the two dark-haired males near the rear of the pack.
They moved in perfect step, eyes sharp as they scanned the trees, but it wasn’t them who caught her attention.
It was the striking red-haired woman gliding between them, her presence so radiant it felt like the sun bowed to her.
Evelyne remembered how both men had watched her as if she were their entire world.
Heidara noticed her staring.
“That’s Nathan and Ty. They’re brothers.”
“They look like twins,” Evelyne said.
“They do, but Nathan’s two years older.”
Evelyne raised an eyebrow. “And the woman they’re watching like she hung the stars?”
Heidara chuckled. “Ah, Reyna. That’s their mate.”
Evelyne turned fully to face her. “Mate?”
Heidara’s smile widened. “Wolves find mates. Sometimes, we even have two.” She sighed dramatically, pressing a hand to her chest. “Can you imagine? Two gorgeous men devoted entirely to you?”
Evelyne nearly tripped over a tree root. “I—I don’t think that’s something I’ve ever… considered.”
“Oh, come on. You mean to tell me you wouldn’t enjoy having two devastatingly handsome men worship you every night?” Heidara grinned.
A blush rose to Evelyne’s face. No lady at court would ever speak with such boldness.
There, people spoke in careful whispers, never this openly.
But Heidara said it so casually, like it was nothing unusual.
Evelyne opened her mouth to respond, but laughter spilled out instead.
And before she knew it, the two of them were laughing so hard that even Kaldrek turned around to glance at them.
“She could have chosen just one, you know,” Heidara continued, shaking her head. “But I guess she couldn’t decide. And honestly? I don’t blame her.”
Evelyne wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, still giggling. “And you? Do you have a mate?”
“Not yet. The elders say you’ll just know when it happens,” Heidara said, her voice taking on a dreamy, almost wistful tone.
“They say the scent hits you like a bullet to the chest, so strong it can stun you. And that the bond is so powerful, mates can communicate mind to mind. Of course, we can all speak with our alpha that way. It’s how he commands us in wolf form, and only alphas can reach other alphas.
But mates—they can hear each other, no matter the distance. ”
The idea of something so powerful and irresistible binding two people together felt strange, yet undeniably intriguing. “That sounds intense.”
“It is,” Heidara said, her green eyes shimmering with excitement. “But until then? I’m going to have my fun.” She winked.
Evelyne shook her head and smiled. She didn’t doubt it for a second.
***
The pack had only stopped for an hour, just enough time to eat, drink, and stretch sore limbs before pressing on.
Evelyne’s legs screamed in protest, every step an aching reminder that she was not built for this kind of travel.
But she pushed forward, refusing to let anyone, least of all him, see her struggle.
Kaldrek called out just before dusk that they were nearing camp, and she had no idea how he knew. There were no markers, no visible trails, just endless trees and tangled undergrowth. But he led them with unwavering certainty, like he’d memorized every inch of this wild terrain since childhood.
The moment they halted, the pack sprang into motion like a well-oiled machine, each member slipping into their role without hesitation or instruction.
Some unrolled tarps and stacked logs, assembling makeshift shelters, while others gathered stones, arranging them into the familiar shape of a fire pit.
A few disappeared into the trees, returning moments later with thick branches to serve as tent supports.
They moved efficiently, like they’d done this a thousand times before.
Evelyne stood in the middle of it all, aimlessly shifting her weight and watching.
She wanted to help, but where would she even begin?
Alaric was already moving through the camp, much more adept at fitting into this world than she was.
He wasn’t struggling, wasn’t wandering around feeling lost. And maybe that stung a little.
Kaldrek’s voice cut through the noise. “Will someone help Lady Defiance pitch her tent, please?”
Every muscle in her body went rigid. He was talking about her.
A few heads turned, and some younger pack members snickered at his remark.
Her jaw clenched so tight she thought her teeth might crack.
She knew exactly what he was doing. He wanted to embarrass her, remind her she didn’t belong.
But if he thought that would break her, he was dead wrong.
Lady Defiance. She could practically hear the smirk in his voice. If that was how he saw her, then she’d make sure to live up to it. Squaring her shoulders, she met his eyes with a steady stare, a silent promise that this wasn’t finished.
A few minutes later, Alaric, Holden, and two other wolves appeared, carrying what she assumed were the materials for her tent. Holden grinned, of course, ever eager to run his mouth.
“You sure you two want separate tents?” he mused, tilting his head between her and Alaric. “Seems like a waste when you could keep each other warm.”
“I’d rather sleep alone,” Evelyne shot back. To her relief, Alaric didn’t seem offended. He only nodded, understanding exactly why she felt that way.