Chapter 18 Evan
EVAN
There is a knock at my bedroom door, stirring me away from the historical drama book I’m currently reading. “Yeah?”
Ava steps in seconds later and walks to my bed before perching on the edge. “Hey,” she says softly. “I was wondering how you’re feeling? How’s the nose?”
I nod solemnly. “Nose is fine, and I’m okay. Just grateful for the rest.”
“I know. It’s been a crazy few weeks.”
“What’s up?”
She slowly sucks in a breath, and I brace myself for what she’s about to say.
“So, we’ve been requested to go to an event hosted by Caleb’s father.
He’s invited all the packs in the district, and it’s mandatory that we go.
Otherwise, it’ll look bad on Jaxon, and he does not want to make an enemy out of Ryker. ”
I silently wince at her words. “What’s it for?”
“I don’t know, maybe to suss everyone out.”
My forehead creases. “He’s not going to try to take over, is he?”
“Who knows, but Jaxon and the rest of the Alphas will not let it get to that point.” She shakes her head. “They’ll fight for what is theirs. I guess we’re going to see if he has any kind of ulterior motive.”
“Does Jaxon really trust Caleb?”
Ava is silent for a second. “Regardless of everything that happened with taking over Cole’s pack, he does. Jax keeps telling me that Caleb has never warmed to his father and doesn’t agree with his lifestyle.”
I hum, unsure how to answer.
“Ryker is a manipulator, and if I could assume anything, I’d say Caleb is going along with it because of what his father might do if he fights him on it. Caleb might be a little cold, but in all honesty? I think it’s a mask so his father doesn’t see who he truly is on the inside.”
My heart stammers at her words.
I want to believe her, but I can’t fully trust it yet.
But then I remember watching them together the evening we went over to his pack house. The pain I felt inside my body when Ryker belittled Caleb, and the vulnerability behind his eyes.
“Do I have to be there?”
“Yeah…” Ava trails off. “Jaxon says we all have to go.”
“I don’t want to go,” I groan.
“You and I both, but it’ll be nice. Get you out of the house.”
“Caleb is going to be there.”
Ava frowns. “Yeah, I know. How have things been?”
My shoulders raise in a half-assed shrug. “Not good.”
“I’m sorry,” she says sincerely. “I wish I could make it better.”
“It’s okay,” I rasp. “I’ll live.”
“We’re leaving around six, so meet you downstairs then?”
“Okay.”
“Oh, and dress smart.”
Even better.
When she leaves, I lie flat on my bed and stare up at the ceiling, wondering if my heart can hack another day of being around the man who is meant to act like my mate.
I adjust my shirt in the mirror before tucking it into my trousers. The last time I wore this outfit was for Aurora’s Goddess ceremony communion. It’s been wasting away in my wardrobe ever since.
The fabric clings to my arms in an uncomfortable way, and the collar nearly chokes me, but it’s the nicest thing I own. It fit once upon a time, which tells me I must have put on some muscle and weight for it to feel like this on my body.
It gives me a little boost of confidence that I’m striving to be better.
My blond curls flop over my forehead, and I’m thankful for the rest as my eyes look bluer than I’ve ever seen them. It makes a change from how lifeless they usually appear.
When I head downstairs to find everyone dressed up and looking their best, we head out to the event. It’s being held in a large manor across the district. I already can’t wait for it to be over.
We arrive on time because Jaxon wouldn’t dare have us be late. I stare up at the white manor before me. I gulp knowing what I’m going to experience tonight.
Hours of pure agony.
Some members of Caleb’s pack greet us on the way in, but it doesn’t calm anything inside me.
“Let’s go grab a drink,” Ava says as she holds Aurora in her arms.
The sound of Ava’s heels clicking on the floor vibrates in my ears along with the buzz of people talking and laughing. We approach a waiter holding a tray of champagne flutes. Ava places Aurora down before Jaxon comes over to take her.
“Here,” Ava says as she hands me a glass.
I blink. I’ve never really had the opportunity to drink before, and it would be my first time trying it, even at my age of twenty.
“Okay,” I say as I take it from her fingers and place the glass to my lips.
Ava studies me as I take my first sip. It fizzes in my mouth and startles me. It’s strong but crisp, and leaves a burning sensation in my throat.
“Nice?”
My face turns sour as I swallow eventually. “You guys drink this for fun?” I ask before rolling my tongue against the roof of my mouth over and over.
She releases a low laugh and places her hand over her mouth. “Oh, Evan. You’re so precious.”
We move away from the waiter and stand with Lucy, Phia, and Grace.
“Have you seen him yet?” I hear Grace whisper to Phia.
Phia nods with wide eyes. “He’s over there, looking as divine as ever.”
My gaze gravitates to the floor the second I realise who they’re talking about. Lucy and Ava aren’t paying attention as they’re too caught up in their own conversation.
“I reckon if I drink at least five glasses of champagne, I might be confident to go over to him.” Phia waggles her brows.
I’m spiked with unbelievable jealousy, and it infuriates me that I care because I don’t care.
“Who are you talking about?” Lucy leans into the circle.
Grace lets out a dreamy sigh. “Caleb.”
“You’re not his mate, so don’t go there,” Ava snaps back.
“Oh, please.” Phia blows out a breath. “He does not seem like the type of guy who does mates.”
Well, at least she’s right about one thing.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Lucy responds.
“I bet he’s cold and calculated, and too mean for a mate. Although he probably fucks real good.”
I flinch and recover by taking another sip of champagne, only to start choking a few seconds later. Ava rubs my back gently and asks if I’m okay. I raise my thumb at her because words will probably fail me.
“Why don’t you put the same effort into talking about him vulgarly as you do into actually looking for your mate?” Ava says with raised brows. “They might be here tonight, considering the entire district has made an appearance.”
Grace narrows her eyes at Ava. “I was only joking.”
“Yeah, well, it doesn’t sit well with me.”
Grace and Phia walk away, and I turn to watch Caleb walk directly into my eyeline. His father stands beside him, face as hard as stone, body rigid.
A shiver rolls down my spine at them together. I understand why people might be wary; their hard exteriors definitely aren’t the most inviting, and together, they look even deadlier.
My eyes scan what he’s wearing, and I tense at what I see. He’s wearing a black shirt with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, flashing off his inked skin. His shirt is tucked into a pair of dark trousers that fit his legs to perfection.
Powerful. That’s what comes to mind.
And handsome.
I grimace at myself. Yeah, we’re not going there tonight.
A young woman approaches them. She’s absolutely stunning, with perfectly plump pink lips and a sleek black floor-length dress. Her blonde hair is curled and thrown over one shoulder.
I watch and hold my breath as Ryker talks between the two of them, then cracks a smile, which takes me by surprise. The woman doesn’t take her gaze off of Caleb once, looking up at him with stars in her eyes.
Caleb keeps his attention on his father, and after a few moments, he leans down to leave a kiss on the woman’s cheek before taking her hand.
If I thought Grace’s words made me envious, this is a completely different story. My eyes burn a hole in the hand that Caleb places on the small of her back as they begin to walk away. She smiles up at him, and he returns it.
I’ve never seen him smile—not like that. My stomach clenches, and fury roars in my veins.
“Breathe, Evan.” I hear Ava’s voice from beside me as she loops our arms together.
So I force myself to let out a breath. My eyes flick between his face and the hand on her back.
When I look up, he glances at me for a split second.
I cannot read him, but something flashes in his expression when we lock eyes, then it disappears the second he looks back at the beautiful woman on his arm.
“I-I can’t stand here and watch this,” I mumble. “I need to get some air.”
“Do you need me to come with you?”
I shake my head. “No. I need some time alone.”
“Okay, well, you know where I’ll be,” she says softly, and I slip away from her.
The second I reach the large outdoor balcony, I suck down the cool air. I head down the set of stairs and perch on a wooden bench, my back facing the manor.
I sit for a while, drowning in my own thoughts. Sighing, I run a hand through my hair and rest my elbows on the table.
How can I not overthink this when my mate has a stunning woman on his arm?
I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care.
Fuck my life.
I care too much. And I don’t want to.
“Can I take this?” A voice startles me away from my thoughts.
My gaze flicks up to the man who stands in front of me. Hazel eyes smiling with softness. Dark brown hair in a similar style to my curls. I stare at him for a few moments until he clears his throat.
“The glass?” He motions to the cup in front of me. “Can I take it?”
I snap myself back into reality. “Sorry,” I murmur. “Take it, it’s not mine.”
The waiter nods before picking up the glass from the table.
“Are you having a good night?” he asks politely.
I glance up at him and blow out a breath, leaning away from the bench slightly. “Not sure that’s how I’d describe it,” I admit.
“Oh.” He frowns. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”
I shake my head and force a smile even in my shitty mood. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Are you okay?” he asks gently, and it stuns me.
“Uh…yeah.” I clear my throat. “It’s a bit too much for me in there.”
He studies me. “I’m due to finish in a bit. You wanna hang out? Only if you want to, of course.”
The confidence that radiates from him is alluring.
“Really?”
“Sure,” he chirps. “I’ll keep you company if that means not going back inside.”
My heart thumps heavily. “I’m Evan.”
“Charlie,” he says with a smile.
“Well…I’ll be here.”
“Okay. I’ll see you in a bit.”
He turns around and walks back into the manor. My eyes glance over the people standing on the balcony and inside the building behind the windows. That’s when I spot Caleb’s tall stature. He’s staring at me through the glass, and I freeze.
My eyes narrow before I turn away, facing the garden instead.
I need to push him to the back of my mind. I need to forget. I need to move on.
He already has.