Chapter 46 Evan
EVAN
Today, Caleb and Jaxon’s pack decided to train together, meaning it’s going to be the first time I’ve seen them since I left. It’s been a weird few weeks, but it’s been needed and necessary. I might not be healed, but I feel different already.
Like I belong somewhere for the first time in my life.
When we meet in our usual spot, I’m swarmed by Ava and Lucy. It fills me with joy to see how happy they are to see me, and reminds me that I am loved, even if I can’t love myself—not yet anyway.
“How are you?” Ava asks with a big grin.
I nod genuinely. “I’m doing good.”
“Caleb treating you well?”
“Yeah.” I smile. “He’s great, Ava. He’s really great.”
“Good. Come over soon, yeah? We miss you.”
“I miss you all, too.”
When we start running, I find it a lot easier since I’ve been training one-on-one with Caleb. Not only have we focused on my stamina, but we've also been boosting my energy, strength, and defence.
It might be training with my mate that helps me to perform better, or the fact I trust him and feel absolutely no judgement whatsoever, but it works, and even I’m impressed with myself.
I whiz through the trees as we play one of our favourite warm-up games before getting into cat and mouse.
Take it easy, Caleb’s voice echoes through my head. You need to keep your energy. Don’t burn yourself out.
I’m good. I feel good.
Still, don’t need to rush, pups.
My eyes roll, and I start to slow down. I know he’s right, but having this amount of stamina is fun to play with when I’d always be at the back and struggling.
Even my wolf is bigger and more filled out—Caleb’s wolf definitely enjoyed seeing me shift the other day when his eyes dilated to the size of saucepans.
After training, I have goosebumps all over my skin, and feel on top of the world. My chest might be tight, but it’s electrifying. A pack training session that I didn’t actually hate for once.
That’s progress.
Jaxon invites Caleb’s pack over for drinks, which I know means taking Caleb away to chat. As we head towards their pack house, I feel an arm sling over my shoulder, and I freeze as I glance up at Leon before taking a breath.
Nina steps to my side and grins. “Long time no see, Evan.”
“Hey, guys,” I greet them.
“You’re really shining out there,” Leon says sincerely. “How is it over at Caleb’s pack?”
I freeze for a second. “Uh, yeah, it’s good.”
“What happened?” Nina asks with curious eyes. “We’ve heard lots of different things.”
My skin crawls at their words because I didn’t think anyone would be talking about me. I’m a nobody. A silly little Omega with no family. Why would anyone even consider talking about me?
“Oh…what have you heard?”
“That you got into a fight with Jaxon.” Leon squeezes my shoulder casually before releasing me.
I laugh. “A fight with Jaxon, really?”
Leon hums. “Yeah, but Jaxon denied it.”
“What else?”
“That Caleb stole you away,” Nina says as she grabs onto my arm. “People think you’re together.”
My heart stops inside my chest. “What?” I laugh hesitantly.
“I know!” Nina exclaims. “Crazy, right?”
“Ha—yeah…so crazy.”
When I glance at Leon, he’s studying me, like he can see right through me, and I try not to squirm beneath his gaze.
“So what really happened?” he asks, tilting his head at me curiously.
“Uh, well, I’ve been struggling with training, and since Caleb’s pack is training new trainers, I said I’d be a test subject,” I say with a fake smile. “Just made it easier to move there for the time being. And it’s been working.”
Leon pokes his tongue into his cheek. “Huh. Funny, we didn’t get asked to move over, considering we also need extra training.”
Oh, Goddess.
“Yeah, I don’t know.” I shrug. “Ask Jaxon. How have you guys been?”
Nina says everything's been fine before being dragged into a different conversation. I can feel the weight of Leon’s eyes on the side of my head.
My forehead pinches. “What?”
“Nothing,” Leon says with a small smile. “I miss seeing you around. I’m just hoping you’re doing alright.”
I clear my throat and cross my arms. “Yeah, I’m doing okay. Adjusting, but it’s been good.”
“Hey,” he murmurs as he gently grips my shoulder again. “I’m glad. You know I’m here if you ever wanna talk.”
We might not be as close as we were, but I still class him as a friend. But telling him about Caleb? Yeah, I don’t want to risk it.
“Yeah. I know. Thanks for checking up on me.”
When we reach Jaxon’s pack house, I expect to be hit with some kind of nostalgia or sensation of missing this place, but I don’t. Not one bit. Sure, I miss the people who live here, but I don’t miss the actual house.
The bedroom that was never mine.
The bedroom I had countless nightmares in.
The bedroom I hurt myself more times than I can remember.
We gather in the garden due to the nice weather, and I stretch out on the grass as I sit with Ava and hold Aurora in my arms.
“Evan.” Aurora frowns as she tugs at my T-shirt. “You’re gone.”
“Yeah,” I whisper. “I’ve been gone, Rory. I’m sorry.”
She pouts at me. “Why?”
“Because I’m needed somewhere else,” I say. “But I’ll be back to see you as much as I can.”
Ava grins at us both. “She misses you a lot.”
“I miss her, too.” I pout.
“So, Jaxon got rid of Sam,” Ava blurts out of nowhere.
My eyes nearly bulge out of my head. “What?”
“Yeah,” she exhales raggedly. “He kicked off the other day during training and hurt two people, so Jaxon had enough and told him he had to go.”
“Where’s he gone?”
Ava turns her nose up as if she couldn’t be less interested with his whereabouts. “Who knows, with his parents maybe, but it was the best choice Jaxon could have made. He’s always ruining everything. I don’t know what’s wrong with him.”
“Beats me,” I mutter.
Aurora snuggles into my arms, and I hold her close to my chest as I stare across the garden to find Caleb and Jaxon talking together, except Caleb’s eyes are on me.
I look away before anyone catches us because, after what Nina and Leon said earlier, I have no idea if anyone else is suspicious of the pair of us. I don’t want everyone butting into our relationship, asking questions. I’ve only started adjusting to it.
Aurora climbs into Ava’s lap and starts to play with Albie before I watch Jaxon and Caleb head inside. I wonder what they’re talking about, but it’s probably best I don’t know.
When I glance around, I can’t help but feel that a few people’s curious eyes are on me, most likely wondering what’s so special about me to move to Caleb’s pack.
I get it; it’s suspicious. But why do people care so much?
I’ll never understand.