Chapter 50 Evan
EVAN
When Caleb left in the early hours, I couldn’t fall back asleep. I didn’t even try. I sat against his headboard and prayed everything would be okay. It’s something he has to do, but that doesn’t ease the concern bubbling in my stomach.
Caleb made sure there were enough wolves and guards at the pack house in case anything happened, and that I wasn’t alone. I know he wouldn’t leave me by myself, but I wanted to be beside him.
My eyes close as I curl up in a ball on his windowsill and look out at the midday sun. There’s a soft knock at my door, and I glance over at it as Zara enters.
“Hey,” she says softly.
“Hey.”
Zara takes two steps inside and perches on the edge of Caleb’s bed. “How are you doing?”
I shake my head. “Not good.”
“I get it,” she says softly. “But Caleb and Felix know what they’re doing. We’ve got a strong pack, Evan. Even stronger than before, now we have the addition of Cole’s pack, Jaxon, and the rest of the district. They’ll be okay.”
My heart thumps, but I don’t respond.
“At least we’re together,” she says sincerely.
“Yeah…” I trail off. “Felix didn’t want you to go with him?”
The corner of Zara’s lip twitches before she places her hand on her stomach and cups the very, very small bump that’s starting to show. My eyes nearly bulge out of my head as I step off the windowsill and walk towards her.
“You’re pregnant?”
Zara’s eyes glisten as she smiles. “Yeah, eight weeks. We’ve wanted to keep it quiet until the three-month mark.”
I wrap my arms around her. “Congratulations,” I whisper. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you.” She embraces me. “They’ll be home soon. I promise.”
My arms hold her tighter before pulling back. “It feels weird knowing what they’re doing and not being able to help.”
“Yeah,” she says with a sad smile. “Caleb only wants the best for you. You know that, right?”
I hum softly, wanting to change the subject. “Can you tell me how you and Felix met?”
Zara immediately grins. “We’ve known each other since we were kids,” she laughs. “And I remember having the biggest crush on him. We used to attend school together in the town centre. It was only small, and we’d be around each other all the time. I didn’t think he even noticed me.”
I frown. “I doubt that.”
“The closer we got to eighteen, I wished he was my mate,” she sighs. “But I started to realise what the possibility of him being my mate actually was. It’s rare you’re from the same district, let alone pack, you know?”
I nod silently.
“And then when we both turned eighteen, and we saw each other, it was like my entire world lit up like fireworks. I couldn’t believe it.
I actually burst into tears, and he thought I was crying out of disgust and frustration,” Zara says, fighting back a smile.
“But he had no idea I had been wishing for it.”
My heart warms at her story. “That’s cute. Childhood sweethearts.”
“Yeah.” She grins. “And that’s when he told me he did notice me, but he was too terrified to say anything out of rejection. But the Moon Goddess had everything planned out for us.”
I flick my eyes down to her wedding ring finger to find the most beautiful emerald ring, along with a diamond band.
“How long have you been married?”
“Two years,” she states as she studies her rings stacked together.
“The baby wasn’t really planned, but when I found out, I’ve never felt so happy.
Felix will be the best father ever. He’s dedicated to being the best Beta and helping Caleb, but he’s honestly the sweetest soul when you get to know him. ”
“Mm.” I chuckle. “Like someone I know.”
Zara’s eyes widen an inch. “Exactly. They have a hard exterior, but inside, they’re a bunch of softies for the ones they love.”
I waver a moment at the word love.
It’s not something we’ve said to one another, but deep inside, I know my love for him has been growing day by day. Love is a strange emotion to me when I’ve only dealt with hatred for the majority of my life.
There was a time I was convinced no one would be able to love me after all the nonsense my brother drummed into my head, but I’ve started to learn that anyone can be loved.
Including myself.
The things Caleb does for me show me he cares, and I don’t want to jump the gun assuming he loves me, but I know we’re definitely heading that way.
Well, I certainly am.
A giddy sensation starts to grow in my chest, and I fidget.
“What?” Zara exhales.
I shake my head. “Nothing.”
“Okay, well, I’m gonna check everything is okay with the guards. I’ll see you in a bit?”
“Sure.”
When she leaves, I force myself to shower and be productive. I spend the afternoon journaling and doing a small workout to keep myself distracted.
There’s nothing I want more than to mindlink Caleb and ask how everything is going, but he told me not to contact him unless there was an emergency. He needs to remain focused, and I wouldn’t break that.
Even if it’s hard not knowing what’s going on.
As it starts to get dark outside, I find myself sitting on the windowsill. I stare out at the moon, high in the sky, stars littering our atmosphere.
I release a soft sigh. “Please be okay,” I whisper. “Please.”
“I presume you’re talking about my son.”
The deep voice has me jumping out of my skin. I fall off the ledge, twist my head towards the sound, and stare in horror as I’m faced with Caleb’s father.
My entire body trembles as he stands by the closed door, his stature tall and his eyes lethal. I press my back firmly into the wall as my blood roars in my ears.
A shuddering breath leaves my lips as he stalks towards me with determined strides. There’s nowhere to go, and after the stories Caleb has told me about him, I know I’m in deep shit.
“Cat got your tongue?” he says with a sickening smirk.
I don’t say a word as my skin starts to heat and my throat closes up.
Why is he here?
The reason Caleb left was to take him out. And now, he’s standing in his son's bedroom, facing me.
“I didn’t believe it when I heard Caleb found his mate,” he says as he licks his decaying teeth. “And I certainly didn’t think it would be a weak Omega like you.”
My body freezes up as he moves closer, stopping only inches from me.
“I-I’m not his mate,” I murmur pathetically. “I’m just a friend.”
The lie tastes like ash on my tongue, but it’s the first thing I can think of.
Ryker scoffs. “Do you take me for a fool?”
My mouth parts, but nothing comes out. There would have been no time to say anything anyway, he flares his eyes at me, and I’m suddenly choking. His hand isn’t even around my throat as I start to suffocate, my legs coming off the floor.
I claw at my neck as his eyes darken, watching me squirm against the wall in panic.
“I can smell him all over you,” he spits. “So don’t fucking lie to me.”
My face burns as I attempt to breathe, but there isn’t a chance as he continues to strangle me with his powers.
“I need Caleb to give me an heir,” he seethes through his teeth. “And unfortunately, you can’t do that.”
I kick my feet, black spots starting to invade my vision.
Seconds before I think I’m about to pass out, he releases me.
My legs hit the floor, and I suck in as much air as I possibly can.
My eyes flick to his as he swipes his hand, and I’m thrown across the room, crashing into Caleb’s desk, sending his drawings flying.
My ribs ache as I hit the hardwood. Everything starts to spin. I dig my palms into the floor to try to push myself up. A groan crawls up my throat as I’m shoved into the opposite wall. My back cracks, and a shriek of pain echoes through the room.
Ryker's dark, evil laugh floods through my nervous system, and I grit my teeth at the sound. “I wonder how long it’s going to take for him to realise I’m not where he thinks I am, but in fact I’m with you.”
I stare at his boots as they stop directly beside my head. My body shakes as agony rushes through my veins. The fight inside me is telling me to get up, but how can I fight when he can throw me around like a ragdoll?
He bends down and caresses my cheek, making me flinch. His rough callouses make my skin crawl with disgust.
“I could break you in half,” he grunts with blazing eyes. “How dare you think you can come into my family and take my son away from what's destined for him? You’re nothing but a distraction.”
What he’s saying makes no sense, because we are destined for each other.
We always have been.
His hand curls around the back of my neck before he smashes my face into the floor, my nose crunching beneath me. Blood seeps into my mouth, and I release a gargled sound as saliva drips over my lips, the taste of copper invading my taste buds.
“I can’t wait to destroy you,” he growls. “The fact that Caleb thought he could keep this from me. He’ll fucking pay. Both of you will.”
My body is drawn up into the air once more, all of my limbs feeling shattered and heavy. I’m thrown across the room again as I hit the wall, my arm bursting in agony as I slam back down on the floor.
Every inch of me is throbbing in uncontrollable pain. I choke up blood and roll over, watching as he stalks over to me with fury behind his dead eyes.
That’s when I know it’s all over. He’s going to end my life.
At a time when all I want is to live.