Chapter 158
Evelyn’s POV
“Oh, Evelyn, you’re going to be the most beautiful Luna at that gathering,” Diana gushed with excitement.
I wished I matched her enthusiasm. But to be honest, I just wasn’t feeling it. Not really.
“Thank you,” I said softly.
It was the evening of the formal gathering Kane had mentioned to me earlier in the week. I wanted to stand by his side with confidence and pride. Yet, I knew that I was going to have a difficult time just trying to maintain an easy-going smile.
My mind had been spinning in nonstop circles since my meeting with Kane and the rest of the group. I felt as though I’d hit a major breakthrough with this case study, and I had to put everything on hold.
The only thing that placated this feeling was knowing that I would, at least, be spending the majority of the night with Kane.
Diana and a few other maids were kind enough to help me get ready. Having put on my dress, she got started on curling my hair.
“Of course, you’re naturally beautiful enough,” one of the maids hummed. “But how about adding just a touch of eyeshadow to make your eyes really pop?”
I playfully rolled my eyes. “Oh, why not?”
The light-hearted energy in the room helped ease a lot of my tension. Once everyone was finished, I stood up from the vanity table and went over to my mother’s jewelry box. Apart from the teardrop earrings I had set out earlier, I decided to wear one of my mom’s necklaces.
I wanted to feel close to her tonight.
I met kane at the bottom of the grand staircase. I felt myself blushing under his appraising gaze. He placed my hand in the crook of his arm and led us out to the car.
We arrived at the banquet hall within the hour. Kane gave my hand a light squeeze, assuring me that everything was going to be fine.
As we stepped through the main hall, couples left and right greeted us with a slight bow of respect and acknowledgement. The group of us headed into the main room where a bunch of tables were set up.
Kane dropped his hand to my lower back and leaned down to speak into my ear. “Don’t worry, I won’t leave your side for a single moment.”
I let out a soft laugh. “I appreciate that, especially since I don’t really know anyone here,” I admitted.
Given that Kane was the alpha of the largest pack and territory in the region, many of the other alphas chose to approach him; their Lunas, on the other hand, were not standing beside them.
1/4
+25 Bonus
“Alpha Kane,” one of them greeted him. I tried my best not to take offense over the notion that he’d completely overlooked my presence.
“Alpha Julius.” Kane took the man’s hand and held it firmly. “This is my wife, Evelyn.”
My heart swelled in my chest at the sound of his loud declaration. Granted, it was true, hearing Kane announce such a thing so publicly caused goosebumps to trail down my spine in the sweetest way imaginable.
Suddenly, we were swarmed with a slew of other Alphas. All of which wore the same look of pretentiousness.
“Surely, your Luna would much prefer to gather with the others,” one of them suggested, gesturing to one of the back tables where most of the Lunas had already congregated.
“I can’t imagine she would want to be a part of such an unsavory conversation.”
“This sort of talk is not meant for delicate ears.”
The hauntiness that these other alphas gave off surrounded me like a toxic cloud, making it almost unbreathable. Kane stood his ground, yet I heard the snarl he did his best to suppress.
“I’ll have you all know that it is solely because of Evelyn that we were able to identify the root cause of the rogues’ feral behavior,” he stated firmly.
The whole group collectively fell silent. Some even turned a few shades paler. Within seconds, all eyes turned to me.
One of the alphas coughed and sputtered. “Well, I…I’m sure-”
“It needs to be noted that in the event we take down every last feral rogue and put an end to their chaos, it will be because of her research, her persistent efforts, and her unyielding devotion to this cause,” Kane said clearly.
Tears threatened to blur the corners of my eyes. Tears of sheer adoration and amour that I never knew I could feel. I was so tempted to turn to him and kiss him on the spot. But now was not the time.
“Whatever needs to be discussed will be so in front of her,” he concluded.
Not a single person dared to challenge him after that. But I was secretly more pleased by the notion that his touch never left my lower back.
Thankfully, Kane had the wise idea to suggest that everyone gather around our table who was eager to listen in. The conversations lasted for nearly two hours. He discussed different battle tactics, as well as defense strategies.
He gave everyone a chance to ask their questions if need be. But above all else, he tried to keep the growing apprehension under control.
As the evening carried on, everyone eventually drifted off to their respective tables. Dinner was served,
2/4
+25 Bonus
although I didn’t find myself with much of an appetite. My nerves were too on edge. Between Kane’s fierce declaration in my defense, and something unspoken.
“Are you alright?” he asked me quietly.
“I just have this feeling,” I gently shook my head. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”
When dinner was cleared away, a soft melody of music started to pour out from the speakers. My eyes were drawn to the few couples that were charmed toward the makeshift dance floor on the other side of
the great room.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Kane standing up from his chair. My heart immediately dropped into my stomach. He held out his hand for me to take.
“Dance with me,” he said.
“I…I don’t know how to,” I told him.
His smile only grew as he pulled me to my feet and led us over to the dance floor. He brought my hands to wrap around his neck, while he dropped to my waist. He controlled our movements, moving no more than a gentle sway.
“I’m very pleased that you agreed to come with me tonight,” he said. “I’m not always the biggest fan of these types of events.”
A smile pulled at the corner of my lips. “It’s no problem at all,” I told him. “Truthfully, I very much needed the distraction. With everything that’s been going on, if I weren’t here with you, then I would have likely been back in the archives covered in dust.”
Kane let out a low chuckle that vibrated all throughout my body. I came to rest my head on his shoulder. For just a moment, I closed my eyes and gave myself the chance to really take in the moment.
It wasn’t until I opened my eyes that I caught something moving beyond the outside window. I slightly pulled away from Kane and half-tilted my head for a better view.
“Evelyn?”
“I… There’s something out there,” I muttered. The longer I stared at the foreign shape, the quicker I came to realize what it was. Soon, a large pair of yellow, venomous eyes glared back at me through the
darkened shadows.
My breath caught in my lungs. “Kane…”
CRASH!!
3/4
+25 Bonus
