Evelyn POV
I kept my insecurities to myself. I had no right to suspect Reuben of something. He wasn’t mine was he, not yet anyway, and did I really plan to keep him?
My mind was all over the place not to mention my emotions. But it was far easier to put that cold facade back on, sew back those broken stitches of my heart that has started to fray. This was easier, coldness kept me safe, kept me in control.
The rollercoaster of wanting Reuben and yet keeping him at arm’s length was giving myself whiplash, let alone what mixed signals I was giving off to him. She was an alpha’s daughter, he the King of the alliance her pack was a member of. It would be no different to Milo wanting a private word with me.
Would I appreciate Reuben flying off in a jealous rage?
No.
Noah had returned with Rex from the tour and it gave me a window of opportunity to get my boy finally dressed and looking presentable. Especially to bid the alphas and lunas farewell shortly.
We had walked down the stairs as a family unit. All looking smart and lingering in the courtyard outside. We watch as cars were preparing for numerous guest’s departures and suitcases were being placed in the cars based on each pack’s beta’s instructions. Rex enjoys watching the formalities of pack like, I think he likes to take note for the future. Notes on things he would be doing differently.
“Well Rex and Elspeth, thank you for your hospitality. Especially for those tea parties…” Alpha Pierce bends down, and gently taps Elspeth on the nose.
I can sense Reuben entering into the courtyard, my eyes find his before he looks down at Pierce bidding farewell to the twins. Elspeth’s plants a gentle kiss on his cheek, his pearly white smile bright and seen by Reuben. He was taking that as an upmanship against Reuben…he has won Elspeth’s little heart before her own father.
“Evelyn my love…” Pierce stands and holds his hands out to me before placing a kiss on each cheek. He takes my arm in his and walks me to his car.
“You will visit my pack soon I hope? The Grey Howl pack would always be open for you and the children…I hope you know that?” His eyes have a mischievous glint in them and I do not need enhanced wolf hearing to listen to the rumble emitting from Reuben’s chest.
“Thank you Pierce for everything and I’ll take you up on that sometime soon.” I smile at him pouring my sincerity into my tone.
He helped save Rex, he was my pearly white teeth hero. Yes a tad naughty but only as a playful banter. He still holds an aura, that if crossed, would send chills to the dampest coldest corners of the earth.
“Promise me you will call if you need an ally?” He takes a more serious tone. “That’s very…”
“Promise me?” He is more insistent, wanting to hear a yes from me. “I promise.” I place a kiss on his cheek before pulling away.
“Very good.”
I take the time to say goodbye to the members of the Silver Moon alliance. Promising them that now my identity is known that I will take time to visit their packs.
I have also offered that once the birthing centre calms down Noah and I would look forward to welcoming them to the Silver Moon pack grounds.
I can see the loyal members of the Red Stone alliance eyeing me with disdain, distrust. They were contacted but made it very clear where their loyalty lies. And that’s fine, I didn’t threaten them, I didn’t push. I just left communication open should they change their minds in the future.
In the corner of my eye I can see Reuben and Nate talking to a group of alphas while the lunas chat amongst themselves. Oddly Alpha Renard and Natascha stand alone, talking to Ivo. We’re they not popular among the Red Stone alliance? Even the lunas…they were making a point of not going out of their way to include Natascha.
A hearty chuckle leaves Reuben’s chest and I have to turn, to see what made him laugh. I can’t help myself.
His face was in the middle of a joyous laugh which highlighted his ocean blue eyes, his high cheek bones and plump pink lips. He had a pout, usually only when frustrated or smoking, but it seemed on display right now.
Our eyes meet and I can feel the heat within the glance. His laugh has faded as his eyes snap to the side of me, where I sense someone wanting to talk to me.
“Alpha Evelyn!” I keep my groan internal as he has managed to catch me in-between a conversation.
“Alpha Renard, safe travels!” I shoo the children towards Noah who is taking to Milo, Candice and Cassandra.
He picks up on my redirecting them, and holds his hand out for Elspeth to take. Rex stands to his other side, under his safe arm.
There were a lot of new faces and the children had done exceptionally well. They had never been exposed to such an event before, not off pack grounds anyway.
“I must say I’m intrigued to this new truce between the Silver Moon and the Red Stone pack.”
“Oh?” At least I managed to save the children from his long winded complaint.
“Well if you and Alpha Reuben are now conspiring together, there isn’t really an unbiased outcome anymore is there? I assume you set up the alliance as a competitor, for packs that weren’t happy with the long established Red Stone alliance. So if the two alliances are acting towards a similar aim…. what’s the point in the Silver Moon alliance. Surely it has made itself redundant.” He purses his lips as he finishes his conversation. His disapproval not so well hidden by his words and tone.
What a prick!
“I can assure you Alpha Renard that although a short term truce has occurred, it isn’t set in stone and any creases will be ironed out. I take my position as the head of the Silver Moon alliance very seriously and wouldn’t act in a manner that would displease my packs.”
“That’s all and good but….”
“Alpha Renard, with all due respect. You are not a member of the Silver Moon alliance and therefore have no credible reason to question my integrity.” I let my aura roll off me, making it very clear who was the superior alpha here. He doesn’t expect my stronger aura, he’s a sexist pig and underestimates the power of a she- wolf.
“I didn’t mean to offend you dear!” He apologises when I cut my aura. The way he says dear is patronising, not in the gentle warm way Ivo and Pierce say it.
“You haven’t.” I smile sweetly. He has irritated me, made my lower spine shiver but I won’t give him the satisfaction of knowing it.
I head over to join Rex and Elspeth with Noah and the rest. His deliverance was incorrect but he did have a point. What would happen to the alliances if Reuben and I became a couple. The whole point of me setting up the Silver Moon alliance was as a direct comparison to the Red Stone pack. We promised a different approach. That’s how Noah and I managed to transfer packs over, they wanted something different.
All of the visitors had gone, all but Alpha Renard and Natascha. They were both busy talking to Reuben and Nate… I say talking. Nate was doing all the hard work, whereas Reuben was watching me behind the protection of his sunglasses. Goddess he looked hot in sunglasses.
A smirk enters into his lips as heated tingles rush to my lower core. I just roll my eyes at him, shaking my head in disbelief.
“Oh Reuben…” Natascha grabs his upper arm, on his bicep that struggles to stay within his tight black T-shirt.
“It’s been great to see you again!”
Again? I have to bite down on my own tongue to stop myself growling at her touch. He remains still, tenses in fact, before he steps away from her removing his sunglasses. He gives her a death stare which is enough to appease my growing insecurities at her constant insistence to touch or be around him, for now.
His aura, even outside in the open air, was dark, moody and oppressive. It felt as if the storm within his eyes had transferred to the clouds above, creating a storm weather front outside the Blue Moon alpha house.
Both Natascha and Renard take a step back, whereas Nate just crosses his arms, used to the monstrous aura of the alpha king. “I made it clear not to touch me!” He growls at Natascha, who whimpers under his intense threatening aura.
“Now leave before you make another spectacle of yourself again!” He coldly says to her before spinning on the spot and heading back into the alpha house. She looks at me, if looks could kill…
Ha, an open rejection would hurt… maybe she’ll keep her claws off him from now on.
