Chapter 53

Chapter 53: Chapter 53

Lucien didn’t look up from the reports when Marcus entered, though something in the Beta’s silence told him everything before a word was spoken.

"Well?" he asked finally, when the silence stretched too long to ignore.

"She wouldn’t see me." Marcus’s voice was carefully even. "Alpha Varek turned me away at the gate. Lady Evelyn’s message was clear—if you have something to discuss, you’ll come yourself. She has no interest in speaking to your Beta."

For a moment, Lucien simply stared at him. Then he burst out laughing, like he couldn’t believe his ears. "She wants me to come to her. Personally. To apologize."

"That was the substance of it, Alpha."

"Has the woman lost whatever remained of her mind?" Lucien pushed back from his desk, pacing toward the window. "I am the Supreme Alpha of this realm. I do not travel to another Alpha’s estate to beg forgiveness from a woman who—"

He hadn’t even finished speaking when the door flew open and Ashira stepped in, holding yet another report in her hand, her face sour like she’d just tasted bitter lemon.

"Bad news, is it?" Marcus asked.

Ashira could only hum quietly. "Alpha, more of our shipments have been rejected by the Celestial Realm." She tossed report one on the table.

Lucien’s eyes immediately dropped to it. "How many?"

"Seven more."

His expression darkened. "Seven?" he echoed.

"Yes. And that isn’t even the worst part." Ashira reached for another sheet. "Some of the goods that have already been delayed are beginning to spoil. Grain, herbs, preserved meat, medicinal roots. If we can’t get them through soon, we’ll have to write them off completely."

Lucien’s jaw clenched. "How much have we lost?" he asked.

"Another six million silvers in estimated losses," Ashira replied.

The silence that followed was defeating enough.

Marcus slowly exhaled. The number was becoming absurd. Every time they thought they had reached the worst of it, another report arrived. Another rejection, another merchant backing away, another Alpha questioning whether remaining loyal to the First Houses was worth the cost.

Lucien stared at the reports spread across his desk. "This has gone too far."

Ashira raised an eyebrow. "That’s what we’ve been saying."

Lucien shot her a glare, but she didn’t flinch.

"If we don’t resolve whatever this is soon," Ashira continued, "we won’t simply be losing coin, Alpha. We’ll be losing goods that can’t be recovered at any price. Grain doesn’t wait for pride to settle itself."

"I’m well aware of what grain does, General."

"Then perhaps you’re less aware of what pride is currently costing us." Her voice stayed level. "If this is truly coming from her end, then she is the only one capable of pacifying it. No amount of new routes, no amount of new contracts will matter if she’s the one holding every thread that’s strangling us."

Lucien said nothing for a long moment, his jaw working, his gaze fixed on the reports without truly seeing them anymore.

"You want me to go to her," he said finally. "Kneel, apologize, grovel before her."

"Alpha—no one is asking you to kneel and grovel before her. What we are asking is different, and you know it." Ashira stepped closer. "You can’t keep letting your pride cost us—cost the pack—everything."

Lucien didn’t say a word because he knew she was right. The pack was far greater than his pride, and right now, his pack was suffering. He needed to drop his pride and go meet Evelyn Valemont, even if it was the last thing he wanted to do.

---

Meanwhile in Silver Creek, Sophia had just gotten the news and was on her way to Kael’s office.

Sophia’s heels clicked against the floor as she hurried toward Kael’s study. The news had reached her through the servants’ gossip—Lucien was in trouble.

She pushed open the door without knocking. Kael looked up from his desk, his expression shifting from irritation to curiosity. "Sophia. What is it?"

"Have you heard?"

Kael’s brows raised. "Heard what?"

Sophia smiled smugly. "Your dear Supreme Alpha has run into some problems he can’t even get out of."

This earned Kael’s full attention. "What?"

"His shipments are all being rejected from all realms, and now even the First Houses is crumbling. Can you imagine that?"

"Where did you hear this gossip? The Supreme Alpha can’t just—"

"The Supreme Alpha is losing coins faster than ever. Of course this shows why he couldn’t lend you the money you needed. How could he, when he himself is being drained?"

Kael paused. Sophia was making sense. But it still didn’t explain why he was so hostile to him.

"Did you hear of the reason why his shipments are being rejected?" he asked.

At this part, Sophia’s jaw hardened, her face moved from excitement to irritation. "Yeah. It’s all because of Evelyn."

"What?"

"Rumors has it that she has cast some spell on the Supreme Alpha and has managed to do this to him. Can you believe it? The same Evelyn we know is doing this to an Alpha like Lucien!"

Kael went very still. "Evelyn did this?"

Sophia’s face twisted with barely concealed fury. "That’s what they’re saying. She’s somehow done this to him. Alphas are defecting from the First Houses. He’s losing millions." She laughed bitterly. "The same woman who couldn’t even keep her own pack in order is now bringing the Supreme Alpha to his knees. How ridiculous is that?"

Kael said nothing. He rose from his desk, walking toward the window, his mind churning as he blurred out Sophia’s words.

Could Evelyn truly have done this? How? His jaw tightened the more he thought of it. He knew she was intelligent—that was one of the reasons his father had pressed for their marriage. "She will help the pack in various ways, Kael," he had said.

Kael had never felt an inkling of affection for Evelyn. He’d only kept her at his side because she was useful. At least, in keeping the pack together, she’d proven her worth. But not once had he thought she could be something more.

Someone bold enough to face the Supreme Alpha and block his shipments. His brows furrowed as he wondered—had he truly known Evelyn in full, or had he just known glimpses of her?

Did it matter, though? Sophia might not know it, but this information she’d brought for him had now shown him the light. He’d been thinking about it for days, and now he had finally made up his mind.

He had to bring Evelyn back.

And this time, he wasn’t going the usual route. He was going to win her love again.

He had done it once before. Evelyn had been madly in love with him, and so he knew he could do it again. After all, just how much could she have changed in four months?

He turned to Sophia, who was still rambling on, and slowly pulled her closer to him till her head rested on his chest. Gently, he stroked her hair.

"Stop worrying about Evelyn, Sophia. Instead, start thinking of which realm you’d like to visit. Think of the clothes you want me to buy for you."

"Kael—"

"Think, Sophia. Our lives are about to change for the better, and this time, I intend to do things in a more positive manner."

---

Meanwhile, in the Valemont estate, Evelyn sat in the living room, watching Tristan and Varek tussle. It had been two days since the visit from Beta Marcus, and it had been quiet ever since.

Servants walked in and out of the pack house, carrying various kinds of baskets. It was clear that whatever Evelyn had done was fruitful for the Valemont pack.

"My Lady." Clara called, bowing slightly. In her hands was a sealed envelope. "A message from the Celestial Realm has arrived for you."

Varek and Tristan paused their game, sharing a look at the name of the realm as Evelyn collected the envelope from Clara and went through it.

Evelyn read it twice before setting it down.

"What does it say, Evelyn?"

"Lord Adrian requests a meeting," she said. "Regarding the summit. He wants to see his date and talk. He’s asked me to choose the place."

Varek’s brows drew together immediately. "Does he not want to go to the summit with you as his father has chosen?" Varek asked.

Evelyn shrugged. "I don’t care. I’m not going to be in another Kael situation. That’s why it’s better he sees me and we discuss."

Varek nodded. "Then choose here. Valemont, on our own ground, where we control every variable."

"No." Evelyn was already reaching for a fresh sheet of parchment. "I won’t have him inside Valemont’s walls before I’ve even properly met him."

Tristan, arms crossed near the window, studied her carefully. "Then where?"

"The Amber Hearth." She wrote the name out plainly, folding the letter without hesitation. "A neutral, respectable tavern for nobles. It’s public enough that neither of us needs to worry about the other’s intentions."

Varek didn’t look satisfied, though he didn’t argue further.

Tristan, however, straightened from where he’d been leaning. "I’m coming with you."

Evelyn glanced up at him, something almost fond crossing her face. "I expected nothing less."