Chapter 66

Chapter 66: Chapter 66

The summit hall was beautiful. The moment Lucien stepped into the threshold, he was swarmed with Alphas.

The arse-licking ones.

Those who had been lobbying to get their name attached to him one way or the other. From his peripheral vision, he saw his mother step toward the Lunas’ circle, and his attention turned back to the Alphas speaking over themselves, vying for his approval.

His jaw tightened—not out of anger, but out of boredom. The summit wasn’t different all around, and this year was bound to be the same.

"—and if the Alpha would consider extending the northern trade concession, my pack would be—"

Lucien barely listened, his eyes wandering across the hall without much interest.

The decorations were extravagant as always. The council had spared no expense. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting golden light across the polished marble floor.

Everything was perfect. Predictable.

Lucien took the glass a servant offered him and took a slow sip. His eyes moved across the room. Was he looking for something? Or perhaps someone?

The thought was quick to vanish from his head. Preposterous, that was what it was.

He caught himself doing it again—this time glancing toward the doors—and forced his gaze back to his wine instead, irritated by his own inability to simply stop.

He hadn’t been looking for her. He had no reason to. Whatever business existed between him and Evelyn had been settled.

Their last conversation had ended with a warning. She had no reason to be at the Alpha Summit, and he hoped they never crossed paths again.

He was midway through telling himself that for perhaps the third time when the doors opened again, and the quality of the room’s noise shifted—conversations thinning, heads turning, the particular hush that only ever followed one person into any hall she entered.

"Oh my Gods, it’s her."

Something in his mother’s voice made him turn, and he froze.

Evelyn stood at the entrance.

For several seconds, Lucien simply stared.

He had seen Evelyn before. He had seen her in his office, standing across from him without an ounce of fear.

He had seen her furious, exhausted, cocky, smiling when she knew she’d won.

He had seen her looking at him as though she could see straight through every wall he put up.

But he had never—Lucien stopped the thought.

His eyes remained fixed on her. She wore a deep wine-red gown that fell gracefully to the floor. Her brown hair had been swept back, the white streaks woven through it making them look almost intentional.

There was a man to her right, but he was blurred in Lucien’s sight.

"Alpha." Marcus called, and he looked away, clearing his throat, trying to play it off as though he hadn’t been caught staring.

He turned, his back facing the entrance now. He didn’t care how she looked, or how she’d intrigued him since the Celestial Realm crisis. She was an enemy.

Across the hall, Evelyn had barely taken a few steps inside when she felt eyes on her. She could see the shock on some faces, disdain on others.

She’d managed to snag herself a couple of enemies after what had happened with Kael, especially.

Evelyn couldn’t care less, though. Her head was raised high, confident. For most, this was the first time they were seeing her in years.

Adrian leaned closer. "Now, talk about attention. It must be something, being you, Evelyn Valemont."

Evelyn gave a small smile. "You’ll get used to it, Adrian Everwood."

Adrian smirked. His intrigue in the woman standing beside him, her arm locked into his, was growing by the second.

"Would you like a drink?" he asked.

"I suppose."

Adrian reached for a passing servant and took two glasses, handing one to her.

"Thank you." She replied, taking a sip, her eyes continuing to move around the room.

She noticed several familiar faces—some she had dealt with during her time in Silver Creek, and others she had only heard about.

Then her gaze settled briefly on the far side of the room.

Kael wasn’t there. Neither was Sophia.

Evelyn’s lips pressed together. Perhaps they hadn’t arrived yet.

Good for her, though. Her gaze shifted toward the entrance, where Tristan stood near one of the pillars, watching the room.

Their eyes met, and Evelyn gave him a slight nod. He understood immediately and walked away.

"Now, who are we socialising with first?" she asked, and Adrian grinned, pulling her gently toward the two middle-aged Alphas who seemed like they too had only just come into the realm for the summit.

"Alpha Leon and Alpha Nicolas. It’s an honour to meet you here." Adrian greeted, and the men immediately opened their hands, clearly receptive.

Evelyn also stretched her hand, joining in their conversation for a bit. Once they spent some minutes with the two, they moved to the next Alphas and did the same.

By the fourth Alpha and his Luna, Evelyn took a step back, needing a break from the fake smile she’d plastered onto her face.

She grabbed a second drink from the waiter but hadn’t taken a sip when she heard someone from behind her.

"If it isn’t Evelyn Valemont herself!"

Evelyn turned around, and a smile grew onto her face. "Luna Veronica."

"How long were you going to wait until you came to greet me, huh?" The woman said, stepping toward her, arms stretched out for a hug instead.

Evelyn laughed softly, stepping into the embrace easily. "Forgive me, Luna. I was attempting to survive the receiving line first."

"Nonsense." Veronica pulled back, holding her at arm’s length, studying her with open delight. "You look radiant, dear. Absolutely radiant. Cleaning up that political nonsense has clearly agreed with you."

A short laugh escaped Evelyn despite herself. "It sure has, Veronica."

"I wondered briefly if you would come tonight. I wanted so desperately to see you again. After all, I enjoyed seeing you the last time." Veronica looped her arm through Evelyn’s without asking permission, drawing her a step away from where Adrian was entirely.

"Now. I’ve been thinking. You’ll come to the pack house for dinner. Not some formal, dreadful affair with council members hovering. It will be simply dinner—the two of us, perhaps my son if he can manage to behave himself for an evening."

Evelyn smiled. Dinner with her and her son? Lucien being the said son? His last words still echoed in her ears.

Evelyn grinned. "I’d like that, Luna."

"Wonderful." Veronica’s gaze flicked briefly across the hall, toward where Lucien stood with his back turned, still surrounded by the flock of Alphas. "Lucien."

He didn’t turn, as though he didn’t hear her over the soft music.

"Lucien." She called louder this time. There was no way he couldn’t have heard her this time.

He turned then, reluctantly, something carefully blank across his face—until his eyes actually landed on Evelyn, and whatever composure he’d assembled simply failed.

For a long moment, he said nothing at all, his gaze moving over her with an intensity he clearly hadn’t intended to show, before he could smooth it back into place.

"Evelyn." Her name came out rougher than he seemed to expect from himself.

"Alpha Lucien." Her tone stayed perfectly even, though her mouth lifted at the corner—something that might have been amusement at his obvious discomposure.

"I have invited Evelyn to dinner during the coming week at the pack. We will be hosting," Veronica informed him.

Evelyn smiled internally seeing the quick shock in Lucien’s eyes at her words. His gaze snapped to her. "Mother—"

He didn’t get to complete his words. It was in that exact moment that Adrian stepped up quietly behind her, his hand settling lightly at the small of her back.

Veronica’s gaze narrowed slightly, just as Lucien’s dropped to the hand.

"And who might you be?" she asked.

"Alpha Adrian of the Celestial Realm, and Lady Evelyn’s date tonight."