Chapter 75

Chapter 75: Chapter 75

By the time Evelyn returned to Valemont, the sun had already begun its descent. She stepped through the front entrance, removing her gloves as Clara followed behind her.

"Where is Tristan?" Evelyn asked. The man had asked for the day, but it was nearly night now.

"The Beta hasn’t returned yet, my Lady." The maid replied.

Evelyn nodded, about to step in when the Valemont gates groaned open. It was Tristan in his wolf form. He shifted into his human form on seeing her.

"My Lady." He greeted. "You’re only just returning?" he asked, and she nodded.

"As are you. I hope you were able to do all that you wanted to do today?" she asked, and for a slight second, he looked conflicted but nodded.

"I did. I was just about to—" He didn’t get to complete his words as loud voices echoed from inside the house.

It was Varek and Celine again.

Evelyn’s brows drew together. She exchanged a glance with Tristan before walking toward the noise.

The moment she entered the room, she found Varek standing near the fireplace while Celine stood opposite him, visibly furious.

"I am tired of being ignored!" Celine snapped.

Varek’s expression hardened. "Lower your voice."

"Why?" Celine shot back. "So you can continue pretending everything is fine?"

"It is not your place to decide what happens in this house." Varek argued, clearly frustrated.

"And whose place is it, Varek?" she demanded. "Because apparently it isn’t yours anymore."

The room fell silent as Evelyn stopped just inside the doorway.

Varek’s eyes immediately found her. "Evelyn!" he called, his voice strained—half relief, half warning, as though her presence might somehow diffuse what was already unraveling.

Celine turned, the anger on her face intensifying the moment she saw Evelyn standing there. "Of course," she said. "Here she is. Right on time."

"Celine—" Evelyn started carefully.

Evelyn recognized the seal before Celine had even finished unfolding it. "Luna Veronica’s invitation."

"My invitation," Celine said. "That’s what it should have been. An invitation to dine with the Supreme Alpha’s mother, extended to the Luna of Valemont. Instead, it came addressed to you." Her voice cracked upward, years of restraint finally giving way all at once.

"Everything comes addressed to you now, Evelyn. The partnership with Bloodmoon. The summit, where half the realm watched you stand beside Alphas like you were born to it. And my husband—" She turned toward Varek, something desperate in the gesture "—my husband stands in his own home and lets it happen."

"Celine, that isn’t fair," Varek said, low.

"Isn’t it?" She rounded on him. "When was the last time anyone in this realm addressed a letter to Alpha Varek of Valemont without mentioning her name in the same breath? When was the last time the servants spoke of you first, and her second?"

Evelyn felt something cold settle in her chest. "Celine, I never asked for any of this to overshadow Varek. If I’ve made you feel—"

"You’ve made me feel like a stranger in my own home." Celine’s voice broke entirely now, tears spilling freely. "I have watched you become the Alpha of this house in everything but title, and I am done pretending I haven’t noticed. I am done smiling while people forget my husband exists the moment your name enters a room."

"Celine." Varek’s voice had gone dangerously quiet. "That’s enough."

"It is not enough!" She turned on him fully now, months of swallowed resentment finally spilling loose. "I have said nothing for months, Varek. Months. Watching you shrink in your own home while she grows larger in it. I am your wife. I should not have to compete with your cousin for the realm’s attention, and I am tired—I am so tired of pretending that doesn’t matter."

The room had gone utterly silent. Celine turned back to Evelyn, something final settling into her expression.

"I want you to leave Valemont."

Evelyn stared at her for several seconds. She genuinely couldn’t find a response.

Leave? This was the home she had been born into. It was the home her father had built. The home where her mother had died giving birth to her. The home she had returned to after five years of being treated as though she belonged nowhere.

And now Celine was standing in the middle of it, asking her to leave as though she were an unwanted guest.

"Celine," Varek said sharply.

"No." Celine shook her head, wiping angrily at her tears. "Don’t stop me this time."

"You’re upset—"

"I’m not upset, Varek. I’m exhausted." She interjected. She turned toward Evelyn again.

"I know you didn’t ask for the invitations. I know you didn’t ask for people to come here looking for you. I know you didn’t personally tell every Alpha in the realm to start speaking your name."

Her voice trembled. "But it is happening."

Evelyn swallowed. "And what exactly do you want me to do about that?"

Celine’s lips parted, but before she could answer, Varek stepped forward. "That’s enough."

His tone carried enough authority to silence the room.

Celine stared at him. "Is it? Look around you, Varek. Truly look. When was the last time you made a decision without consulting Evelyn? When was the last time you sat at this table and discussed Valemont’s future without her name coming up? You run about like a lapdog for her instead of an Alpha."

Varek’s jaw tightened. "Because she’s family."

"She’s family," Celine repeated bitterly. "And I’m your wife."

Evelyn looked at Varek. He seemed caught between them, his expression tightening as though he were being forced to choose between two sides he had never expected to stand against each other.

She cleared her throat. "Celine, if I had felt for a second that you thought this of me, I would’ve—"

"You would have what?" Celine interrupted. "You have become so powerful that everyone around you has forgotten there are other people here."

Evelyn’s brows drew together. "I have never treated you like you were beneath me."

"I know." Celine’s eyes filled again. "That is what makes it worse."

"I don’t hate you, Evelyn." Celine’s voice cracked. "I hate what has happened to this house since you came back. I hate watching my husband become a stranger in his own home. I hate hearing servants whisper about your healing house and your investments and your meetings with Alphas while Varek’s name barely leaves these walls. I hate watching them worship you while we—we aren’t even regarded." She paused for a second. "It’s his pack now. Let him rule it."

Evelyn stepped back as though the floor was made of nails. She nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat.

"I’ll go."

Varek stepped forward. "No, that’s not right, Evelyn. Celine is being—"

"No, she’s right," Evelyn interjected. "You both have done more than enough for me. It’s true my father built this pack, but it’s no longer his. It’s now yours, and I have no intention of taking it. During the most difficult time of my life, you have both been there for me. I won’t be the reason you fight. Not anymore. I’ll leave tonight."

Before either of them could speak, she walked up the stairs to her room, Clara behind her. She didn’t have much since she didn’t bring much, and so in minutes she was done packing.

Clara stepped out of the room while she stood behind, her heart feeling heavier than ever. She and Celine had been good friends. Since Varek mated her, she’d been the most supportive one, and so she hadn’t expected this at all. But life came at one in different ways.

She turned when she heard footsteps behind her. It was Tristan.

He stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him. "Where are we heading to, my Lady?"

Evelyn stared for a second. She had no place of her own yet. All the money she’d gotten had been directed to the healing house.

"An inn. I’m sure we can get an inn for the next couple of days while I figure it out."

"I have a place." He blurted out suddenly, taking Evelyn aback. ℯℯ𝑙.

"What?"

"I have a home of my own. I bought it years ago. Back when I was still working under Kael. I thought..." He hesitated. "I thought one day I’d retire there. But I have never lived there once, and frankly, I don’t care about it." He paused. "You can have it."

She shook her head almost immediately. "No."

"My Lady—"

"No, Tristan." She turned fully toward him. "You bought that house with your own money. You worked for it. You planned to retire there. I can’t simply take it from you."

"You wouldn’t be taking it."

"That is exactly what I’d be doing." Exactly what she did here too.

Tristan sighed. "Then don’t take it. Stay there. Don’t refuse before you’ve even seen it. You can stay there as long as you need. And if you eventually decide you want your own place, you can leave."

Evelyn studied him. "You worked hard for that house."

He nodded. "I did. But now I have an opportunity to give something to someone who has given me more than she probably realizes."

Evelyn stared at him for a bit longer, then finally nodded. "Thank you, Tristan. Truly, thank you."