Chapter 78

Chapter 78: Chapter 78

Evelyn’s brows cocked up. She looked Lucien in the eye without blinking and slowly picked up her drink, taking a sip. "What package?" She finally responded.

"Don’t." Lucien leaned back in his chair, studying her with something between amusement and suspicion. "You know exactly what package."

"I’m afraid I don’t recall anything of the sort." She took a sip of wine, unhurried. "Perhaps you’re thinking of another summit."

Lucien’s lips curved at that. "You know, I’ve taken you to be quite a perceptive woman. Why go through all the stress to lie? It’s obvious you did that."

"And what if I did?" Evelyn asked suddenly, and Lucien smirked.

"Tell me, Alpha Lucien. Are you going to castigate me yet again?"

"Castigate you?"

Evelyn hummed. "Exactly that. Are you going to be your sickly, self-righteous self and castigate me?" She leaned forward, fingers intertwined.

Lucien’s brow arched. "Sickly self-righteous?"

"Mm." Evelyn’s smile didn’t waver. "It’s a specific tone you have. I’ve grown rather familiar with it."

"I wasn’t going to castigate you. At least, not yet. What was it you said again? To not interfere in your fight with Kael. I merely assumed this was a part of your fight. After all, how could Sophia send that package to the summit herself? Ridiculous to the ears, isn’t it?"

Evelyn listened to each word he spoke, then tilted her head slightly, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "Who would’ve thought you would take it so literally... but to answer your question—" She didn’t get to answer his question as Veronica chose that exact time to return.

"Would you like some cinnamon buns, child? I had Armando the chef prepare them. I heard you have quite the taste for cinnamon."

Evelyn looked down at her plate as Veronica herself served the buns. Her cheeks warmed at the sight. Somehow, with this woman, she felt much warmer—it was something she hadn’t ever felt.

"I—" She was lost for words. Truly, she did like cinnamon, but knowing Veronica had taken the time to find out what she liked... No one had ever done that for her. Ever.

Lucien watched Evelyn swallow hard, her eyes watching with something he couldn’t describe. Was she really being emotional over cinnamon buns?

Evelyn blinked quickly, willing the sting behind her eyes to settle before it became something embarrassing. "Thank you," she managed, her voice softer than she intended. "You didn’t have to go through the trouble."

"Nonsense." Veronica waved a hand, settling back into her seat with the satisfied air of someone who’d pulled off a small victory. "It was no trouble at all. Armando enjoys the excuse. He says I never let him make anything interesting anymore."

"Because the last ’interesting’ thing he made nearly took down half the kitchen," Lucien said dryly.

"That was one time." Veronica shot him a look before turning back to Evelyn, her expression gentling. "Eat, child. You’ve barely touched your plate."

Evelyn reached for one of the buns, the warmth of it settling into her palm, and took a slow bite—if only to give herself something to do besides sit there feeling entirely too seen. It was, she had to admit, very good.

"It’s wonderful," she said, and meant it.

Veronica beamed as though Evelyn had handed her a great gift rather than the other way around. "I’m so glad. You know, my mother used to make something similar, back when I was a pup. I haven’t thought of it in years—until Lucien mentioned you liked cinnamon."

Evelyn paused, taken aback. Lucien was the one who mentioned she liked cinnamon buns?

Lucien cleared his throat, suddenly feeling awkward. "Ashira had gotten information on you. It was a part." He grunted out.

Evelyn turned her gaze to him slowly, something flickering behind her eyes that she quickly smoothed away. "A part of what, exactly?"

"Procedure." Lucien reached for his own glass, suddenly very interested in the wine. "It’s standard to gather information on anyone who presents a potential... complication."

"A complication." Evelyn repeated the word like she was tasting it. "Is that what I am?"

"You know exactly what you are."

"Enlighten me."

Veronica, watching the exchange with poorly concealed delight, bit into her own bun and said nothing, clearly enjoying the show far too much to interrupt it.

Lucien’s jaw tightened slightly. "A thorn. An inconvenience. A woman who cost me several billion silvers. A woman with—"

"That’s enough, Lucien. Insulting our guest isn’t what any kind of Alpha would do, much less you." Veronica interjected.

Lucien stared at her for some seconds, then shook his head.

Evelyn hid a smile. Seeing for herself just how much stress she put on the Supreme Alpha and his pack made her heart warm.

"The buns are very well done. Thank you again, Veronica."

Veronica beamed so brightly at the compliment that Lucien looked away. He didn’t get it. Couldn’t. Why did his mother like Evelyn this much? What was it about her that drew her attention?

He’d known Veronica all his life, and never had he seen her so infatuated with another person—not even his father. Their relationship had been good, cordial, and respectful, but seeing his mother like this with another person wasn’t an everyday sight.

His jaw tightened the more he watched her fawn over Evelyn. She wasn’t even like this towards Aria.

"Alpha—we’ve got information on Alpha Chris’s whereabouts." Ashira’s voice suddenly filled his head.

He sat up straight at the information. Clearing his throat, he stood up to leave the table.

"Lucien, you can’t leave yet." Veronica’s voice stopped him in his tracks. Lucien turned back, brows raised in irritation.

"Well then, excuse me." He said, assuming she’d stopped him because he hadn’t excused himself. He moved to leave again, but she stopped him for the second time, earning Evelyn’s attention now.

"You can’t leave, not when you’re going to drop Evelyn off at her new home."

Lucien’s jaw ticked. "Mother, I have urgent pack business to attend to. Ashira just—"

"Ashira can wait ten more minutes," Veronica said, not even glancing up from her bun. "This cannot."

"I have a carriage," Evelyn cut in quickly. "There’s no need for Alpha Lucien to trouble himself."

"Nonsense." Veronica waved her hand, the same gesture she’d used to dismiss Lucien twice already. "It’s dark, child, and you’re family now as far as I’m concerned. I won’t have you riding home alone when my son is perfectly capable of seeing you there safely."

"Family," Lucien repeated under his breath, something caught between disbelief and irritation.

"I really don’t mind the carriage," Evelyn tried again, though with considerably less conviction than before, caught off guard by the warmth behind Veronica’s insistence.

"It’s settled." Veronica rose from her seat, pressing a kiss to the top of Evelyn’s head as though she’d done it a hundred times before. "Lucien will take you. He has excellent horses and even better manners, when he remembers to use them."

Evelyn glanced at Lucien, half expecting him to argue further, to find some clever excuse the way he always seemed ready with one.

He didn’t.

"Fine," he said instead, setting his napkin down with more force than necessary. "I’ll take her."

Evelyn blinked. Why would Lucien agree to it? He was the Supreme Alpha. Shouldn’t he be able to use his title to get out of things like this?

"I—" She was lost for words. Veronica walked out of the dining room but was back within minutes, holding a small bag.

She handed it to Evelyn. "Here, some more cinnamon buns to take home."

Evelyn blinked, glancing at the bag in her hands now. Truly, she had never felt like this. "Thank you, Veronica. Truly, thank you."

Veronica waved her off dismissively. "Nonsense, don’t thank me again. Come back again, will you? This time I’ll make sure it’s just you and I. No grumpy Alpha."

Evelyn laughed despite herself, the sound catching Lucien’s attention from across the room. "I’ll hold you to that."

"See that you do." Veronica pressed one last kiss to her cheek, then turned to her son with a look that dared him to say otherwise. "Go on, then. Both of you."

Lucien was already out the door while Evelyn walked behind, the two of them not saying a word.

The ride back was quiet at first, until it wasn’t. They weren’t far from Tristan’s home when Lucien spoke.

"She likes you." Lucien said eventually, not quite looking at her.

"She’s kind to everyone, I’d imagine." Evelyn replied.

"No." He shook his head slightly. "She isn’t. Not like this." He paused, glancing at her. "It’s almost like you used a potion on her."

Evelyn huffed a laugh. "A potion. Of course. Because the only explanation for your mother liking me is witchcraft."

"I didn’t say witchcraft." Lucien’s eyes stayed fixed on the road ahead, though his mouth had the faintest curve to it. "I said potion. There’s a difference."

The carriage came to a halt. Evelyn looked at the house ahead, brimming with lights.

She moved to leave but paused at Lucien’s voice.

"You haven’t answered my question."

Evelyn frowned, then she remembered his question. A small smile touched her lips as she stepped down from the carriage.

"I did it."

Lucien stared after her, and before he could ask anything else, Evelyn closed the carriage door.