Chapter 96

Chapter 96: Chapter 96

There he was—Alpha Nathan of Netherreach, and the reason why Evelyn had come.

"That is Alpha Nathan of the Netherreach pack. Do you mind? I have to extend my greetings," Soren said, eyes locked on the man.

Everyone had their missions at the Gathering tonight. Evelyn had come to understand that. Soren too had his own reason for choosing to come—he needed funding for his program with the abandoned and trafficked children.

Evelyn smiled, nodding. "Lead the way."

Soren led Evelyn toward the group gathered around Alpha Nathan.

The Alpha of Netherreach stood out even among the powerful men in the room. He wore a black embroidered suit, a silver-and-black crest pinned to his lapel. His dark hair was neatly combed, and his expression carried the quiet confidence of someone who had never needed to raise his voice to command attention.

Evelyn observed him as they approached. He was stoic, confident—the way an Alpha should be. It was hard to see how he could be connected to a man like Voss.

Netherreach controlled some of the most profitable mineral deposits in the northern territories. Nathan had also invested in several trading companies beyond his borders. If she could secure his interest in her healing house, it could give her the financial foundation she needed to build something that would stand independently of Damon’s support.

It would be a win-win. She’d get to find out what she needed about Voss and secure an investment too.

"Alpha Nathan," Soren greeted him. The man turned toward them and gave a curt nod.

"Alpha Soren of the Ashbourne pack." Soren filled in, and the man’s eyes flashed with recognition.

"Alpha Tim’s Ashbourne, isn’t it?" He shook Soren’s awaiting hand. "Sorry for your loss. Alpha Tim was a great man."

"Thank you, Alpha." He then turned toward Evelyn. "Let me introduce you to Lady Evelyn Valemont."

Nathan’s gaze shifted to Evelyn, something in his eyes flickering with recognition. "Lady Evelyn." He inclined his head, extending his hand. "The name precedes you."

"Does it?" Evelyn accepted the handshake, composed. "I hope favorably."

"Quite a—" He didn’t get to finish his words as he was cut off by an intruder.

"What exactly have you done to get an invitation to a gathering like this, Evelyn Valemont?"

Evelyn blinked, taken aback. "What?"

Kael stepped closer, stopping next to Alpha Nathan himself. Beside him was Sophia, who looked like she’d rather be anywhere else.

"I’m sorry to have interrupted your conversation like this, Alpha Nathan. But you mustn’t have heard of Evelyn Valemont. Her kind isn’t the type for a respectable man."

Beside her, Soren’s smile disappeared.

Evelyn stared at Kael, momentarily wondering whether he had truly lost all sense of decorum. They were at the Gathering of the First Bloods, surrounded by Alphas whose approval he desperately needed, yet here he was, determined to make a spectacle of himself.

"What exactly is that supposed to mean, Alpha Kael? Have you perhaps begun to confuse me for your wife?" she asked.

"Sophia is ten times more of a woman than you could ever be, Evelyn." Kael spat out, gaze shifting to Soren. "You’re the newest one? Another man’s Evelyn? Until when will it be enough? First it was Damon, then that weak man Adrian, and now... him? Does he know he’s number four?"

Soren’s jaw tightened hard. He had a hand wrapped around Evelyn’s waist, drawing her closer to him. "Watch how you speak to my woman, Alpha Kael. I don’t remember anyone asking for your opinion."

Kael’s gaze dropped to Soren’s hand on Evelyn’s waist, and he grew redder, his grip on Sophia’s hand tightening even more.

Kael let out a disbelieving laugh.

"Well, I suppose congratulations are in order. You finally managed to snag a man with such low self-esteem that he’s willing to take another Alpha’s discarded wife."

A low growl rumbled from Soren’s chest.

"Soren," Evelyn murmured, placing a hand against his arm. He remained rigid, his eyes fixed on Kael, but he did not advance.

Evelyn gently eased herself forward. She wasn’t going to let Kael turn this into a contest between two men. That would only give him another opportunity to make himself the victim.

Instead, she turned toward Nathan. "My apologies, Alpha Nathan. It seems my former husband is still struggling to accept that our marriage is over."

Kael scoffed. "I’m only saving our dear Alpha Nathan here from falling into her traps as you have. Evelyn is a manipulative woman whose—"

"You speak of me as though I aren’t here, Kael." Evelyn interrupted finally. "For an Alpha, your mouth sure does run endlessly." She shook her head, turning to Alpha Nathan.

"Forgive the display of shame that has just happened here, Alpha Nathan. Kael here has no decorum and mostly doesn’t think."

Kael’s face darkened at the insult. "Evelyn!"

She ignored him. "Kael here is still incredibly angry because Silver Creek has fallen beyond graces. Tell him, Kael—just what ranking Silver Creek has fallen into. As a matter of fact, you shouldn’t even be here. Your pack is now considered struggling. You’re only here as a matter of grace from Alpha Lucien, I’m sure. Who in their right mind would choose to invest in a death trap like Silver Creek?"

Kael’s jaw tightened, color rising high on his face as several nearby Alphas exchanged glances. "That’s not—" His voice cracked slightly. "Silver Creek is recovering. We have new investors, new partnerships—"

"Investors who don’t know they’re investing in you," Evelyn said simply.

"You think you can humiliate me forever?" His voice rose again. "You think parading from man to man, playing the wounded martyr, makes you better than me?"

"I don’t need to make myself anything, Kael." Evelyn’s voice stayed level, almost bored now. "You’re doing an excellent job of that yourself. Tell me, is this the performance you rehearsed for tonight, or is the desperation simply showing through on its own?"

The more she spoke, the angrier Kael got. The Evelyn he knew before would never have dared to speak back to him. She’d cower at the sight of him. But this Evelyn—she’d changed so much he didn’t know what to make of it.

All he’d wanted to do was ruin her chances with Alpha Nathan, but instead he was being made to look incompetent while she stood there, gloating about his failures.

His pack was considered struggling? His presence was considered grace by Lucien?

"Why are you so angry, Kael?" Evelyn tilted her head, watching him unravel. "Is it because I took my blood supply with me when I left, and your daughter nearly died without it? Or because I own a quarter of your trading guild now?" She paused, letting the words settle. "Or perhaps because you came to my doorstep, on your knees, begging me to come back and save the child your own wife poisoned?"

Sophia’s face went bloodless. She nearly fell.

"You are not a victim, Kael. You’re simply a spineless coward who cannot bear the consequences of his own actions."

Something in him snapped.

His hand shot forward. Whether he intended to strike her or seize her arm, Evelyn barely had time to register the movement before Soren stepped between them.

He shoved Evelyn behind him, his body blocking Kael’s path as a vicious growl tore from his throat.

At the same instant, a powerful voice cut through the gathering.

"THAT’S ENOUGH!"

Kael’s hand remained suspended in the air. Soren stood between him and Evelyn, his eyes glowing with fury.

At the entrance to the hall stood Lucien.

The Supreme Alpha’s expression was terrifyingly calm.

His gaze moved from Kael’s raised hand to Soren standing protectively in front of Evelyn. Then it settled on Evelyn herself.

For one brief moment, something unreadable flickered in his eyes. He had not expected to find her here. Somehow, everywhere she went, she invited trouble.

Lucien stepped into the hall. "Alpha Kael," he began, his voice low and cold. "I suggest you lower your hand before you make a mistake you cannot recover from."