The thought barely had time to register before Holden set her back down, throwing an arm around her shoulders and announcing, “Let’s drink!” With that, he strode off toward the barrels of ale, leaving Evelyne standing there, still reeling.
The night was a blur of dancing, laughter, and the warm burn of ale. It was precisely the kind of distraction Evelyne needed. The steady pulse of music thrummed in her chest, and the firelight flickered off the shifting bodies around her, casting shadows against the trees.
Alaric hadn’t strayed from the fire for over an hour, dancing with anyone who joined him, but mostly with Heidara. Evelyne didn’t miss how he watched her, a mix of interest and curiosity in his eyes. She recognized it all too well. She’d worn the same look herself, though her stolen glances had always been for Kaldrek.
She had to get a grip on whatever this was between them. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe she was imagining it all. But every time he so much as looked at her or spoke her name, her body reacted before her mind could catch up. It was infuriating. Unwanted. Dangerous. She couldn’t keep wondering if he thought about her the way she thought about him—about her hands on his skin, his voice in her ear, the quiet ache that never seemed to fade. She shoved the thought aside, burying it deep. She wouldn’t do this to herself.
He finally settled beside her on a large rock, silent as he watched the pack celebrate. The heat of his presence was impossible to ignore, the space between them feeling smaller than it was.
“You look… very nice tonight,” he said, his voice rougher than usual.
She turned, her lips twitching as she studied him. “Is the alpha actually giving me a compliment?” She batted her lashes dramatically, then let out a soft chuckle. “Thank you.”
A muscle in his jaw flexed before he breathed out and shook his head.
She tilted hers. “Are you done ignoring me now?”
His brows pulled together. “I wasn’t ignoring you—”
“Oh, you absolutely were,” she cut in. “Days, Kaldrek. You avoided me for days. Which is odd, considering the last time we were alone, you seemed a heartbeat away from kissing me.”
His lips parted slightly before he closed them again as if debating his next move. He lifted a brow, the teasing glint in his eye unmistakable. “Who said I was going to kiss you?”
Her stomach tensed, and a flush crept up her neck. But she wouldn’t back down. “I think you wanted to do a lot more than just that. Don’t even deny it.”
He exhaled a low breath, then leaned back on his hands, shoulders rolling as he smirked. “I’m not denying it.”
She had expected a clever remark or a casual deflection, but his response caught her off guard. So he had wanted to kiss her that day.She hadn’t imagined it.
The firelight cast sharp lines across his face, making his expression more intense, harder to read. And just like that, the playful teasing between them no longer felt like harmless fun. He was watching her closely now, like he was waiting for something.
And she was tired of waiting.
“Then why pull away?” she asked, her voice softer this time, edged with uncertainty. “Why the sudden distance?”
His smirk faded. “Because he scented me on you.”
She frowned. “Who—”
“Obren.” The name left his mouth like a curse. “And I knew that if he saw I had any interest in you, he’d use you against me. Maybe even hurt you.” His teeth bared slightly, barely contained fury rippling off him. “I wasn’t going to take that risk.”
Her pulse quickened. “Hurt me?” She searched his face. “If he’s that dangerous, why are we traveling with his pack?”
“Because we don’t have a choice.” His voice was tight. “And because he can sense I don’t have a mate. Which means any unmated female is free game.”
She scoffed. “I’m not some prize to be won.”
“Tell that to him.” His eyes flickered toward the fire, where Obren stood, laughing with his men. “Or have you not noticed how much he wants you?”
The heat in his tone wasn’t just anger. It was something else.
Jealousy.
Evelyne smiled. “At least he’s easier to read. Someone who isn’t afraid to show emotions or go after what he wants.”
The air between them changed instantly. Kaldrek’s eyes darkened, his entire body tensing before he suddenly leaned in—so close she felt his breath against her ear.
“Did my mouth on your neck not give my emotions away?” His voice dipped, sending a shiver down her spine. “Did my tongue not tell you how much I wanted you that day? Or do you need to feel it again to be sure?”
