Lady Defiance.She could practically hear the smirk in his voice. If that was how he saw her, then she’d make sure to live up to it. Squaring her shoulders, she met his eyes with a steady stare, a silent promise that this wasn’t finished.
A few minutes later, Alaric, Holden, and two other wolves appeared, carrying what she assumed were the materials for her tent. Holden grinned, of course, ever eager to run his mouth.
“You sure you two want separate tents?” he mused, tilting his head between her and Alaric. “Seems like a waste when you could keep each other warm.”
“I’d rather sleep alone,” Evelyne shot back. To her relief, Alaric didn’t seem offended. He only nodded, understanding exactly why she felt that way.
They worked quickly; before long, her tent was up, and the fire was roaring. The pack settled into small groups, huddled close to the heat of the flames as the night deepened. Families sat together, parents pulling their children onto their laps. Friends passed around food and drink, their quiet conversations blending with the crackle of burning wood.
Evelyne sat among familiar faces, the low hum of conversation filling the space around her. Holden lounged beside Heidara, smiling at something she said, while Alaric sat close, his strength returning, though fatigue still lingered in his features. Across from her, perched on a flat stone, Kaldrek methodically sharpened his dagger.
He hadn’t spoken to her all day. Not since the little jab he’d made at her. Not even a glance in her direction. And that only made her more aware of him.
She found herself stealing glances, drawn in despite herself. The firelight bathed his skin in a warm glow, accentuating the tattoos that traced down both sides of his neck, winding over one shoulder before spiraling down his arm to his wrist. His broad frame, thick with muscle and littered with scars, remained still save for the steady pull of his dagger against the sharpening stone.
As if sensing her gaze, he looked up and met her eyes.
Evelyne quickly turned away, but it was too late. He’d already caught her staring. And she couldn’t stop the warmth from rising in her cheeks.
Holden leaned back on his elbows, a cocky grin tugging at his lips as he launched into one of his infamous tales, hands sweeping through the air for dramatic effect.
“So there I was,” he began, “thinking I was about to have the best night of my life at age seventeen.”
A few chuckles rippled through the group.
“Her name was Isla. And gods, was she was gorgeous. A wild beauty wasted on a scoundrel such as myself.” He paused, winking at Heidara, who rolled her eyes. “But I figured, with my charm, I had a chance.”
Evelyne smirked, taking a sip of her drink. “Oh, I’m sure she was positively swooning.”
Holden shot her a playfully wounded expression. “You doubt my skills, little viper?”
“I highly doubt you have any.”
Laughter rang out, but Holden pressed on. “We were visiting one of the outposts near the northern border, and I met Isla at the tavern. She had this dark, wavy hair and the sharpest tongue I’ve ever encountered—like you, actually,” he added, with a pointed glance at Evelyne. “She tells me to meet her outside the healer’s hut after sundown. So, obviously, I go and wait in the shadows like some mysterious brooding warrior.” He paused for dramatic effect. “Except… she never shows.”
The group listened in silence, clearly entertained by every word.
“I think, ‘Alright, maybe she’s shy,’ so I follow her scent. And guess where it leads?” Holden let the tension build, then threw his arms out. “Straight into the middle of a patrol camp. And not just any patrol camp, but her father’s patrol camp.”
“Damn,” Alaric muttered, shaking his head.
Holden nodded. “That’s right. Her father, the highest-ranking wolf in the outpost, turns around, sees me standing there like a lost pup, and immediately assumes I’m there to challenge him.”
Kaldrek let out a short, unimpressed snort.
“I don’t even get a chance to explain before the bastard shifts and barrels straight at me! I barely manage to shift before I’m running for my life, dodging trees, trying not to get my throat ripped out, and all the while, Isla is standing on a damn rock, laughing her ass off.”
Evelyne sputtered mid-sip, coughing as Heidara and Alaric burst into laughter.
“The worst part?” Holden continued. “When I finally escaped and returned to the pack, Kaldrek was waiting. And do you know what my dearest friend said to me?”
Kaldrek didn’t even look up as he muttered, “‘You’re an idiot.’”
“No sympathy. No concern for my wellbeing. Just…You’re an idiot.”
Evelyne grinned. “Well, he wasn’t wrong.”
“I regret nothing.” Holden shrugged. “She sought me out the next night anyway.”
