Instead, he watched and waited. Evelyne would talk when she was ready. He was almost certain Obren had picked up on Kaldrek’s deliberate silence and the distance he kept from her. The difference was that Alaric suspected Evelyne hadn’t realized it was intentional.
At first, he’d wondered if Kaldrek simply didn’t like her. But when Obren pointed out the alpha’s scent on her and Heidara quietly confirmed it was true, everything shifted into focus. Kaldrek wasn’t avoiding her out of indifference. He was trying to hide his feelings. And now, seeing how easily Obren slipped into flirtation, Alaric understood why Kaldrek might want to keep those feelings buried.
Obren leaned closer, voice dropping just enough to make his intent clear. “You know, Lady Evelyne, for a woman raised among nobility, you handle yourself far better than I expected.”
Evelyne smirked. “And you, for a man raised among wolves, talk far more than I expected.”
Holden choked on his drink.
Obren let out a booming laugh, tapping his fist against the table. “I do believe I like you.”
Evelyne tilted her head, smiling sweetly. “How tragic for me.”
Alaric laughed, but his gaze flicked to Kaldrek, deep in conversation with Garek near the bar. The alpha’s face gave nothing away, but his fingers were clenched too tightly around his drink.
The tavern soon filled with chatter, laughter rising from a nearby table, the scent of fresh ale lingering in the warm air. Obren lounged beside Evelyne, a cocky grin plastered across his face as he volleyed playful jabs her way. To Alaric’s quiet amusement, she gave them right back. He had expected eye rolls, maybe a dry remark or complete disinterest. But instead, Evelyne was sharp, engaged, and unfazed by Obren’s charm. It was like she saw right through him, and Alaric couldn’t help but admire that.
Obren poured a shot of something strong and slid it her way, waiting. Alaric thought she might pause or play it safe, but Evelyne didn’t. She grabbed the glass and knocked it back like water. It had to have burned going down, but she didn’t flinch. Instead, she set the glass down, tilted her head, and gave Obren a smirk.
“Alright, Glaciermaw. Why is the room tense whenever someone mentions your pack?”
The table fell silent for a beat.
Then, Obren exhaled a quiet laugh. “Straight to the point. I like that.”
He leaned in, elbows resting on the table, his eyes trailing over her with a playful glint and a focus that felt far too intimate to be casual.
“It’s simple, really.” He traced the edge of his cup, glanced at Kaldrek by the bar, then looked back at Evelyne. “I love competition. I live forit. And Kaldrek?” He grinned wider. “Well, I always knew one day we’d both be alphas. It only made sense to challenge him whenever I could.”
“Ah,” Evelyne said, nodding slowly, “so you weren’t a menace. You were just testing your future opponent?”
Obren chuckled, swirling his ale. “Something like that.”
“Hmm. And did you win?”
“Depends on who you ask.”
“Oh, please.” Heidara rolled her eyes, cutting through the tension with disdain. “The truth is, the Glaciermaw pack is full of hotheaded assholes who can’t stand to admit there’s a stronger pack among these lands.”
Holden smiled and lifted his drink in salute to his sister’s words. Obren, to his credit, didn’t bristle. Instead, he slouched further in his chair, releasing a long, exaggerated sigh.
“She’s just upset I never took her to bed.”
Holden moved before the words even fully landed. His fist slammed against the table, and a thunderous crack sounded over the low hum of the tavern. Evelyne jerked slightly at the sudden noise, as did several others.
The room shifted. Conversations quieted. Across the tavern, Kaldrek turned toward them. His eyes were dark, and his relaxed demeanor from earlier was gone. He wasn’t just watching, but assessing like a wolf sensing a threat.
Obren lifted both hands in surrender, completely unbothered. “Calm yourself, Holden. I’m joking.”
Holden didn’t look convinced. His lips curled into a quiet snarl, his hands clenched into fists, but he sank back into his chair after a long breath.
Alaric, sensing the need for a distraction, lifted his tankard and grinned. “Please, let’s not start tearing into each other just yet. I’d like to finish my ale and a hot meal before getting mauled by two enraged wolves mid-shift.”
The words did the trick. Evelyne turned to him, laughing loudly, nodding as she raised her cup. “Agreed. Cheers.”
The others followed suit, the heavy moment melting away as their glasses clinked together in a quiet toast.
Heidara was the first to steer the conversation back toward something meaningful. She leaned back, glancing toward Eda and Garek, then at Evelyne.
