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“How so?”
“Pack politics are intrinsically tied to bloodlines and power,” he said. “In a lot of ways, it’s an archaic system, especially when it comes to the position of daughters within the hierarchy. You can relate to her in a way I can’t.”
“Daughters?” I said, frowning as I played with my water bottle cap.
He nodded, his eyes fixed on mine, steady and serious. “Yes. Unfortunately, many alphas don’t value their daughters as they should, and they can’t carry on the bloodline the same way sons can. They can’t become alphas, they can’t lead. This often leads to them being overlooked.”
I frowned, remembering Rosalind’s bitter demeanor and her father’s clear disregard for her when we’d first visited them at the lodge near the Hawthorne clan lands. “You mean to say that’s why Tomas treats Rosalind so horribly?”
“Other than him being a total jackass? Yes,” Evan said. “It’s clear he sees no value in having a daughter, other than what she can provide for him, and he’s willing to use her to get to me. According to Sebastian, his mate died saving Rosalind, and he likely blames her for that loss. He has no proper heir, which is why he’s making all these power plays.”
“What about Jax?” I said, not understanding why he wouldn't just name Jax his heir if he was so desperate for one.
Evan paused, his gaze drifting off into the distance. His jaw tightened, the muscles flexing as he ground his teeth. I reached out, resting a hand on his arm. He glanced at me, his expression softening slightly. Jax had done nothing but help us so far, so why didn’t my mate like or trust him?
“Jax’s situation is complex,” he said finally. “Remember when we talked about illegitimate sons?” I nodded. “Historically, it’s very rare—practically unheard of—for them to be named heir. My situation is the exception to the rule. Aside from that, Jax and his mother were outcasts, like I was for most of my adult life. They didn’t belong to a pack, and creating one of your own is far easier said than done.”
Mason nodded, putting in his two cents. “It also takes a lot of money to buy pack land and to prove you can provide as an alpha. It’s not just a title; an alpha is responsible for the wellbeing of the entire community. That means providing jobs, building schools. Essentially, they’re the backbone of the clan.”
Evan leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “And that’s why having an heir is so important. They’re the ones who will keep the clan thriving once the alpha is gone. But because Jax’s mother wasn’t Tomas’s mate, he’s just as unimportant to Tomas as Rosalind.”
“But Jax is an alpha, right?” I said. “Doesn’t that give him some value in Tomas’s eyes?”
“Perhaps,” Evan conceded. “But with no clan to inherit or lead, his status as an alpha means little to Tomas.”
“How does Sofia fit into this, then? If daughters can’t be heirs.”
“The Carey clan is different. Sebastian has less qualms with bucking tradition. Tomas would rather have Sofia in his own clan as a pawn. Whether she can inherit his clan or not, she’ll inherit the Carey fortune.”
I sat back in the couch. The complexities of pack life, the subtle and not-so-subtle power plays, the weight of responsibility—it was all so intriguing, and also terrifying. The way Tomas used people for his own agendas was disgusting, but despite it all, I wanted to know more, to better understand this part of Evan’s life.
Without thinking, I found myself saying, “Have you ever considered starting your own clan?”
Evan blinked. His usual confident demeanor wavered, replaced by a vulnerability I’d only seen a few times before. He stared at the table, his fingers absently tracing the grain of the wood as I watched him, waiting for his response.
“I thought I wanted to be alpha once,” he said at last. “But it’s not as simple as it seemed at the time.” He sighed. “What I do want is for Sofia to have some sense of clan life, and I believe she’ll find that with Sebastian’s people.”
He paused, his fingers settling over my own.
“I don’t think I want to lead,” he said quietly. “I want a simple life. A life where I can focus on my daughter… and my mate.”
Evan’s eyes locked onto mine, and the intensity within them caused my breath to hitch. Those three words made my heart flutter, and Mason, who’d gone quiet, subtly excused himself, returning to the kitchen to give us a moment alone.
We’d barely spoken of this, and I didn’t understand the full implications of being Evan’s mate. Still, warmth spread through my veins at the thought of belonging to him in such an intimate way. I wanted to dive deeper, to explore what it meant for us and for our future. But a glance at my watch made me curse under my breath. We’d have to finish this conversation another time.
“I need to get to the spa soon,” I said. “How do I use this to convince Rosalind of our offer?”
Evan offered me a small smile. “That’s my girl. Always thinking strategically.” He gently squeezed my hand. “We remind her she’s not alone, that she’s more than just a pawn in her father’s game.”
A few minutes later, the three of us headed back down the elevator. With my nerves slightly wrecked, Evan and Mason escorted me toward the spa, their watchful eyes scanning the area. Evan wore a stern expression, and the muscles in his jaw twitched as he held my hand. I’d thought I was prepared for this, but now that the moment was here, my nerves made a reappearance.
“Mariah,” Evan said, stepping closer and turning to face me as we stopped several yards from the spa entrance. He placed his hands on my cheeks and whispered. “You’re sure about this? You can change your mind and no one will think any less of you for it.”
Despite my nerves, I nodded, going up on tiptoes and brushing a kiss across his lips. “Evan, I’ll be fine. It’s a spa, not a battleground.”
He let out a small laugh, though his eyes were full of worry. “Just remember, we won’t be far. If anything goes wrong, we’ll be there in a heartbeat.”
“Thank you, both of you,” I said, turning to include Mason in our conversation.
