Chapter 20
Evelyn’s ’s POV
The tent was perfectly set up, and my three little ones were busy like industrious squirrels, carrying their toys inside. I couldn’t help but smile watching them.
Rowan and Rhys worked as a team from the outside, passing toys to their sister, while little Alexis, wearing her adorable fuzzy socks, carefully arranged everything inside.
By the time they finished, all three had rosy cheeks from the exertion. I hurried to grab them some water.
That’s when I noticed Clara hovering nearby with a kite in her hands, her expression a calculated mix of disappointment and pleading.
“Rhys, don’t you want to fly the kite anymore? I brought it down especially for you,” she said.
Rowan had already removed his shoes and joined Alexis inside the tent. Both children turned to look at their brother, who had only managed to take off one shoe. I could see the hesitation in his eyes as he stared at the kite in Clara’s hands.
Clara immediately seized the opportunity, grabbing Rhys’s hand.
Her eyes darted to Rowan in the tent as she urged, “Rowan, Rhys, what’s so fun about sitting in a tent? Come fly the kite with me p>
My heart squeezed watching Alexis sit quietly in the tent, her big eyes blinking as she lowered her head to play with her toys alone. That was the thing about my daughter that always made my heart melt – just like me, she was completely self-sufficient. With company, she was happy. Without it, she simply adapted and played alone.
Suddenly, a small toy appeared in Alexis’s tiny palm. She looked up to meet Rowan’s smiling eyes as he gently patted the little pigtails on top of her head. “Thank you, Clara, but I’d rather play in the tent,” he told her firmly.
When I glanced over and saw the undisguised longing in Rhys’s eyes, I immediately understood.
Although I was Rhys’s birth mother, my second-born had always been drawn to Clara. There was no use forcing a child’s affections, so I simply said, “Go ahead if you want to p>
Rowan also turned to his brother and gave him an encouraging nod.
Rhys looked at me, and I could feel his disappointment that I didn’t try harder to keep him with me.
His little face scrunched up slightly before he made his decision.
“Fine! I’ll go! It’s not like you love me anyway.”He stood up and stormed out of the tent.
Watching him run toward Clara and say those words to me, a sharp pain twisted in my chest.
I would never force my son to love me. If he chose Clara over me… so be it.
Just like that day when Calvin brought Clara into the pack and tried to push me out,I left before he even had the chance to say it.
I glanced sideways.
Alexis was still quietly playing with her building blocks, her two little pigtails bouncing with each movement. So small. So unaware of the ache spreading through my heart.
Clara got what she wanted,Rhys at her side. But her stiletto heels kept sinking into the grass with every step she took. She could barely walk, let alone run to get the kite airborne.
Rhys watched the kite failing to take off, disappointment evident in his eyes.
Clara bit her lip and turned to Calvin with a practiced helpless expression. “Calvin, darling, I can’t run in these shoes. Could you help me, please?” Her voice carried a wheedling tone that set my teeth on edge.
My ex-mate’s gaze fell on our younger son’s crestfallen face before he stepped forward and took the kite string from her hands. Within moments, he had the kite soaring high in the sky.
Astrid and I removed our shoes and joined the children in the tent, where we started playing a block-stacking game.Astrid suggested making it competitive.
“Evelyn, Alexis and I will be one team, and you two can be the other. Whoever loses gets stickers on their face p>
The children were thrilled with this idea and threw themselves into the competition with impressive focus.
Half an hour later, all four of our faces were decorated with colorful stickers. Alexis, looking at the yellow sticker newly placed on her nose, tried to blow it upward, her eyes sparkling with delight. Her bell-like laughter rang out from the tent, repeatedly drawing Rhys’s attention from where he stood flying the kite.
I noticed Calvin’s gaze drifting toward our tent several times as well.What he did or thought was no longer my concern.
Clara sat in a chair nearby, her expression darkening whenever Calvin looked our way. I could practically feel the hostility radiating from her. She had obviously orchestrated this chance to be close to him under the guise of spending time with the children, and she wasn’t about to let me interfere with her plans.
She truly believed she had won.
After playing for quite a while, the children began to tire. The sun wasn’t as harsh now, so I led them out of the tent.
Rowan spotted some friends from kindergarten, and after getting my permission, took Alexis to play with them. Before leaving, he called for Rhys to join them as well.
My eyes followed the children as they ran off. Astrid sat beside me and gestured subtly toward Clara.
“Your ex-mate certainly attracts female attention,” she said with a click of her tongue.
I gave the pair a disinterested glance. “May they live happily ever after,” I replied flatly.
Better if they got together quickly and had several children of their own. Then maybe he would stop trying to take mine from me.
“Evelyn, are you really planning to fight the Bloodbane Pack for custody?” she asked, her voice low.”They’ve ruled supernatural society in Ravenshade for generations. Your ex-mate may be emotionally stunted, but his strength as an Alpha is undeniable p>
If Calvin truly didn’t want to let go, it would be nearly impossible for me to gain full custody.
I looked up at the brilliant blue sky, my voice distant yet determined. “They’re my children. No matter what, I have to fight for them p>
From the moment I left the Bloodbane pack, I had never given up on my sons. For the past three years, I’d been quietly building my own power base, preparing for this inevitable confrontation.
Astrid sighed. “If you need anything, just ask p>
As we were talking, I noticed Clara walking toward where the children were playing. Concerned about what she might do, I immediately followed her.
As I walked closer, I caught the end of Clara’s conversation with a few other she-wolves.
“So, Miss Whitmore, are we hearing mating ceremony bells with Alpha Calvin anytime soon?” one of them asked with a giggle.
Clara let out a soft, practiced laugh, stealing a glance at Calvin, who was standing a few yards away, speaking into his phone.
She saw me approaching. I was certain of this because her next words came out louder than necessary.
“Very soon, actually,” she said sweetly. “We’ve already met each other’s families, and the twins just adore me. Once Alpha Calvin has a break from his pack duties, we’ll be finalizing the mating ceremony. I hope all of you will come celebrate with us p>
Fake humility, perfectly delivered.
In college, Clara and Calvin had been in love. She’d always dreamed of becoming the Luna of the Bloodbane Pack, but Calvin was consumed by his duties. He spent all his time training and preparing to inherit the pack leadership. “Wait until I become Alpha,” he would say, always putting their relationship second.
Then came the arranged mating with me.
We got mated. We had children.
And then I rejected him, setting the stage for Clara’s long-awaited second chance.
Lucky her.
I could see the smugness in her smile as she glanced my way. So what if I had been his mate? After five years of mateship, I ended up as the discarded mate anyway.
I met her stare and rolled my eyes, unimpressed by her childish tactics.
The other she-wolves fell silent for a moment, clearly caught off guard by Clara’s bold announcement.
In most wolf packs, especially among high-ranking families, a couple would typically announce their bond, spend time assessing compatibility, and then host a formal mating ceremony. Rushing into it like this wasn’t just unusual. It was making a statement.
Clara’s eyes locked onto mine with calculated precision.
“He told me his first mating was a complete nightmare. Five years of emotional torment. He wants to claim me as his Luna as soon as possible, to finally leave that dark Chapter behind p>
I froze.
Nightmare.
Emotional torment.
A dark Chapter.
Her words pierced me like claws to the chest, slow and deliberate.
So that’s what I was to him now? A mistake he needed to erase?
The years I spent as his mate had meant everything. I carried his sons, stood by his side while he rose to Alpha, ran the pack when he was too busy to care. Was all of that just a regret to him?
I didn’t realize how tightly I was clenching my fists until my nails dug into my palms.
“I heard his first Luna had twins in their second year,” one of the she-wolves whispered, not even trying to lower her voice. “At the time, I thought he kept her hidden to protect her. But now it sounds like he was forced into the bond and didn’t even want her seen in public p>
Another nodded.
“Everyone knows Clara’s the only she-wolf he’s ever acknowledged publicly. That says it all, doesn’t it p>
Clara just smiled. Sweet, smug, victorious. She was soaking in every word.
And I stood there, invisible in a crowd that once called me Luna.
I heard every whispered comment,each one slicing deeper than the last.
I didn’t want Rowan or Alexis exposed to any more of this poison, so I held myself back from walking over.
But it was too late. Alexis had already seen me.
She ran toward me on her little legs, arms stretched wide.
“Mommy!” she called, her voice full of joy.
Every head turned. A hush fell over the group as they saw her run straight into my arms.
Then came the gasps.
“Who is that?” someone whispered.
“She’s absolutely stunning p>
I didn’t look at them. I kept my focus on my daughter, smoothing her hair as she hugged me tightly.
But out of the corner of my eye, I saw Clara. Her gaze dropped quickly, trying to mask the shadows behind them.
She might have been thinking,no matter how beautiful I was, I had still failed to keep Calvin. I had still been replaced.
But for a moment… just a moment… she couldn’t hide the look that flickered in her eyes.
Jealousy.