Chapter 88
Calvin’s POV
After Evelyn left, I ran my fingers through Alexis’s soft hair, keeping my voice gentle. “Alexis, can you tell Uncle Calvin who mommy is going to pick up p>
Alexis beamed at me, her eyes bright with excitement. “Hus…Husara! Mommy likes Husara p>
She added with a decisive nod. “Alexis likes Husara too p>
A heavy weight settled in my chest, making it difficult to breathe. Husara? Who the hell was Husara? In all my investigations into Evelyn’s life since our separation, this name had never once appeared. Was this her mysterious new husband? Or perhaps some mate she hadn’t officially married but was living with?
I paced anxiously around the lab, waiting for Evelyn’s return. The moment I saw her car pull up, I rushed toward the entrance. When I reached the hallway outside her room, I caught the unmistakable silhouette of a man moving behind the guest room door.
That guest room, where I had never been invited to stay.
My blood boiled when I recalled Evelyn’s words to our sons. “Someone important.” “Someone who’ll be in your lives.” She’d dropped everything to answer this Husara person’s call, completely dismissing me in the process.
When I confronted her, all I could think was: And now she expected my sons, MY SONS, to accept this stranger as some kind of father figure?
Rage coursed through my veins like liquid fire. My wolf, Cyra, paced restlessly within me, clawing at my consciousness, demanding action. My vision began to blur at the edges, the familiar tightness gripping my chest.
“Calvin!” I heard Evelyn call my name as the world tilted sideways.
Then darkness claimed me.
In my unconscious state, a nightmare unfolded. Evelyn stood wrapped in the arms of a tall, faceless man. Their bodies fit together perfectly. Worse still, Rowan, Rhys, and little Alexis gathered around them, forming a picture-perfect family of five. They were laughing, happy… without me.
I jerked awake with a gasp, heart hammering against my ribs.
“Alpha Calvin! Thank the Moon Goddess you’re awake!” Zeon’s worried face swam into focus above me.
I blinked, taking in the hospital room. There was no sign of Evelyn anywhere.
“Where is she?” I demanded, my voice hoarse.
Zeon’s expression crumpled under my icy glare. “Dr Blackwell went home to be with the children, Alpha p>
A bitter laugh escaped my throat as I gripped the sheets, veins bulging along my forearms. Without hesitation, I yanked the IV from my arm and threw back the covers.
“Alpha Calvin! You’re still ill!” Zeon protested.
I ignored him, striding toward the door with purpose, my entire body tense with barely controlled fury that cleared hospital staff from my path.
Zeon scrambled after me with a wheelchair. “Please, Alpha Calvin! At least use this p>
Outside Evelyn’s house, I stood beneath the familiar tree, looking at the scene through the large windows. A man sat across from Evelyn. She was smiling that genuine smile I’d once thought was mine alone while serving him food.
My rational mind tried to assess the situation logically, to plan my next move carefully. But a darker voice whispered from deep within, urging me to storm in, to demand answers, to take back what was mine.
I’d felt this way before. I remembered feeling this same tightness in my chest when I first thought Evelyn had been unfaithful, like something was squeezing my heart.
“That’s… her husband now?” Zeon whispered hesitantly behind me, still gripping the wheelchair handles.
“He seems rather… thin, doesn’t he? Almost like a pretty girl?” he added, clearly trying to offer some form of comfort.
From our angle, Evelyn couldn’t see us watching her every move. I observed as she stood up, accidentally bumping her leg against something. Before I could process what was happening, this Husara person had wrapped his arms around her and carried her into the guest room.
My face went dark. The air around us turned cold, my rage so intense that Zeon shivered.
“Alpha, perhaps she’s just discussing something private with her… um, friend,” Zeon attempted weakly. “It doesn’t necessarily mean they’re p>
“Enough,” I cut him off, my voice deathly quiet as I turned away. “We’re leaving p>
Zeon hurried after me with the wheelchair. “Please sit down, Alpha Calvin. Let me push you back p>
I continued walking until Zeon’s next words stopped me.
“Dr Blackwell specifically arranged this for you, Alpha p>
I paused, then silently took my seat in the wheelchair. Zeon didn’t need to know I was only sitting because my legs had nearly given out from the sight of another man carrying Evelyn to bed.
Evelyn’s POV
Even unconscious, Calvin’s grip on my wrist had been unyielding, making it impossible for me to break free. With my other hand, I’d texted Husara to explain the situation.
Her response had been immediate. “I totally understand p>
I’d stared at those words, baffled by her insinuation.
After reviewing Calvin’s medical report, I sat stunned by the diagnosis. He wasn’t sick, he’d literally passed out from anger. I replayed our conversation in my mind, trying to pinpoint what had triggered such a reaction.
My eyes drifted to his unconscious form on the hospital bed. Even in sleep, his features remained sharp and distinguished – high cheekbones, straight nose, thin lips. His face was pale, but it didn’t diminish his innate elegance, that magnetic presence that had always drawn people to him.
Later that evening, I found myself replaying that image over dinner.
“You’re miles away,” Husara observed, pulling me back to the present as we sat at my dining table. “What’s on your mind p>
I studied my friend’s thinner face with concern. “You’ve lost weight. No matter how much you love photography, you shouldn’t starve yourself p>
Husara gave me a wry smile. “Trust me, it wasn’t by choice. You have no idea how inedible the food was in some of those countries p>
We continued chatting while eating, treasuring our rare time together. The children were surprisingly self-sufficient. Rowan and Rhys had finished their meals and were now helping little Alexis with hers, eager to finish so they could play with the new toys Husara had brought.
“Goddess, Eve,” Husara remarked, admiring the children. “You and your ex have incredible genes p>
My hand froze midway to my water glass. Glancing at the children to make sure they weren’t listening, I lowered my voice. “He doesn’t know Alexis is his daughter p>
This piqued Husara’s interest immediately. She leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm. “Don’t tell me he thinks Alexis is yours with another man p>
I gave her a bitter smile and nodded.
“Moon Goddess, Eve!” Husara stared at me in shock. “Haven’t you ever tried to explain p>
I laughed hollowly. “The day I found out I was pregnant, I called him. His phone was off. I discovered through social media that he was with another woman. Do you really think explanations were necessary at that point p>
Seeing the sympathy in my friend’s eyes, I forced a smile. “It’s in the past. I’m doing fine now p>
Sensing my discomfort, Husara skillfully changed the subject, sharing stories about her international photography adventures.
“Oh! I captured something truly extraordinary this time,” she said excitedly. “A male specimen that rivals your ex-husband’s looks p>
“It’s my first venture into portrait photography,” she continued. “I’m planning to feature it in my upcoming exhibition. Come to my room and give me your opinion p>
I readily agreed, rising from my chair only to bang my shin painfully against the table leg. I hissed in pain.
Husara was at my side instantly, steadying me. “Are you okay p>
Before I could answer, she’d swept me up into her arms with surprising strength.
“Impressed?” she asked with a smug grin. “My recent workouts are paying off, don’t you think p>
I looped my arms around her neck, laughing despite the pain. “Yes, yes. Miss Husara could probably take down a tiger with those arms now p>
She arched an eyebrow playfully. “Tigers, I’m not sure about. But carrying beautiful women? Piece of cake p>
We shared a laugh as she carried me into the guest room, completely unaware of the storm brewing outside my window.