Chapter 188
Calvin’s POV
I watched Evelyn hurry away with Gary and Emma. Something wasn’t right. The look on her face when she’d spotted me at Alexis’s bedside. Pure shock, as if I was the last person she expected to see there. But why? I’d been visiting Alexis regularly.
Stranger still was my own reaction. I hadn’t even noticed Evelyn standing in the doorway until after I’d finished reading that Chapter to Alexis. Yet moments before, Cyra had been restless in my mind.
“Something’s here,” he’d growled. “Go look p>
I’d ignored him, not wanting to interrupt the story at its most exciting part. But when I finally looked up and saw Evelyn, Cyra had fallen silent. Oddly silent.
Then there was that moment when I’d touched her arm. She’d jerked away like I’d burned her. The memory made my skin tingle. Even now, Cyra shifted restlessly within me, confused and agitated.
She clearly hated me. Of course she wouldn’t want my touch.
“Uncle Calvin?” Alexis’s small voice pulled me from my thoughts. “Will you finish the story p>
I smiled, pushing my confusion aside. “Of course, princess p>
Later that afternoon, I drove to pick up the twins from school. They piled into the back seat.
“Dad,” Rowan said, his serious tone making me glance in the rearview mirror. “There’s a family event at school next week. If Mom can’t go, could you come p>
“I want Mom and Dad and Alexis all to come together!” Rhys declared, bouncing in his seat.
Rowan shot his brother a look. “Be realistic, Rhys. Alexis is still sick. And Mom and Dad are both really busy with work. We’ll be lucky if one of them can make it p>
His mature, resigned tone hit me like a punch to the gut. When had my son started talking like that? Like a little adult who’d learned to expect disappointment? I could hear what he really wanted beneath those careful words. What they both wanted. All of us together. Like a real family.
“I’ll be there,” I said firmly. “And we can ask your mother too p>
Rhys cheered while Rowan just nodded, not wanting to get his hopes up.
At the hospital, Evelyn was already in Alexis’s room when we arrived. She stiffened when I entered. Moving to the far side of the bed. The twins immediately began telling their sister about school.
“There’s going to be a family day,” Rhys told Alexis. “You should come too p>
Alexis’s face lit up. “Can I, Mommy p>
Evelyn smoothed her daughter’s hair. “If you’re feeling better by then, of course we’ll go p>
“Mom, will you come too?” Rowan asked cautiously. “Dad said he would p>
I watched Evelyn. She wouldn’t even look at me.
“I wouldn’t miss it,” she told Rowan.
Throughout the entire visit, Evelyn kept as much distance from me as the room would allow. She spoke to the children. To the nurses. Even to the walls. But not once directly to me. It was worse than when she’d first returned to Ravenshade. Back then, her coldness had been open hostility. This was something different. Almost like… fear?
What the hell had I done to deserve this new level of avoidance?
On family day, I had Beta Zeon reschedule all my meetings despite his protests.
I arrived at the school to find Evelyn already there with Alexis, both dressed beautifully. Alexis wore a pink dress that matched the flush in her cheeks. She’d been released from the hospital just two days earlier. Evelyn looked stunning in a simple blue dress that made her eyes seem brighter.
The twins were ecstatic, especially Rhys who kept tugging Evelyn around the classroom, showing her every project he’d completed this year.
“Mom, look at my science experiment! And here’s my math test. I got an A p>
Rowan was more subdued but equally eager for his mother’s attention, explaining the book report display he’d created.
I carried Alexis on my hip, her little arms wrapped around my neck as she took in the colorful classroom. Several other parents milled about, occasionally glancing our way.
A woman I recognized as one of the classroom mothers approached us, smiling.
“So this is your daughter, Alpha Calvin? I’ve heard so much about her from the twins p>
I nodded, bouncing Alexis gently. “This is Alexis p>
The woman tilted her head, studying Alexis’s face. “She’s your spitting image! Those eyes, that nose. Even the shape of her mouth. Definitely daddy’s girl p>
Something warm spread through my chest at her words.
Alexis, however, scrunched up her face. “No, I don’t look like him! My face is cute and round. His chin is pointy and could stab someone p>
The parents around us burst into laughter. I pretended to be offended, tickling Alexis until she giggled.
But as the woman walked away, I found myself studying Alexis more closely. Her eyes were the exact same shape as mine. With her features becoming more defined, the resemblance was undeniable.
Now, with Alexis growing older and her features becoming more defined, the resemblance was undeniable.
Could she really be mine?
Not that it mattered anymore. I’d publicly claimed Alexis as mine. Biologically related or not, she was my daughter in every way that counted.
After the school event, I took the twins back to the pack house while Evelyn took Alexis home for her afternoon medication.
“I’ll bring them over tomorrow morning,” I told Evelyn as we parted in the school parking lot. She nodded without meeting my eyes, hurrying Alexis into her car.
At the pack house, my grandfather Elder Harold was waiting for me in my study.
“The boys look happy,” he observed. “Good day at school p>
“Very good,” I agreed, pouring us both a drink.
He settled into a leather chair, watching me over his glass. “I’ve been hearing interesting things about Evelyn p>
I tensed. “What about her p>
“She’s become one of the most influential pharmaceutical CEOs in the country. Evelink Biosciences is revolutionizing treatments for our kind. A partnership would benefit the pack enormously p>
“Is that your subtle way of suggesting I use our past relationship for business advantage?” I asked dryly.
“Not at all.” Harold’s eyes twinkled. “It’s my not-so-subtle way of pointing out that you’re still in love with her p>
I nearly choked on my drink. “Harold p>
He raised a hand. “I’ve known you since you were in diapers, Calvin. I can see it plain as day.” His expression softened. “Have you looked at the paternity test I gave you p>
I said impatiently, “I told you already. She’s my daughter p>
Harold raised an eyebrow. “Well, this old man won’t say much more. But I’ll tell you this. That little girl is the most important piece to winning Evelyn back p>
I stared at him, unsure how to respond. My grandfather had always been perceptive.
After he left, I drank several more glasses of whiskey. My heart pounded.
Finally, I decided and opened the safe, pulling out a sealed report.
I removed the envelope, turning it over in my hands.