Chapter 103
Calvin’s POV
Perhaps it was Evelyn’s obvious attempt to distance herself from me at dinner, or maybe it was Keith’s interference that got under my skin. Either way, I found myself drinking more than usual during the business dinner with my clients. By the time Zeon was helping me out of the restaurant, my vision had doubled.
I hadn’t touched alcohol in months. Not since Evelyn had complained about the smell on my breath. Even during business functions, I’d been declining drinks, citing health reasons. Nobody dared pressure an Alpha to drink anyway. But tonight felt different. Tonight I needed something to dull the edge.
“Alpha, I think you should rest before heading home,” Zeon suggested as he guided me toward the hotel elevator.
I grunted in agreement. I kept an executive suite permanently reserved in this hotel for occasions just like this.
Once in my room, I managed to clear my head slightly with a hot shower. The water cascaded down my back, and I couldn’t help but think of Evelyn’s face when she’d moved away from Keith’s grasp. That instinctive protectiveness I felt hadn’t diminished despite our divorce.
“She’s not yours anymore, “Cyra growled in my mind. “But she should be p>
“Shut up,” I muttered, turning off the shower.
I had just stepped out of the bathroom when a knock came at the door. I was wrapping myself in a robe at that moment. Assuming it was Zeon returning with something I needed, I opened it without hesitation.
“Calvin a soft, familiar voice called.
My breath caught. The woman before me wore a hat and mask, but those eyes looked up at me from beneath the brim. They were Evelyn’s eyes. She wore an identical dress to the one Evelyn had on earlier.
I stared longer than I should have. The alcohol was making my thoughts sluggish. Something wasn’t right.
She slowly lifted her head, revealing eyes that were eerily perfect matches for Evelyn’s. Under the warm yellow light of the hotel hallway, the resemblance was uncanny.
“Not her. Wrong scent,”Cyra snarled inside me, suddenly alert despite my intoxication.
The woman spoke again. Her voice was a practiced imitation of Evelyn’s cool tone. “Calvin, I wanted to talk about the children p>
I narrowed my eyes as she reached toward my throat. I stepped back immediately. My instincts were sharpening through the fog of alcohol.
“What about them?” I asked coldly.
She withdrew her hand quickly and lowered the brim of her hat. “Can we go inside to talk p>
I studied her for a moment, then stepped aside to let her enter. As soon as the door closed behind us, I moved with Alpha speed. I pinned her against the wall.
“Who the fuck are you?” I growled.
Her eyes widened in fear as I called for Zeon through our pack link. He was there within minutes, along with two security pack members.
“Search her,” I ordered.
Zeon found a vial of something in her pocket. It was a potent pheromone enhancer, the kind used to manipulate mates during heat seasons. My anger flared dangerously as I changed into fresh clothes while my team restrained her.
“Who sent you?” I demanded, sitting across from her with regal coldness.
When she refused to answer, my patience evaporated. “Make her talk,” I told Zeon as I stood to leave.
“Wait! I’m Clara!” she cried out just before the guards could force the contents of the vial down her throat.
I froze momentarily but continued walking. Clara Whitmore. Of course. I should have known she’d try something this desperate.
“Alpha, it’s Clara Whitmore,” Zeon confirmed, studying her face closely. “She’s had work done to look like Miss. Blackwell p>
The realization of what might have happened if I’d been more intoxicated made my blood run cold. Even Cyra was unusually quiet. He was processing the violation of this attempted deception.
“Give her a taste of her own medicine, then get her out,” I ordered coldly. “And increase security for Evelyn and the children p>
My phone buzzed with a message from Evelyn about dropping the boys off for school. I needed to be there.
By the time I arrived at Evelyn’s place the next morning, I’d gotten detailed reports about Clara’s scheme. She’d been planning this for weeks. She had plastic surgery to resemble Evelyn, practiced her speech patterns, and even obtained a replica of Evelyn’s dress.
The twins were already waiting, backpacks on, excited to see me. But it was Evelyn who caught my attention. She was different. More distant than she’d been in recent weeks. When I reached for the water bottle in her hand, she flinched away as if my touch would burn her.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, studying her face carefully.
“Nothing,” she replied coldly, stepping around me to hand the water bottle directly to the boys in the backseat of my car.
I watched as she bent down to speak to our sons. “Mommy will pick you up after school,” she said softly. Her tone was completely transformed from the ice she’d just directed at me. “Call me or Daddy if anything happens, okay p>
“And remember,” she continued seriously, “don’t go with anyone else. Even people you know. Unless it’s me or your father. Understood p>
Both boys were wearing the special watches I’d had custom made for them. They were GPS enabled with one touch emergency calling.
Rowan nodded solemnly. “Yes, Mom p>
Rhys waved enthusiastically. “Mom, tell Alexis I’ll help her build that block castle when I get back from school p>
Evelyn smiled, her entire face lighting up for our children. “I will p>
“Dad, hurry up!” Rhys called to me. “We’re gonna be late p>
I stood there, drinking in the sight of Evelyn. I was wishing for just a fraction of the warmth she showed our sons. But her eyes never met mine, not even for a second.
I swallowed my frustration and got into the driver’s seat.
“Have a good day at school,” she called to the boys, still ignoring my existence completely.
As I glanced in the rearview mirror, I caught Evelyn’s expression changing instantly. Her smile disappeared. It was replaced by a sharp, vigilant look as she scanned the surrounding houses.