Chapter 173
Evelyn’s POV
When I got back to the car, Alexis was already asleep in Eryx’s arms, covered with a soft blanket.
Eryx kept his voice quiet so he wouldn’t wake her. “Eve, I can carry her. She just fell asleep p>
I nodded gratefully. The evening had been more exhausting than I expected. Dealing with Diana’s nastiness and then that tense talk with Calvin had worn me out. Being around Calvin still messed with my head in ways I didn’t want to think about.
After we got home and I put Alexis to bed, I went to my study where Eryx was waiting. He was leaning against my desk with his arms crossed, looking worried.
“I need to talk to you about the man named Josh,” I said, sitting down in my chair.
Eryx’s face got dark. “The guy at the birthday party? I saw him staring p>
“The way he looked at you wasn’t normal,” I said, tapping my pen on the desk. “His eyes showed recognition and hate. Have you ever seen him before p>
“Never,” Eryx shook his head. “I’m an orphan, remember? Alpha Damian found me at the orphanage when I was just a kid and brought me to Norse Pack. I’ve been there my whole life until I followed you p>
“Then maybe he knew you from before the orphanage,” I said.
If Josh hadn’t looked at Eryx with such fear and murderous rage, I might never have noticed anything weird. Eryx had been loyal to my family since my father brought him to our pack house. When Norse Pack merged with Bloodbane Pack and I eventually left, Eryx came with me without hesitation.
“I’ll have someone check into it,” he said.
Looking at him now, tall and muscular, all strength and quiet confidence, it was hard to picture him as the skinny, scared kid my father had once brought home. His transformation over the years had been amazing.
“Eryx, do you remember your last name before my father brought you to Norse Pack?” I asked.
He shook his head. “I didn’t even have a first name back then p>
“And you don’t remember anything from before the orphanage?” I asked gently. He would have been around four or five when he got there, old enough to remember something.
Eryx sighed, his eyes getting distant. “Nothing. Sometimes I wonder if I just forgot, or if something happened that made me forget. Either way, it doesn’t matter now. My real life started with Norse Pack and your family, Eve p>
“Eve,” he continued, his face getting serious, “remember when I told you about those people investigating your background in Viremont p>
I nodded. “Yes, I remember p>
“Eros Pack from Duskwatch Bay was one of them,” he said, lowering his voice. “Not Alpha Logan himself, but his mother Victoria p>
That made sense. I didn’t know why Victoria would still be looking into me after all these years, but it probably had something to do with Logan.
Whenever Victoria saw Logan and me getting even slightly close, she would corner me with her warnings. “Don’t set your sights on someone who isn’t meant for you p>
But she had it wrong. Back then, I had no romantic interest in Logan at all.
After Eryx went to the guest room downstairs, his words kept running through my head. The whole situation bothered me, but I was too tired to keep thinking about it. Tomorrow would bring its own problems.
I woke up the next morning feeling something tickling my forehead. Opening my eyes, I saw Alexis’s bright eyes staring at me. They were clear and shining, just like mine.
“Mommy no frown,” she said, pointing at my forehead with her tiny finger. Then she raised her little fists in the air. “Alex protect Mommy p>
Her round eyes shone with such pure love that it instantly made me feel better. I pulled her into my arms and kissed her forehead gently.
“Yes, Alex protects Mommy,” I agreed, smiling.
When I carried her downstairs, Eryx was in the kitchen wearing an apron that looked tiny on his big frame. Seeing this scary warrior flipping pancakes always made me laugh.
“Breakfast is ready,” he said. “I made Alex’s favorites p>
“Uncle Eryx!” Alexis wiggled out of my arms and ran over to hug his leg, her face lighting up with joy.
Alexis had been born early, tiny and fragile in the hospital for weeks. While I was recovering, Eryx and Gary had volunteered to help take care of her. Those two men had struggled through learning how to be caregivers, but eventually became experts at everything from changing diapers to making bottles. Now, they were among the people Alexis trusted most.
Eryx was actually a really good cook, and both Alexis and I ate well. I had to go to the lab today to continue my research, and I felt completely fine leaving Alexis with Eryx.
“Alex, Mommy’s going to work now,” I said, getting my things together.
“Bye-bye, Mommy,” she said without her usual clinginess, already focused on some grapes she was holding.
I watched as she went up to Eryx with an innocent look, offering him a grape. He ate it with his usual serious face, and once she made sure they weren’t sour, she handed him the whole bunch.
She climbed onto the sofa, got comfortable and said sweetly, “Uncle, peel please p>
With her favorite cartoon on TV and Eryx peeling grapes for her, Alexis was perfectly happy, smiling the whole time.
I couldn’t help but smile at the scene. On the surface, Eryx and Gary were Alexis’s uncle and godfather, but really, they were like fathers to her. They’d been my support system these past three years.
If Josh really wanted to hurt Eryx, I wouldn’t let it happen. Nobody threatened my family and got away with it.