Chapter 92

Chapter 92: Chapter 92

By the time they left the refuge, the sun had begun its descent.

Evelyn glanced back at the weathered building as Soren helped her into the carriage. Through one of the open windows, she could see the children gathered around the woman in the blue dress. The little girl who had hugged her earlier was waving enthusiastically.

Evelyn lifted her hand in response.

Only when the carriage began moving did she turn to Soren.

"You never told me you were doing all that."

He looked at her. "Running a pack?"

"Don’t be ridiculous. I know you’re an Alpha." She paused. "I meant the refuge."

Soren settled back into his seat. "I wasn’t keeping it a secret."

"You simply forgot to mention that you spend your time rescuing children from people who would happily sell them for profit?"

"When you put it that way, it does sound rather terrible."

"Because it is."

His faint smile disappeared.

"Yes," he agreed. "It is."

Evelyn watched him for a moment. She had known Soren for years, but she was beginning to realize how little she knew about the things he did when he wasn’t attending meetings, negotiating trade agreements, or dealing with other Alphas.

"How long have you been doing this?"

"Almost seven years."

Her eyes widened slightly. "Seven?"

"The first child was a boy. His parents were killed during a rogue attack, and he was left with distant relatives who saw him as an inconvenience. They eventually abandoned him near the border." Soren looked out of the window. "One of my patrols found him. We brought him to the pack, but he couldn’t settle. He was terrified of everyone, and every time someone approached him, he thought he was about to be beaten."

Evelyn’s fingers curled against her lap. "What happened to him?"

"He’s nineteen now. Works in the pack’s stables, has a home of his own, and has a terrible habit of gambling away his wages."

Evelyn smiled, this was part of what she wanted to do. Help children who were lost, abandoned and neglected. Her thoughts ran back to the fragile boy from the place and her heart sank. If her son were alive, he’d have been of the boy’s age.

"He turned out fine," Soren continued, unaware of where her thoughts had wandered. "More than fine, honestly, though I’d never tell him that to his face. It would ruin whatever leverage I still have over his wages."

Evelyn forced a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "And after him?"

"After him, I couldn’t stop finding more." Soren’s expression sobered. "Once you start looking, Evelyn, you realize how much of it there is. Hidden in plain sight, mostly. Children sold off as ’orphaned labor,’ passed between traders who know exactly which packs ask questions and which ones look the other way for the right price."

"I don’t talk about it much," Soren admitted after a moment. "Not because I’m ashamed of it. Because most people hear ’child trafficking’ and either recoil or want it turned into a political weapon. Something to wave in front of the other Alphas to prove their own virtue. I’d rather it stayed quiet and effective than loud and useless."

"I understand that." Evelyn’s voice was quieter now. "More than you might realize."

Soren studied her for a moment, something gentling in his expression, though he didn’t push for more than she’d offered.

The carriage rolled on as the silence between them comfortable rather than strained, until Soren cleared his throat.

"I made a reservation," he said. "For dinner. If you’re still willing to continue the evening, that is."

Evelyn glanced at him, something in her chest loosening slightly at the careful way he’d asked, leaving the choice entirely hers.

"I am," she said. "Lead the way, Alpha Soren."

The restaurant Soren had chosen was tucked away from the busier streets of Ashbourne. It occupied the upper floor of a stone building overlooking a small courtyard, with lanterns hanging from the wooden beams and climbing flowers growing along the balcony.

It was elegant without being ostentatious.

Evelyn noticed the private tables, the discreet staff who eyes still lit at the sight of him.

"You come here often?" she asked as Soren pulled out her chair.

He shrugged. "Sometimes. I come here when I want to eat without someone asking me to settle a dispute over grazing rights halfway through my meal."

She laughed softly as she sat down.

"I imagine that happens rather often."

"More often than I’d like."

He took the seat opposite her, and a server approached to offer them the menu.

Soren let Evelyn choose first. When she asked about a dish she didn’t recognize, he explained what it contained rather than making assumptions about what she would like. He didn’t order for her or insist that she try something simply because it was his favorite.

Once their food arrived, their conversation returned to the refuge.

"Do the children know you’re their benefactor?" Evelyn asked.

"Some do. Others don’t care about the money or the building. They care about whether I’ll let them stay up past their bedtime."

"And do you?" She asked.

"Absolutely not."

She raised an eyebrow, not convinced at all.

"Unless there’s a good reason." He added and she smiled. "Of course."

"Don’t look at me like that. You haven’t met the seven-year-old who once convinced an entire room of children that I turn into a monster at midnight."

Evelyn burst out laughing at that, unable to keep it in.

"For three days, the children refused to let me walk through the corridors after dark without someone accompanying me." He continued.

"I would have liked to see that," Evelyn said, still smiling.

"I’m sure you would have. My dignity suffered greatly that week." Soren reached for his glass, something easy settling into his posture now that the heavier conversation had passed. "In my defense, I only encouraged the rumor a little."

"A little."

"A reasonable amount."

She laughed again, shaking her head, and for a while the conversation stayed light, drifting between stories of the children, a disastrous attempt at teaching one of them to ride, Soren’s ongoing battle with a particularly stubborn goat that had taken up residence near the refuge’s garden despite nobody’s memory of acquiring it.

It was easy. Easier than she’d expected, certainly easier than she’d allowed herself to imagine when she’d agreed to this evening at all. Soren didn’t press, didn’t steer the conversation toward anything she hadn’t offered herself, didn’t once ask about Kael or Silver Creek or the marriage she’d left behind.

"The work that you do, I truly admire it."

They were midway through dessert when a familiar voice carried across the room.

"Well. Isn’t this a sight."

Evelyn looked up to find Veronica standing near the entrance to their table, dressed for an evening out, Ashira a step behind her.

"Luna Veronica." She exclaimed, standing up to hug the woman.

"Oh dear, if I’d known I’d find you here, I’d have put more effort into my dressing, tonight. You look wonderful child."

Evelyn smiled warmly, "You look beautiful as always, Veronica."

Veronica waved the compliment aside, her gaze shifting to Soren. Evelyn quickly introduced him.

"Alpha Soren, meet Luna Veronica. Alpha Lucien’s mother." She introduced.

Soren rose smoothly, inclining his head. "Luna Veronica. It’s an honor."

"The honor is mine, Alpha Soren." Veronica’s eyes moved between the two of them with open, delighted curiosity, missing nothing. "I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure before. Though I’ve certainly heard your name."

"Nothing troubling, I hope."

"Quite the opposite." Veronica’s smile widened. "Good things, mostly."

Soren laughed, easy and unbothered. "You’re too kind, Luna."

"I’m rarely kind for no reason." Veronica’s gaze shifted back to Evelyn, something warmer settling into it. "And look at the two of you. A proper evening out." She glanced meaningfully at the half-finished dessert between them.

Evelyn’s cheeks warmed yet again, she could already tell what the woman was thinking.

Ashira who stood behind her quickly cleared her throat. "It’s time to get going, Luna." She said quietly.

Veronica hummed, "Fine, fine. We won’t keep you both any longer," Veronica said eventually, reaching out to squeeze Evelyn’s hand. "But you really must come by again soon, dear. I’ve missed our talks terribly."

"I will," Evelyn promised.

"See that you do." Veronica’s gaze flicked briefly to Soren, something approving in it before she turned to go. "Alpha Soren. A pleasure."

"Likewise, Luna."

Ashira offered a small nod of farewell, her eyes lingering a moment longer on Evelyn than the moment strictly required, something unreadable but not unkind behind it, before she followed Veronica back toward the main floor of the restaurant.