Chapter 94

Chapter 94: Chapter 94

Two weeks had passed.

For Evelyn, they had been among the most productive weeks she had experienced in a long time.

The construction of her healing house had progressed beyond the foundation and initial framework. The main structure was beginning to take shape, and she had spent several afternoons reviewing plans, meeting suppliers, and negotiating for medical materials. There was still much to be done, but for the first time since leaving Silver Creek, she could look at something and see the results of her own decisions taking form.

For the past two weeks, she’s had an incredible amount of rest. She was totally free of Sophia’s conniving ways until the first houses gathering. She was free from Kael, Lucien.

Celine had written to her as well. The letter had arrived three days earlier, its contents were brief but carefully worded. She had asked if she could visit Evelyn sometime the following week.

Evelyn had not answered yet. She wasn’t angry with Celine anymore, not in the way she had been when she first left Valemont. But forgiveness did not automatically restore what had been lost. If Celine wanted to rebuild their friendship, Evelyn was willing to let her try.

That was all she could offer for now.

As for Greta, the healer, her recovery was fully done but Evelyn had insisted that the healer remain somewhere discreet, away from anyone who might connect her disappearance to the investigation into Sophia. Until they understood the full extent of Voss’s influence, alerting Sophia to Greta’s survival would be foolish.

And today, Evelyn had another reason to be careful.

It was finally the Gathering of the First Bloods.

She stood before the full-length mirror in her bedroom, examining her reflection.

Her dress was an elegant shade of red, fitted through the waist before falling in soft, flowing layers to her ankles. The neckline was modest, the sleeves delicate. Her brown hair had been arranged into a graceful updo, leaving a few loose strands to frame her face.

She was totally rid of the white streaks that had appeared the past few months. The last two weeks had helped with her appearance. Staring at the mirror, even she could tell there had been a great change. Her skin glowed as though she’d applied some oil, her hair was fully brown and voluminous and the wrinkles that had filled her face were practically gone.

"I feel different." She turned to face him properly. "Rested, for once. It’s strange how much a few weeks without Sophia or Kael breathing down my neck can do."

"It suits you." He hesitated, something more serious settling over his features. He stepped forwards, "Evelyn, I know it’s late to be asking this. But are you certain about tonight?"

"I’ve never been more certain of anything."

"The Gathering of the First Bloods isn’t like the summit. Those are Lucien’s closest allies in that room, old houses, old grudges. If anyone decides you don’t belong there—"

"Then I’ll remind them why I do." She reached for her gloves, pulling them on with steady hands. "This isn’t only about Voss, Tristan. Every Alpha in that hall tonight controls trade routes, resources, influence I need for the healing house to survive on its own merit. If I can walk away from tonight with even a handful of them interested, we won’t need to depend on Damon’s generosity forever."

Tristan stared at her for a couple of seconds then nodded, there was no changing her mind, not when it was already made up. He knew that much.

"Understood."

Evelyn understood his concerns. Tristan had watched her endure too much, and the thought of seeing her dragged back into the same mess must be difficult for him.

But she was no longer the woman who had remained in Silver Creek, hoping that if she endured enough pain, Kael would eventually recognize her worth.

She was different now.

"Besides," she added, "you have been worrying about me for so long that I suspect you wouldn’t know what to do with yourself if I gave you a peaceful evening."

"I would manage." He replied and she cocked her eyebrow.

"Would you?"

"Quite comfortably."

Evelyn hummed, "Then perhaps you should spend tonight practicing."

He shook his head. "One day, my lady, your mouth will get you into trouble."

"That day has already come several times. I’ve survived every one of them."

Before he could reply, a servant announced that Alpha Soren had arrived. Evelyn glanced at the mirror one last time before standing.

"Well, then. Shall we?"

Tristan offered his arm, escorting her downstairs.

Soren was waiting in the entrance hall, dressed in a finely tailored black coat with silver detailing at the cuffs. He held a bouquet of red roses, and when he turned at the sound of their approaching footsteps, his expression changed.

He looked at Evelyn for a moment longer than politeness required. Unable to look away as though he were in a trance.

Tristan cleared his throat rather loudly and the alpha blinked, taken aback and also catching himself.

He stepped forward, "You look absolutely beautiful."

Evelyn glanced at the flowers. "Are those for me?"

Soren smiled, "I had considered giving them to Tristan, but I thought he might find the gesture suspicious."

Tristan looked unimpressed. "You would be correct."

Soren laughed and offered the bouquet to Evelyn. She accepted it, inhaling the faint fragrance of the roses.

"Thank you. They’re lovely." She replied sweetly.

"Not nearly as lovely as the woman holding them."

Evelyn arched a brow, though the corner of her mouth betrayed her. "You’ve been practicing that line."

"Extensively," Soren admitted without shame. "I rehearsed three different versions on the ride over. This was the least embarrassing."

"I’d have liked to hear the others."

"Absolutely not." He offered his arm, something warm settling into his expression. "Shall we?"

Tristan followed them to the door, his jaw set in the particular way it always went when he was holding his tongue against better judgment.

"Behave," Evelyn told him over her shoulder.

"I always behave, my lady."

"You scowl at everyone who looks at me for longer than a second. That’s not behaving, Tristan. That’s loitering with intent."

Soren’s chuckled at her words, leading her towards the carriage before Tristan could summon a response.

_____

The carriage ride was quiet at first, Evelyn watching the countryside slip past the window, Soren watching her with the kind of careful attention he’d clearly been trying not to show since she’d come down the stairs.

The carriage moved through the familiar roads before gradually leaving the busier parts of the realm . Their destination lay in a secluded region of the realm, far from the ordinary routes between packs. The Gathering was held in a place that belonged to no single Alpha, its location chosen to prevent any one pack from claiming an advantage over the others.

The First Houses had been meeting there for generations.

It was where alliances were strengthened, rivalries quietly fed, and decisions that affected entire territories were sometimes made over a glass of wine.

Evelyn had no illusions about what awaited her. She was entering a room full of powerful wolves, many of whom would consider her presence an insult. Some knew her from the summit. Some from where she’d stormed into Lucien’s office and Others would know only the rumors.

Beside her, Soren adjusted his cuffs, warning her attention. She glanced at him.

"Have you attended the Gathering before?" she asked eventually.

"Never." Something flickered across his face, there and gone. "My father always went. I only hold the seat now because he’s no longer here to fill it."

"I’m sorry."

"Don’t be. It was years ago, mostly." He studied her a moment. "Are you nervous?"

"Are you?" she countered.

A faint, rueful smile touched his mouth. "Terribly."

"You’ll manage." She glanced back out the window. "First Houses respect composure more than charm. Stand still, speak little, and let your pack’s record speak for you."

"Easy for you to say. Look at you’ve managed to do in three months of leaving silver creek." He paused for a second "Evelyn. You’ll be facing Lucien again tonight. I know things between the two of you haven’t exactly settled into anything comfortable."

"They haven’t."

"Will you be alright?"

"I’ll be fine." She met his eyes, steady. "And so will he. I’m not going there for Lucien, Soren. I’m going for the healing house, my mission there tonight is totally different."

Soren stared at her, he didn’t have any inkling on the reason she’d chosen to come to the gathering but he knew for certain, whenever Evelyn was, there would be trouble.

Trouble he was more than willing to face.