Filed to story: Alpha’s Regret After His Pregnant Luna’s Death (Evelyn & Declan)
Now I was just another wet, desperate mother holding a baby.
I let out a soft, bitter laugh that cracked slightly. “Look at us, Lana,” I whispered. “We can’t even make it past the front desk.”
Lana’s tiny body trembled against mine. She wasn’t crying, though, she was just staring up at me with those big blue eyes. My little cub. Stronger than she should ever have to be.
The rain outside battered the glass doors, the sound like distant growling. No car had stopped for us on the way here, not one. I’d carried her through puddles and lightning and stares, and still she hadn’t cried.
Lana clung to my finger now, trusting me completely. My heart broke under the weight of that trust.
My lips were cold, trembling as I forced the words out. “Tell Declan… it’s….”
Before the last syllable left my mouth, the air shifted. A commotion rippled through the lobby, causing my wolf to stiffen.
Then I saw her.
She glided in through the glass doors like she owned the damn world. A tall, polished figure in a crimson dress that fit her like blood on silk. Two-inch heels, a bodyguard holding an umbrella above her, an assistant trailing behind with a designer bag, a nanny draping a down jacket over her shoulders.
It was Sophia Darwin.
The crowd parted around her as if some invisible force demanded it. Their eyes followed her with admiration, envy and awe. It was always like that with her.
My mouth fell open, a tremor running through me. My wolf was restless and snarling beneath my skin at the sight of Sophia. She was the woman who’d stood beside me in court, swearing she wanted justice, only to drive the knife in herself. She was the one I had called sister.
“It’s Sophia,” I whispered, though the name tasted like ash.
“She’s stunning,” someone murmured behind me. I barely heard them. My heartbeat drowned everything else.
The elevator chimed.
And then, I saw Declan.
He stepped out in a dark suit that clung to his tall frame, his expression unreadable at first – until he saw Sophia. Then, for the first time in a long while, I saw his face soften.
That smile. I hadn’t seen it since before everything fell apart.
Sophia stomped one heel, feigning shyness, then ran right into his arms. “Declan, I knew you’d come meet me yourself.”
I couldn’t breathe. My wolf went deathly silent.
He pushed her back gently, his tone even and professional. “Don’t get carried away. Mr. Patrick, your senior colleague, said you did well. Your insights were sharp. He told me to praise you in person.”
Collins stood beside them, smiling his polite, empty smile. “Ms. Sophia Darwin, Alpha Declan has arranged a welcome-back dinner for you. You worked hard on your trip, and he’s been thinking of you.”
“Thinking of you.”
The words burned.
Sophia’s face faltered for half a second at the formal tone, then she masked it with a demure smile. I could read her, though, I always could. She wanted his name beside hers, wanted everything that used to be mine.
She brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, looping her arm through his. My vision blurred for a moment with unshed tears.
And then she saw me.
Our eyes met. Hers widened in shock, mine were blazing. I felt my wolf rise within me, my muscles tightening, my breath catching on the edge of a growl.
She narrowed her eyes at me.
I saw the color drain from her face. She recognized me.
“What are you looking at?” Declan asked her, his voice low. He followed her gaze.
For one suspended heartbeat, our worlds collided again.
His eyes brushed over me, over the woman standing in soaked clothes, clutching a child.
Sophia immediately pulled his attention away.
“Alpha Declan, I didn’t…” she started, stammering.
I slipped into the side corridor, not on my own, someone had pulled me away. My lungs were burning, Lana heavy in my arms. I didn’t realize I was shaking until I heard the person’s voice.
“Everything Sophia has was supposed to be yours, Evelyn”, he said.
My heart dropped. I glanced up and realized who it was.
Evelyn’s POV
It was Alpha Richard!
“Let go of me Richard!, What do you want?” I hissed, yanking free. My wolf bristled instantly.
He looked at me, his eyes rimmed red, his chest rising unevenly. He already knew what had happened.
“You saw, didn’t you?” he said, his voice cracking. “Declan’s heart belongs to Sophia. Showing up here like this… you were just asking to be humiliated. I pulled you away to spare you the shame. You should be thanking me.”
“Thanking you?” I spat. My voice came out rougher than I expected, the growl threading through it unmistakable. “For what? For your false testimony that sent me to prison? For pretending to care while you stole my work and handed it to her?”
His eyes darted, guilt flashing in them.
“Don’t tell me you didn’t love Sophia,” I went on, my voice shaking but deadly. “You went through all that trouble for her. Was getting close to me part of your plan from the start, Richard?”
My stomach twisted with disgust as I glared at him.
We’d grown up side by side, almost like siblings. When his family had turned their backs on him, it was me who stayed. I’d defended him, believed in him, believed that with his sharp mind and hunger, he could rise without the Cowen’s name.
And he had.
The boy I’d comforted through nightmares had become a man the business world worshipped, a powerful alpha now recognized by his family. He had become a polished, cunning rival that even Declan had respected.
And yet, he’d been the one to destroy me.
I’d called him my best friend. Maybe the only friend I’d ever really had. The socialites had always whispered behind my back, fawning over Sophia and freezing me out. But I hadn’t cared. I had him. Someone who’d seen my cracks and hadn’t flinched.
Or so I’d thought.
Now, just the sight of him made my wolf want to bare her teeth.
“Just the sight of you makes me sick,” I spat, every word laced with venom. My voice trembled, but not from fear, but from pure rage I felt towards him.
I tightened my grip on Lana, her tiny warmth the only thing keeping me tethered to reason, and I brushed past his shoulder.
“Evelyn,” he said, his voice cracking as his hand caught my arm. “I know you won’t forgive me, but it’s okay. I can protect you now. Even Declan can’t hurt you anymore.”
I turned to him, slowly, my pulse drumming in my ears. His eyes glistened with tears, full of what looked like regret or maybe he was just good at pretending. He’d always been good at pretending.
My wolf surged forward, wanting to rip free, to leave his lies in tatters. I forced her back down, barely.
“Save your acting for Sophia,” I hissed, jerking my arm from his grip.
He flinched.
Good.
The slap I wanted to give him burned in my palm. The only thing stopping me was the baby in my arms, my daughter, my weakness, my anchor.
If it weren’t for her…
He’d be bleeding for real even though he is obviously bigger and stronger than me.
I turned away, forcing one foot in front of the other, holding Lana tighter as I walked away. Her little whimper cut through my rage, pulling me back to myself.
I saw Richard’s beta and assistant, Jude, standing in my path as though waiting for orders from his boss. Pity flickered in his gaze.
Even he pitied me.
“Tell your lapdog to move,” I snarled, my voice low and edged with something almost feral.
My wolf was stirring within me- restless, pacing beneath my skin.
Richard’s jaw tightened, but he lifted his hand. His assistant, Jude immediately stepped aside, his head bowed.
“I know you won’t come with me,” Richard said, his tone softening. “But it’s still raining. Let me at least arrange a car to take you back.”
“Richard, I have business with Declan,” I snapped. “You don’t need to stop me for Sophia’s sake.”
His composure cracked. “Evelyn,” he barked, “don’t take your kid to see Declan. Sophia’s pregnant! You and your child are just obstacles in their eyes!”
The words hit me like claws to the chest.
For a heartbeat, I froze, every instinct screaming to turn, to tear, to howl.
