Chapter 40

Logan

I was deep in thought as I walked through the camp. I should have been thinking of battle strategies and rogue attacks, but instead, my mind was plagued by thoughts of the two women in my life.

I thought about Evelyn, whom I had been so close to losing. She had almost slipped through my fingers and run away. I thought about her dogged effort to help the injured soldiers. Her compassion and her strength.

And then there was Emma, whom I had known for years and whom I had confided in with absolute trust. But perhaps I didn’t know her as well as I had assumed…

There were pressures from everywhere to get it right—my mother, Emma, Evelyn, my Gamma unit, the realm. But what did I want? Who did I want?

As I walked, I was so in my head that I hardly noticed the strange glances and low murmurs that followed me. I caught a few of these passing looks but didn’t think much of them. I was the Alpha and often gathered attention wherever I went. But some of these glances seemed particularly strange…

I was halfway through the training field when Rafe, one of my Gamma unit soldiers, caught my attention. He waved me over, but something about his expression put me on edge.

When I made my way to him, I found him fidgeting like a boy about to confess to breaking his father's favorite blade.

"Alpha," Rafe muttered. “Any new updates on the rogue death?”

The rogue that had died under interrogation had been a topic floating around for weeks afterward. No one seemed to be able to make sense of it. There were so many things we didn’t know about the rogues, so many missing pieces.

“Nothing,” I answered. Just theories.”

“Ah,” Rafe said. “There are just so many rumors going around, I didn’t know what to believe.”

Something in Rafe’s expression seemed strained, like he was holding himself back from asking about what he really wanted to discuss.

“You didn’t call me over just to talk about some rogues, did you?” I asked.

Rafe cleared his throat, suddenly too uncomfortable to look me directly in the eye. “Yeah, well, I was wondering… Do we owe you another congratulations?"

My brows knitted together, perplexed and already irritated by the interruption to my thoughts. “What do you mean, Rafe?”

“I was just as confused as you probably are,” Rafe sputtered. “I mean, you’re already married and—”

“Rafe, spit it out. What do you mean?”

“Emma’s been going around spreading a rumor that you’re engaged.”

It took a moment for the idea of it all to sink in. The suggestion was so ridiculous. I was already married and hadn’t I just put Emma in her place when we confronted Evelyn and Chris?

“You’re sure she’s the one spreading this?”

Rafe nodded. “I heard her telling a few of the other soldiers myself. It didn’t seem right, so I wanted to come to you and see.”

“You’re right. It’s not true. And thank you for that. Who has she told?” I asked tightly.

Rafe looked uncertain. “Everyone, I think.”

My jaw was tight. “And where is she now?”

Rafe hesitated. “She was heading toward the eastern courtyard. She’s probably still talking to some of the soldiers over there.”

I didn’t wait.

My strides were long and deliberate as I stormed through the camp, ignoring greetings and the way people moved aside at the sight of me. Whispers chased me like shadows.

And now I knew what they were all discussing. Emma’s ridiculous lie. Emma’s deliberate manipulation.

I found Emma leaning against the low stone wall of the courtyard, speaking sweetly to a pair of younger scouts. I could tell by her posture that she was flirting with them and basking in their attention.

She turned at my approach, feigning pleasant surprise.

“Logan,” she purred, as if she hadn’t just set fire to my entire personal life. “Have you come to—”

“You will stop,” I snapped, my voice low and edged with steel. “Now.”

The scouts stilled, immediately looking uncomfortable. Emma blinked, still composed. “Stop what?”

“Whatever game you’re playing.” I stepped closer, towering over her. “Announcing an engagement? Our engagement?”

Emma’s expression flickered—just for a second. Then the mask slid neatly back into place. “I thought it would help ease tensions. Show unity.”

“You thought wrong.” My voice was quiet, controlled, but each syllable carried weight like a warhammer. “I’m still married to Evelyn. You know this. I’ve made no promises to you. And I never authorized anything of the sort. If you were so worried about unity, wouldn’t you want to come and run the idea by me first?”

I turned so others could hear, my voice lifting just enough. “There is no engagement to Emma. Not now. Not ever. I remain loyal to my wife. Evelyn.”

Emma’s eyes narrowed. “You're making a scene.”

I looked down at her, unflinching. “You already made it.”

For a long beat, silence held. Around us, soldiers pretended to busy themselves, but every ear was trained on this exchange. The scouts nearby looked uncomfortable, like they were weighing up whether or not it was rude to leave.

“Why are you doing this, Emma?” I asked more quietly now, but the bite remained. “You want to provoke Evelyn? Make her feel unsafe? Unstable? Push her out so you can slide in and take her place?”

Her lips parted slightly, a challenge dancing there, but she said nothing.

I leaned in just enough for only her to hear.

“I don’t care how much influence you think you’ve gained. I see you. I see exactly what you’re trying to do. This is unacceptable, Emma, and you know that. And I won’t let you use me or Evelyn to tighten your grip.”

Emma’s face hardened. “She tried to leave you,” she hissed. “She wanted to flee from here without even saying goodbye. You forget that.”

“No,” I said coldly, straightening. “You made this a hostile place for her. You are constantly trying to pit yourself against her. Aren’t you tired of it?”

Emma straightened. “I’m trying to protect you. How can you even say these things? You knew me for years before you even met her, and now you want to abandon me because a pretty new thing came along. Have you forgotten all of those days we’ve spent together so easily?”

“No,” I said. “I won’t forget them. But I also haven’t forgotten who she is. Or what you’re not.”

Then I turned my back on her, leaving her fuming in the courtyard as whispers spread like wildfire.

As I walked away, my fists clenched at my sides. The damage was already done.

I needed to find Evelyn. If the rumors had gotten back to her, I could only imagine how she felt about them, especially if I was already angry enough for the two of us.

I had always been prepared for there to be rumors, gossip, and doubt. Often, this was the reality that came with being the Alpha. But worse than all of that was the truth gnawing at the edge of my thoughts.

Emma wasn’t just spreading a false claim.

She was drawing battle lines.

And she was daring Evelyn to step into the fight.