Chapter 8

(Logan’s POV)

She left in a luxury car, its sleek body cutting through the light as it disappeared down the road.

Where did she get the money to ride in something like that?

I'm still puzzling over it. The silhouette of a man.

The moment is fleeting, but it hits me like a thunderclap.

The man leans back in the seat, his posture calm and relaxed, as if he owns the world.

My jaw clenches at the sight, my mind immediately racing with questions.

Who is he? And why is Evelyn with him?

The bitterness in my chest grows sharp and acidic.

My immediate thought is as cruel as it is unavoidable: Evelyn has found herself a new sugar daddy.

The polished car, the royal emblem gleaming in the sunlight, and the casual way she entered the vehicle all point to a life far removed from the one she shared with me.

“I told you, Logan, she’s selling herself,” quips Emma, something vindicated in her voice.

“Not now, Emma.”

It’s all I can manage.

For a long moment, I stand frozen, my fists tightening at my sides as my eyes stay fixed on the road where the car has disappeared.

Evelyn looked so different, so composed and confident. It was like she had transformed into someone else entirely, someone I didn't recognize.

What am I missing?

I feel a simmering frustration as the memory of her leaving surfaces.

She walked away from our marriage without so much as a glance back.

It was swift, precise, and final.

At the time, I chalked it up to her wanting her freedom, perhaps jealousy over Emma, but now, doubt creeps in like a shadow.

“Beta,” I bark, my voice cutting through the haze of my thoughts. Jacob, who has been standing nearby, quickly steps forward. “Yes, Alpha?”

“I want you to investigate that car,” I order, my tone cold and commanding. “The license plate, the emblem—everything. I want to know who owns it and who that man is.”

Jacob nods, already jotting notes into his small notepad. “Understood, Alpha. I'll start right away.”

My eyes drifted back to the empty street, the sight of the man in the car had triggered something deep inside me, something uncomfortable and unwelcome.

And then, like a jigsaw puzzle snapping together, the memory of the day Evelyn left hits me hard.

I remember the man who picked her up from the packhouse.

I had barely paid attention then, too consumed by the anger of her disloyalty, but now the memory burns bright.

Could it have been the same man?

The idea tightens something in my chest.

My thoughts take a darker turn, and the questions I've buried for so long claw their way to the surface.

Had Evelyn been seeing someone during our marriage?

Was her departure not about finding independence but about running to someone else?

“Jacob,” I growl again, my voice lower but no less deadly.

My beta pauses, his pen hovering over the notepad.

“Look into her movements before she left,” I say. “Track everything. If she was seeing anyone, I want to know about it.”

He hesitates only for a moment before nodding firmly. “Yes, Alpha.”

As Jacob hurries off to carry out the order, I remain rooted to the spot.

My hands are still clenched into fists, the tension in my shoulders refusing to ease.

My thoughts churn with anger, confusion, and something far more unsettling.

“Evelyn,” I mutter under my breath, my voice barely audible. “What the hell are you hiding?”

(Evelyn's POV)

I leave with my brother. Seeing that I'm not in a good mood, he takes me for a drive to help me relax.

The tense encounter at the mall lingers in my mind as I settle into the back seat of the car. The sight of Logan and Emma together has stirred up emotions I thought I had long buried.

My brother, always quick to notice my mood, glances at me in the rearview mirror.

“You don't look okay,” he says, his tone calm but laced with concern.

I force a small smile, though it feels hollow. “I'm fine,” I reply softly.

Artemis doesn't look convinced. “You ran into him, didn't you?” he asks, his voice tightening.

I nod, leaning back against the seat. “Logan and Emma. It wasn't pleasant.”

My brother's expression darkens, his fingers tightening on the steering wheel. “What did he say to you? Did he touch you? ECelyn that’s treason—”

“No. And nothing he said matters,” I say quickly, not wanting to escalate his anger. “He's irrelevant Arty, it’s okay.”

My brother exhales sharply, his jaw tight with frustration.

After a moment of silence, he speaks again. “You need to clear your head,” he says. “Let's drive for a while before heading back.”

As the car cruises through the countryside, the open road and the steady hum of the engine help ease some of the tension in my chest.

I stare out the window, watching the scenery blur past, my mind wandering.

By the time we return to the palace, the knot in my chest has loosened, though the weight of the day still lingers.

When we arrive, the palace is alive with activity.

Ministers from the kingdom, early-arriving Alphas from other packs, and influential figures from neighboring territories fill the grand hall.

I barely have time to remove my coat before my father appears, his expression calm but expectant.

“There you are,” he says, gesturing for me to follow him. “There are people you need to meet.”

I square my shoulders and follow him into the crowd.

The next several hours are a whirlwind of handshakes, introductions, and polite conversations.

My father leads me effortlessly from one group to another, introducing me to ministers, pack leaders, and various influential figures.

“This is Evelyn,” he says proudly, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder. “My daughter. The future Alpha Queen.”

I see the way people's gazes shift when he says those words. Some look impressed, others curious, and a few wary.

I keep my expression calm and confident, answering their questions politely while suppressing the exhaustion tugging at me.

By the time evening falls, I'm drained. My father finally releases me, and I retreat to one of the smaller sitting rooms, grateful for the moment of peace.

Not long after, a familiar voice breaks the quiet. “Evelyn.”

I turn to see Lila, a royal Healer I haven't seen in years, standing in the doorway. I smile faintly. “Lila. It's been a long time.”

Lila steps forward, her excitement clear. “I heard you were back, and I had to see you. You look… different.”

I'm not sure if that's a compliment, but I nod anyway. “It's good to see you,” I reply.

Lila leans forward, her eyes bright with enthusiasm. “You know, I always admired your healing abilities. Even as a child, you had such intuition with herbs and remedies.”

“That seems like a lifetime ago,” I reply, tracing the rim of my teacup with my finger. “A rare gift like yours doesn't come along often in a generation,” she continues. “The way you could sense exactly what was needed—I've never seen anything like it.”

I shift uncomfortably in my seat. “I don't have those abilities anymore, Lila.”

Her smile falters. “What do you mean?”

“They're gone,” I say quietly. “They disappeared during my marriage to Logan.”

Lila's expression transforms, the excitement giving way to concern. “Gone? Completely?”

I nod, avoiding her gaze. “I tried everything to get them back, but...”

“That's such a loss,” she says softly, reaching across to touch my hand. “For you and for everyone who could have benefited from your gift.”

“It is what it is,” I reply with a shrug I don't entirely feel.

“But you still have so much to offer,” Lila insists, squeezing my fingers. “Your knowledge, your skills—there's a lot you can teach others, even if you can't practice yourself.”

“That's such a loss,” Lila says softly. “But you still have so much to offer. Your knowledge, your skills—there's a lot you can teach others.”

I'm caught off guard by the suggestion, but I nod slowly. “I'll consider it,” I say quietly.

Later that night, as I prepare for bed, my phone buzzes with a message from my Laney.

I pick up my phone, the screen illuminating my face in the darkened room. A text from Laney makes my heart stop mid-beat.

Ev, it's bad. Really bad. Call me when you get this.

Below it, a string of messages floods my screen:

They're saying you cheated on Logan with a prince during your marriage!!

The rumors are EVERYWHERE. Pack forums, social media, even some news sites are picking it up.

Your name is being dragged through the mud. They're calling you the “royal homewrecker” and worse things I can't even type.

Someone took photos of you today. Look:

My fingers tremble as I scroll to find several blurry images attached.

The first shows me climbing into the car outside the mall, my brother's silhouette visible behind me. The royal emblem on the door gleams prominently, impossible to miss.

There are more from different angles. Someone was definitely following you

Logan's pack is fueling this. They're saying this explains why you “abandoned” the Alpha

The room suddenly feels too small, too airless.

My reputation—what's left of it—is crumbling before my eyes over a terrible misunderstanding. My past and present are colliding in the worst possible way.

Call me. We need to get ahead of this before it gets worse.

But as I stare at the screen, a cold realization washes over me. It's already too late.