Chapter 7

Evelyn's POV Early the next morning, while Alexis was still asleep, I decided to go downstairs to make coffee, having hardly slept all night. I opened the bedroom surveillance feed on my phone to keep a constant eye on Alexis as she slept. After spending two days with Alexis, Rowan had grown increasingly fond of his sister. Rhys, though initially reluctant, was also melting under her adorable charm. They snuck into her bedroom, obediently waiting by the bed for Alexis to wake up. Beta Zeon was already awake. As soon as he stepped out of his room, the rich aroma of coffee filled the house. Seeing me brewing coffee, he sheepishly asked for a cup as well. I felt he showed me more respect now than when I was in the pack. Calvin emerged dressed and ready, immediately noticing the two of us drinking coffee. Beta Zeon grinned nervously. "Alpha, Lu.— I mean, Evelyn makes the best coffee I've ever tasted. It's so aromatic and rich." He glanced at us both, saying flatly, "Is that so? I don't see what's so special about it." Beta Zeon's heart skipped a beat as he quickly downed the remaining coffee. "Alpha, I'll go check the situation outside today." The rain was lighter than the previous two days, but the weather forecast showed rain continuing for the entire week ahead. As long as the bridge remained submerged, they couldn't leave the city. Calvin stood there, his devastatingly handsome features still bearing traces of paleness. His posture remained impeccably straight,each step he took like a moving photograph from a fashion magazine. He approached me, eyeing the coffee cup in my hand. "Five years of mateship, and I never knew you had this talent," he said sarcastically. I was focused on the surveillance feed on my phone, noticing that Alexis had awakened. Her chubby little hands grabbed one finger from each of the twin boys, babbling happily and even enthusiastically inviting them to join her in bed. Hearing Calvin's remark, I turned and scoffed coldly, "I guess you never needed to know." From the corner of my eye, I caught the scene on the surveillance feed. With no adults around, even Rhys seemed less hostile toward Alexis, and was even offering her his favorite toy to play with. I put down my coffee and headed for the stairs when my wrist was caught in Calvin's grip. His body temperature was still slightly elevated from his recent fever. "Evelyn, don't you feel any guilt when you see your two sons?" His voice was tight with accusation. "After disappearing for more than three years, while holding your daughter, do you even remember that you're also Rowan and Rhys's mother?" "They're only seven years old. Haven't you considered that they need maternal love too?" How ironic that he dares blame me now? Did I willingly choose to leave my own children? I tried so hard to be a good Luna for his pack, but what did I get? Diana's persecution, the pack members' contempt, all because I was a wolfless Omega. I wasn't even allowed to be involved in my own sons' education. I married him for the alliance between packs. I had originally thought we would have a peaceful life together, even if there was no love, at least respecting our mateship and each other. But after five short years of our mateship, Calvin ultimately failed to do so. "Guilt? Why should I feel guilty? You're the one who should feel guilty!" I snapped. "Calvin Wolfe, when you were being affectionate with your mistress, did you ever think about being a father to your two children?" "You're being completely unreasonable! It was just one dinner and a picnic. How could you overreact like this?" I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes. Even now, he was still defending his precious Clara first. Calvin's eyes darkened ominously. "Evelyn, Clara isn't the kind of woman you think she is. You can misunderstand me, but don't slander others." I never thought my heart could ache again after three years. Yet his words still pierced through me like thorns. I was absolutely fuming. "We're already rejected, and I've remated, Calvin. Show some respect," I said, pushing him away firmly as I tried to head upstairs to find my daughter. Calvin grabbed my wrist, pulling me back to him with surprising strength. "Who is this man you abandoned your Alpha and children for?" He had the audacity to question my loyalty when he never trusted me himself? I yanked my hand free, my words deliberate and cutting. "A man a thousand times better than you could ever be." As I walked away quickly, I heard him collapse behind me. Calvin's fever from last night had returned with a vengeance. Despite our bitter confrontation, the rain hadn't let up. After some messages relayed through his beta, we finally reached a verbal agreement. They would leave Viremont once the flood subsided. While staying at my house, they would pay $100,000 per day for accommodation and medical expenses. A full week had passed since they first arrived. Little Alexis was thrilled to have two new playmates, spending every day happily with Rowan and Rhys. Rhys, being naturally childlike, quickly grew fond of the always-smiling Alexis under Rowan's guidance. Each morning, he would drag Rowan to my bedroom to wait for Alexis to wake up. Meanwhile, Calvin rested in the guest room, his schedule still packed with endless meetings. He not only had to handle pack affairs but also make decisions for Wolfe Haven International's corporate projects. I had my hands full, too. Viremont's storms brought floods, but Evelink Biosciences faced a different crisis. While hospitals overflowed, I watched our supply lines drown. LDS stabilizer production was failing. Our last Moonshade Root extract, the crucial ingredient, was running low. Without it, our cure became useless. Worse, floods had destroyed our backup cultivation site for this rare plant. My days blurred into endless calls: rerouting shipments, begging freight companies, checking inventory with Gary. Each delay meant more werewolves sliding toward madness. The responsibility crushed me. I lived in the lab now, searching for alternatives that didn't exist. The crisis became my escape. It kept me away from home, away from Calvin. Calvin's POV I had just concluded a high-stakes video conference with the core team leading our bid for the Red Cedar Resort project. The land, nestled within the forested outskirts of Viremont, was a sleeping giant: untapped, undervalued, and overflowing with potential for the luxury eco-resort we'd spent months envisioning. Its market price remained artificially low due to outdated infrastructure and poor transport links, but that precise weakness made it our perfect target. However, an unexpected player had entered the game. A nameless, faceless competitor who mirrored our every move, matching our bids dollar for dollar, stubbornly refusing to yield regardless of our aggressive tactics. This transcended mere real estate acquisition. We had invested heavily through detailed feasibility reports, ground surveys, political lobbying, and strategic capital movements. I had personally walked that land, experiencing firsthand the promise held in its pristine ridgelines and secluded valleys. Once the anticipated government transit project cut through that region, the land's value would skyrocket. This wasn't speculation; it was certainty. Losing simply wasn't an option. The meeting had left me drained.As soon as I opened the door, I saw Alexis, who should have been napping upstairs, lying on the stairs instead. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and wobbled towards me, her tiny arms reaching out. With red eyes and a hoarse voice, she said, "Carry me." I froze for a moment, but instinctively picked her up, my movements somewhat stiff.What kind of mother leaves her child alone on the stairs like this? What if she had fallen? What if something terrible had happened? First she abandoned the twins, and now she's being this careless with her daughter too. She doesn't deserve to be a mother.I was furious. A few minutes later, Nina came running over, her face full of panic. "Sir, please don't misunderstand. Madam left for work early this morning." I frowned. "What kind of work does she do?" Nina hesitated, "She's a respected doctor." Doctor? Since when did she know anything about medicine? Does she... really still have the ability to treat patients? "Maria and I need to handle the supplies at the villa and repairs at the warehouse today, and the kitchen is still leaking... We're really short-handed," she carefully explained. "We temporarily asked Mrs. Wilson from next door to look after Alexis." Just then, Mrs. Wilson rushed back. My face darkened as my gaze fell on Mrs. Wilson, my voice low and suppressed. "Do you realize how dangerous it is to leave a two-year-old child alone?" The Alpha's anger spread through my body, and I could feel the air growing heavy. Mrs. Wilson clearly hadn't expected my anger and hurriedly explained. "My garage was flooding, and I rushed back worried about valuable items getting damaged. I live right next door and thought I'd be back quickly... I didn't expect her to wake up so soon." Her voice gradually trailed off. Alexis, sensing my anger from within my arms, gently kissed my cheek and mimicked Rowan's tone. "Daddy, don't be angry." She didn't even understand the meaning of the word "Daddy." But in that moment, my heart felt an indescribable, dull ache. If only... if only she were my daughter.