A War inside me

Chapter 10

Evelyn’s POV

My stomach was in knots all of dinner. I couldn’t eat properly.

“Hey, you barely touched your meal. Did you not like it?” asked Ben with a small frown.

“It was okay. I just didn’t have much of an appetite. I think the funeral took a lot of my energy,” I lied.

“What if I go after the party and grab you some Freddie’s?”

I smiled. He knows me so well. “You’d do that?”

He laughed loudly. “Of course, anything for you. I’ll send someone in like 20, and we can eat together upstairs,” he tells me softly and kisses the back of my hand, making me blush slightly.

“Beta,” says Noah, catching our attention.

“I couldn’t help but overhear your plans for later. I thought you’d want to come out with us like the good old days,” he says, clicking his tongue.

My eyebrows creased together. What does he mean by that?

“Remember you used to go out with our crew, and from what I remember, you were quite the ladies’ man,” Nathan said, taking a sip of his drink.

I turned to look at Ben. I had no idea he had partied with them. They were known to be womanizing jerks, but Ben? Was Ben one to?

“You guys knew each other?” I asked Ben.

“Oh yeah, well, I saw them here and there at events and stuff,” he said with a guilty expression.

“Oh, no need to de-flatter yourself. I can’t believe you have never told her about your many escapades. You had what was that one girl’s name? The one you carried like some purse? A—Ash?”

“Oh, come on, brother. Help me out. What was the w***e he loved so much?”

“Ashley,” Nathan said with a chuckle.

“Ashley,” I said under my breath. “Ashley, like from our pack?” I said, my eyes widening. She was my best friend before I was locked away. She was a couple of years older than me.

“Yep, that’s the one,” confirmed Noah while Ben rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “Yeah, we had a bit of a fling. Nothing serious,” Ben says to me with guilt oozing off of him.

I abruptly got up from the table. “I need some air,” I announce. “I’ll go with you,” Ben said, looking at me with shameful eyes.

“No, I need air alone,” I snapped.

“But we’re already outside?” Mira said from across the table.

I looked at Ben. “Air less suffocating,” I scoffed and walked to the back of the courtyard, my mind racing with thoughts.

How could he?

Ashley, out of all people to be with, he had a fling with Ashley!? How long ago? And did it really not mean a thing?

I know we’re technically not close anymore, and I’ve been stuck inside the pack house for years, but still!

I walked further away from the courtyard, each step stiff with my mind burning with emotions. The doors of the garden swung open, the fresh air cooled my flustered skin as I walked to the center point of our garden, surrounded by rose bushes, and in the center is a fountain with koi fish swimming peacefully. I rubbed my temples and closed my eyes, trying to gather my thoughts when— A throat clears beside me.

I didn’t even need to look to know who was beside me.

“What now, Nathan? Do you want to continue to rub it in my face? What a good ladies’ man Ben was?” I said, rolling my eyes sarcastically.

Nathan grins, a wolfish grin. “I just wanted to apologize. I didn’t know you weren’t aware that your future mate was an animal in his prime,” he chuckled.

“No, I wasn’t aware of it, but thank you. I’m glad you’re getting some entertainment out of it,” I muttered softly, turning my gaze to the fountain in front of us.

“Hey, that’s not fair to say,” he says, frowning innocently.

“Then what is fair to say because you’re clearly laughing?”

“I just wanted you to open your eyes a little. I mean, the world isn’t rainbows and butterflies,” he huffs.

I narrow my eyes at him. “I don’t think the word is rainbows and butterflies. What in the world would make you think that?”

“Oh, maybe because you live in make-believe land that you and Ben have a future together!” He snarls.

“ do you even know who your talking to? I lost my mother at the age of 6! I saw her laying lifeless and cold! I lived a life of imprisonment sheltered by these four walls because my father struggled with PTSD because of what happened to my mother and I knew! I knew he wouldn’t be able to handle my passing! So I complied. I complied to all his rules because I knew he was on the brink of going insane without his mate! And just when I thought I’d turn 18 find my mate and move on and my father would finally feel at ease that at least I’m safe in my mates arms. My father passes away protecting me protecting the one thing I despise the most and you think I live in the land of rainbows and butterflies!” I snapped the word coming out like vomit.

Nathan’s eyes softened “Evie I’m so sorry I didn’t mean it like— .”

“Save it! You’ve said enough ” I growled walking back towards the party. I’m fuming what an asshole he is!

He’s exactly what the maids have always said he is a condescending womanizing jerk.