Sense My Silent Alpha's Heart

Chapter 5

Evelyn’s POV.

The ride back to the shadowpine pack was quiet and an awkward air hung between us inside the car. After everything that happened earlier where he almost killed Briar because of me, I didn’t know what to do.

This man was just as dangerous as I’ve heard and should not be trifled with and yet, I couldn’t help but be curious about him. I watched him without meaning to. His eyes were hard and cold. The softness I’d seen in there just moments ago had completely vanished and he seemed to not want to meet my eyes but after what felt like hours, he took a notepad and wrote to me.

‘You can hear what I’m thinking?’

My lips pulled into a tight smile as I told him. “Only when I touch you.”

His jaws ticked in a way that said he didn’t like that and my smile fell. The small moment we had together had made me forget the reality of my situation.

Though I was his mate, his feelings were pretty clear that he didn’t want one.

‘What else am I supposed to know?’ He scribbled on the notepad again and my lips pursed at the tone of the text.

I decided to tell him the whole truth. Not like he wouldn’t find out later anyway.

“Briar is the one who was supposed to marry you. But they forced me to be the bride so…”

He didn’t look surprised or upset. As if he already knew all of that. He just wrote again.

‘Does it make you angry?’

“No.” I said, staring out of the window as I shoved back a chunk of emotions down my throat. “Actually I’m just glad to be away from that family.”

Even though I didn’t know if my life was about to get better or worse. I didn’t add the last part though.

‘Good.’ He wrote and then continued ‘If you want revenge against them, I can give you that. All I want in return is a Luna to manage my pack’s affairs. Nothing more.’

To be honest, the last line stung a bit. He was drawing the line and telling me not to expect anything from him. He was my mate and I didn’t know what to feel about that so I just continued staring out the window with a heaviness in my chest.

The car took a turn into an estate just then and I immediately straightened in my seat, staring out at the view outside. The Shadow Pine Pack.

I’ve heard several stories of how beautiful it was but none would’ve prepared me for the sight in front of me. The driveway stretched endlessly. Fountains shimmered in the distance, water catching the light and scattering it like diamonds. My jaw dropped in awe and I was suddenly aware of my heart racing as we approached the entrance and the car glided to a stop.

A few people lined up outside the car and someone else got the door. Gideon turned his head to look at me as if asking if I was okay so I quickly gave him a nod.

A frown coated his expression as if he worried about something and then he took out his notepad and started writing again.

‘Here, you’re my Luna. You answer to no one except me.’

He didn’t give me a chance to process why he would tell me that. Or why he seemed so tense all of a sudden. He exited the car and offered me his hand to help me out.

I took his hand but the moment I did, I wished I hadn’t. His emotions flooded through me in a violent wave and it was… it was rejection— it crashed into me violently and cold. So cold. And then there was pity. He didn’t want this bond. Didn’t want what it demanded of him, what it represented and yet he pitied me.

He pitied me.

I snatched my hands away from him as if he’d just burned me. But he might as well have lit a fire in my heart. When he clearly drew the line earlier, I knew it was because he didn’t want a mate but I didn’t expect his feelings to run that deep.

I didn’t expect him to be so against it. Almost as if… as if he resents me for being his mate.

A tense air hung between us, charged with something deep. His fingers curled away from me and he avoided my eyes, guilt crawling at him as if he knew what I’d just felt from him.

“Eh, is that sister in law?” Someone broke the silence between us and I looked to see a curly haired man hurrying towards us. He looked young, and from his features, I could tell he was related to Gideon.

He pulled Gideon into a brotherly hug and from the information I’d gathered about Gideon, I could tell this was his brother, Kael. He was popular for being mischievous.

“Welcome to the shadow pine pack, Briar. Or shall I call you Luna Briar.”

“It’s— it’s Evelyn.” I said and saw him frown, confusion lacing his gaze and he definitely had a lot to say but one look from his brother and he laughed over it to dispel the awkward air.

“I have prepared your room before your arrival and while we’re at it, I shall give you a tour of your new home, Luna.”

He added the title with a wink and I felt a swell in my heart. Luna.

As an Omega and an adopted child, I had never imagined that title belonging to me. But here I was.

I smiled lightly and followed Kael inside without once glancing back at Gideon but I did wonder what he was thinking as he watched me leave with his brother.

Kael introduced himself to me while he showed me around and to be honest, he seemed really sweet, unlike his brother. Always looking so cold and intimidating.

Arghh… why was I thinking about him again?

“And this is your room.” Kael pushed the door open to a large space decorated in white and pink, looking like a kid’s playhouse. “I didn’t know what you would like but if this design does not appeal to you, you can redesign it however you like—“

My lips stretched as I stared at the vast space. “This is more than I imagined.”

Back at home, my only space was down in a basement, barely able to fit me. So I guess this was an upgrade. I didn’t dare complain about it.

“Is—“ I heistated but continued anyway. “Is Gideon going to be staying here too?”

The idea of sharing a room with him made me feel a range of emotions.

“No. But I made sure to chose a room that is just right next to his. If you both ever need to… you know?” He threw me another playful wink and my cheeks reddened with heat at what he was implying.

I observed the room as a little silence passed by. Kael was watching me as I walked around, and stopped to stare at a painting on the wall. It was an image of a little girl, lost and alone, tears spilling out of her eyes.

“He’s difficult, isn’t he?” His voice rang out from behind me.

I quickly turned around. “Who?”

“My brother.” He said. “I saw the way you were looking at him earlier and I knew something was wrong between you two.”

“He’s my mate.” The words spilled out before I could stop myself and I hated myself for it because Kael should’ve found out from his brother.

Fuck my big mouth.

“You— you are not serious.” His eyes widened with surprise before dread slowly settled in.

“I am.” I shrugged. “He doesn’t want a mate though. And… he pities me.”

“It’s not his fault.”

“Right.” I said, biting my lips. “I expected you to defend him.”

“You don’t understand.” Kael stepped closer, looking as if there was a crisis. “The idea of a mate— of him finding his mate. It’s— it’s painful for him. You can’t even imagine what—“

The door opened, cutting him short and Gideon was standing there, scowling deeply at his brother as if he’d just said something he was not supposed to say.