Chapter 4
1140 Words
Fresh fruits, baked bread, roasted meats, and golden pastries adorned the royal table.
Despite the rich spread, Hadassah could barely focus on her plate.
Seated beside Victor, she quietly picked at her food. Evan sat at the head, his silver hair catching the light. His expression was calm but distant, his piercing gray eyes scanning the room as if weighing every word spoken.
Hadassah's father, Marcus, broke the silence with a quiet rumble masquerading as forced joviality. "For the record, the Black Ridge pack knows how to throw a party. This meal is exceptional, Alpha Evan."
Evan inclined his head slightly. "Thank you, Marcus. We aim to please our allies."
Hadassah caught the edge in his tone and wondered if he truly meant the word ‘allies’.
Victor, seated to Evan's right, leaned closer and spoke in a formal tone. "The rogues last night were a bold move. Do you suspect a larger threat, Alpha?"
Evan's gaze shifted to Victor, cool and measured. "It's possible. Rogue activity has increased near our borders recently. We’re investigating."
His flat voice held an authority that silenced everyone. Hadassah couldn't help but watch him; there was something about his commanding presence that made her pulse quicken.
As he turned to speak with one of his advisors nearby, his tone remained distant, his attention never lingering on her as if she wasn’t even there.
Clara, sitting beside their mother, broke the silence with a mischievous smile. "Shouldering the burden of an entire pack must be a lot of work, Alpha Evan. Don’t you ever get tired?"
Evan looked at her with an unreadable expression. "Leadership is not about comfort, Miss Clara; it's about responsibility."
Clara blinked, clearly taken aback by his curt response.
Hadassah suppressed a smile, eliciting a scolding stare from her father. She masked her mirth by sipping her tea but her mind whirled. Why did he act so cold? Last night, he had saved her life and spoken to her with concern and affection; today he seemed blank.
Victor turned to Hadassah with a low voice. "You’re unusually quiet. Is everything all right?"
Hadassah forced a smile. "Just tired. Yesterday was... eventful."
Victor nodded but quickly shifted his attention back to Evan. "Alpha, do you think it’s wise to increase patrols on the borderlands? My warriors could assist if needed."
Evan’s gray eyes flicked toward Victor as he considered his words. "Your offer is noted; however, my pack is capable of handling its territory."
Victor's jaw tightened. “Of course.”
Marcus eagerly smoothed over any tension with a chuckle. "The Crescent Moon pack has never looked down upon Black Ridge leadership. Collaboration is key to maintaining peace."
Evan raised an eyebrow, his tone neutral. “Peace is maintained through strength, not dependence.”
Hadassah glanced at her father and saw a slight smile on his face. Marcus was accustomed to being the loudest in every room, but Evan certainly did not conform to the majority.
As the conversation continued, Hadassah found herself drifting back to Evan's presence. She recalled how he had fought by her side after the assault—the intensity in his gaze—but now he seemed so... unreachable.
Just before the meal concluded, Evan finally addressed her directly. “Lady Hadassah.”
Her heart skipped; she dropped her fork and turned to him. “Yes, Alpha Evan?”
"Have you been recovering all right from last night’s ordeal?" His polite demeanor contrasted sharply with the emotional distance she had come to expect.
“Yes,” she replied softly. “Thank you for—”
“Well,” he said, nodding briefly before turning back to his assistant.
Her words hung unfinished in the air as frustration mounted within her; she clenched her hands in her lap. Why was he acting like this?
Clara leaned closer and whispered in her ear, “Don’t take it personally; he’s always like that—cold and untouchable. Probably why he’s still single.”
Hadassah forced a weak laugh but didn’t respond.
★
After breakfast finished, Hadassah sat in the garden facing the hall of sustenance. The cool morning air brushed against her as she strolled through rows of flowers.
“Lost in thought?”
She turned quickly to find Victor standing behind her.
“Victor,” she said, startled. “I didn’t hear you.”
He stepped closer with a soft expression. “You seemed distracted all morning. Are you sure you’re all right?”
“I’m fine,” she replied automatically.
He frowned. “You can tell me if something’s wrong, Hadassah; you’re going to be my wife.”
The words hit her like a weight; she looked away as guilt and confusion twisted inside her. “I appreciate your concern, Victor; I just need some time to clear my head.”
Victor hesitated but nodded. “Take all the time you need; I’ll be nearby if you want to talk.”
As he walked away, Hadassah felt guilty—Victor was gentle in his own way—but her heart did not open to him as it did for Evan.
She shook her head; no—she couldn’t think about Evan like that. Later that day, as the sun rose higher in the sky, Hadassah wandered through palace corridors and gazed out of a window at the training fields where warriors practiced battle drills.
Her eyes immediately found Evan among them; he moved with strength and precision while his silver locks caught the sunlight. Despite the intensity of battle drills, he demonstrated control as he issued directions that soldiers obeyed without question.
“Alpha!” one warrior called out. “Should we adjust the patrol schedule after yesterday?”
Evan nodded decisively. “Yes; strengthen the northern border—we can’t afford another breach.”
Watching him stirred unease mixed with admiration within Hadassah; he was clearly an outstanding leader admired by all around him—yet why did he have to be so cold?
“Enjoying the view?”
Hadassah jumped and turned around to see Clara standing against the wall behind her with a sly smile on her face.
“Clara,” Hadassah said as her cheeks flushed. “I was just... observing.”
“Observing Evan,” Clara teased with an even wider grin.
Hadassah glared at her. “It’s not like that.”
"Of course it's not," Clara replied sarcastically. "But don’t get your hopes up sister. Men like him don’t have room for things like love or kindness.”
Hadassah didn’t respond; however, Clara's words left her preoccupied.
That night as Hadassah lay in bed, she couldn’t shake Evan's presence from her mind—his cold demeanor during breakfast and commanding presence in training added layers to the mystery of who he truly was.
And despite herself, she wanted to know more about him.
- Writer
