The Alpha’s Prophesied Mate

Chapter 11: Just Getting Started

Rainshadow Café

POV: Evelyn

"The queen is dead. Long live the queen!"

"Pedro, shut up, please."

Evelyn sighed as she watched Naomi walk past the shop window. She had no doubt where she was going, or that what had just happened would have consequences… and for the first time, she didn't care. Her sister had crossed a line, dragging their messy history out in front of two strangers, who also happened to be her customers, right there in her own shop. She could imagine what Eleonor and Alexander must think of all of them, and at any other time she would have been mortified. Right now, though, she was just exhausted with everything… and sad. She'd gotten more support in the last five minutes from someone she'd barely met than from most of the people she'd known her whole life over the past year. That was a hard pill to swallow. So today she wouldn't bother explaining herself or apologizing, and she let herself act with complete indifference to the fact that these people now knew what a mess her life was. As Pedro liked to say whenever a situation seemed to be circling the drain: Well. How embarrassing, in front of company.

"What I told her is true, I have a personal issue with this kind of situation," Eleonor said before taking a sip of her coffee, her eyes fixed on Evelyn. "Though the fact that I don't like her attitude had something to do with my tone."

"You were magnificent, cariño… and that's not attitude, that's her personality," Pedro said, his tone serious for once. "It doesn't hurt for someone to give her a dose of reality every once in a while… even if it ends up doing nothing."

"I think it's best if we get back to planning the party," Evelyn said. It was time to change the subject and focus on what actually mattered: work. "From what you told me when you got here, I take it you're in the loop now," she added, looking at Alexander, who nodded as he drank his coffee. Noticing he'd finished his dessert, she cleared the plate and set the list Eleonor had given her between them. "That makes things easier. A celebration this size is hard to keep hidden."

"What's left to figure out?" Alexander asked, looking over the sheet. "Don't forget to add my three pies…" he reminded her, pointing at the item on the list, "…but mine with the ice cream flavor you prefer. Something tells me it's not vanilla."

No… it's not. Evelyn smiled, feeling herself relax, and under Alexander's watchful eyes, added the pies to the order, putting an asterisk where the ice cream flavor should go. "There," she said, earning herself a questioning look. "You'll find out the flavor that day. It'll be a birthday surprise."

"Ehh… linda," Pedro interrupted, catching her attention. When she looked at him, he tilted his head toward the window. A group of people was approaching, several of them regulars. "Better keep hashing out the details in the office. This place is about to fill up, and besides not being able to talk, you'll end up with more guests than you bargained for."

And more interrogations than they expected. Evelyn was grateful that, this time, Pedro had chosen to be careful and not point out the trait most of the town shared: their tendency to pry into other people's business. She had no doubt the Woods would find out sooner or later… but she had no interest in acting like everyone else and letting it happen because of them.

"You're right," Evelyn agreed. "Could you two wait for me in the office a moment, please?" she said, waving Eleonor and Alexander ahead, noticing as he picked up the list and stood. "I just need to get something ready out front, and I'll join you."

Without waiting for an answer, she headed to the kitchen and set out cookies for the coffees and teas in case Pedro needed more, and pulled aside a few gluten-free and nut-free packages she ordered from a trusted specialty bakery for customers with special requirements, making a mental note, as she reached the door connecting the kitchen to her office, to call in Alexander's birthday order that same day.

"And Eleonor?" she asked, finding only Alexander sitting at the desk. When he looked at her, she realized they were in the exact same situation as the day before, except now she was the one standing. She sat down immediately.

"She decided to stay with Pedro, to meet some people," Alexander told her, setting the list between them once again. "Besides, she doesn't want to make things more uncomfortable for you, in case you think she overstepped with what she said to your sister."

"If anyone crossed a line, it wasn't her," Evelyn said. "Naomi brought up personal things in front of people who have nothing to do with the situation. She's the one who made things uncomfortable for everyone. Eleonor just gave her opinion."

Alexander looked at her for a long, silent moment, and Evelyn wondered what he must be thinking of her. Uncomfortable, she dropped her gaze to the desk.

"I don't want to make you uncomfortable," he finally said, getting her to look at him again. "I know I made you nervous yesterday, and today I've tried not to."

"You didn't—"

"I did," he said, his voice calm. "I'm the first to admit I'm too intense, and with you… well, right now I have plenty of questions I know I haven't earned the right to ask. But I will. You, on the other hand, can ask me anything you want," he added with a half-smile, "just not here. I don't want to risk my confessions ending up as one of Pedro's ringtones."

Stunned by Alexander's first admission, it took Evelyn a moment to catch up with the last part, but when she did, she let out a laugh that dissolved half the tension she'd been carrying, noticing too how those gray eyes sparkled with mischief.

Who would've thought.

"So, what's left to decide?" Alexander said, resting his elbows on the table and leaning in to look at the list. And Evelyn knew he was changing the subject for her sake. "Pedro said we needed to settle something about dinner."

"To do that, the most important thing is knowing what kind of event this is going to be," she told him, picking up her notepad. "Formal or informal? What's the budget we're working with?"

"Informal," Alexander answered without hesitation. That one had been easy. "No set budget. Whatever's needed."

O…kay.

"How do you want the service to work?" she asked as she wrote. "Tables or stations where guests serve themselves, or do you want the food passed around or brought to tables, if there will be any? In that case, we'd take care of finding additional staff. Unless you already have someone in mind…"

"No, you're in charge," Alexander cut in. "And I'd rather everyone serve themselves. You decide if we need extra people. My brothers and I can also help set up whatever's needed."

"Okay, perfect," she said, relieved. She preferred working with small teams. "Now, I haven't talked to Eleonor about the cake yet. At first she mentioned a Hummingbird Cake, but yesterday's conversation was about a much smaller celebration. I need to know if you still want that one, how many people it needs to serve, and how you want it presented. Also whether the cake should have a special design or match the party's theme."

"Beyond my pies with the secret ice cream selection, I don't care what's served that day," Alexander declared, his voice serious but his eyes smiling. "Eleonor and Margaret think two hundred fifty is a good number, and I'm guessing they picked that cake for my birthday. But you decide which one's right, how to decorate it, and how to serve it. You're in charge of the whole celebration. And I'm sure I'll like whatever you choose."

"Margaret?" she asked, suddenly more interested in the new name than in his declaration of total freedom over the party arrangements.

"My aunt… You'll meet her soon," Alexander answered, smiling. Embarrassed, she looked away.

"I'll keep the Hummingbird Cake," she confirmed, writing it down. "Last thing… Eleonor and Pedro settled on a dinner with lots of protein. Honestly, I think Pedro went overboard and promised her something like a full-on feast, on top of all the food that will be served as appetizers. To be completely transparent, we'd need to subcontract someone who specializes in that. Unless you'd rather handle it yourselves…"

"No, I want you in charge of everything, and don't worry about the excess. Nothing will go to waste."

Oh… that was easy, she thought, feeling foolish for how much she'd agonized while Pedro and Eleonor talked and he made promises.

"Your sister said the same thing," she told him, silently grateful Pedro wasn't there to hear it. Permission to go all out, and no budget? She shuddered to think what her friend's imagination could plan. It wouldn't surprise her if, in nine days, he managed to put together a full-blown fair on the Woods' property. "Do you really think Eleonor will be okay with me deciding all of this?" she asked, wanting to be sure. She had no problem consulting with her on things. That was usually how she worked. "Yesterday I got the impression that she and your brothers wanted to surprise you and had already thought of everything."

"Things changed, and Eleonor has no idea how to put together an event this size. Trust me, she's relieved."

"Okay." What changed? she wanted to ask, and even though he'd told her she could, she chose not to. "That's everything for now, then…" she said, aware that over the next few days she'd no doubt be in touch with Eleonor anyway to iron out the details.

"About the party, I think so…" Alexander said, looking at her steadily for a moment. "…About the two of us getting to know each other a little better, we're just getting started."