Rejected and Pregnant I Fled The Pack novel Chapter 56

Chapter 56

Damon pov

Evelyn sat in the armchair by the window, Willow nursing quietly against her, and I found myself simply watching them both, some quiet, unguarded contentment settling into my chest that felt strange after two days of nothing but tension and confrontation.

“You’re staring,” Evelyn said, not looking up, though I caught the faint, tired smile at the corner of her mouth

“I know.” I didn’t look away. “I missed this. All of it. Every single day I didn’t get to see.”

She glanced up at that, something complicated crossing her expression – not quite forgiveness, still not that, but something softer than the guarded wariness she’d carried since we crossed back onto pack lands two days ago.

A knock interrupted the quiet before either of us could say more, and Callum let himself in a moment later, a folder tucked under one arm, his expression carrying the same low-grade exhaustion he’d worn since we arrived

“Sorry to interrupt,” he said, glancing briefly at Willow before addressing me. “Wanted to update you both before end of day.”

“What’s happening,” I asked, standing to take the folder from him.

“Your father’s gone quiet,” Callum said. “Completely quiet, actually, since yesterday. No more house visits, no more sentiment-building. He hasn’t left his study in over a day, from what the staff tell me.”

Evelyn looked up sharply at that, adjusting Willow slightly, her earlier softness replaced by immediate, careful alertness. “That doesn’t sound like good news.”

“It’s not necessarily bad either,” Callum said, though his tone suggested he didn’t fully believe his own reassurance. “Could be exactly what it looks like — a man finally sitting with the fact that he’s lost his wife and lost significant standing in front of the council. Could also be him regrouping, deciding on a different approach entirely.”

“What kind of different approach,” I asked, though some cold dread was already building in my chest at the question.

“I don’t know yet,” Callum admitted. “That’s what worries me. He’s unpredictable right now in a way he’s never been before. Losing control does strange things to someone who’s spent thirty years never actually losing it.”

I glanced at Evelyn, watching her expression tighten with the same fear clearly moving through my own chest. ” You think he might try something with Willow specifically.”

“I think I’d be lying if I said the thought hasn’t occurred to me,” Callum said carefully. “The council ruling protects against direct enforcement or coercion. It doesn’t fully anticipate every possible angle a desperate man might try instead.”

Evelyn’s arms tightened slightly around Willow, some fierce, protective instinct visible in the set of her jaw.” What do we actually do about that. Wait anxiously until he decides to show his hand?”.

“No.” I said it immediately, firmly, some old resolve hardening in my chest. “We don’t wait passively for whatever he decides to try next. Callum, I want eyes on him. Discreet, but constant. I want to know the moment he leaves that study, where he goes, who he talks to.”

“Already arranged,” Callum said. “Marcus is handling it personally. He volunteered, actually, once he understood what we were worried about.”

1/3

Chapter 56

+15 Bghus

“Good.” I looked back at Evelyn, who was watching me with careful, assessing attention. “And I want someone with you and Willow at all times when I’m not here myself. Not to make you feel like a prisoner, just-”

“L/understand,” Evelyn said quietly. “I’d rather have someone here than find out too late that I needed them.”

Callum nodded, some of the tension in his shoulders easing slightly at how readily she accepted the precaution.” I’ll have Ruth’s granddaughter, Sarah, come by this evening. She’s trustworthy, and she’s got some training as a warrior besides. She can stay close without hovering.”

“Thank you,” Evelyn said, and I could hear the genuine gratitude beneath the exhaustion in her voice.

After Callum left, the room settled back into quiet, though the earlier warmth had shifted into something more watchful, more carefully alert. Willow had finished nursing, and Evelyn shifted her gently against her shoulder patting her back with the same practiced rhythm I’d watched her use dozens of times now.

“I hate this,” Evelyn said quietly, after a long moment. “Just when I let myself feel something good again watching you with her, letting myself actually enjoy a quiet afternoon-something else comes along to remind me we’re still not actually safe here.”

“I know.” I moved closer, sitting on the arm of her chair, resting a hand gently against Willow’s small back. “I wish I could promise you we were. I can’t, not honestly, not with him still unpredictable the way he is right now.”

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