Alpha’s Hybrid Cinderella
Chapter 33

I would have stayed to spend the day with Evan, if not for how I had already missed several days' worth of classes from traveling to Dark Moon territory recently. Lagging even more behind would only steal time away that I could spend with him in the coming days, so despite my reluctance, I washed up and got ready to drive to campus.

Evan and I showered together, and his hands lingered over my body as he ran his fingertips over the reddened marks he had left all over my shoulder and neck. I shivered, delighting in the touch I never thought I would ever feel, the touch of Alpha Evan who I'd thought I lost before I ever had him. But he went no further, keeping his touches intimate but fleeting, not arousing.

He had only ever showed this tenderness to me. I'd never seen him let his guard down with anyone else. I leaned into him, eyes closed as I soaked up the warm spray of the shower and the heat of his body behind me. With a contented sigh, he wrapped his arms around me and kissed my hair, thumb rubbing soothing circles into my waist.

"I'll be late," I told him. "I'm skipping my morning run as it is. I have to straight to my first class."

"You don't need a run. We got in our exercise last night." "Evan!"

He chuckled and held me tighter, and I couldn't help but laugh with him. Evan. Would anyone ever believe me if I told them about this side of him, playful and charming? Everyone else only saw the blood-soaked edges, the cruel coldness, the ruthless strength. But beneath it, hidden between the cracks that could open up if he would only let them, was the real him...

I would give anything to let him know he didn't have to hide it. I would give anything to make everyone else see the man I saw.

He turned my head and kissed me deeply over my shoulder, murmuring against my lips. I melted into him and cherished every moment.

***

I didn't go. I was too late to make it to even half of my first class, and Evan refused to let me leave without breakfast, which turned into lingering moments of holding hands over the table while we ate in privacy. By the time I could bear to tear myself away, the morning classes were over and the traffic would make it impossible for me to make it to my first afternoon class on time.

Or so I told myself with a little urging from Evan. Instead, we compromised, and I let him convince me to stay at the manor for the rest of the day as long as I could sign in virtually to my classes. I sternly parted from him and retreated to my bedroom to log in and report my attendance. As persuasive as his touch could be, and as thrilling as the unexpected fire in his eyes when he looked at me, I had to keep up with my studies.

Still, I would have been lying if I said I wasn't relieved. It wasn't only about selfishly staying close to Evan. Ever since last night when he had barged into my little house with those wild eyes, like the look of an abandoned beast about to lose the very last thing he possessed, there had been a feral light in his gaze that refused to disappear. He couldn't keep his eyes off me, as if he thought I might disappear as soon as I was out of arm's reach. Even persuading him to stay out of my bedroom while I virtually attended class had been an ordeal.

But lucky that I'd succeeded. I didn't know if I could have answered Raf's chain of frantic texts with a clean conscience if Evan had been in my bedroom with me. I closed my eyes, willing my courage up, and replied:

Sorry! I know I missed our lunch date. I'll explain everything later, my first afternoon class starts in fifteen minutes and I signed in early already.

Signed in! Are you doing virtual right now?

Crap. I should have left that part out for now. She was only going to be even more worried. Sure enough, the rapid-fire texts asking how I felt, whether I was sick, if there was anything wrong with the house rattled my phone so much I had to silence it completely. Let me get back to you right after this class. I have ten minutes afterward before my second one starts, so I'll call you then, okay?

I was lucky she hadn't guessed it had anything to do with Evan... yet. I dreaded her reaction at learning I had ignored all of her lectures about leaving behind men who only played with our emotions. But how long could I put it off?

Halfway through the class, however, a knock at the door had me turning off my laptop camera. Evan entered, and at first I thought he had come because he simply couldn't stay away, but my smile faltered at the dark expression he wore.

"I have to go," he said when I approached him. He brushed my hair back behind my ear, searching my face with a strange gleam in his eyes. "Do you remember me asking you about that scent? And the taste? Of the banshee weed tea you brewed for me." "Yeah, I do."

"It was a coincidence, but I asked Peelle to let me know if he's noticed anything strange about the Dark Moon territory greenhouses. I thought he might find something interesting about the banshee weed, or maybe find out how many other special strains of herbs and plants there are in the territory."

He paused. His grip on my arm tightened, and I tensed in response. What had him so bothered?

"He thinks he might have found some plants that have narcotic properties. Illegal plants, some that haven't been seen in years because everyone sane outlaws them. I'm going to meet with him and bring some experts who will be able to know for sure." "Narcotic properties!"

"Yes. And something that rare and valuable in the black market, I find it hard to believe there wasn't at least one or a few complicit in the scheme, in the Dark Moon Pack. But it might be a false alarm after all. Peelle's not an herbologist like you." He smiled and ruffled my hair, but the forced calm that came over his face wasn't fooling me. I gripped his hand tight.

"I'll go with you. I can bring reference texts with me. I have a few that might-"

"No. You've never been exposed to any of that, have you? You wouldn't be able to identify them on sight?"

I shook my head.

"Then leave it to the others. Those plants are toxic, and no one's been taking care to keep them contained since..."

He trailed off. I tried hard not to let the bile rise in my throat, knowing what he was talking about: ever since he had slaughtered most of Dark Moon, it was possible the chain of command of whatever was responsible for the narcotic plants had dissolved. This was a crisis in the making with even one misstep.

"I'll be back as soon as I can. It'll be late, but I might even be back before the morning. Don't go anywhere, Claudia, okay?"

I nodded. My suspicion earlier had been right; he was still afraid I would abandon him.

But he was wrong. I would be right here when he returned, waiting for him.

***

Turned out I was the one who would miss him more.

I was supposed to focus on my classes and on my assignments, but all afternoon and evening, I found myself staring at the ceiling, wondering when Evan would return. Even my wolf was unhappy, stirring restlessly. When will he be here? Cassiel demanded. Why is he gone for so long?

He'll be back. But I miss him too. I wish he'd taken me with him.

Go to him, then!

I envied the wolf's simplicity. There was only ever one choice for Cassiel, to go after what she wanted. But that wasn't how the world worked. I smiled at the thought of giving in and jumping on the next train to Dark Moon territory, but that was impossible. Rafael would be here soon, after all.

My stomach dropped at the recollection of her furious last words to me over the phone an hour ago: Don't you move! I'm coming over. Tell Evan's people to let me in when I get there, okay!

There was no dissuading her. She was going to be here and I was going to have to explain everything to her, including why I was back at the Scarlet manor.

It was not going to be pretty.

Raf finally arrived that evening, charging in through the front door before I'd even gotten there. One of the younger butlers had let her in since I had given advance warning of her arrival, and he quickly excused himself from the foyer to let us speak. "Raf, wait." I grabbed her hand before she could unleash the giant breath she sucked in, her eyes flashing. "It's a lot to explain. We'll talk about it upstairs. But I'm going to just say one thing and I hope you can respect it. I've decided to stay with Evan."