Calvin’s POV
I had just finished the quarterly board eting when Zeon found in the hallway. He looked tense. My Beta rarely got nervous unless sothing big had happened.
"Alpha Calvin, I have so information," he said quietly. "Your mate, I an, Ms. Blackwell is out having dinner with Alpha Leon tonight."
I kept walking toward my office.
I stayed calm even though sothing twisted in my gut.
"They’re at La Maison Rouge," Zeon said.
I got stiff. La Maison Rouge wasn’t just any restaurant in Ravenshade. It was famous for being the top date spot in the city. It had intimate seating and romantic lighting designed for couples.
"Alex is with her," Zeon added quickly.
A mory suddenly ca to my mind. Evelyn was smiling across the table at years ago. Her face glowed in the candlelight. "This place is so exclusive, Calvin. I booked our reservation weeks ago. You have to try their special couple’s nu with on Saturday."
I didn’t realize I had stopped walking until Zeon cleared his throat.
"Do you want to have soone watch the situation?" he asked carefully.
"No," I said sharply. "I’ll handle this myself."
Zeon’s eyebrows went up. "You’re going to spy on your ex mate’s date?"
"It’s not spying. I’m making sure Alexis is safe."
"It’s absolutely spying, "Cyra growled in my head.
"Shut up, "I told him ntally. "This is gathering important information."
Two hours later, I sat at a corner table with a perfect view of the semi private dining room. Evelyn, Alexis, and Leon were eating their al there.
The restaurant’s famous panels separated the private areas from the main dining room. They gave just enough visibility to watch without being seen right away.
Beta Zeon sat across from . He pretended to enjoy his steak while giving worried looks.
"Alpha, your food is getting cold," he said after I spent fifteen minutes staring at Evelyn’s table without eating.
I ignored him. Instead I focused on how Leon was leaning toward Evelyn. His face looked attentive and warm as she spoke. Her hands moved around a lot. They always did that when she was excited about sothing. Probably talking about her research.
Then I saw sothing that made my blood run cold.
Alexis was laughing at sothing Leon said. She looked completely comfortable with him. Nothing like the careful way she sotis acted around . When had they beco so close?
"They seem comfortable together," Zeon said. He imdiately regretted his words when I gave him a deadly glare.
"He’s been sending gifts to my children," I said through my teeth.
"Maybe he’s just showing kindness?" Beta Zeon said.
I shot him another glare.
When they finally got ready to leave, I asked for the check and told Zeon to wait in the car.
"Really? Alpha Calvin, don’t you think you’re acting like a stalker?"
"Your year-end bonus is cut in half," I said. Beta Zeon’s face went pale instantly.
I followed them from far away as Leon walked Evelyn and Alexis to his silver Aston Martin.
"A little much for a family dinner," I muttered to myself. I watched him open the passenger door for Evelyn like a perfect gentleman.
I followed them back to Evelyn’s house. I parked far enough away so they wouldn’t see . The night had gotten cold. I watched Leon rush to open Evelyn’s door, then go to his trunk for sothing.
When he ca back with two bouquets of stargazer lilies, one big one for Evelyn and a small one for Alexis, I gripped my steering wheel so hard the leather creaked.
"Stargazer lilies," I growled. "Her favorite."
How did he know that? It took years of marriage to find out her favorite flowers.
Alexis held her tiny bouquet against her chest with pure joy. Her smile was bright even from this far away. She looked up at Leon with admiration that should have been for .
I watched them walk to the front door. Leon stayed close like a perfect gentleman.
"Do you think they’re compatible?" I asked when Zeon got back in the car. My voice sounded strained.
Zeon’s eyes got wide at my question. "Well, Ms. Blackwell is beautiful and single. It’s natural she would have n interested in her, Alpha."
The word "single" hit hard. Of course she was single. I had driven her away. I had let her leave. I accepted her rejection and had signed those divorce papers without fighting hard enough.
"But," Zeon said carefully, "you have sothing Leon Robinson doesn’t."
I raised an eyebrow and waited.
"You share children with her. Two sons," he said with more confidence. "The twin boys give you good reasons to see her regularly. Natural chances to fix what was broken."
I thought about this. He was right. Every school event, every birthday, every parenting decision gave opportunities to be around her.
"And little Alex seems to like you," Zeon added quietly. He watched my reaction carefully.
I closed my eyes and rembered Alex. She was so small and trusting despite everything.
Zeon seed encouraged by my silence and continued talking. "Alpha Leon is good-looking, I guess, but you’re Alpha Calvin. Most eligible bachelor in Ravenshade when you’re not being the most intimidating business leader in the country."
I opened my eyes and stared at him.
"Too much?" he asked.
I turned away and looked out the window toward Evelyn’s house. The light showed her silhouette. Sothing in my chest got tight. It was more than jealousy or possession. It felt like regret.
"Drive," I said quietly.
As we pulled away from the curb, I made a decision. "Zeon, clear my schedule for school pickup tis this week."
"All of them?" he asked. He sounded surprised.
"Yes. And get the chef to make those pastries Alexis likes. The ones with raspberry filling."
"Planning a strategic campaign, Alpha?"
"Sothing like that." I looked out at the city lights passing by. "My sons will know what’s happening in her life. What she’s thinking. What she wants."
"And you think they’ll help you win her back?"
I didn’t answer directly.
We arrived at the Bloodbane Pack and stepped out of the car. I added casually, "By the way, Zeon, your year end bonus just doubled."
His surprised look was the first thing to make feel better all evening.
Over the next few days, I made sure to show up at the twins’ school just when Evelyn ca for pickup. I would stand nearby without approaching until Rowan and Rhys saw .
"Dad!" they would call out every ti. This got her attention.
I would nod politely and make small talk. Then I let the natural conversation between parent and children include in their plans.
"Mom’s making lasagna," Rhys said on the third day. He grabbed my hand. "You should co! She always makes too much."
Evelyn’s expression was a mix of resignation and sothing I couldn’t identify. She knew exactly what I was doing. But with the boys looking up at us hopefully, she rarely said no.
I was careful though. I never pushed too hard. I would walk them ho, spend ti with the children, and then leave before staying too long.
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