Evelyn’s POV
The weekend arrived too quickly.
Early Saturday morning, Alexis was already vibrating with anticipation, waiting for Rowan and Rhys to arrive. But as ti ticked by, minute after agonizing minute, there was no sign of the Wolfe family car.
I couldn’t reach Rowan’s phone either, which was unusual.
My little girl sprawled on the living room sofa, her chin propped on her tiny hands, her large, liquid eyes fixed on the gate, refusing to look away even for a mont.
She kept turning to , asking the sa question with increasing worry. "Brothers not here yet?"
I was growing concerned that sothing might have happened to them. Whatever his faults, Calvin wouldn’t break a promise once he’d given his word,that much I trusted about him.
I gathered Alexis into my arms, keeping my voice calm and reassuring. "Don’t worry, sweetie. Your brothers might just be delayed. Mama will call and find out."
Alexis nodded. "Wait for brothers."
I tried Rowan’s number again,still nothing but a busy signal.
After hesitating multiple tis, I finally dialed the number I’d committed to mory two years ago despite my best efforts to forget it.
The phone rang three tis before he picked up.
When I heard Calvin’s deep voice co through the line, my hand tightened around the phone. I imdiately identified myself.
"This is Evelyn."
Calvin paused, clearly checking the unfamiliar number on his screen. "What is it?" he finally asked.
I could hear what sounded like doctors making rounds in the background, and my heart dropped. Were my sons sick?
"You promised Alexis you’d send the boys over today," I reminded him, trying to keep accusation from my tone.
Calvin seed to suddenly rember his commitnt.I heard him sigh and apologize, ntioning sothing about working overti.
The dical sounds in the background beca more distinct, and anxiety surged through . "I hear doctors,are the children in the hospital? Don’t hide things from , Calvin," I said urgently.
I couldn’t help recalling how I’d once found Rowan sitting alone on a hospital terrace, looking small and helpless,an image that still made my heart contract painfully whenever I thought about it.
"No, it’s not them," Calvin explained. "Clara was in a car accident. I brought the boys to visit her in the hospital."
Relief washed over as I hugged Alexis closer. She was watching with hopeful eyes, and I couldn’t bear to disappoint her. I kissed her cheek softly before addressing Calvin again.
"When will you bring them over?"
The morning passed with Alexis constantly looking toward the door, her excitent gradually giving way to disappointnt.
Unable to watch her sadness any longer, I offered, "If it’s inconvenient for you, I can co pick them up myself."
"That won’t work today," Calvin replied. "Rowan and Rhys need to accompany to the Calypso Packhouse. We won’t leave until after dinner."
"I’ll bring them over tomorrow morning," he added.
Alexis pulled her hoodie over her face, but I could still see her watching my phone with desperate hope. Her little hand tugged at my sleeve.
I hugged her close, covering her face with kisses as I tried to explain. "Sweetie, your brothers have sothing important today. They’ll co play with you tomorrow instead."
My daughter pressed her lips together tightly, her eyes growing misty. "Alpha lied," she whispered toward the phone, her voice thick with betrayal.
She wiggled out of my arms and ran toward the stairs.
"Alexis!" I dropped the phone and rushed after her, scooping her up before she could get far.
I rubbed her back gently. "Your brothers really do have sothing they need to do today. How about Mama takes you to the amusent park to ride the carousel instead?"
My soft little bundle clung to my collar with both hands, crying in hitching breaths, but still finding the strength to shake her head in refusal.
Her face had turned red from crying, her voice wobbling with hurt. "Alpha lied to ."
I tried everything I knew to comfort her until eventually, exhausted from crying, she fell asleep against my shoulder. Her brow was creased with distress, sweat beading her forehead, her clothes slightly damp.
I carried her upstairs to change her into dry clothes. Only after she was deeply asleep did I go back downstairs to retrieve my phone.
The call hadn’t been disconnected.
On the other end, Calvin had been waiting in the hospital hallway the entire ti.
He’d heard everything—my daughter’s heartbroken crying, my attempts to console her, our footsteps as we moved through the house...
When I finally spoke into the phone again, my voice was weary. I didn’t yell at him or mock his failure. I simply said one sentence before hanging up.
"Calvin, if you can’t keep a promise, don’t make it to a child."
Calvin’s POV
I leaned against the hospital wall, tired to my bones. My head hurt as I thought about Alexis. I rembered how she trusted enough to ask for a hug, and how happy she was when I said her brothers would visit.
Then Evelyn’s words on the phone cut through like a silver blade. "Calvin, if you can’t keep a promise, don’t make it to a child."
But what haunted most were the words I’d heard Alexis sob through the phone.
"Alpha lied to ..."
"Alpha lied..."
I could almost see her hanging her head, those adorable little pigtails swaying with her disappointnt. My wolf, Cyra, whined uncomfortably in my mind, unsettled by cub’s distress.
I stood up straight, still looking strong despite how I felt inside. Thinking of Alex softened my usual cold look. I had made up my mind.
I returned to the hospital room to say goodbye to Clara and her family.
Clara’s hand clutched the bedsheet beneath her blanket as she bit her lip anxiously. "Wolfe, are you leaving ?" she asked.
"I apologize," I said, my tone leaving no room for argunt. "Rest and recover. Contact Zeon if you need anything."
She made a show of struggling to get out of bed to stop , then thought better of it. "Where are you going?" she asked.
I took my sons’ hands, already moving toward the door.
"I made a promise to a little girl and forgot about it," I answered simply.
"I’m going to apologize to her now."
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