Calvin’s POV
Clara was imdiately taken to the hospital by Zeon. I watched them leave, doubt growing in my mind.
Could I be wrong about all this? Clara had just tried to take her own life to prove her innocence. The image of blood soaking through her clothes made my stomach twist. Was this sothing a person guilty of hurting children would do?
These past three years, she had done nothing but care for the twins. Taking them to the park, buying them presents, going to their preschool events. Cyra moved uneasily inside . He had never felt anything bad from her toward our pups.
But then I thought of Evelyn’s confidence. She wouldn’t bla Clara without proof.
I needed to hear the truth from Evelyn herself. Looking out my office window at Ravenshade’s skyline, I pulled out my phone and called her.
The automated ssage said the call couldn’t go through. A second try gave the sa result. Feeling a wave of frustration, I realized she had blocked my number. Even now, with our sons’ lives in danger, she wouldn’t speak to .
My jaw tightened.
Wanting answers, I picked up my office landline and called again. After three rings, soone picked up."Evelyn," I said, my voice low and rough with barely controlled frustration at being blocked.
"Mama’s not here," ca a small, sweet voice that caught completely off guard.
It took a mont to recognize the voice—Alexis. I hadn’t heard the little girl speak in so long that the sound threw off for a second.
My tone automatically softened a little, not wanting to scare her. "Alexis, sweetheart, could you get your mother for ?"
"No way," she replied with such clear certainty that I was montarily speechless.
She made a small huffing sound before adding, "You’re an. You hurt Mama."
I tried to stay calm. "I didn’t—"
"Yes, you did," Alexis interrupted firmly. "Mama was crying."
Her voice beca strong with protectiveness. "I protect Mama!"
Sothing in my chest tightened. This bold little girl was Rowan and Rhys’s sister. I wondered for a second why Evelyn and I had never had a daughter of our own. Seeing how protective and full of life Alexis was, I couldn’t help but think a daughter would have been amazing.
"Alexis," I said gently, "how are your brothers doing? Are they feeling better?"
She didn’t answer directly. Instead, I heard the click of the speakerphone button, followed by the sound of toys being moved around. It seed she had decided I wasn’t worth her full attention.
I kept talking anyway, asking about her day and saying I hoped to see her brothers soon. She made a few quiet sounds in response but was clearly more focused on playing.
Then I heard Evelyn’s voice in the background. "Alexis, sweetheart, who are you talking to?"
Before I could say another word, there was a quick click. Alexis had hung up on without any hesitation.
I stared at the phone for a mont, then let out a long sigh. Sohow, that short talk with the little girl had cald my earlier anger. Children had a way of reminding you what really mattered.
Turning back to my computer, I reopened Evelyn’s email and started reading it more carefully.
My fingers moved the mouse slowly, scrolling through each part of the evidence one by one. The connections were clear, all pointing back to Rocco and the Calypso Pack. When I reached Evelyn’s final warning about custody, I leaned back in my chair and narrowed my eyes, thinking over every word.
I wouldn’t make a fast decision. Clara’s extre reaction had made stop and think, but I couldn’t ignore the clear proof. As Alpha, I had to be sure. I would use every tool I had, my contacts in the Alpha Council, trusted sources from allied packs, everything, to look into it fully.
If Clara was innocent, I would protect her. If she had hurt my sons...
Cyra growled deep inside . No one who threatened my children would go unpunished, no matter who they were.
Evelyn’s POV
I checked on Rowan and Rhys, relieved to see signs of improvent in their condition. Their faces were still thin from the poisoning, but their skin had regained so color. My heart ached seeing them this way,so small and vulnerable in their hospital beds.
I gently touched Rowan’s face. He imdiately reached for my hand, his small fingers wrapping around mine.
"Mom, we’re okay," he said.
I leaned down and kissed his forehead, my chest tight with emotion. "Rowan, you’re only six years old. You don’t need to be so brave. If you’re hurting, you can tell , okay?"
He nodded solemnly, those eyes looking up at with a maturity that no child his age should have.
Beside him, Rhys was watching us quietly. Unlike his brother, he hadn’t adjusted as quickly to calling "Mom" again. I could see the hesitation every ti he was about to say it, as if testing whether he was allowed.
I pretended not to notice his discomfort, treating both boys with the sa gentle care. These past few days had brought us closer than we’d been since my return.
"Mom, where’s my sister?" Rowan asked, tugging at my sleeve.
The ntion of Alexis brought a smile to my face.My little protector, so fierce despite her small size.
"She’s playing in the next room," I told him. "Once you and your brother are feeling better tomorrow, you can all play together."
Rowan brightened imdiately. "We’ll recover fast, I promise!"
Even Rhys looked happy about the idea, his pale face brightening with excitent.
The weight loss from the poison had sharpened his features, making him look even more like a miniature version of his father.
I stayed with them until they both drifted off to sleep, monitoring their vital signs one more ti before heading to check on Alexis in the adjacent room.
As I approached her door, I heard her talking to soone.
Her voice was stern as she declared, "You’re an to mommy!"
Opening the door, I asked, "Alexis, sweetheart, who are you talking to?"
She jumped slightly at my entrance, then quickly pressed the end call button on my phone. I recognized that guilty look imdiately,I’d seen it often enough when she was sneaking extra cookies.
I sat down beside her on the bed and brushed my fingers across her cheek, noting she still hadn’t regained the weight she’d lost during her illness. "Did you like talking to that person?" I asked gently.
I wouldn’t force her to dislike her father. Despite everything between Calvin and , he was still part of her. The bond between wolf cubs and their Alpha father was instinctive and powerful. I wouldn’t try to break that, no matter how much it might protect my own heart.
Alexis looked up at , her large eyes serious. "I don’t like him at all," she declared firmly. "I only love you forever."
I pulled her into my arms."And I love you, sweetheart. I’ll give you the very best of everything this world has to offer."
As I held her, I couldn’t help wondering about Calvin’s call. Was he questioning the evidence I’d sent? Or perhaps seeking confirmation about the boys’ condition? Either way, it didn’t matter. I had made my position clear—if he continued to protect Clara after what she’d done to our children, I would fight for full custody.
My decision to send that evidence directly to him had been deliberate.Despite everything, I wanted to give him the chance to do the right thing on his own. To prove that he could put our children above his feelings for Clara.
Now we would see what kind of Alpha and father Calvin Wolfe truly was.
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