Chapter 32: Chapter 32

NOAH

The following morning, I escorted Evie to the dining hall for breakfast. We were the only ones there, and that was by design. I wanted Evie to gradually adjust to the pack members and the pack house routines.

So, I had sent a mind-link to the entire pack, asking them to steer clear of the dining hall for a few hours.

“What time do you need to leave for school in the morning?” I asked her as we finished up breakfast, realizing that I wasn’t too familiar with her class schedule.

“I think around nine to make the commute from here,” she replied, not looking up from her food, completely engrossed in it.

“How many classes do you have?” I asked.

“I have three every day except Wednesday. Nine forty-five to ten forty-five, eleven thirty to twelve thirty, one to two,” she responded.

“Do you plan on coming back here right after your last class?” I asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

She finally looked at me, a playful grin on her face. “Do you want me to?” she asked, a teasing smirk playing on her lips.

“You already know the answer to that.” I chuckled.

“True.” She shrugged. “Yes, I’ll be here,” she replied, returning her attention to her plate.

“I’m sorry, Evie,” I sighed, drawing her attention back to me. “I don’t mean to sound controlling; I’m just protective. I need to know where you are, even if that’s not with me,” I confessed.

“I know, Noah, I’m not mad. I’m just teasing you.” She smiled sweetly at me.

She crumpled her napkin into a ball and, before I could ask her what she was doing, she tossed it at me. I caught it mid-air and laughed along with her.

“Do you have work to do today?” Evie asked me.

I wanted to say no, but, unfortunately, my meetings today were unavoidable. I nodded with a frown. “Yeah, I have a couple of meetings and some pack business.”

“That’s okay, Noah; you don’t have to entertain me all the time.” She rolled her eyes at my pouty face.

“I know, I’m overbearing.” I smirked.

“Yes, you are,” she agreed without hesitation.

I stood up from the table and pulled her chair out for her, helping her to her feet.

“I have some work to catch up on, anyway,” Evie said as we walked, hand in hand, into the hallway.

“I won’t be too long,” I promised her, kissing her hand.

“I’m fine, Noah,” she protested.

“All right, all right,” I sighed, kissing her deeply. “I’ll head to my office then.” I grumbled as she started walking herself to the elevator.

She waved at me before disappearing down the hall. I couldn’t help but watch her go with a smile. I was so lucky to have her.

I walked in the opposite direction from Evie, heading toward my office.

“How’s Evie doing, Brother?” Greyson asked, entering my office a little while later.

“She’s fine—great actually,” I answered, looking up from my laptop.

This was the first time I had spoken to my brother since the incident with our father yesterday.

“She’s strong, man.” Greyson smirked, shaking his head.

“Our new sis is a beast!” Jack called out, announcing his presence.

Greyson and I both rolled our eyes at our younger brother just as Lucy came flying into the office.

“Is it true?” she asked, breathless.

The three of us exchanged a look and realized that no one had told Lucy what happened with our father.

~Shit.~

“Lucy,” I sighed.

“Did Dad attack Evie?” Lucy asked more sternly, standing between Greyson and Jack.

Greyson lazily dropped his arm around her shoulders, and she shrugged it off with a growl.

“He grabbed a hold of her, yes, and left a bruise on her arm. He threatened her,” I reluctantly answered.

“Is he…?” Lucy visibly gulped. I watched her gather her emotions and courage before asking me, “Will he be executed?”

“No.” My answer shocked her.

“What?” She gasped at me, looking between her brothers. “He hurt the luna!” she cried.

I could tell that she was torn between her duty to the luna and her duty as a daughter.

“And our luna decided to show him mercy,” Greyson told her.

Lucy looked at him with wide eyes. “Really?” Her voice was barely a whisper.

“He had to apologize because of her,” Jack chimed in, a smirk playing on his lips.

Lucy’s eyes widened in surprise. “Really?” ~This is even more surprising than him not being executed.~ “She’s brilliant.” Lucy chuckled, her gaze shifting back to me.

“She sure is,” I concurred.

“She’s had quite a weekend, hasn’t she?” Lucy murmured to herself, shaking her head in disbelief.

An idea suddenly popped into my head. “Lucy, I’ve got an idea.”

“Watch out, big brother’s got a brainwave!” Lucy teased, sticking her tongue out at me.

She was the only one who could pull that off.

“All right, I won’t share my idea about a girls’ day out with Evie,” I retorted, turning my attention back to my desk.

Lucy’s interest was piqued at that. “Hold on, what?” She pranced over to my desk, putting on her most innocent expression.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her antics. “You’re right, Evie has had a tough weekend. She’s hitting the books in her room right now, but I think she could use a little fun,” I suggested.

“She’s friends with Molly, isn’t she?” Lucy inquired, her mind clearly racing with ideas.

“She is, but Lucy,” I called out to her as she made a dash for the door, “let’s not let Molly be the mastermind. Remember, you’re only sixteen—not twenty-one.” I shot her a stern look, fully aware of the kind of plans Molly would come up with and how much Evie would despise them.

“Roger that!” She saluted me and scampered off.

“This won’t end well,” Greyson remarked, watching our sister disappear.

“Not in the slightest,” Jack concurred.

“That’s what happens when ~big brother~ has a brainwave,” I echoed Lucy’s earlier comment, and the three of us burst into laughter.