Victor paced his hotel suite like a caged animal. His head felt foggy, but one thing remained clear in his mind—the woman in the red dress.
"Sit down, you're making me dizzy," Celeste snapped from the couch where she sat rubbing her pregnant belly.
Victor stopped and glared at her. "Something's not right. That woman, Elise Blackwood—"
"Is nothing but a rich human with too much interest in werewolf business," Celeste cut him off. "Forget about her."
But he couldn't. All night, dreams of a faceless woman with dark hair had haunted him. When he woke, the name "Evelyn" had been on his lips.
"I need air," he muttered, grabbing his jacket.
Celeste jumped up. "Where are you going?"
"For a walk. Alone."
As Victor strode through the hotel garden, Alaric fell into step beside him. His Beta looked troubled.
"You should be resting, Alpha. The full moon is tomorrow night."
Victor rubbed his temple. "I keep having these flashes, Alaric. A woman laughing. A cabin in the woods. But when I try to focus, everything slips away."
Alaric's face darkened. "Maybe some memories are better left buried."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Before Alaric could answer, a child's laughter rang out across the garden. Victor turned to see two children, a boy and girl with dark hair, playing near the fountain. Something about them made his chest tighten.
"Whose cubs are those?" he asked.
"Don't know," Alaric said too quickly. "Must be guests for the summit."
In another part of the hotel garden, hidden behind tall hedges, Evelyn watched her children nervously.
"Amara! Elias! Be careful," she whispered. "Remember what we talked about—no shifting, no wolf eyes, nothing that shows your true nature."
Five-year-old Amara pouted, her golden eyes—so like Victor's—flashing with defiance. "But Mom, we're so good at it now! Watch!"
Before Evelyn could stop her, Amara closed her eyes. Her small hands began to glow with a soft blue light.
"Amara, no!" Evelyn hissed, rushing to cover her daughter's hands.
Too late. A nearby flower bloomed instantly, growing to twice its normal size.
"See? I can make things grow!" Amara said proudly.
Elias, always more cautious than his twin, pulled his sister back. "We promised Mom," he whispered. "No powers in public."
Evelyn knelt before her children, heart racing. "This is serious. If the wrong people see what you can do, they might try to take you away."
"Like the bad lady who stole Daddy?" Elias asked.
Pain stabbed through Evelyn's heart. "Yes, exactly like that."
A twig snapped nearby. Evelyn froze, then whispered, "Hide your eyes. Now."
Both children immediately lowered their heads, knowing the drill—their unusual gold-flecked eyes would give away their Alpha bloodline.
Ronan appeared from behind a tree, looking worried. "You need to get them inside. Victor and his Beta are in the garden."
Evelyn's blood ran cold. "Did they see?"
"I don't think so. But he's acting strange, like he's drawn to something."
Or someone, Evelyn thought.
As she gathered the twins to go inside, she caught a glimpse of Victor through the trees. He stood motionless, staring in their direction with a confused expression.
"Mommy," Amara whispered, "is that our daddy?"
"Shh," Evelyn hushed her, pulling both children close. "Yes, but he can't know about you yet. It's not safe."
Elias's small hand slipped into hers. "He looks sad."
Evelyn blinked back tears. "Let's go inside."
That afternoon, Victor couldn't concentrate during the summit meetings. Instead of listening to discussions about territory boundaries, his mind kept wandering to Elise Blackwood and those two children in the garden.
When the meeting broke for lunch, he found himself searching for her. He spotted her seated alone at a table near the windows, reading something on her phone.
Without thinking, he walked over. "Mind if I join you?"
Evelyn looked up, startled. "Alpha Alden. Please."
As he sat down, Victor noticed her scent—wildflowers and rain—stirring something deep in his memory.
"I want to apologize for last night," he said. "My behavior was inappropriate."
"It's forgotten," she said, not meeting his eyes.
"Have you been to Moonfire territory before?" he asked suddenly.
She tensed. "No, why would I have been?"
"Just curious. You seem... familiar with werewolf ways."
Evelyn changed the subject. "I hear congratulations are in order. Your Luna is expecting."
Victor's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Yes, after five years together."
"You don't sound overjoyed."
"Don't I?" He frowned. "I should be. It's just..."
"Just what?"
Victor lowered his voice. "This stays between us. I've been having these dreams lately. About another woman. A woman I think I loved once."
Evelyn's hand trembled as she reached for her water. "Perhaps a past girlfriend?"
"More than that. In my dreams, she's my mate. My true mate." He shook his head. "But that's impossible. Celeste is my mate."
"Perhaps your wolf knows something you don't," Evelyn said softly.
Victor's eyes flashed gold for a split second. "What did you say?"
Before she could answer, Celeste appeared at the table.
"There you are, darling," she said, hand possessively on Victor's shoulder. Her icy gaze swept over Evelyn. "Ms. Blackwood, I hope you're enjoying the summit."
"Very much," Evelyn replied coolly. "Your husband was just telling me about your pregnancy. Congratulations."
Celeste's smile tightened. "Thank you. Victor, we need to go. The Eastridge Alpha wants to discuss the territory agreement."
As Victor stood to leave, he hesitated. "Will you be at the gala tonight, Ms. Blackwood?"
"I wouldn't miss it," Evelyn replied.
After they left, Ronan slid into the chair across from her. "You're playing with fire."
"He's remembering, Ronan. The bond is still there, buried under whatever spell Celeste has him under."
"And that makes her dangerous. She won't let go of him easily."
"I don't care. Those are his children upstairs. He deserves to know them."
Ronan leaned forward. "And what about Celeste's child? The one she's carrying?"
Evelyn's face darkened. "You know as well as I do that she's faking that pregnancy. Her scent hasn't changed the way a pregnant wolf's should."
"So what's her game?"
"I don't know. But I intend to find out at the gala tonight."
That evening, as Evelyn prepared for the gala, she tucked her children into bed.
"When can we meet our daddy?" Amara asked sleepily.
"Soon, baby. Very soon."
After kissing them goodnight, Evelyn checked her appearance in the mirror. Her gown was midnight blue, shimmering like the night sky. Around her neck hung a silver pendant—the crest of the Royce family, her true identity.
Tonight, she would dance with danger.
A knock at the door made her heart jump. But it was only Lucien, her brother, arrived early from his journey.
"You look beautiful, sister," he said, hugging her tightly. "Are you ready for this?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," she replied, adjusting her pendant.
What Evelyn didn't know was that in his suite, Victor held an identical pendant in his hand—one he'd found hidden in his desk years ago but could never remember purchasing.
As he stared at it, fragments of memory flashed through his mind: a woman in white, this pendant around her neck, his hands placing it there...
"Evelyn," he whispered, the name feeling right on his tongue.
Behind him, Celeste watched from the shadows, fury and fear battling in her eyes. She pulled a small vial from her pocket, the purple liquid catching the light.
One last dose, she thought. After tonight, Elise Blackwood—or whoever she really was—would no longer be a problem.