Chapter 0497
Evelyn
Zachary's intense gaze pinned me in place.
I fought the sudden urge to close the distance between us.
My skin tingled with the memory of his touch.
'Go on. Kiss him.' Dakota's voice echoed in my mind.
"I don't have any more information." I shook my head, trying to ignore Dakota's prodding.
Maybe I should have mentioned this earlier when they confirmed Athena was my cousin.
But it hadn't seemed relevant at the time.
"All I know is what I've already told you. She didn't want me. My father only told me where they met. He never spoke about her again, no matter how much I begged."
I sighed and looked away.
"Sometimes I wish I could talk to him just once more. To get even a little more information. Does that sound crazy?"
"You should have told us sooner."
"I didn't think it mattered." I rubbed my fingertips, remembering the strange sensation when our hands brushed.
That electric spark. The heat that traveled up my arm.
It had stolen my breath, but he hadn't reacted.
So I stayed silent.
'This is your opportunity.' Dakota whispered.
'He's still hung up on Isabella. And I'm not even sure what I felt. I can't smell him like the others.'
"Was that where your mother lived?" Zachary's question cut through my internal debate.
I shrugged, feeling butterflies in my stomach.
His gaze felt different now. Not judgmental. Not dismissive.
He actually saw me. The real me.
"Is that the Harrison family's original territory?" He pressed.
"I don't know. My father refused to say anything else."
"But Jasmine was a Wolf!" He muttered to himself.
"There are Wolves and Lycans here. Maybe they had both there too." I offered.
"That doesn't track. Jasmine didn't know about Lycans. Or if she did, she hid it well. Then again, she lied about so many other things."
"Why wouldn't those Lycans have come here?" I asked.
I knew Athena had summoned them. Seraphina had told me that much.
"It was never an order. She gave them a choice." He stepped back, and I realized how tense our closeness had made me.
"But that would mean they're aware of her."
"Wouldn't Theodore have known? You said he's a researcher."
"Depends how well the information was hidden. We'll drop Lottie at school, then you'll come with me to Sebastian's place to speak with Athena."
He moved close again.
I held my breath as his hand rested on my shoulder.
Another sharp spark shot through me.
"This could actually be helpful, Evelyn."
I felt the blush spreading across my chest.
It would reach my face any second if I didn't escape.
"I need to go wash up." I blurted out, rushing past him.
I ran upstairs and slipped into the bedroom.
Leaning against the closed door, I let out a shaky breath.
This crush was ridiculous. It made me feel like a teenager.
And he was completely off limits. We weren't even mated.
Plus, he still longed for his first mate.
'You're overthinking it.' Dakota murmured.
'Please don't encourage this.'
'I'm not doing anything. This is your natural reaction to him. I'm just along for the ride.'
'So helpful.' I whispered.
In the bathroom, I stared at my reflection.
My hair stuck out in every direction, not that there was much of it left.
I wet it down until it looked somewhat presentable.
I couldn't wait for it to grow back to its former length.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Evelyn? Daddy wants to know if you're ready. We need to leave." Charlotte called out.
"I'll be right there."
I splashed cold water on my face.
Taking a deep breath, I walked to the top of the staircase.
Zachary waited at the bottom.
He leaned against the wall with one foot propped up.
Charlotte raced back and forth, listing everything she needed for her session.
"Lottie, we do this every day. I promise you have everything."
"But..."
"If you need something, your teacher will let you borrow it. Or she can link me and I'll bring it."
He was so patient with her.
And she wasn't even biologically his.
'Our children will be beautiful.'
"Dakota!" I shouted, horrified by her words.
Zachary and Charlotte both looked up at me.
Their eyes wide with identical expressions of curiosity.