Chapter 0021

"Perfect move, Alpha! You nailed it!" Donovan mind-links me, careful not to reveal the gift is from me.

A grin spreads across my face before I can stop it. Euphoria rushes through me, heady and intoxicating. Nothing in my life has ever felt as significant as this moment.

I watch as Evelyn takes her first bite, and the soft moan that escapes her lips sends a jolt straight to my groin. Damn.

But it's her next words that have me fully hard—her and Selene threatening anyone who dares touch her meal. My heart swells, and Theron practically rolls over in submission, his satisfaction radiating through me.

People pause, drawn by the scent of her food. It smells incredible, making the sandwich Donovan grabbed for me taste like sawdust. When she finishes, she reaches for the brownies.

Gregory had mentioned offhand that he often takes Beatrice’s brownies to his meetings with Mr. Sinclair because Evelyn adores them. So, I asked my mother to bake a batch, and I dropped them off at Theodora’s place this morning.

The moment Evelyn bites into the brownie, her eyes flutter shut in bliss. My mind conjures an image of her making that same face while riding me, her body tightening around me as she comes, crying out my name.

Now I’m dangerously close to losing control right here in the cafeteria. Desperate for a distraction, I tune into the nearby chatter. A few she-wolves are making thinly veiled comments about Evelyn not deserving this kind of attention.

Good. Their petty jealousy does the trick—shifting my arousal into irritation. She’s worth every effort, and not just because she’s a Guardian. Though that alone would be reason enough. She’s brilliant, fierce, the best warrior in my squad, and devoted to her father.

I’m about to shut them down when I hear Evelyn questioning Theodora about who sent the food. My pulse spikes. Theodora answers flawrably, exactly as I instructed.

An idea strikes. I bolt from the cafeteria before Evelyn can leave.

She’s distracted when she steps out, so it’s easy to position myself in her path. She collides with me, and—hell—now I’m hard again.

Her emerald eyes lock onto mine, no longer glowing with Selene’s gold. My cock throbs painfully against my zipper.

I need to know if she understands what this means—that I’m claiming her. So I steer the conversation there, pressing for an answer. When she deflects, I ask the other question burning in my chest: Does she realize it’s not Sebastian doing this for her?

Her snarky reply sends a thrill through me. Bonus—Sebastian will hear about yesterday’s incident. As an Alpha, he’ll recognize exactly what this means.

Competition.

When she confidently declares she’ll figure me out, I can’t help but murmur, "Good luck with that," under my breath as I stride toward the nearest bathroom.

Not ideal, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

After school, I finalize tomorrow’s surprise—something she’ll love, something romantic, and something that makes a statement.

I make it home in time for warrior training and push myself harder than usual. I challenge every fighter, testing the endurance Evelyn displays daily. By the last match, I’m drenched in sweat and barely standing.

On the walk back, I overhear one of my warriors grumbling about getting their ass kicked by Evelyn in the morning and me in the afternoon.

The high of the day lingers through dinner. As I drift off to sleep, all I see are Evelyn’s emerald eyes, flecked with Selene’s gold.