Verum

thirteen.

chapter thirteen

evelyn

I watched patiently as Alexander exited the room and remained in my seat for a few minutes afterwards before realizing that I had a request to ask of Alexander. While I gathered my thoughts and wits, I left the safety and comfort of the bedroom and went in search of Christopher.

This didn't take long. I passed a couple guards on my way down the stairs and without me having to ask, they paused and waved me down. "The Beta is in the kitchen," they said simply before turning and continuing on their journey.

"Thank you!" I called to them as I picked up the pace down the steps.

The labyrinth of the building was becoming easier and easier to navigate. I still turned down two incorrect hallways before finding my way to the kitchen, but I was at least heading in the right direction.

As I entered the kitchen, Christopher was speaking to a pretty woman that was a couple years older than me. Her eyes fell to me before she put on a polite smile and stepped away from Christopher, ending their conversation short.

The Beta raised a brow at me. "Evelyn. Is everything okay?"

I nodded. "Where does Alexander hold this meeting thingy he's at right now?"

"In the Royal Hall... Why?" He asked suspiciously.

My shoulders shrugged carelessly. "I have something to ask of him. Something I need help with. Special help," I added.

Christopher shooed the woman away, his eyes lingering on her form as she exited. Once we were alone, he turned to me with a stern look on his face. "Kiddo, you are courting Alexander. Why not just ask him when he gets back? I think he would prefer it that way."

"I don't want to act like I'm better than anyone else," I answered, crossing my arms over my chest.

The man snorted. "You are better than anyone else. You're basically in line for Queen."

I huffed, pushing my hair out of my face. "That scares me. But it doesn't change the fact that, right now, I'm nothing. It only seems fair that I request it the same way everyone else does. C'mon, Christopher."

He stared seriously at me for a long while before finally giving in. "Alright, fine. But this better be something of real importance. If not, it is worse to waste his time."

"It is, I promise. Plus, I'm going to go very last. That way I'm not taking time from anyone else. Will you show me the way and explain the process to me? Please?" I pried, giving my best puppy-dog eyes and pouted lip.

Christopher rolled his eyes and ruffled my hair. "Kid, you are trouble, aren't you? Let's go."

~  ~  ~

The Royal Hall was one of the first rooms at the main entrance of the mansion. So everyone in line to speak with the King waited on the steps of the entrance. There were about a dozen or so people in front of me, all of varying looks. Some looked rich, others were in clothes that appeared to be well-used hand-me-downs. It was mostly older adults, but a few young adults and middle aged people too.

Christopher left me behind one of the side doors, so as not to be seen by the people waiting. "This is as far as I will take you. Remember to be respectful and if Alexander tells you to leave, you need to listen to him. Do you understand?"

"Of course. Thank you."

No one seemed to give me a second glance when I took my place at the back of the line. But as others showed up behind me, it did catch their attention that I kept letting the others go in front of me. With each one, my face became hotter and hotter, because I gathered more and more eyes on me and my unusual actions.

After I had been waiting for an hour and three people had come in and out of their personal meetings, I started to hear whispers from those at the front. "I heard from the first guy that the King is in an unusually good mood today. He has granted yes on every request so far... At the same time, I heard yesterday from this guard I've been seeing that the King has found a girl that he wants to officially court."

I felt my face grow even warmer and had to hide my smile under my hand. I was perched sideways on the steps, my knees pulled towards my chin. Another hour passed and there were five people in front of me, including whoever was inside speaking with Alexander now.

The more the line dwindled, the more nervous I got. Not nervous because my request was outlandish, but nervous because Christopher's reaction made it seem like Alexander would be upset with me. But he couldn't, right? I was just doing what other members of his pack would do.

A half an hour later, a guard opened up the door for me to enter, right as a girl came running out with tears streaming down her cheeks. By her mood, it was obvious they were not happy tears.

As soon as I entered, I saw Alexander. He was writing something down in a journal with a deep frown on his face and didn't look up until I got halfway inside the room and the doors shut loudly behind me. I sat quietly, forgetting how I was supposed to start the request. It was my silence that had Alexander snapping his head up to me.

"Evelyn."

"H-hi," I greeted shyly.

His eyes scanned across the guards, who were suddenly looking very nervous. "What are you doing here?" He asked. "Who let you in?"

I tucked my hair behind my ears. "Um, just the guard that let everyone else in?"

"Did Christopher bring you over here and tell you to get in line?" I hesitated to answer, which was answer enough. "Sweetheart, you and I can discuss whatever you need alone. Why didn't you tell me earlier you needed something?"

I shrugged. "I just wanted to be like everyone else-"

"You're not everyone else. Chase, take Evelyn back to my office," he ordered someone. "How many more people are there outside?"

"No one," I answered. "I made sure I was last so I didn't intervene on anyone else's time."

Alexander shot me a look that told me it was time to be quiet. "Little wolf, we will discuss this later. Go."

I frowned. "But why? I'm not doing anything wrong. Please, Alexander. Just let me do this the right way."

"You have earned the privilege of getting to speak with me one on one as often as you wish. There is no such thing as the wrong way." He sighed impatiently before turning to the guard that was in charge of opening the main doors. "Is there anyone else?"

"No, sire."

Alexander didn't say another word as he stood from his makeshift desk, grabbed his notebook in one hand and stormed towards me. With the other, his fingers wrapped around my forearm and began to pull me out of the room. "You aren't even going to listen to me?" I murmured sadly, bottom lip pursing.

"Of course I'm going to listen to you, love. But first, we are going somewhere private."

I dug my heels into the floor stubbornly. "Just let me do this like everyone else does, please?" I looked up at him, trying to show just how serious and determined I was to be humble. I was not going to use this relationship with him to take advantage of the status. That wasn't me.

Somehow, this message came across and Alexander conceded. "Alright, princess. You win. What is your request?"

I took a deep breath. "I would like your permission to leave the pack boundaries and go home." 

Hi beech