#Chapter 5: The Great Escape

 (Evelyn’s POV)

I get into the car, slamming the door harder than I intend.

My hands tremble as I press them into my lap, trying to steady myself. The soft leather seat feels foreign, almost too comfortable after the years I spent enduring the cold, unyielding packhouse.  

“I’m completely done with him,” I say, my voice wavering but firm.  

The man sitting next to me doesn’t say anything at first.

Instead, he leans over, calmly pulling the seatbelt across me and fastening it with care. His movements are deliberate.

“Welcome back home, sis,” he says softly, the corner of his mouth lifting into a gentle smile.  

The knot in my chest tightens, and I can’t hold back the tears any longer.

My brother’s words, so simple yet filled with warmth, break through the walls I’ve been holding up for so long. I press my hands to my face, my shoulders shaking as I sob quietly.  

He doesn’t rush me. He doesn’t tell me to stop crying or that everything will be fine.

He just places a reassuring hand on my shoulder, his touch grounding me as the car pulls away from the packhouse.  

The drive back to the palace feels both endless and fleeting. I stare out the window, watching the familiar scenery of the royal territory come into view.

The towering gates of the palace loom ahead, their intricate gold designs glinting in the sunlight. It feels surreal to be back here after three years.  

When the car stops, I take a shaky breath and step out.

My legs feel weak as I make my way up the grand steps, the weight of everything crashing down on me all at once.

The enormous double doors swing open, and there he is—my father, the Alpha King.  

The moment I see him, the dam inside me bursts. I run to him, collapsing into his arms like a child seeking comfort. His strong arms wrap around me tightly, and for the first time in years, I feel safe.  

“Daddy,” I whisper, my voice breaking as fresh tears stream down my face.  

His hand strokes my hair gently, his other arm holding me close. “Evelyn,” he says, his voice low but filled with fury. “What did he do to you?”  

I shake my head, unable to speak. My sobs are muffled against his chest, but I can feel the tension in his body, the barely contained rage simmering beneath the surface.  

“You’re home now,” he says firmly. “No one will hurt you again. I should never have let you go in the first place.”  

Behind him, my brother stands with his arms crossed, his expression a mix of relief and concern.  

“I told you this would happen,” my father continues, his voice growing colder. “That petty beast was never worthy of you. I should have put an end to this ridiculous marriage before it even began.”  

“Father,” my brother interjects softly, stepping forward. “Let her breathe.”  

My father sighs, his grip on me loosening slightly, but his anger doesn’t fade. “I’ll kill him,” he mutters under his breath. “That arrogant, ungrateful—”  

“Please, don’t,” I say, my voice barely audible as I pull back to look at him. My vision is blurry with tears, but I can see the storm in his eyes. “It’s over. I’m done with him. I just… I just want to move on.”  

My father studies me for a moment, his expression softening as he lifts a hand to wipe a tear from my cheek. “You’re stronger than I thought, my princess,” he says quietly.  

Hearing him call me “princess” feels strange after so long. It’s a reminder of the life I left behind, the life I thought I could escape.  

“We need to talk,” my father says, his tone shifting to something more serious.

He gestures for me to sit on one of the plush chairs in the grand hall. My brother sits beside me, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder.  

“For the past three years, I’ve been forced into the role of Alpha,” my brother says, his voice calm but tinged with frustration. “It was never what I wanted, Evelyn. You know that. I was only holding the position until you came back to take your rightful place.”  

I open my mouth to respond, but my father speaks first. “Now that you’re back, you must fulfill your duty as the heir to the throne. You’ve had your chance to live a different life, and it didn’t work. It’s time to embrace who you are.”  

I glance at my brother, who gives me a small, encouraging smile. “I’m happy you’re back,” he says softly. “I’ve missed you.”  

“I’ve missed you too,” I whisper, my throat tightening.  

My father rises from his seat, his commanding presence filling the room. “Now that you’ve returned, there’s no time to waste. You must take the throne and secure your future.”  

He pauses, his eyes narrowing slightly. “I’ll arrange a mate ball,” he announces.  

“A mate ball?” I repeat, my heart sinking.  

“Yes,” he says firmly. “You deserve a mate who will respect and cherish you, someone worthy of your status as a princess. It’s time the world knows who you truly are.”  

The finality in his tone leaves no room for argument. I glance at my brother, who nods in agreement.  

My father continues, his voice growing colder. “I’ll let Logan know what he lost.”

My head snaps up at his words, my heart pounding in my chest. I thought he was going to go after Logan, “Father, don’t.”

He frowned, eyes narrowing on me. I forced myself to speak, my voice barely steady,“Forget about him. It’s over between us. Completely. I don’t ever want to see him again.”

My father was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly.

“If that’s truly what you want,” he said quietly.

I couldn’t afford to think about Logan anymore — not here, not now, not ever again.

I had to be strong.

(Logan’s POV)

After handling the political matters, I return to my office, my head pounding from the endless meetings. The stack of paperwork on my desk seems to have doubled in my absence, but one document catches my eye immediately—the agreement.  

The Beta stands near the door, his expression neutral. “Evelyn has already signed it,” he says quietly.  

I sit down heavily, picking up the papers. My jaw clenches as I flip through the pages, scanning the terms. She hasn’t asked for a single penny. No alimony, no property, nothing.

All she wants is the divorce.  

I toss the papers onto the desk with a frustrated sigh. “Where is she?”  

The Beta hesitates. “We don’t know. She left in a car—luxury, judging by the footage—but the license plates are encrypted. Confidential.”  

Confidential? My chest tightens.

Who could she have left with?

“She hugged the man inside,” the Beta adds reluctantly.  

I glare at him, my fists clenching at my sides. A man?  

Before I can say anything, an envelope is placed on my desk.

It’s an invitation, the royal crest stamped in gold on the front. I tear it open and scan the contents, my eyes narrowing as I read.  

A mate ball.  

And then I see it: the princess’s name.

Evelyn.