Chapter 8 Meeting My Beloved Ben Again

Evelyn's POV

Linda nodded along as she informed me that she'd long wanted to throw Wyatt out. She'd only begrudgingly put up with having to wait on him because she didn't want to see me hurt and upset.

I kept assuring her I'd never let her suffer on anyone's account again. Just as I was about to head upstairs, Linda caught my arm. It seemed like she'd just recalled something.

Her voice brimmed with eager anticipation as she said, "You must really pay more attention to the way you carry yourself, miss. Bounding up the stairs like that is hardly befitting of a proper and refined young lady.

"It's the academy's Moon Halo Ball in a month. On that day, you'll wear the new gown I'll be making for you and blind all the ordinary werewolves with your brilliant beauty! Then, we'll take that opportunity to announce your true identity.

"Oh, I can't wait to see the stupefied expressions on those snobbish faces of theirs!"

Linda dragged me into her room. From the drawer of her desk by the window, she produced several sketches, every design tailored to my figure. She chattered beside me about which designs had sprung from the inspiration she felt when looking at me, and which had borrowed elements from the latest fashion trends.

I stared greedily at the joy lighting up her face. I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen her so alive, so genuinely happy. But that didn't mean I agreed with her perspective.

The werewolf world prioritized strength above all else. Fine clothes and a pretty face did nothing to win their respect. Only those who had a powerful body and invincible strength would be shown true and earnest respect instead of scorn and belittlement.

I refused to be nothing more than a pretty object relying on the protection of others. I remembered my past life all too well.

Without a strong body, I'd been forced to watch helplessly as those who loved me were torn away from me one by one. I recalled how the pack fell into the hands of the wicked and how my pack had shunned me.

But Linda was still lost in her beautiful fantasy of my dazzling "grand entrance" at the Moon Halo Ball. Her sketches and the half-finished gown blocked her view of the subtle shift in my expression.

"What do you think, Eve? Do these look alright to you? Should we add a brooch here, at the chest?" Linda asked.

I quickly composed my expression before shaking my head and chuckling. "Maybe the hairstyle could use a little change instead?"

As Linda busied herself once more, I said casually, "Linda, make sure to notify Wyatt's father that he won't need to come to work anymore."

Linda acknowledged my request reflexively before stilling. She looked at me with a glad smile on her face.

I knew she was stunned and puzzled by the sudden change in me. She'd even tried to probe me carefully.

But despite the many questions in her mind, she stuck to her role as a Gamma. Since I wasn't willing to explain much to her, she didn't ask me about it. She simply respected every decision I made.

…

An hour had passed before I heard Linda calling out to me affectionately.

By now, I'd changed into some comfortable sleepwear. I left my room and walked along the freshly cleaned wooden floors as I headed to the dining room on the second floor.

The scent in the air was a mix of the sweetness from the corn tarts and the crispness of cedarwood. It made my cheeks turn a little pink.

Father looked as I remembered him. He wore a dark suit, his usually sharp eyes softened in a way rarely seen. Seeing his still-dark hair made my nose sting, and I fought down the urge to throw myself into his arms.

Instead, I sat down beside Bennett, catching the clean scent of cedar mixed with elm that seemed to calm me down.

He was always like this.

Perhaps it was due to my past life, but the moment I saw him, I felt a sense of security that was hard to put into words.

If only he could stay by my side like this forever.

Without realizing it, I ended up staring dazedly at Bennett. It was only when I heard Father clearing his throat that it hit me how impolite I was being. I hastily straightened up and sat properly, only to notice the slight blush on Bennett's tanned ears.

That was strange. How had I never realized that Bennett had such a youthful side to him as well? It was so different from the domineering and terrifying werewolf he was rumored to be.

Contrary to what I'd have expected, he was actually shy in front of me. It made me want to tease him.

With that thought in mind, I lifted my cup ever so nonchalantly and took a sip before asking, "I've been sitting here for some time now, Alpha Bennett. Why haven't you greeted me yet? Do you find me that unpleasant?"

I was indeed physically weak and hadn't awakened my wolf spirit yet, but I'd inherited the striking looks of both my parents. I wouldn't have died in such a tragic manner if Wyatt hadn't set me up.

Bennett forced himself to stay composed as he looked at me and said, "I don't."

Raising a brow, I remained silent and kept looking at him. It was only after he'd awkwardly averted his gaze that I resumed a normal expression and extended an earnest invitation to him.

"May I trouble you to help me get a shifting herb for my coming-of-age celebration?"

"Isn't Wyatt helping you with that?" Bennett asked, his response clipped.

If I hadn't been listening closely, I wouldn't have caught the stiffness and the faint hint of jealousy in his voice.

He seemed displeased with Wyatt's existence, but at the same time felt like he didn't have any right to question me either.

Bennett had always silently supported me. Even if I attempted to hurt him with the sharpest silver blade I could find, he would simply feel a brief moment of sadness before peacefully accepting the choice I made.

After hearing Wyatt's name, I frowned in disdain. "Wyatt? He's been fired."

Wyatt had only ever treated me like some obsessed suitor. He only wanted to enjoy the sacrifices I made for him and would never stop to consider doing something for me.

I still remember how moved he seemed to be when I gave him the shifting herb Father had prepared for me.

"Evelyn, you'd really give me this precious shifting herb? Don't worry. Once I awaken my wolf spirit, I'll definitely find another one for you!"

The old me had trusted him so much. I'd even given him all the money Father gave me.

But what did he do?

He squandered the money as he pleased, treating it as his own.

And when I asked him when I'd be able to successfully awaken my wolf spirit as well, he mocked me, saying, "The shifting herb is so hard to find. Of course, it will take time. Besides, you're so weak. You'd fall at the slightest hit. Any amount of shifting herb would be wasted on you."

Bennett made no comment even after hearing the undisguised discontent and resentment toward Wyatt in my voice.

However, I saw him lifting his cup in a refined manner, using the drinking motion to cover his nervousness and anticipation as he said, "My wolf spirit awakened when I was 17. If you don't mind, I could come help you train every day."

I stared at him, delighted. "Really?"

He nodded with dignified composure, but there was an almost imperceptible hint of warmth in his cool voice as he replied, "As long as you're okay with it, I'll always be here."

"What could be better than that? I'm quite weak physically. You mustn't turn your nose up at me," I said.

Wyatt had awakened his wolf spirit early, too, but he hadn't been willing to help me get stronger. He called me an idiot whenever I failed to execute a move correctly.

I'd been quite eager to train at first, but thanks to his style of tutoring, I developed a strong aversion to even the words "training grounds".

But as I looked at Bennett's gentle smile now, I'd already begun imagining us training together.

Overcome with excitement, I pushed the plate of my favorite corn tarts toward him. "These are corn tarts. I absolutely adore them. Try some! I don't share them with just anyone, you know."

Just then, a commotion broke out downstairs, disrupting the peace on the second floor. Frowning, I was just about to ask what was going on when I heard Wyatt shouting, "Evelyn!"

At some point, Wyatt had come over.