005

Christian's POV

The moment I pushed the doors open, the room fell into a thick, uneasy silence. Every head turned in my direction.

Good. That was the way it should be.

I walked in without a word at first, letting the weight of my presence do what words couldn’t. My steps were slow, deliberate, the kind that made people shift in place and wonder if they should move out of the way.

Then my eyes found her.

Evelyn.

She looked exactly how I remembered, like fire barely contained in human skin. Her posture screamed defiance, chin raised, eyes hard. Beautiful and unyielding. But what caught my attention wasn’t just her. It was the man beside her. Tall, lean, with an arm resting far too comfortably around her waist.

That? That didn’t sit well with me.

“Well,” I said finally, voice calm but sharp. “What do we have here?”

Tyler chuckled. The sound scraped against my nerves. He pushed himself away from the fireplace, that same cocky glint in his eyes.

“Well, this is unexpected,” he said, crossing his arms. “The mighty Alpha Christian gracing us with his presence.”

He took a step forward. “Christian.”

I nodded once. “Brother.”

The word felt bitter on my tongue.

Evelyn blinked, clearly stunned to see me. Her lips parted, as if she was about to speak, but nothing came out.

“I wasn’t expecting you,” Tyler muttered, irritation bleeding through his fake composure.

“Clearly,” I replied, voice even. My gaze returned to the man beside Evelyn. “And who might you be?”

“Leo, Leo Thanper,” he said, extending a hand.

I didn’t take it.

Instead, I looked straight at Evelyn, cutting right through the façade. “Is that so?”

She hesitated. It was brief, but I caught it. That flicker of uncertainty.

“Yes,” he said casually, voice tight. “That’s right.”

My jaw clenched. “Interesting. And yet, you never mentioned him in any of our conversation.”

“She didn’t owe you an explanation,” Leo shot back, a little too fast.

Tyler scoffed, arms tightening over his chest. “Save it. We’re not here to play games.”

“I agree,” I said, taking a step forward. The air shifted with tension. “Let’s talk about the real reason we’re all here.”

I turned to Evelyn. “You’re pregnant.”

She straightened. “Yes.”

“And those babies…” I lowered my voice. “They’re mine.”

The room froze.

Even Tyler tensed, his posture snapping straight. Across the room, Alicia, leaning lazily against the wall with a smug little smirk, actually blinked.

Evelyn narrowed her eyes. “What did you just say?”

“I said they’re mine,” I repeated, not looking away.

Leo looked between us, disbelief written all over his face. “You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, I am,” I said smoothly. “I had a test run when Evelyn was at the hospital last month. Blood work showed a match.”

“You did what?” Tyler barked.

I ignored him. My eyes stayed on Evelyn. “I received the medical reports. The DNA matches. You’re carrying my child.”

She stared at me, face paling. “That can’t be right…”

I nodded once. “There was a mix-up at the clinic. My fiancée and I had arranged for a surrogate. Somehow… your records were used instead.”

Her lips parted again. This time, a sound came out, a whisper. “That’s impossible. I never agreed to be a surrogate.”

She looked like the ground had just shifted under her. Like she didn’t know whether to cry or scream.

“You had no right!” she snapped, her voice trembling.

"Well it's not really my fault if it was an accident," I said folding my hands.

“I didn’t know until after,” I said. “But if they’re my children, I have every right to be involved.”

Leo stepped in front of her slightly. “Even if they are yours, she doesn’t want you involved.”

I stiffened. “That’s not your decision. And it’s not hers alone either.”

“Like hell it isn’t,” Evelyn said, voice rising. Her hands balled into fists at her sides.

Tyler cut in, tone sharp. “This is ridiculous.”

“Is it?” I turned to him. “Or are you just upset that you’re not the only one with a claim now?”

He took a step forward, jaw locked. “You think you can just show up and take control?”

“I’m not here to take control,” I said coolly. “I’m here because that baby is mine, I’m not letting anyone else raise it. Especially not you.”

Leo eyes darkened, but before he could speak, he seemed to think better of it.

“I just think we should hear him out,” he said quietly, looking at Evelyn.

She stared at him, stunned. “Leo, you can’t be serious.”

He placed a hand on her shoulder. “I am. For the sake of the child, we need to understand what’s happening.”

I took another step forward. “Evelyn, I know this is overwhelming. But I want to make sure you’re cared for. That the baby’s cared for.”

She looked at me, her eyes searching mine. “Why should I trust you?”

“Because it’s the right thing to do,” I said.

Tyler snorted. “Spare us. The pups aren’t yours, Christian. Everyone knows your reputation.”

I looked at him, my eyes glowing red. My patience was thinning, and I felt the heat rise inside me.

“This isn’t about my reputation,” I said, voice low. “It’s about Evelyn. And the child. My child.”

Tyler stepped in, as he barred his fangs. “Stay away from her.”

"Put those things away, it makes you look ridiculous."

Leo put himself between us before things escalated. “Enough. This isn’t helping.”

Evelyn ran her hands through her hair, exhaling hard. “What exactly are you proposing, Christian?”

I met her gaze. “Come with me. I’ll make sure you have the best medical care. After the birth, I'll take my pups away and you can go about your life, sounds good?"

Tyler growled, stepping forward. “That’s bullshit. You think I’m gonna let you her?”

Evelyn spun around, voice cracking. “Stop. All of you, just stop.”

She turned to me, her eyes burning. “You have no idea what I’ve been through. You think you can just appear and make demands?”

“No,” I said quietly. “I think I can appear and claim what’s mine.”

“You’re both insane,” she snapped. “These babies… They weren’t supposed to be anyone’s. It was a mistake.”

“Maybe,” I said. “But it’s a mistake I’m willing to take responsibility for.”

Leo growled low in his throat. “You think this is about doing the right thing? She doesn’t need you swooping in with your pity or power plays.”

“I’m not offering pity or power,” I said. “I’m offering support. Stability. Family.”

Tyler scoffed. “You don’t care. You’re just trying to win. To beat me.”

“I don’t need to beat you,” I said. “I already did.”

That hit something in him. He took a step toward me, fists clenched, but Evelyn got between us.

“Enough,” she said again, her voice shaking now. “This is insane.”

That’s when Alicia finally spoke up, her voice dripping with venom. “So let me get this straight. She’s got three Alphas fighting over her? What’s next, a damn parade?”

Evelyn turned her glare on her. “Try me, Alicia. I’m two seconds from throwing you out of your own house.”

Alicia’s expression soured. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“I would,” Evelyn snapped.

“That’s enough,” Tyler barked.

Evelyn shook her head.

“No. You want answers, Christian? Fine. You think the babies are yours? Great. You want to help? Wonderful. But you don’t get to show up and start calling the shots.”

“I’m not trying to run your life,” I said quietly. “that's too pathetic for my taste. But I’m not walking away either.”

She stared at me, her eyes glistening now, the fire still there but dimmer.

“Then you’ll have to accept one thing,” she whispered.

“What’s that?”

“That I’m not yours,” she said. “Not anymore. Not ever.”

That one hit deeper than I expected. But I kept my face still, unreadable.

“That’s not my concern right now,” I said softly.

“Oh, it will be,” Leo muttered beside her.

I turned to him, voice cutting.

“Watch how you speak to me, wolf. You all seem to forget who holds the most power in this room.”

Tyler stepped forward, lips curled into a sneer. “Now you’re playing the Alpha card? This is my territory, Christian. You’re not the only one with a title.”

“You really think you’re the father?” he added, sarcasm dripping from every word.

“I know I am,” I said simply. “And once we run the official test, you’ll know it too.”

Evelyn closed her eyes. Her breath hitched as she opened them again.

“This doesn’t change anything,” she said.

“It changes everything,” I answered.

And then I looked around the room.

“So?” I asked. “What happens now?”

No one said a word.

Not Tyler. Not Leo. Not even Alicia, who—for the first time—had nothing smug left to say.

The silence wrapped around all of us like a vice, thick and suffocating.

I looked back at Evelyn.

And I waited.