A CRIME OR DESTINY

CHAPTER THREE: A CRIME OR DESTINY

Evelyn’s POV

The walk home felt longer than it ever had before.

The night air was cool against my skin, but it did nothing to calm the storm inside me. Every step I took felt heavy, like I was walking toward something I didn’t understand, and like something I couldn’t escape.

Beside me, Nora was quieter than usual.

She kept glancing at me, like she wanted to say something, but didn’t know how.

“I’ll come with you tomorrow,” she finally said, breaking the silence.

I gave a small nod. “You don’t have to.”

“I want to,” she replied quickly. “You shouldn’t face this alone.”

That word “Alone” almost made me smile because that was exactly what I had always been, but tonight felt different.

It was not better, just.… different.

“I don’t even know what I did,” I admitted softly. “Why would he want me there?”

Nora frowned. “Maybe Beta Damien was right. Maybe you really do affect him.”

I let out a quiet, disbelieving breath.

“People like me don’t affect people like him.”

She didn’t argue, and somehow, that hurt more because her silence was answer enough.

***********

By the time we reached the house, the lights were still on.

Of course they were.

Aunt Agnes didn’t sleep early, especially not when there was always something to complain about.

I hesitated at the door, my hand hovering just above the handle.

For a brief moment, I considered not going in, no saying anything, and not changing anything.

But that wasn’t an option, It never was.

I pushed the door open, and the familiar scent of the house greeted me. It smelled of faint herbs, old wood, and something bitter underneath it all.

Aunt Agnes was sitting by the small table, her posture straight, and her expression already sharp.

She didn’t even wait for me to settle down before bombarding me with questions.

“Well?” she demanded. “Did you enjoy humiliating yourself?”

I closed the door behind me slowly.

Nora stepped in after me, her presence steady at my side.

“I…..” I started, but my voice failed me.

How was I supposed to explain this?How was I supposed to make it make sense… when it didn’t even make sense to me?

Aunt Agnes scoffed. “Don’t tell me you’re speechless now. I warned you, didn’t I?”

Her eyes swept over me, lingering in that familiar, disapproving way.

“Let me guess,” she continued. “You stood there while everyone laughed at you.”

My fingers tightened slightly at my sides.

She wasn’t wrong, but hearing it out loud still stung me.

“Something happened,” Nora cut in, her tone firm.

Aunt Agnes raised a brow. “Oh? What could possibly be more entertaining than that?”

I swallowed hard.

“The Alpha…” I began slowly.

That immediately got her attention. Her posture shifted, and her eyes narrowed slightly.

“What about him?”

I hesitated for a second, then forced the words out.

“He… ordered me to move into the packhouse.”

There was silence. And for a moment, Aunt Agnes just stared at me.

Then she burst into laughter. This particular laughter was louder, harsher, and crueler than before.

“Stop it,” she said, waving a dismissive hand. “I’m not in the mood for jokes.”

“I’m serious,” I said quietly.

Her laughter stopped abruptly, then the room felt colder.

“You expect me to believe,” she said slowly, her voice dropping into something dangerous, “that the Alpha of Shadowfang Pack singled you out… and asked you to live in the packhouse?”

“I didn’t say he asked,” Nora snapped. “It was an order.”

Aunt Agnes ignored her, her gaze staying locked on me. Perhaps she was searching for answers, or wanted to judge me.

Suddenly, something shifted in her expression. It wasn’t disbelief or amusement, it was something much darker.

“You did something,” she said.

My chest tightened. “No, I didn’t”

“Don’t lie to me!” she snapped, slamming her hand against the table.

I flinched as the sound echoed through the room.

“You must have embarrassed him,” she continued, her voice rising. “Or offended him. Why else would he drag you into the packhouse like that?”

“I didn’t.” I tried again, my voice shaking, but she wasn’t listening.

“You foolish girl,” she hissed. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

Tears burned at the back of my eyes.

“I don’t understand…I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“You’ve committed a crime. You’re wolfless remember? It has nothing to do with a mate bond ,” she interrupted sharply.

The words hit me like a blow.

“A crime?” I whispered.

“Yes,” she said coldly. “Do you think Alphas make orders like that for no reason? You’ve involved yourself in something far beyond you.”

My heart began to race again, though not like before. This time, it was fear.

Real fear.

“What if he decides you’re useless?” she went on. “What if he throws you out?”

I swallowed hard. The thought hadn’t fully settled in me yet, but now it did.

“And when he does,” Agnes added, her voice turning icy, “don’t even think about coming back here.”

My breath caught.

“You won’t be welcomed,” she continued. “If the Alpha rejects you, then you are nothing. Less than nothing!”

Each word felt heavier than the last.

“You will go to that packhouse,” she said firmly. “And you will behave yourself you get me?”

I nodded slowly, even though my chest felt like it was collapsing.

“And you will not cause trouble,” she added. “You will not draw attention. You will do whatever you are told.”

“I understand,” I whispered.

“Good.” She leaned back slightly, her expression settling into something final.

“Because if Alpha Raphael throws you out,” she said, her voice low and cutting, “I will do the same.”

Silence filled the room, heavy, unforgiving, and final.

I lowered my gaze as there was nothing left to say.

************

Later that night, I sat on the edge of my bed.

The same bed I had slept in for years, the same room that had never truly felt like mine.

And now, i was leaving it. Not by choice, but because I had nowhere else to go.

My eyes felt heavy, but sleep was far away.

I now had too many thoughts, too many questions, and too much fear.

Slowly, I reached for the small, worn-out bag tucked beneath the bed. It had been there for as long as I could remember.

I pulled it out, placing it gently beside me.

The fabric was thin, and frayed at the edges just like everything else I owned.

I opened it carefully, then paused.

What was I even supposed to take? I didn’t have much, only a few dresses, and some old shoes. Small things that held no real value to anyone but me.

I picked up one of my dresses, folding it neatly before placing it inside. I found two more, and placed them carefully inside.

Each movement felt slow and heavy like I was packing pieces of a life I didn’t know if I would ever return to.

A tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it.

I wiped it away quickly.

There was no point crying now, this was already happening whether I understood it or not, or whether I wanted it or not.

I closed the bag once I was done, my hands lingering on the old fabric.

Tomorrow, everything would change, and I didn’t know if it would be for better or worse.

But one thing was certain. I was stepping into a world where I didn’t belong, and this time…There would be no corner to hide in.