Chapter 38

[Third-Person's POV]

What the fuck is wrong with me? Why can’t I just focus on what needs to get done?

Alexander had been staring at the same godforsaken pile of papers for over an hour. Not a single one was read or signed. He hadn’t felt this useless since his initial breakup with Rena. For Christ’s sake, more had happened between them than they did with him and Evelyn.

Perhaps if he had been getting the right amount of sleep the last couple of nights, he wouldn’t be having such a difficult time trying to focus. But, in all honesty, was he seriously going to somehow blame his lack of sleep and horrible sense of concentration on Evelyn?

Yes!...No...

Alexander a harsh breath. He slumped over his desk and buried his face into his hands. God, something had to be done about this mess he found himself in.

No matter how many times he tried to work through the situation, he kept finding himself being thrown right back to the very beginning. Everything Evelyn had told him the night she suggested they stay in separate bedrooms, continuously played back in his mind on repeat.

“...I know that our marriage was a match made by a third party and that you and I have very little emotional connection to each other...I will do my utmost to care and provide what is necessary for my role as Luna...But when it comes to just you and me...Maybe we don’t need to pretend to be more than what we are...”

And just what the hell were they?

Husband and wife merely on paper.

Alexander knew that it didn’t have to be that way. Evelyn was a wise woman, he knew that from the start. She probably knew all too well about the relationship that once went on between him and Rena. Yet, she was kind enough never to mention it.

Everything she had said that night was true to some degree. Yes, their marriage had been arranged and the two had a very small emotional connection but...Was it really what was provoking her to want to put even more distance between them?

Nevertheless, Evelyn had been true to her word. The moment the two had woken up that following morning, she gathered as much of her belongings and relocated to one of the nearby guestrooms. He purposely hadn’t stuck around to see the whole thing happen.

Of course, Oliver was quick to find him and inform him about the matter. His eyes had been frantic and he was nearly sputtering over his words.

“S-Sir, are you aware that Evelyn...That she’s—”

“Yes, Oliver. I’m aware that she’s moving into another room. Can we please not harp on this? It was a decision that the two of us had made together.”

Well, not really. I just couldn’t find the words to counter her argument.

A few days had passed since then and Alexander just couldn’t seem to reach the peace his mind and his body so desperately needed. Each night, he’d been left there, lying in the dark, contemplating all of his thoughts and feelings that were rushing through him.

He kept glancing over to the other side of the room, thinking he was still going to see her. But no.

When his frustration got the better of him, he really figured that he would be able to turn to his work and lose himself like he normally would.

Hell, when he lost Rena, he became an utter workaholic. He threw every possible second of his time into his work, finding ways to make his pack grow and become stronger. But with Evelyn...He could hardly bring himself to carry out the most basic tasks.

On the bright side, he wasn’t in the current position of trying to take over any more land, but rather manage the land he already had.

He was seriously considering doubling up on security around the borders to keep any more rogue attacks from happening. All he had to do was write up the order and have Oliver submit it to the guards so they knew their new orders.

But he couldn’t overcome his current mental block. All he could think of and hear were Evelyn’s words.

“...When it comes to you and me...You and me...You and me...”

Alexander clenched his eyes shut and willed the words to leave his mind but it was no use. He was going to be haunted by them for the foreseeable future.

Unless, he did something. But what?

Now, he saw her even less.

Part of this felt like a punishment—one that he’s beginning to feel like he partly deserves in some way.

Since the day she arrived, Evelyn had been nothing accommodating to his pack and his grandmother. For crying out loud, she actually went out of her way to grow and cultivate new plants and herbs that were going to help aid his pack against any possible illnesses come the winter.

She never tried to stick her nose where it didn’t belong and she’s always remained respectful toward him. She helped Endy keep control of the account books and never asked nor touched a single cent of their shared wealth.

Alexander didn’t know what to make of her feelings when it came to him, per se, but he had a decent enough idea when it came to being shut out by someone. And that was exactly what was happening.

Evelyn was putting her barriers up around him.

I’m the one who’s making her want to push me away. How do I fix this?

Hang on, did he want to fix this?

Aside from dealing with Evelyn’s cursed words from the other night, Alexander was also dealing with what Wendy had said to him the night of the gathering too. He should seriously consider accepting the inevitable of Evelyn taking on the full responsibilities of Luna.

For the longest time, his opinion had not changed. He believed that there were far too many risks that came with holding that much power.

Too many enemies that would love nothing more than to knock me down and destroy everything I spent years building.

But in the meantime, the rest of him seemed to be suffering a great deal in spite of this mentality. Could it be that he’d been enjoying her presence there thus far?

Alexander leaned back in his chair and sneered at his own pathetic indecisiveness. How could he not understand his own feelings?

These conflicting feelings were slicing through him in a way that could not be ignored. Something had to be done. He didn’t waste another second.

“Oliver!” he called out harshly.

The Beta came rushing in, ready to follow through with whatever was asked of him.

“Sir?”

“Where is Evelyn right now?” he questioned.

Oliver dropped his eyes to the time on his watch. “Sir, I believe she should be with your grandmother, working on her etiquette lessons.”

He gave a curt nod. “I don’t have the energy to deal with this right now,” he said, gesturing to the pile of paper in front of him. “From now on, we’re going to double up on the guards when they patrol the borders.”

“Yes, sir.”

“If anyone appears out of line or suspicious, come straight to me,” he ordered.

Oliver raised a brow. “Where are you headed now?”

“I’m going to go find my wife,” he stated.