Chapter 42

[Third-Person’s POV]

Alexander watched the unsettling emotions fall over Evelyn as she stared back at him—mainly at the tall pair of heels he’d been holding up for her.

Jesus Christ. One would have thought that he was holding her at gunpoint yet again.

Alexander had always been somewhat aware of Evelyn’s aversion for not wanting to wear more expensive clothing brands and jewelry, but the expression she wore on her face was telling him something more.

She’s afraid...But why?

Did she think so little of herself that she would proceed to trip over her own feet if she wore the heels? Surely, she had more control and stability of herself than that. For someone so beautiful, he was astounded that she had such little confidence in herself.

Evelyn appeared more nervous and freaked out now than she did when she was only draped in a towel before. Good God. The image of her freshly showered, still soaking wet, and wearing nothing but a thin cloth towel set his blood ablaze.

As his eyes traveled along the various valleys and curves of her body, he felt the immediate rush of blood race toward his cock. He clenched his hand into fists for fear of acting rashly.

Alexander was no saint. Ever since their moment in the bathtub, where he got the chance to see most of Evelyn fully bare, he hadn’t been able to get the vision of her stunning figure out of his head. He’d caught himself on numerous occasions arguing with himself over the matter.

Did it mean that he liked her? Or merely that he found her conventionally attractive?

It had been quite a while since he was last physically involved with anyone. Perhaps it was just his body screaming out for what it missed and what it yearned for. Or, maybe, Alexander was starting to see his Luna as more than just another figure living in his ancestral home.

A lot of their conversation from the night before stuck with him. Since he’d been sleeping so little, it gave him a lot of time to reflect on what they discussed.

“Alexander, I understand that you’re cautious, alright? You have every right to be wary at times, but the only way to overcome that feeling is to get to know that person,” Evelyn had said.

The pained, sympathetic look in her eyes made his stomach clench.

“I’ve been alone for a very long time,” he told her. “Trusting people and being naturally open aren’t things that tend to come easy for me.”

“Well, then it looks like we both need to work on ourselves.”

Evelyn was sticking true to her own words by going through with the etiquette which he knew had not been easy for her. It seemed only fair that he should return that same sentiment by putting in his own effort to try and make something more out of this relationship they had.

From what he could gather from last night’s ordeal in the dining room, Alexander had his work cut out for him. If he was going to succeed in helping Evelyn get through her lessons then the first thing he needed to establish was a strong foundation for her confidence.

Alexander lowered the heels and gave Evelyn a calm, even look.

“Tell me, why do you have so little confidence in yourself?” he asked.

Of course, Evelyn looked slightly taken aback by his sudden personal question. She took her lip between her teeth and quietly contemplated her answer.

“Honestly? I think, maybe it's because no one has ever put so much thought or effort into me,” she said. “Growing up, the only one who got anyone’s attention was Samantha. In a way, I saw it as a blessing because it meant that I wasn’t constantly feeling the pressure of everyone else on me at all times. However, as I got older, I realized that I had little to no social skills for someone of my status and background. As an Alpha’s daughter, I didn’t know the first thing about how to conduct myself in public or how to handle dressing a certain way.”

Hearing Evelyn dive deep into her past, made Alexander reflect a bit of his own. In his case, it had been almost the complete opposite. He’d been showered in endless attention and deeply supported on any endeavor he set himself on.

“They overlooked you,” he commented darkly.

He didn’t like the notion of Evelyn’s own family treating her so poorly and for no real reason at all. Considering that Samantha’s behavior was utterly abhorrent, it was obvious that they had wasted their valuable attention and time on the wrong daughter.

“Alright, I’ll make you a deal,” he said. “You can wear your usual flats. For now. But, when it comes time for you to start working on your posture, you’re going to put these on and you’re going to learn how to move in them.”

Evelyn still wore a look of heavy skepticism but ultimately gave a slight nod.

...

The two made their way down to the dining room for breakfast to find Wendy and Nina locked in a conversation at the far end of the table. The moment Evelyn and Alexander walked in, they turned their heads and greeted them both with a smile.

“Oh, Evelyn, you look lovely,” Nina said softly.

Alexander noticed the slight shade of pink that covered Evelyn’s cheeks as she offered a smile in thanks.

They took their spots at the table and were immediately served by the staff. Throughout the meal, Alexander kept glancing at Evelyn, noticing her own gaze drifting over toward Wendy and Nina.

From what it looked like, she seemed to be trying to mimic their posture while they were sitting. Her features crinkled in uncomfortable pain.

He leaned over and spoke quietly to her. “Try and keep your spine as straight as you can and your shoulders back.”

“Like this?”

“Yes,” he said. “The trick is to not let your shoulders hunch forward. It will leave your back and your neck sore later on.”

“I just feel so stiff like this,” Evely commented.

“It will get easier.”

From across the table, Wendy silently noticed the conversation both Evelyn and Alexander were notably engaged in. It brought a smile to her lips, seeing that her grandson was, perhaps, taking her advice to give love another chance.

“When you’re finished up here, Evelyn, come find me in my rooms and we’ll continue with your lessons,” the older woman said.

Evelyn opened her mouth to speak but was swiftly cut off by Alexander.

“I’ve decided that I will be taking over Evelyn’s lessons for the next couple of days,” he stated firmly.

While Nina looked as though her jaw was seconds away from hitting the table, Wendy gave each of them a curious, analytical glance before giving a pleased smile.

“Sounds like a wonderful idea,” she commended. “I’ll leave you two to it then.”

Evelyn tried to suppress the worry that came from having Alexander's undivided attention. Her lessons with Wendy always gave off a motherly feel whereas his very presence made her nervous and tense with anticipation.

She hardly was able to make it through breakfast without losing her appetite over how tangled up her nerves were becoming. She felt like she was walking into a whole new stage of her relationship, but had no idea if it was a good thing or not.