The attack had left a mark on veista. Not only from the injuries or the damage. But from what members of the pack had seen on the battlefield.
"Did you see them during the rogue fight?"
"They say she saved his life."
"I heard she's been sleeping in the west wing again."
"Evelyn hasn't smiled in days."
"Do you think Ruby's the real Luna?"
Han heard every whisper that went round the pack.
Some directly towards him from the elders, others on the look from the way warriors looked at him differently when he walked past them.
How the council members murmured during meetings.
Even the kitchen staff brought their voices when he walked into the dining hall.
He tried to tell it off...tell himself it was nothing.
But deep down, he knew.
This wasn't just nothing.
Ruby had always been hated by everyone and at any chance everyone would take advantage of bringing up whatever they could to make her feel down.
But now that she had returned, even stronger, smarter, her presence was hard to ignore.
And it was driving everyone and most especially Everlyn mad.
Evelyn looked into the mirror, her fingers moving through her long hair.
She had heard the rumors too.
All of them.
She told herself they were just rumors. Maybe. Just rumors.
Wolves clinging to something that would take their mind off the sadness in the pack.
But yesterday's moment on the battlefield.
She couldn't stop seeing it. It replayed in her mind over and over.
Han, breathing hard and sanding too close to her. Looking at Ruby like nothing else mattered in the world.
And Ruby didn't move away.
Not until Evelyn interfered.
Han barely turned when the door to his chamber flung open.
He didn't need to look up to know who it was that entered the room.
Evelyn stood in front of him, her arms crossed in front of her. Her anger is visible from her expression.
"We need to talk," she spoke, increasing her voice to make sure he stopped what he was doing.
Han sighed, and put aside the report he was looking at. "Evelyn…."
"Don't Evelyn me," she cut him before he spoke, closing the door hard behind her. "Do you think I'm stupid?"
He stood from his chair. "No. And I don't have time for this drama."
"Then make time!" she shouted.
Her voice bounced off the walls.
Han looked at her, calm but something in him was rising. "What is this about?"
"You know what this is about." She walked forward. "You think I didn't notice the way you looked at her? In the courtyard. Back at the lab. In the damn battlefield? You've been holding that feeling in you for years, and now she's back and you're falling all over again."
He ran his hand through his hair. "It's not like that."
"Oh, then explain it," she said her voice going far from being clear
"Explain the way you talk to her in calm tones. How you defend her in the meetings. How you run to her before you even run to me."
Han's jaw went tight. "Ruby is helping us. She's saving lives. This isn't about us."
"But it is about you," Evelyn spat back. "Because everyone in this damn pack can see it. They're already saying you picked the wrong mate. That you were forced to accept me. That she's your true Luna."
Han didn't say anything. But it seems his silence was more than enough for Evelyn.
Evelyn walked back like he had just slapped her.
Her voice shook at the thought of the questions that came through her mouth.
"Do you still love her?"
Han diverted his gaze, but didn't answer.
That silence broke something inside of her.
"I gave you everything," she said, her voice breaking as her heart had felt "I left everything, my title, my pride, just to stand beside you. And you've never truly looked at me like the way you look at her."
Han moved forward. "That's not fair."
"What's not fair is me watching my mate pretend he's in love with that good for nothing....." she paused, inhaled and continued, "while I sit back and smile like nothing's wrong," Evelyn searched his eyes. "I won't do it anymore."
"Evelyn...."
She raised her hand to stop him. "No. I'm done listening to you." Tears gathering at the corner of her eyes.
Her voice dropped into a sharp, venom like statement.
"If you ever go near her again..." she said slowly, looking deeply into his eyes. "I'll leave you. And I'll tear this pack apart by myself."
Hans' breath skipped. "That's not a threat you should make."
"It's not a threat," she said with a satisfied smile. "It's a promise."
She turned and walked towards the door.
She reached the door and paused. Opened it and then slammed it behind her.
The sound resembles a gunshot.
Han stood in the silence that followed after she left.
He stood in silence. Her threat replayed in his mind like a constant warning.
His shoulders fell under the tension he felt from her words.
The woman he was bound to...had declared war on his pack If he didn't stop seeing Ruby.
He didn't know why Evelyn's words scare him. He had never seen her like this.
Was he really a bad person?
He had once made Ruby feel this same way. Was this how he chose to lead his people?
Promising on his words and going back against them.
He didn't know what to do. Or even say. He sat back on his chair and picked up the report he was reviewing but clearly couldn't see a word, as his mind had been clouded with things happening around him.
He dropped the field and sat back into his chair, running a hand from his hair all the way down to his face.
For that moment Han felt different emotions within him. And acknowledge he needed solutions to all his problems.
Fast.