Chapter 134

Evelyn’s POV
“Diana,” Calvin said coolly, dropping the usual ’Mom’ she’d expect. “Whether to help or not is Evelyn’s choice. She’s already refused, and I won’t force or persuade her otherwise.”
Diana finally dropped the act. “The contract is already signed! If Evelyn doesn’t agree, the compensation alone will bankrupt Randy and me! Calvin, I am your mother. You must help me with this.”
I realized then that Diana’s domineering attitude wasn’t reserved just for me. During the five years I’d been married to Calvin, he was often busy with company and pack matters, leaving me to deal with Diana at the pack house. I’d always assumed her arrogance and condescension were directed solely at me because I was a wolfless Omega. Apparently, she spoke to everyone this way, even her Alpha son.
Calvin remained silent for a moment, clearly weighing how to handle his mother’s demands.
I’d had enough of this circus.
“Have security escort Mrs. Wolfe out,” I told my housekeeper.
Turning back to Diana, I added coldly, “And inform the gate that she’s no longer welcome on my property.”
Diana gasped, her face flushing with rage. “Who do you think you are to ban me from here? How dare you speak to me like that, Evelyn? I have every right to see my grandchildren!”
Calvin’s expression turned cold, and Diana instinctively stepped back. Before he could intervene, I stepped between them, facing Diana directly.
“As a former Luna, I thought you’d understand plain English,” I said, my voice dripping with venom. “Let me spell it out for you: I don’t give a fuck about your contract, your brother’s business, or whatever bullshit story you’ve concocted. You treated me like garbage for five years, tried to keep my children from me, and now you have the audacity to demand my help? Go to hell and take your dying client with you.”
“You—!” Diana lunged forward, but my security guards grabbed her arms before she could reach me.
“Me what?” I laughed coldly. “Can’t even finish a sentence? Diana, who the hell gave you the balls to come into my home making demands?”
I stepped closer to her, enjoying how she struggled against my guards’ grip.
“And you still think you can be my children’s grandmother? Maybe in your next life,” I spat. “I don’t even care about their father anymore, why would I care about you at all?”
I realized my mistake in ever being respectful to this woman. My politeness had only emboldened her.
“Throw her out!” I commanded my security team.
They dragged Diana struggling and screaming across my property and literally tossed her onto the sidewalk outside my gate. The heavy iron gates slammed shut, cutting off her furious cursing.
Calvin followed me into the living room as I stormed away from the scene. When he opened his mouth to speak, I shot him a fiery glare that silenced whatever he was about to say.
Even his own mother walked all over him. Pathetic.
Calvin’s mouth snapped shut at my look, and I left him standing there as I headed upstairs to my study.
From the window, I could see Diana still ranting at the gates. She wasn’t leaving immediately, which meant she probably hadn’t been lying about the client waiting outside. Well, whoever promised to treat that patient could deal with it themselves.
I drew the curtains and returned to researching schools for my sons. They deserved better than anything the Bloodbane Pack could provide, and certainly better than having Diana Wolfe as their grandmother.
***
Laughter echoed from the playroom just as I finished selecting the new school address and prepared to head downstairs.
I paused at the sight before me. Calvin stood with a blindfold on while several children giggled nearby. His suit jacket lay casually across the sofa, white shirtsleeves rolled up to his elbows, his tall frame slightly bent to accommodate the children’s height as he played blind man’s bluff with them.
Alexis spotted me immediately and ran over, throwing herself into my arms. Her bright eyes gazed up at me with pure joy before she giggled softly and pressed a kiss to my cheek.
Rhys glanced at Calvin, who wasn’t far from where I stood.A mischievous grin spread across his face as his eyes darted between us. Suddenly, he called out “Help!” and pretended to fall right by my feet.
I crouched down instinctively, one arm still holding Alexis while reaching for Rhys with the other. Calvin heard the commotion and started to remove his blindfold, but Rhys yelled, “Daddy, no peeking! That’s cheating!”
Calvin stopped, tilting his head to listen more carefully as he moved toward the source of the noise. Rhys tugged at my sleeve and whispered, “Mommy, don’t make a sound. I want to beat Daddy.” Alexis nodded in agreement, placing her small hand over my mouth. “Mommy, shhh,” she whispered.
These children have forgotten their father is a werewolf with enhanced hearing, he could pick up their heartbeats from across the room.
Since Calvin was willing to play with the kids, I didn’t want to ruin their fun. So I pretended to freeze in place. Calvin approached, and as the children had hoped, he stumbled over a cushion and dropped to one knee. But his hand reached directly for Alexis in my arms instead of Rhys.
Alexis squeaked in surprise. How had he found her instead of Rhys?
The scene suddenly felt awkward: me lying on my side holding my daughter, with Calvin right next to us, his long lashes visible beneath the blindfold.
When nothing happened for several moments, Alexis opened her eyes and looked from Calvin to me in confusion before reaching out and yanking off his blindfold.
The sudden light made Calvin squint. On the sofa, Rowan had hidden under a blanket, while Rhys crouched by the edge with wide eyes.
Once Calvin’s eyes adjusted, his gaze locked with mine. We were so close I could see the flecks of amber in his eyes, could catch the faint scent of him.
Just then, Alexis pushed Calvin’s face away with her small hands, struggling to sit up between us.
“I’m getting smooshed!” she protested.