CHAPTER 5: I asked her to come back

Evelyn's POV

I threw all the cleaning supplies and a few other things into my shopping basket, deep in thought, when I collided with someone and sent my stuff flying all over the floor.

"Oh, I'm ever so sorry. I was miles away," I apologised as I knelt to pick up my scattered things. I didn't look up at the figure until they spoke.

"Evelyn? Is that you?"

I knew it was Cady. I could never forget her voice. She glared at me with her big brown eyes as I finally looked up at her. She was angry, and I got up feeling awkward.

When I left five years back, I had not said anything to anyone. Not even a goodbye to Cady, the girl who had always been there for me through thick and thin. She was like a sister to me, and it had hurt me to leave without a word to her. But at the time, I wasn't thinking straight. I had just been desperate to get away from everything.

As I stood up, Cady's eyes bore into mine as if searching for answers. I felt a mix of emotions swirling inside me - guilt, shame, and a hint of fear.

"I'm so sorry," I repeated, still feeling stuck in the past.

Cady's expression didn't soften, and for a moment, I thought she might walk away from me. But then, to my surprise, she knelt beside me and began helping me gather the scattered items.

"You're...you're okay," she said, her voice measured. "I was starting to think you were dead."

I felt a pang of guilt and shame. "I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye," I whispered, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.

Cady's gaze met mine, and for a moment, we just stared at each other. I could see the hurt and confusion in her eyes, but also something else - a glimmer of understanding.

"You were going through a lot back then," she said softly. "I didn't know what was going on in your head. You just vanished one day, and I wondered what I had done wrong."

I nodded, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "You didn't do anything wrong, Cady. It was all me. I was just...lost."

Cady's expression softened slightly as she reached out and touched my arm. "You're not lost now, Evelyn. You're home. I've missed you so much, and a lot has happened since you left. I couldn't even talk to you because you were goddess knows where. Simon and Nolan never told me anything. Where have you been and why did you leave? What even happened to you?" she was asking me so many questions and I opened my mouth to say something but nothing came out.

She eyed me curiously and then shook her head in disappointment. "Not even an explanation. Well I better go. I have some errands to run." she suddenly got up and hurried off in the other direction and didn't even glance back nor say goodbye. I supposed that I deserved that.

I didn't blame her, and I'd probably be just as mad if it had been the other way around. I decided to get my shopping and quickly head back to my mother and Ethan. I did not want any more awkward situations right now.

I couldn't believe the looks I was getting from the people I had grown up with. As I walked through the pack grounds, trying to blend in, I felt their eyes on me. They were all whispering and pointing, their faces twisted in disgust.

"You think you can just waltz back in here after five years?" one sneered. "You left without saying goodbye, Evelyn. You abandoned us all. Some friend you were. Who leaves their mother to die anyway?"

I felt my face heat up as I tried to ignore them, but it was hard. I had expected some hatred, but not this much.

"Get lost," I muttered, trying to push through the crowd.

But the snide comments kept coming. "How could you do that to us, Evelyn? We thought you were our friend."

I bit my tongue, trying my hardest not to react. I was not going to let them bring me down.

Harper began to stir at the back of my mind, and I struggled to keep her calm. She was suddenly so restless and howling to be let out.

"Hey, leave her alone." A deep and familiar tone shouted out.

No.

It could not be him of all.

My legs felt wobbly as jelly and my heart thumped in my chest, my mouth went dry and I knew. I knew it was him.

As I turned to see Nolan standing behind me, his eyes fixed on the group of jeering pack members.

His expression was calm, but his tone was firm. He still looked as handsome and hot as I remembered. Oh my goddess; I couldn't take my eyes off him.

"Oh, Alpha, we were just asking Evelyn why she returned after all this time," Fiona fluttered her eyelids at him, and I threw her a dirty look. She had always been the most gossipy one out of us all. How dare she attempt to flirt with him in front of me.

But Nolan didn't take any notice of her, and I felt my body melt at the way he kept his eyes on me. My eyes widened in amazement at how much of an effect he still had on me after all this time.

"I asked her to come back," he said.