Chapter 179

Theodore’s POV

Eva and I exited the carriage while the one Dahila rode in continued along the road.

“Where is she going?” Eva seethed.

“I sent her along to take care of some Beta business on her own so that I could have time alone with my mate,” I offered her my elbow with a smile I knew she wouldn’t be able to resist.

Of course, it was a lie. I hated that I had to send Dahlia over to the land Violet had purchased for the Shelter Project to check on the progress without me. But I couldn’t risk Eva seeing that I was still moving forward with it since she had reacted so poorly before.

That, and she would surely report the progress to Owen. Just two more weeks until the whole country knew about our plans for the Shelter Project, but until then, we needed it kept secret.

The lie did the trick though, Eva’s expression softening as she dutifully interlocked her arm with mine. “And where exactly is our alone time taking place?” she asked as she eyed the muddy path I set us down.

“A refugee camp of sorts. For rogues.”

Eva stopped midway down the path, effectively stopping me with her. “You said you would stop working on the Shelter Project.”

No, I had specifically not said that. I had said I would talk to Sophia about it, which I technically did when I gave her instructions on what was next. But I couldn’t say any of that.

“This isn’t the Shelter Project, darling. This was a temporary alternative I put in place for rogues years ago. The Shelter Project was meant to be a more permanent solution.”

I gently pulled her onward, and she begrudgingly followed, trying and failing to minimize the mud sliding farther and farther up her legs. “Come take a look around,” I urged her. “It might not be what you think it is.”

I remembered with delight Violet’s reaction the first time I brought her here. The way her body loosened the farther into camp we got, the more she realized she wasn’t in danger. Then the way her muscles stiffened again as she realized how incorrect everyone’s perception of rogues was.

We reached the outskirts of the settlement, stepping off the muddy path and onto a grassy field. The grass was muddy, too, but hardly enough to get on our shoes, let alone our calves like the path we’d just walked through.

I led Eva between two buildings – shacks really. The roofs were in need of repair, among other things, and I swallowed the shame that I hadn’t allotted money toward their maintenance. But I held on to the reason why: because all the funds I could allow were being funneled into the Shelter Project.

I was asking them to deal with a few leaky roofs for a month or two so that I could deliver them a city.

It will all be worth it.

I repeated the words in my head, not realizing I had also sent them down the bond until Violet’s voice filled my head.

Yes, it will.

A stray ball drew my attention as it came flying through the air toward Eva. I easily redirected it, though a few drops of mud sprayed her top.

Eva immediately recoiled, ripping her arm from mine as she glared in horror down at what must have been no more than five drops of mud. “Disgusting! Who would dare?!” She turned her gaze outward, searching for the responsible party.

“Sorry!” A cute girl of about eight years old came jogging over followed by a young boy, approximately four years old, trailing after her, one fist clenched around her tattered shirt. “My baby brother is still learning how to aim.”

Then she threw up her hands with a defeated expression as if to convey the “learning” was not going well. I couldn’t help but chuckle.

I shut up quickly though as Eva stalked forward. “Do you know who I am, you ungrateful little rogue?”

Yeah, this was definitely not the reaction Violet had had upon her first visit. I supposed it had been too much to hope Eva had a heart somewhere buried under all her greed.

“Darling,” I interjected quickly, mortified at how Eva was handling the situation. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize how muddy the settlement would be. If you’d like, you can go wait in the carriage while I finish up around here.”

Amazingly, Eva managed to look even more appalled as she turned her glare on me. “And let the mud sit on my clothes to guarantee it stains? Are you mad?”

Furious, actually.

I steadied my breath, tamping down my growing temper. “Well, if you don’t mind me riding back with Dahlia, you can head back to our castle now.”

Eva scoffed. “I don’t care how you get back. I’m leaving this repulsive place immediately!”

Then she turned on her heels, almost slipping on her butt but managing to right herself at the last second, and stomped off back through the muddy path toward the carriage.

The second she was out of hearing range, I turned to the children in front of me. The girl looked completely terrorized, tears welling in her eyes, and her brother was cowering behind her. “I’m so sorry, Alpha Nightshade. It was an accident, I swear!”

I saw from the corner of my eye as their mother came out from their tent to see what was going on with her kids. I knelt down in front of them, softening my expression as best I could.

“Genevieve, listen to me. You didn’t do anything wrong. That woman was very rude to you just now, and I am the one who is sorry for it.”

“Alpha Nightshade?” Their mother reached us then, eyes scanning without missing a thing. I watched her take in the forgotten, muddy ball, and the woman storming off behind me.

“Abigail,” I greeted without standing up. “I’m sorry to trouble you. Your lovely children were just playing with their ball and accidentally got mud on my companion.”

Abigail’s gaze flitted to Eva over my shoulder again before glancing at her children who were near tears.

“My companion completely overreacted and behaved atrociously. I apologize for her unacceptable behavior. I will not bring her back.”

I assumed that wouldn’t be a hard promise to keep based on how Eva clearly didn’t want to be here anyway.

I focused back on Genevieve and little Marlo, who was now peeking around his big sister’s shoulder. I gave him a smile.

“You two did nothing wrong. Keep playing and taking care of each other, okay?”

They both nodded, eyes wide, then took off when I nodded them toward the ball across the field.

Abigail watched me as I stood, noting the mud on my pants. She glanced behind me one more time.

“It’s lovely to see you, Alpha Nightshade, but did you forget you helped us build the bridge over the mud on the other side of camp?” She motioned toward my muddy clothes.

I was too tired of my near-constant mask to keep the smile from taking over my face. “Thank you, Abigail, but no. I did not forget.”