Evelyn's P.O.V.

It was the last night of the Centennial.

Adam was right when he told me I would be sore from shifting. I laid in bed for the rest of the day, barely able to move. 

But I was determined to be at the gala that night. I had missed the night before last because of Heat and I had missed the previous night because Dr. Zusak didn't discharge me from the hospital ward until later in the evening.

However, I wasn't going to miss that night for the world.

I had saved the most beautiful gown for last and I smiled when I pulled it out of the dust cover that evening as I began to get ready.

It was a crimson red ballgown with an off-the-shoulder neckline and a corseted waist adorned with beaded lace appliqués.

I put on red lipstick to match and pulled my hair back in a low, loose bun before I stood in front of the mirror. I admit that I twirled around a few times. I felt like a princess.

Judging by the look on Adam's face as he walked through the bedroom door, I looked like one too.

"Woah."

I smiled. 

"Isn't it gorgeous?" I asked, giving him a twirl. 

He nodded slowly. 

"I was actually going to suggest you stay here and rest tonight, but I'm not so sure that's a good idea now," Adam said laughing.

"I've rested plenty," I said, waving him off.

Adam showered quickly and changed into his tux.

Just as I put the diamond earrings he had gotten me into my ears, Adam came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

I blushed as he planted a kiss on my neck.

"What do you think would make this look complete?" Adam asked me.

I frowned as I looked in the mirror.

It doesn't need anything. Does he not think I look pretty enough?

He smiled as he walked over to his bedside table and pulled out a box that was about the size of a book.

"How about a matching necklace?" He asked, opening the box to reveal a breathtaking diamond necklace.

I gasped as my hand flew up to my mouth.

The way that the diamonds sparkled in the setting sunlight that flooded through the windows made my heart palpatate.

"You've got to stop buying me diamonds," I said, leaning in to look at it further.

"It's just practice for the finale," Adam said as he grabbed my left hand and kissed the knuckle of my ring finger.

As if I wasn't about to faint before...

I took a deep breath as he pulled the necklace from the velvet box and placed it around my neck. I put my hand up to my neck to gingerly touch the necklace as he clasped it in the back.

"I don't want to wear it," I said, turning around to face him. "What if I break it?"

He laughed. "Then I'll get you another one."

I took one more look at myself in the mirror—barely recognizing the girl that stood there—before Adam took my hand in his and led me out of the bedroom.

We were almost to the ballroom when we turned down the long hallway that would lead us there. An idea struck me as I realized that the hallway was deserted except for the two of us.

I pulled my hand from Adam's as I lifted the skirt of my dress and pulled off my heels and held them in one hand.

"What are you doing?" He asked me as I handed him the shoes.

"Hold those," I said excitedly, not offering any explanation.

I wished I had a picture of his face as I took off running down the hallway.

I was nearly out of breath as I reached the entrance to the ballroom and waited for Adam to make his way down the hallway behind me.

"What the bloody hell was that all about?" Adam asked me as he approached.

He handed me my heels and offered his arm to steady me as I put them back on.

"I've wanted to run down a castle hallway in a huge, beautiful dress since I was five and I saw Cinderella for the first time," I explained.

He gave me a bewildered look, but I saw the hint of amusement and admiration in his eyes as he did.

"Well, I'm glad I'm making dreams come true," he said, laughing.

"More than just the one," I added, wrapping my arm around his.

Adam gave me a wink as we walked into the ballroom.

Immediately, heads turned. 

I held my head high, taking advantage of my new-found confidence, as Adam and I walked inside and he began to talk with a few people.

I saw Vega, Liu, and Tyler all standing together as I looked around and I let go of Adam's arm and began to walk over to them.

"Holy shit," Tyler said, as he saw me approaching.

Liu turned to look at me and her jaw dropped. 

"Yes, queen! Work!" Vega shouted, clapping her hands.

I put my hand over my mouth, trying not to laugh. I knew my blush was probably as red as my dress.

"Is that real?" Tyler asked, leaning in to look at my necklace.

"Woah," Liu gasped, noticing it as well.

"That is definitely a step up from senior year prom," Vega said, gesturing to the dress.

I cringed at the thought of the cheap, blue rayon dress I wore to prom.

"Anything would be a step up from senior year prom," I said, grimacing.

"Seriously though, you look hot as hell," Tyler said, taking a sip of his champagne.

Immediately, Liu and Vega shot him a glare. I turned around to see if Adam had heard him, but Adam was still talking to someone with his back turned to me.

I turned back around and saw Liu punch him in the arm. 

"Do you have a death wish?" Vega asked him incredulously.

He cringed. "No."

"He would have literally ended your life," Liu said, pointing at Adam.

"No, he wouldn't have," I said laughing.

Liu took a sip of her champagne and shrugged.

"Yes, he would have," Vega reiterated.

"So," I said to Vega, "have you talked to Nwabueze lately?"

She blushed and raised her champagne flute to her lips.

"You have!" I guessed excitedly. 

Vega took a sip of champagne and smiled.

"We've talked a few times," she said, laughing.

"And?"

She shrugged.

"He's sweet," she said.

"That's it?" Liu asked, irritated. "He's sweet?"

Vega groaned. "He's nice, okay? I just don't see it working out."

"You've only talked to him a few times," I reminded her. "Give him a chance. In fact, why don't you go ask him to dance?"

We all turned to see Nwabueze talking to a few people from his own pack.

"You should go!" Liu said, prompting her.

Vega looked at her. 

"If I go ask him to dance, you have to go ask Jace," she bargained.

My eyes widened. 

"What?" Liu asked her, nearly choking over her champagne.

Vega nodded.

"I see the way you look at him. I'll dance with Nwabueze if you ask Jace to dance."

I swear I heard crickets chirp off in the distance. Even Tyler coughed awkwardly.

"Fine," Liu said, narrowing her eyes at Vega.

Vega looked proud of herself as she left the huddle and walked over to Nwabueze.

"You don't have to," I said, catching Liu's arm as she went off to find Jace.

"I kind of want to," she said, giving me a small smile.

I let go of her and watched her walk over to him. 

This is a bad idea.

I had to admit: the girl had confidence. She walked right over and interrupted him as he stood there talking to Beta Chen and Diedrick Schneider. Liu stood on her tiptoes and said something into his ear. I saw Jace bend down slightly to hear what she was asking him before he nodded and handed his drink off to a waiter. Then, the two of them walked together over to where everyone was dancing, including a beaming Vega and a smiling Nwabueze.

"Shall we?"

I looked over and laughed as I saw Tyler holding out his hand.

Nodding, I took his hand and he led me out to dance.

It took us a few minutes to adjust, seeing as I had only danced with men that were much taller than me up until that point and Tyler was only as tall as I was.

I heard someone clear their throat and we stopped dancing to see Adam standing there.

"My turn," he said to Tyler.

Tyler didn't dare protest as he handed me off to Adam.

I smiled up at Adam as he slid his arm around my waist and I placed my hand on his shoulder.

"Your timing is impeccable," I whispered. "I was on track to step on his toes for the thousandth time."

Adam laughed at this.

"First he calls you 'hot as hell' and then he asks you to dance? The kid has nerve," Adam said.

My eyes widened.

"You heard that?" I asked him.

He nodded. "I hear lots of things." 

"Like what?" 

He was silent for a few moments, only staring into my eyes as we continued to dance.

"I hear Barret Schneider slipping silverware into his pockets. I hear Alpha Chen speaking to his son in Mandarin, telling him they are leaving right after their meetings tomorrow. I hear Nwabueze asking Vega what she likes to do in her free time and I hear Jace asking Liu to stay the night."

My eyes widened as I looked over to the pair as they danced and saw Liu nod.

"I don't get it!" I said, stomping my heel. I narrowly missing Adam's foot by a few inches. "Why does she keep running back to him? He treats her like dirt..."

Adam sighed as he looked over to the two of them. 

"Jace doesn't know how to treat a woman," Adam said, "It's one of the reasons I don't trust him. But, they're mates. They'll continue to try and work things out, no matter how skewed it may be, because they love each other."

"You think he loves her?" I asked him.

"Yes."

I shook my head.

"I just don't understand how you can love someone and treat them so poorly. I would never let you treat me like he treats her."

Adam's face grew very serious.

"You would never let me treat you like that, but you let your father."

I gulped.

"Everyone looks for affirmation," Adam said. "Often we try to find it in the people we think love us. All she wants is for her mate to love her, the same way all you wanted was for your father to accept you."

I shook my head. "It's not the same."

"Maybe not to you," he said. "But Jace and your father? That's how they feel powerful. They feed off of fear because they think it equals authority. Jace will continue to treat her like a dog as long as doing so makes him feel in control."

"It's not fair," I said.

"No, it's life."

- - - 

When Adam and I returned to the room that night, I didn't bother changing out of the dress before I collapsed on the bed.

He laid down next to me in his tux and I sighed.

"You're not what I expected," I said suddenly.

"What do you mean?"

I propped myself up on my elbow and I turned to look at him.

"Before I met you, I thought Alphas were old, white-haired men who couldn't let the glory days die."

Adam laughed. 

"Well, I don't have white hair yet." 

"I'm serious," I said. "I didn't even think the Alpha-Beta pack mentality even existed anymore. How do you make it look so effortless? You never seem stressed and you never complain about the fact that you're literally in charge of three continents full of people."

Adam smiled.

"I signed up for it," he explained. "There's no sense in complaining about something you signed up for."

"How can you be so selfless?" I asked him. "You never tell me your problems, you only want to help me fix mine. Are all Alphas like that?"

"For the most part," he said.

I shook my head as I sat up.

"That's so unfair for you guys, though. Don't you want someone to fix your problems too?"

"I fix my own problems."

I rolled my eyes and made him sit up to look at me.

"Tell me your problems," I said.

Adam laughed. 

"I'm serious!"

"That's what's so funny," he said.

"Tell me," I reiterated.

He took a deep breath, still smiling, and sighed.

"Alpha Schneider is giving me problems with Europe," he said finally.

"You don't think you'll be able to overtake him?"

"No, I do," he said. "It's just taking longer than I thought."

"You've still got one more day," I said, trying to encourage him.

"I'll get them tomorrow," he assured me. "Don't worry."

After that, Adam told me about a letter that Alpha Schneider had tried to send and he told me about a man with a silver signet ring that tried to pick it up, not knowing it had been intercepted.

"And you think the letter is going to help you?" I asked him.

"If we can find out who he tried to send it to. But, if that doesn't work, I've got a few more tricks up my sleeve."

We stayed up for most of the night after that, talking. There was even some making out at one point.

When I woke up the next morning, Adam was gone to his final meetings. The sound of the phone ringing prompted me awake and I rolled over to grab the phone off the nightstand.

"Hello?"

"Alpha Superior Deveraux would like to see you in his office," the woman's high-pitched voice spoke.

"Thank you," I said, hanging up.

That woman's voice could wake someone up quicker than coffee could.

I got out of bed and changed. Glancing at the clock, I noticed I had slept until lunch and I knew that Adam was calling so I could eat with him.

I went downstairs and began to make my way to his office.

I began to hear yelling the closer I got and I quickened my pace.

"How could you do this to your own flesh and blood?! I will never forgive you!"

My eyes widened as I heard Alpha Schneider's shouting. 

I walked around the corner and saw him being forcibly removed from Adam's office by the guards, still bellowing out insults.

I went into Adam's office and saw him shaking hands with Diedrick.

I knew I looked confused as I looked between the two of them.

"Guten Morgen, mein Fräulein," Adam said to me, winking.

My eyebrows furrowed.

"Pack your bags, darling. We're going to Germany."

- - -