They stopped a few feet away from Evans, then a female elder came forward, holding a thick walking stick.
Her eyes were a pale blue, and there were streaks of grey in her hair. It was obvious that she was blind, but she was facing Evans.
"He carries his scent," she let out a declaration, and that alone made the murmuring die down. The entire building went quiet as she stepped forward towards Evans.
"You carry his scent, and yet… you hide it so well," she continued.
Evans' eyes flickered to the other elders, then the elder standing before him. "I… I am not hiding anything."
The female elder raised her hand slightly, and he kept quiet.
"Your name?"
"Evans… Evans Miller," Evans replied calmly.
The immediate reaction from the elders and most of the other people made Evans realize something: that name carries weight.
"Blood doesn't tell lies," a male elder proclaimed, his gaze fixed on Evans.
Before anyone could react, footsteps were heard. Everyone turned their attention to the entrance. The footsteps were light, and a man who looked like he was in his late forties entered with a woman. Then… Jasmine.
"The Porters," someone in the crowd said.
Evans furrowed his brows. She stepped forward, clad in a maxi dress and light footwear. Her expression was a mix of confusion and alertness, then her gaze landed on Evans.
Their gazes locked, and her breath stilled.
She stopped in her tracks. "Evans?… what are you doing here?"
Evans did not move. He was unsure of how to start explaining; he was confused about why Jasmine and perhaps her parents knew this location. Then he smelled her again.
It was clearer than when they were in school.
Not human, her scent was stronger, but it was not ordinary. Jasmine took another step forward, her eyes gleaming with perplexity.
"What is going on?" she inquired as she stepped forward, but the older woman beside her, her mother, placed her hand on her shoulder as she stepped forward.
"Wait," she let out calmly.
The elders shared glances, then shifted their gazes to Jasmine, then back at Evans. The elder before Evans did the same, even though she could not see.
Jasmine's heartbeat suddenly picked up, then her chest tightened. She locked her gaze on Evans. It was somehow pulling and recognizing. "What… is going on? Can someone explain what's happening?"
Evans felt the same, but he did not know what it was. His fingers twitched, and everyone noticed. They noticed the tension between them, and then realization hit Jasmine.
She stepped forward quietly, and her lips parted slightly. Evans noticed she was not looking at him with kindness and naivety as she always did in school. The gleam in her eyes was different… it was raw.
Her knees weakened, and her heartbeat got faster.
The female elder smiled. "She feels it. He feels it too."
Jasmine's wolf roared inside her. She knew what was happening to her, but she couldn't accept it.
"Alpha…"
The word escaped her mouth unwillingly, and it echoed louder throughout the building. The word was laced with shock, recognition, and confirmation.
Evans just froze; he was confused and also afraid. It was very obvious that Jasmine was part of them, but she had accepted him as their Alpha? Could she be of high rank in the pack? The elders bowed slightly this time, making Evans take a step back.
It was as if they had accepted him.
Ophelia's gaze remained on both Evans and Jasmine; it was unreadable, and then she turned her gaze away from them.
Jasmine walked towards Evans, her eyes never leaving him.
"This whole time… it was you, and you hid so perfectly? Even I… I did not recognize you. I thought… I never thought it could be you," she let out.
Evans swallowed the lump in his throat. He did not know what to say or even how to start explaining. He did not even fully understand himself or what was going on.
"I am just as surprised as you are, Jasmine," Evans finally replied. "I just found out recently… trust me, I didn't know."
Jasmine halted a few steps before him, her expression still the same. Her gaze lingered on his face as if she were searching for something. "You don't just know, Evans… you don't just know something like this."
Evans exhaled. "I didn't know. I found out recently that my whole life was a lie. This also came as a shock and surprise to me."
Silence settled in the space, then a scoff broke it.
"Unbelievable," Dante said. "Is this what we have been looking for? An Alpha who does not even know he has people awaiting his coming? Seriously?"
"You talk too much for a silly Beta," Ophelia snapped as her eyes shot back at him.
"Keep your mouth shut." Dante snarled. "You shouldn't be involved in matters like this."
"That is enough," an elder declared, and the room became silent immediately.
The female elder stepped forward with a smile on her face. "Move closer, Evans."
Evans obeyed. His steps felt heavier, and he wished he could leave as soon as possible. As he halted before her, she raised her hand and placed it on his chest gently.
The entire room fell quiet, and Evans felt it.
He felt a strange pull as his heart and his bond responded almost immediately. He felt something deep stirring in him, like how the shadow had merged with him.
"There is no doubt," the elder said as she withdrew her hand. "The bloodline is true. He is the one we have been awaiting."
Murmurs rose again, but it was not mocking this time. It was uncertain and believed.
Jasmine's eyes widened. "How can that be? I've never felt something like that from him," she said, then shifted her gaze to the female elder. "You must be mistaken… Evans is not the Alpha. He's my coursemate."
"Hold it there, woman," the female elder interrupted, her tone serious. "It is definite to have your doubt, but he's the one. He is untrained and unrefined, but the Alpha's blood flows in him. Zephyr's blood flows in him."
Dante clicked his tongue. "That doesn't mean he's worthy."
"You don't get to decide that, Dante," another elder said sternly.
Dante's expression changed, but he stepped back slowly.