Edeline“Hey, Percival! What on earth are you doing here?” I asked, trying to sound casual but feeling a bit flustered.He flashed a grin at me, dimples showing under his perfectly sculpted cheekbones. “I guess we’re both in the same boat, huh?”I glanced quickly out the window, feeling a bit paranoid. It seemed like someone had been here before us. I definitely felt it. “We should probably come at different times,” I suggested, crossing my arms and shifting my weight to the side. “I don’t want anyone getting suspicious if they see us together.”He straightened up, his gaze moving over me with an intensity that made me squirm a little. “Sure, we can do that. No problem. Sorry for any inconvenience. I just wanted to give you this.” He held out a letter. I took it, feeling a tingle where our skin briefly touched, sending a shiver down my spine. I shoved it into my pocket, deciding I’d read it later.I grabbed my own envelope from the cubbyhole and handed it to him. “Percival, you lied t
EdelineHe grinned, shaking his head. “Nah, I don’t really talk to her. I was just out in the woods, saw you running, and thought I’d catch up. So, hey, you up for a chat?” His blue eyes were wide and pleading, and he nervously nibbled on his bottom lip.I let out a quiet sigh. I hoped he hadn’t seen Percival go into the treehouse after me. That would create a whole lot of chaos.“Yeah, sure. Where do you want to go?” I agreed, trying to sound nonchalant.Darius’s grin widened. “Hey, let’s go out on the boat!” He grabbed my hand and started pulling me along before I could protest.I hesitated, remembering the last time we were out on the boat. I’d ended up chilling in my room for two solid weeks, but Darius had been there for me when I needed help. Lately, I’d been pushing him away, even though he’d always been supportive. His overprotective attitude could be annoying, but I had to give him credit.“Sure,” I said with a grin, deciding to let it go.We walked over to the rowboat by the
EdelineDarius’s smile turned mischievous. “Mirabelle, huh? Trouble’s back in town, then. We were quite the troublemaking trio.” I chuckled, remembering our mischievous escapades. “She’s hanging out with the oracle. I haven’t figured out the living arrangements yet, but she’s here to stay.”“Nice,” Darius said, his grin widening into a knowing smile. “Looks like the Praimfaya Moon pack is in for some fun.” Before I could fully enjoy the moment, Darius added, “Oh, and just a friendly reminder about tomorrow.”I tilted my head, puzzled. “Reminder about what?”“The healer is on their way!” he said, the excitement in his voice starkly contrasting with the gnawing feeling in my stomach.Well, that was definitely not the news I wanted to hear. I’d completely forgotten about that, and a gnarly sensation twisted in the pit of my stomach.…The soft glow of sunlight filtered gently through the blinds, casting delicate shadows across my room. The serene blue of my curtains seemed to amplify t
EdelineI shook my head, hiding a smile as I took a sip of my orange juice. A warm sense of joy and accomplishment settled in my chest. My family, my best friend… I felt like I was finally starting fresh. The drama with Percival’s pregnant she-wolf seemed like a distant memory, easily dismissed.After breakfast, I helped Mom with the dishes, putting everything away while everyone else took a breather. With our bellies full, we were ready for the day ahead. Nixx mentioned wanting to talk to Mom and Dad outside, probably about his meeting with Alpha William. Meanwhile, Mirabelle was busy trying to convince me to relax and have some fun.She leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper. Wolves have a knack for picking up even the faintest sounds. “Look, nobody throws a party like I do, and you know it, buddy. Tonight, we’re gonna have a real bash.” That familiar glint of mischief danced in her eyes.I kept a straight face. “That’s assuming you can convince Alpha William to agree.”
Edeline"It’s a locket Percival gave me. His feelings get hurt if I don’t wear it," I murmured quietly.Mirabelle scoffed in disbelief. "And how do you feel when you see that pitiful pregnant woman with magical powers?" Her angry green eyes locked with mine in the mirror’s reflection."It’s a topic best avoided. It’s… complicated." My lips pressed together in a tight line. "Let’s just move on, shall we?"As we stepped out into the evening air, I paused to admire the sunset. The sky was a breathtaking canvas, with shades of pink and orange blending seamlessly into the deepening blue, tinged with hints of purple where the colors merged. The breeze carried the scent of freshly cut grass and savory barbecue, adding to the tranquil atmosphere."Mirabelle, I need to ask you something about oracles," I said, my eyes fixed on the dirt road ahead, captivated by the particles of dust dancing in the beams of sunlight.She slipped her hands into her back pockets, her gaze remaining ahead.I hesit
Edeline"Thank you," I managed to say, my voice tight with emotion, meeting their warm gazes.As they drifted back to the party, I was seized by an intense urge to be alone. I needed to find a place where I could let the storm of emotions inside me break free, where fear and sorrow—my constant companions—could consume me without restraint."Edeline, this isn’t the time or place for this," Mirabelle’s intense gaze bore into mine. "You need to control your emotions. Turn all that pain and fear into something else—something stronger. Show that you’re the superior wolf between Percival and that sorceress." Her hand smoothed the fur on my arm, her gaze pulling me back from the brink of panic.I exhaled slowly, draining the rest of the champagne as Mirabelle gave me a gentle smile. "That’s my girl."A sudden chill ran down my spine, settling deep in my lower body. But it was a familiar sensation, one I knew all too well.As I turned, my eyes met Percival’s intense gaze. He seemed to study e
EdelineAs the roar resonated through the air, I could feel every eye fixated on me. The ground trembled beneath me as my bones began to shift. The sounds of snapping and cracking filled the air, my dress shredding into pieces as my transformation began. In a moment of sheer, unbridled fury, my wolf took over completely, severing my access to our shared consciousness. The wolf charged forward, its full transformation now complete. The surrounding wolves scattered in fear, their eyes wide with shock. The creature stood tall on its hind legs, its tail tucked close to its body, chest pressed to the ground. Its ears were flattened, a menacing growl reverberating through the air. The intensity of the growl made some pups whimper and a few juveniles shake.Tatiana looked at my wolf with dread, her fear palpable. The wolf, in turn, locked its gaze on her, its focus intent and fierce. It was clear that the wolf’s instincts were fixated on her throat. This time, the wolf’s determination was u
EdelineI ran through the forest, up the mountainside, pushing myself to the limit. I kept her from chasing the rabbits she so desperately wanted to pursue. Her voice rang out, mirroring my sadness as she sprinted. “I’m sorry, but I don’t quite understand,” she shouted, clearly frustrated with my control over her... denying her the joy of an unreciprocated connection.I pushed on until we reached a small clearing overlooking the lake. There, I shifted back into my human form. I stood alone, vulnerable, without clothes or comfort, while tears blurred my vision.I couldn’t hold back the tears. My body was overwhelmed by a wave of emotions—sadness, regret, shame, and humiliation. The pain I thought I had conquered came rushing back, tearing through my heart. The shattered pieces quivered inside me...I thought about escaping to a place where I could never be found again.Percival’s wolf prowled in my mind, searching for my wolf’s desires. It filled me with a deep unease. I stumbled forwa
Percival Edeline’s eyes were locked on me as she marched over, grabbing my forearm and pulling me along with her. The contact felt like fire igniting on my skin. She was fired up—angry, for sure.She dragged me into the equipment shed, out of sight, and then—wham!—she whacked me right in the eye.I let out a low growl and slowly turned my face back to hers. Anger radiated off her as she raised her other hand, ready to swing at me again. I managed to grab her wrist before she could land another hit, squeezing gently around her slim wrist. “What the heck, Edeline?!” I exclaimed, my lip curling to reveal my fang. Low warning growls rumbled from my chest. The wolf inside me was not thrilled, but at least she appreciated that this wasn’t happening in front of the pack. Don’t mess with my authority.“Hey! Did you give that girl false hope or what? I know you have not hooked up with her because I would have sensed it!” Her nose wrinkled, eyes blazing with fury. Then, I caught a scent from
Percival Promoting her to lead female warrior might not have been the best decision after all. She was my top fighter, having trained hard before I stepped in, but now I was left questioning my judgment. We didn’t have an expert on board yet, and Jazz’s ambition made me wary.She tucked a loose, curly strand behind her ear, looking up at me with her big green eyes, her skin a lovely shade of creamed coffee. She was undeniably pretty, but just not my type. “Hey, Percival... what if we tried something different with the ladies?” She edged closer, taking a deep breath as if to check out my scent.It might sound wild, but the night before last, after showering and snuggling up in bed with Edeline, I had rubbed against her, soaking in her scent. Waking up without her made me skip a shower yesterday—or maybe even today. I just wanted to hold onto that connection a little longer. Jazz caught a whiff of Edeline’s scent, and her eyebrows shot up.“Hey, is Edeline back?” she asked, her voice
Edeline“I totally get it, Nixx. It is something else. Really special. I see what you mean.” My gaze drifted to his cuffs, curiosity piquing as I furrowed my brow. “Have you been a bit risky? What does your world do to people?” I tilted my head, observing the way he passed the bracelet back to me, unable to take his eyes off it.“My wolf is stronger, you know? Sometimes I just cannot control him and end up lashing out at people who get on my nerves. Percival dealt with the same stuff. He wants to help me train like Gaspar did for him, but all I can think about is Tatiana and the pup I lost. It is tough.” A wave of sadness washed over him, dimming the light in his eyes.“Nixx,” I sighed, “why are you still hung up on losing the pup? Mirabelle was only a few months along, right? You never even met him, and you can have pups with your real mate. You could not have had both. Tatiana would have been jealous of you and him. Trust me, I get it. Tatiana is a beta, and her wolf would have want
EdelineHe really needed his not-so-little sister. I would hit him up first, and then maybe I would finally have the guts to talk to Percival about everything. After some tough training, of course. It had been a few days since I had a solid training session. Muscle disappears faster than it builds up, and I really hoped that did not happen. If I wanted to keep being the warrior I had turned into, I had to stay on top of my stamina. But I was not sure my buddy would let me train, especially since my heat was just around the corner, and my scent was driving everyone wild. I had to remember to grab my tea after I hopped out of the shower. As I walked in the front door of my parents’ place, the cozy scent of clove hit me, pulling me back into sweet memories. I could not help but think about what might happen during this heat. The last one just did not do it for me. Did I even want him to help me out this time? Or would I just prefer to be out of it for that? I figured the latter was
EdelineI stared down at our hands, chewing on his words. He might have a point. When I left and went to Conrad’s place, I told myself I was moving on. I threw myself into letting it all go—this life, these people, everything. But once I got some space, the wolves around me nudged me toward the truth. They made me confront my feelings about Percival, especially after I caught myself feeling jealous over him. He was just my friend, nothing more, but still... I had to deal with that. But Darius? I buried that pain deep and left it to rot. Never talked about him, never thought about him for too long. I got stronger, yeah. But I didn’t heal. Not really. And that’s why I’m still stuck. I turned my head toward William, blinking back the sting in my eyes. “How am I supposed to feel about him?” My voice cracked, and I felt my throat tighten again. “Look at what he did.” I swallowed hard, trying to keep it together, but the words dragged me down, making my chest feel heavy. “How am I s
EdelineI never really hated Percival before that. He had done some stuff, sure—but it never made me hate him. Not until that night. That night, I hated him more than anything. My wolf hated him too. My skin side—yeah, she wanted revenge just as bad. But then the truth hit me. Darius was the monster. Not Percival. I spent all of yesterday lying around, trying to make sense of everything. Today, I thought maybe a walk would help me clear my head, so I came here. To the waterfall—the spot I loved the most. And now, here I am. Staring at his grave. Why here? Why did they bury him here of all places? Not in the pack’s graveyard, where the rest of them are. No—right here, beneath the tree that used to be ours. Our spot. My throat tightened, and the tears started before I could stop them. My heart felt like someone had tied a rope around it and was pulling it tighter and tighter. I reached out, tracing his name on the headstone with shaky fingers, as if touching the letters wo
PercivalI hoped I didn’t annoy her. I understood she was strong, but my Alpha side just wanted to look out for my mate. I was trying to communicate my feelings through the mate bond, to reassure her I was here for her.The corner of her mouth lifted in a quick smile. "It's all good."Shaking my head, I did what I felt compelled to do. I walked over, scooping her up in my arms. She gasped in surprise as I carried her across the room to the salvaged bed. Her eyes widened, taking in the effort I had made to clean up for her."I’ll grab you something to wear. Your clothes are wrecked." I stifled a laugh as I laid her down on the bed. I missed the feel of her skin against mine, even from that brief moment before I had to let her go to find her a t-shirt and some clean boxers.I had both boxers and boxer briefs, but lately, I definitely preferred the briefs. Guess it was just part of growing up!As I returned to her, Edeline’s gaze was fixed on my bare torso. She looked up at me with that
EdelineI would not run anymore.“Hey, let me wash your back, my little warrior.” His breath brushed against my warm skin, and a rush of desire coursed through me as his deep voice stirred something inside. My breath caught in my throat as I locked eyes with him.“I got this.” I really could not let him get close. It would only make the cramps worse, and the desire was already doing a number on me.He nodded, totally understanding what I was thinking through our connection.As he stood up, I could not help but let my eyes wander over him, pausing at his chiseled abs and then down to his pelvis. Right there in the middle was a thick, four-inch tattoo of an infinity symbol.Mated wolves have this thing where they let anyone who catches a glimpse of their skin below the waist know they have a mate. This tattoo meant a lot. A lump formed in my throat as my eyes began to water. How long had he been dealing with this?It was like he could read my mind—probably because he could. He looked
EdelineHis eyes were no longer filled with wonder; they carried pain and knowledge. Yet, despite it all, those piercing blue eyes had remained the same, shining even brighter against his sun-kissed skin. His hair was longer on top and shorter on the sides, giving him a more polished look.He looked even more handsome now, completely in charge of himself. The way he moved, the way he held himself—it all made me wonder about the changes in him and what had shaped him during our time apart.“You hungry?” His deep voice pulled me back to reality, his eyes locking onto mine.I was still feeling shy, and I wondered why that was.“I’m fine,” I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady.He nodded and made his way to the door. “I’ll give you some space. I can tell you’re not really feeling it with me around. Just hit me up when you’re ready, and I’ll help you get to bed since you’re not feeling great.” He flashed a sad smile and reached for the doorknob.My heart raced a bit. I really did not