Chapter 100 STRONG FEELINGS
Edeline
His green eyes, soft and understanding, met mine. It was as if he could read the tumult of emotions I was barely managing to contain. "Don’t worry, she’ll be fine. Go now. I’ll let you know as soon as she’s stable and with the doctor," he said, his tone soothing. He pressed a gentle kiss on my forehead and led me out onto the weathered porch.
I wrapped my arms around him tightly, a wave of relief mingling with my trembling fear. My heart felt like it was in pieces, quaking with anxiety. I just wanted to stay close to him, to have a moment of normalcy. "I love you," I whispered, reluctant to let him go.
"I have strong feelings for you, my dear," he replied, his voice filled with sincerity.
My eyes shot open, trying to glimpse what lay beyond his shoulder. I noticed the cabin further down the path, right in front of me. The cabin that Tatiana now shared with the healer.
I squinted, my thoughts spinning from what Mirabelle had said.
Watch out! She adores Tatiana as if she were her own child.
As I peered through the curtain, I was met with an unsettling, piercing gaze. The eyes were intense and unnerving, making my skin crawl. A low, guttural growl rumbled within me before I could stop it.
"Dad, are you okay?" He pulled away to check on me, and I realized how crucial it was to tell him about the potential threat.
Mirabelle never visited Doc's without a guard—Anita, the witch, was usually the one assigned.
She’s after me.
...
Restlessness gnawed at me as I anxiously awaited news about Mirabelle. I had shared everything I knew with my father, and Alpha William was now in the loop. Exhaustion was evident in his weary eyes, mirroring the weariness in all of us.
The sky had darkened, casting a somber, heavy cloud over the day, matching my mood. I was alone, with no one to lean on at the moment, but I was strangely okay with that. Percival had left me, Darius had changed drastically, and my brother was preoccupied with my arch-nemesis. Meanwhile, Mirabelle’s fate hung in the balance.
As I walked past my peers in the pack house yard, I could feel their eyes on me. My face must have been a picture of frustration because everyone kept their distance, casting worried glances in my direction. It was like they thought I was about to unleash some kind of chaos.
Reaching the path that led up the mountain to my favorite spot, I tossed my heels aside by a nearby tree and started the climb. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts...
Why was my life taking such a nosedive? I kept thinking about that guy... Yeah, that guy. He’s behind all this mess. It’s clear he’s to blame for everything falling apart.
As I trudged through the dense forest, the familiar tranquility of my special spot began to calm me. But even as the peaceful surroundings enveloped me, I was overwhelmed by a flood of emotions. It felt like I was standing on the edge of a collapsing deck of cards, and I wondered how much longer I could keep my balance.
Sorrow, anger, and numbness had already washed over me. The final emotion that took hold was... uncertain. It might lead to even more frustration or push me over the edge of sanity.
I hesitated as I reached the clearing, my senses sharpened by my wolf’s instincts. The familiar scents on the breeze made me pause and carefully crouch down, scanning for any signs of danger.
And then I heard it...
“I apologize. I’m feeling quite lost and uncertain about the direction of my life.” It was Percival. His voice was soft, laced with a hint of anguish.
“I understand and apologize for my mistakes. I know you might not want me, but I still want to try for the sake of our pups. You mentioned Edeline doesn’t want you, so let’s give it a shot. This is Tatiana speaking.”
My heart dropped as I stood up from my crouched position, anger and frustration bubbling up inside me. My wolf’s presence surged, and I felt a sharp pain in my palm as I stormed out of hiding. There they were—Percival and Tatiana—closer than ever, his lips pressing against hers in a seemingly innocent kiss.
A wave of heartbreak hit me, mingling with the sorrowful whine of my wolf.
Can you believe he brought her here? To our spot, the place we shared with our pups—mine, his, and Darius’. It was supposed to be our special place.
As I approached, their heads snapped toward me. Tatiana’s arm was in a sling, a clear sign that her bones had healed miraculously in just a day. She looked stunned when she saw me, her eyes widening in surprise.
Turning to Percival, I saw the recognition flash across his face. My wolf’s whine had reached him through our bond. His sad blue eyes showed a flicker of guilt, and for a moment, my wolf wanted to offer him comfort. But I would never let that happen.
“What are you doing here?” The words rumbled out in a deep, primal growl. My wolf was enraged, disliking the intrusion of these two impostors into her territory.
Percival stood up, his gaze fixed on me with an intensity that matched the tension in the air. He helped Tatiana rise from the ground near the stream. She cowered behind him, her body trembling with fear. It was clear she was scared out of her wits, though she hadn’t let her fear stop her from whatever she had done at breakfast.
"Oh, excuse me for intruding on your contemplation. I apologize for taking up your space. We’ll go elsewhere," Percival said, his voice dripping with remorse. His guilt was palpable. He wanted to talk, to explain, but it was too late now. My anger was a tempest, and I struggled to keep it in check as Tatiana hurried past me, emitting a low growl that echoed my displeasure. Percival followed, glancing back with an expression of sorrow tinged with remorse.