Chapter 14 EDELINE’S DILEMMA
Edeline
“Hey Edeline, just wanted to let you know that my father’s okay with it. But, um, I have to be honest—whenever you’re around Darius, it messes with my wolf. It’s not good for the pack. And, uh, speaking of Tatiana… things aren’t going so great.” His smirk gave way to a look of unease and sadness.
“Who cares if Tatiana is upset? So, I guess you actually do care about her?” I snapped, frustration boiling over.
He shrugged, his tone annoyingly nonchalant. “I don’t care.”
Percival’s face shifted, his eyes softening with a hint of regret. “I don’t… but, my pup. If she’s going to miscarry, I don’t want to be the reason for it. It’s this feeling that I just can’t seem to control. My wolf is interested in you, but he understands that we’re about to become parents.” He paused, looking conflicted. “He wants to protect the pup, and my wild behavior won’t help. I can’t really put it into words without potentially upsetting you…” His voice trailed off, wavering as he spoke, as if he were struggling to find the right words.
I took a deep breath, catching a whiff of the sadness emanating from his wolf side.
I got it now. A soon-to-be parent wanted to ensure the safety of their child, no matter who the other parent was. It was an instinct, a gut feeling that was hard to ignore, even though it stung.
Tears began to well up in my eyes, escaping despite my best efforts to hold them back. The promises I made to stay strong were slipping through my fingers.
“Percival. He’s the only one I’ve got. You have someone else now, and he’s the only thing that holds me together.” Tears streamed down my face, my sinuses clogging in that familiar, unbearable way.
Percival’s gaze grew intense, his voice stern. “You’ve got me.”
I stared at him, my mouth agape, unable to process his words.
“Wait, hold up! I don’t have you—Tatiana does! She’s carrying your pup and even demanding your Mark! I’m not going to give it to her.” His eyes began to blur with tears, mirroring my own.
My heart felt like it was shattering into a million pieces, each fragment piercing my chest and making it hard to breathe. “Perhaps not... But you expect me to witness the two of you together, to be alone and watch it unfold. To distance myself from my only true friend. All because you find it unbearable? Do what everyone else does with Tatiana! Stay away!!! They look at me like I might transform and tear her apart, like I can’t control my wolf because I’m a recent shifter…”
Percival’s expression softened with gentle understanding. “A lot of wolves who are just starting to shift can’t control their emotions, Edeline. Even when we get older and face something like jealousy...” He seemed to feel a bit embarrassed by his own admission, showing a glimmer of empathy.
I paced the room, feeling restless as a whirlwind of scenarios played out in my mind. Finally, I glanced up and wiped the tears from my face.
“Is this really the alpha’s request, or is it yours?” I asked, skeptical about how much control he really had in this situation.
He looked down, his shoulders slumping slightly. “I told him to get it for you.”
A surge of energy pulsed through me. Striding confidently toward Percival, I felt adrenaline spike. Without a second thought, I raised my hand and gave him a sharp, resounding slap across the face. He could have stopped me, but he didn’t.
“Hey, what’s the matter?” His voice was sharp, laced with irritation, but I could sense the pain beneath his anger. His frustration was almost palpable, and it made my own hands tremble slightly. Whenever I got angry, it was like my emotions were impossible to control.
Percival’s blue eyes met mine, filled with a plea for understanding, while I stood there, shaking with a mix of fury and sadness. “Hey, Edeline, this really gets to me. I mean, I know there’s nothing there, but it just makes my wolf feel threatened, you know?”
The words stung, and a wave of disgust washed over me. Without another word, I headed straight for the door, eager to escape and find Darius. But just as I reached for the handle, Percival’s voice stopped me in my tracks.
“Hey, Edeline, remember when we were kids?” He leaned in a little, a nostalgic smile tugging at his lips. “I used to watch you and Darius sprinting around, playfully chasing each other like a couple of energetic animals. I’ll never forget how you used to bark just for fun, so eager to become a wolf already.”
A smile tugged at my lips as memories of those carefree days resurfaced. Percival, just twelve years old back then, always teasing us as we played. We were a close-knit group of eight, and he was our guardian, full of mischief and affection.
“I remember,” I murmured, ensuring he could hear. My hand lingered on the door handle before I slowly withdrew it. I turned back, feeling the warmth of his gaze on my skin. It made me feel oddly exhilarated, as if he were taking in every detail of me.
His eyes roamed over me with a mix of nostalgia and something deeper. As the anger began to ebb away, I found myself drawn to him. Our eyes locked, and for a moment, it felt as if time had stopped.
Percival continued talking as I settled into the chair beside him. Our gazes held, creating a silent connection that bridged the distance between us.
“You’ve always been cute, even back then.”
I couldn't help but smile at Percival's words. I've always had a thing for him, but back then, I acted like I found him repulsive. It's just something kids do to mask their true feelings.
"Edeline, I still remember your 15th birthday," he continued, his voice softening with nostalgia. "I had just returned home from summer training and noticed how much you had grown. You had blossomed in all the right ways, and I couldn't help but find you attractive. I know I was 19 at the time, but I couldn't deny the connection I felt towards you. It may sound strange, but I always watched you with deep affection," he confessed, his eyes sincere and earnest.