Chapter 174 PREGNANCY REVELATION
Edeline
Feeling down and envious, all I wanted was to talk to my brother. I realized that helping others with their issues was the only thing keeping me from breaking down.
“He’s over at Doc’s,” Mirabelle said, her gaze dropping to the floor. “Percival won’t let him visit Tatiana, so he’s just hanging out in the waiting room. Just don’t do anything rash, Edeline. I knew it was just a casual thing…”
I got out of bed and made my way to the bathroom. “Nah, Mirabelle. He just used you as an outlet for his frustration with Tatiana. He even broke the rules on pack land…”
“But I’m an Oracle, Edeline!” she protested. “I don’t have a partner. The rules don’t apply to me.” In that moment, she looked so small and vulnerable.
“You’re still part of this pack,” I said, turning and walking through the bathroom door.
“Edeline, wait!” Mirabelle called out. “There’s something you should know…”
I stopped and turned to see her eyes filled with concern as they scanned me. “What?”
She bit her lip and said, “Percival put you to sleep in the cave because, once his mind cleared, he realized you two had been… together without protection. He didn’t want to take any chances with a possible pregnancy, but he also didn’t want you to get hurt.”
I nodded slightly, raising an eyebrow. We had already discussed this. “So, what’s the big deal?”
“Oh, and if you haven’t started bleeding yet, there’s a possibility that you might be pregnant,” she added.
…
Edeline
The clouds drifted lazily across the sky, forming a thick layer of grey fluff that blocked out the sun’s rays. It was a gloomy day with no rainclouds in sight, and everything felt pretty dull.
A gentle breeze whispered through the trees, causing the leaves to fall in a cascade of red, orange, and yellow. The road ahead became a colorful tapestry of these vibrant hues, creating a picturesque scene.
The weather outside had finally cooled down. It was the first day of autumn, and the temperature had dropped noticeably. It was perfect for long sleeves and trousers, though jackets weren’t quite necessary yet. I could almost smell the pumpkins and bonfire smoke that would soon fill the air.
I strolled down the dirt road, rocking my black flannel button-up and favorite skinny jeans. With each step, my knee-length black boots crunched satisfyingly on the fallen leaves beneath me. My hair was piled up on my head, exposing the mark on my neck. It was still red and irritated, but at least it wasn’t swollen anymore. I felt more comfortable in my own skin. I hoped Tatiana would get a chance to see it... maybe I'd run into her. I just wanted her to know. I just wanted to jog Percival’s memory about what he had done.
I had my arms crossed and a serious scowl on my face as I turned the corner and saw Doc’s clinic. Alpha William was pacing outside, adding to the tension in the air. Just waiting. At thirty-eight, the older wolf was quite the looker. If I didn’t have such strong feelings for him and didn’t see him as family, I might’ve stumbled over my words whenever I caught a glimpse of those captivating blue eyes, so much like Percival’s. But that wasn't what happened.
The loud thuds of my boots echoed as I confidently walked up the sidewalk, only to be stopped by William stepping in front of the door, his chest puffed out and a frown on his face.
“Edeline, if you’re here to cause problems, then—” he grumbled.
“Hey, could you please send your son out here right now?” I shouted, frustration bubbling up inside me. Who does he think I am?
He let out a low growl. “Be mindful of how you’re talking to me. I’m still your Alpha, and your mate is—”
I shook my head, cutting him off. “I was referring to Nixx. I really don’t want to see Percival ever again! You can relay that message to him! Actually, I’ll just tell him myself!” I spat out, my voice laced with anger. I whimpered as I passed the words through the mate bond, cursing him silently.
Exhaling in frustration, William turned and went inside while I leaned casually against the support beam, my face hardening as Nixx stepped out into the dim light. The fallen leaves rustled around the porch as the breeze picked up.
He looked pretty down, his mossy green eyes meeting mine without much life in them. He shuffled over to me, his steps hesitant and unsure. “Hey, Edeline,” he greeted me with a faint smile. I couldn’t help but focus on him, squinting my eyes in concentration.
I gave him a stern look. "Don't you dare 'hey' me, Nixx." My voice carried a sharp edge, and a surge of sass tingled at the back of my throat. I had hit my limit with being taken for granted. It sucked to feel so ignored after sharing an intimate moment with my mate. The mate bond was really messing with my head.
"Seriously, what were you thinking, Nixx? Using my best friend like that? You let your own sadness take over, and you took it out on Mirabelle! And now you’re here, helping Tatiana through something, after everything she did! I mean, come on! You were the one who wanted her to face the consequences of her actions, to atone for her sins! And no one seems to care that she manipulated Darius into doing those things to me!" My voice was loud, filled with frustration, and I didn’t really care if anyone heard. I knew everyone was watching our little showdown.
Nixx frowned, his face tightening. "Mirabelle was a mistake. I shouldn’t have done that… but it’s not like she has a partner anyway." Anger flared up inside me as he kept talking. "Yeah, I admit it. I made those comments about Tatiana. But now that I might have a shot at being the firstborn, I can’t deny that I have feelings for her. Even though she’s carrying my half-brother’s pup. I guess I’m just a weak wolf, you know? And Percival spilled the beans about what Anita told you regarding Tatiana—her whole story. Turns out she was forced into doing those things! She’s been under Anita and Conor’s influence her whole life! Can you believe it? Conor, the one who raised her, just up and left her? It’s driving my wolf insane!"