Chapter 277 MINE NOW
Gaspar
My wolf had to mark his territory. It was not just a habit; it was a necessity. Every moment was another chance to remind her that she was mine now, inside and out.
Those muffled screams into the pillow? Yeah, she was really into it. Even if she did not say it, her body always told me what she needed. And I made sure to give it to her.
She was mine now.
And I would help her become the partner I always knew she could be. Thoughtful, steady, and completely bonded to me.
…
Edeline
There’s this emptiness inside me that pulls me in completely—one I haven't felt in ages.
It has been a week since I last talked to Conor. What a long, dragging week it has been.
Sometimes I catch him coming out of Tatiana’s room, which is right next to mine. It is just the three of us hanging out on the top floor. Or at least, it used to be. Now he is spending most of his time with her, and I barely see him anymore.
Just another typical day in my world.
So, what were you thinking?
That night after our last chat, Conor looked me in the eye and said, “I want you.” He said it so directly, and I knew he meant it. But I had to tell him I just couldn't go there with him. Then he told me I had been leading him on without even realizing it. Said I was too gullible to notice what I was doing. He had stayed silent for so long because he needed time to figure out how I felt about him.
He gets it now, though. That is why he finally told me everything—said we could not stay the same if I was not willing to blur the lines of our friendship.
That really stung.
Conor was more than just a friend. He was my mentor, my closest buddy—my go-to for everything. And now things are different between us. I do not think Tatiana’s presence is the real reason either. I think I hurt him. I gave him hope without meaning to, and then I took it away.
I feel bad, but those are just my feelings. I still have a buddy, right?
But I really miss Conor. I miss our talks. I miss hanging out with him. But I am not going to string him along just to bring back the friendship we used to have.
Sweat poured down my face as I threw punch after punch at my opponent, another girl from the beginner’s group. With a focused look, bruised and sore, I kept hitting—just chilling, letting my wolf side take over while I stayed on top of her.
The sun was blazing, but the cool breeze made it manageable. One more hit to the temple, and she was done.
This has been my life for the past week. No Conor around. Just training, day in and day out.
The crew noticed we had not been hanging out like we used to, and something about it made them want to test me. No more being coddled on the training field. Everyone was curious about what I could do—even General Axe. The female warriors were eager to jump in, but Axe limited the newbies to team fights with me. Some of the guys wanted their shot too, but Axe shut it down. Not yet, he told them. Not until I got better.
When Conor was around, he never let me fight more than twice a day. But now? With him gone, I pushed myself harder. This was my fifth fight today. Three extra opponents this time.
The girl lay sprawled out beneath me, our blood mixing on the dusty ground. She let out a groan, rolling onto her side, showing off the damage I had done—her face swollen and battered from my fists, which were scraped up and bleeding. Cuts from bites stung as I flexed my knuckles.
The broken rib poking at me reminded me that this was the sixth time I had broken one.
“Hey, Edeline, we did it again! That’s your last fight for today,” General Axe called out, laughing as I made my way through the circle of wolves. Their expressions ranged from disdain to reluctant respect. They were still hoping to see me lose, just once, to prove I was not unbeatable.
But my wolf was not puffed up with pride anymore. We were just... here, going through the motions, feeling more tired than anything.
Axe grinned at me, flashing his white teeth. “At this rate, you’ll make it to the intermediate level by the end of the month. That would be impressive,” he said with a chuckle, tossing me a towel.
I forced a small smile. “Thanks, General.”
I did not hang around to see if anyone else was watching me. I just headed straight for the pack house. Sweat stung my face as it dripped into the cuts, and the cool breeze did little to ease the ache in my body. This whole week without Conor has been brutal. I had gotten too comfortable with our routine. Now? I could not even spot him anymore.
So, I jumped into training on my own. Damon and Alexa train with me sometimes, but they are still a bit salty about how my wolf handled things during the last full moon run.
They know their wolves messed up, but that does not make them any less annoyed.
Not that it matters. My wolf totally dominated Alexa’s, and she is supposed to be better than me.
It felt like the life I was starting to enjoy had hit pause. Every time I begin to feel settled, something always comes along and flips my world upside down. It’s like I can never keep anything for long. Nothing stays the same.
As I climbed the back stairs of the pack house, my bones ached with every step. I could feel the bruises blooming on my skin, the sharp sting of my ribs with each movement. The pain gnawed at me, but strangely... it felt good.
Yeah, it hurt. But I liked it.
The pain grounded me. Made things real when everything else felt so off-balance.
I walked inside, heading up the stairs toward my room. Just as I reached my door, I stopped dead in my tracks.
There he was.
Conor—sneaking out of Tatiana's room.
For a moment, I just stood there, taking him in. His strong, broad shoulders, the way his muscles flexed as he turned. My chest tightened when his eyes locked with mine. His expression shifted—first wide-eyed with surprise, then narrowing into concern.
"Edeline, what the hell happened to you?" His voice softened as he crossed the hall in two quick strides, cupping my face gently in his hands. He tilted my head to the side, inspecting the bruises on my skin.
His brows furrowed, and I could see how my battered face reflected in his stormy blue eyes. At 5’6, I had to tilt my head up to meet his gaze properly.
I shrugged a little. "Just training. Had five fights today."
The corner of his mouth twitched, but not in a good way.
"Five?" A flicker of annoyance crossed his face as he gave me a stern look. "You’re only supposed to have two, Edeline."
I raised an eyebrow. Seriously?
"So, the pack's picking up on some shifts in our friendship," I said, crossing my arms. "Since you’re not around, they think there’s some kind of opportunity. Everyone wants a shot at me now, just to prove themselves. But it’s fine—General Axe keeps it under control. He only lets me fight five rounds, and I haven’t lost yet, so I’ll survive."
Conor’s jaw tightened, the frustration clear on his face. His hands dropped to his sides. "Sorry, Edeline. I know I haven’t been around much lately."
I shrugged again, pretending it didn’t bother me. "It’s cool. I get it. Tatiana needs you right now."
It was true, though. The only times Conor wasn’t with Tatiana, he was holed up in his room, dodging dinner or coming up with excuses not to show up.
He gave me a quick nod, glancing around awkwardly. "Yeah. Tatiana could really use some extra support... You should drop by and chat with her. She likes it when you visit." His tone was casual, but I caught the hint of urgency buried beneath the words.
I sighed. "Alright." Not like I hadn’t already been stopping by every day.
Conor smiled, patting my shoulder like I had just done him a favor. As he turned to head to his room, something inside me twisted.
Before I could stop myself, I reached out and grabbed his arm.
"Conor."
He turned back to me, curiosity flickering in his gaze.
I held his eyes with my own, searching for something—anything that would explain why things felt so different between us. "Is something going on? I mean..." I trailed off, looking down at my hands for a second before meeting his gaze again. "Ever since we talked, you’ve been... distant."
His expression shifted, his shoulders sagging a little. Then he sighed, rolling his eyes.
"Not everything’s about you, Edeline," he said, the frustration in his voice subtle but sharp. "I’m fine. Really."
My stomach twisted at the dismissal, disbelief and annoyance rising inside me.
"Come on, Conor!" I snapped, eyes wide with frustration. "You’re totally dodging this!"
He shook his head, avoiding my gaze. "I’m just... dealing with some stuff, okay? I’m sorry I haven’t been around, but I need to figure things out with Tatiana."
He finally looked at me then, and I noticed the lines of exhaustion etched into his face. There were a few salt-and-pepper strands threading through his goatee—small reminders that even though he was still young by Alpha standards, life was catching up to him.
And here I was, bringing my teenage problems to him.
I forced a tight-lipped smile, nodding slowly. "Alright... Just—" I hesitated, then grabbed his wrist, squeezing gently. "Don’t shut me out, okay? If you need to talk, I’m here."
Conor gave me a small, tired grin, patting my hand in a way that felt distant, like a promise he wasn’t sure he could keep. "Sure thing."
He turned back to his door, and as he opened it, a faint scent drifted into the hallway—a woman’s scent.
It hit me all at once.
Of course.
Conor had been with another girl all along.
A wave of jealousy hit me, but it wasn’t over love—it was something else, something harder to swallow. I wasn’t jealous of whoever Conor was with. I was jealous of his era. I thought I was his girl, his closest buddy—the one he turned to. And now he’s just lying to me? Sneaking around with someone else, maybe for conversation... maybe just for fun.
Was what I said to him really so bad that he had to replace me?
I shook my head, storming into my room and slamming the door behind me. My feet carried me in circles across the floor as my mind spun in all directions.
No... I couldn’t make this about me. This wasn’t about what I said. He’s just... a guy dealing with too much, that’s all. Yeah. Conor’s stressed, and I’ve been selfish. That’s what this is.
But even as I told myself that, my face twisted. No. That’s not it. He’s shifting his problems somewhere else, avoiding me. And I know why—because I remind him of her. Of Nyra.
I hurt his feelings. I know I did. But did that really mean I was replaceable?
I flopped down onto my bed with a huff. I thought we were family, you know? Pack means everything to me... but now, everything feels off. I need him—I need the way things were between us. His guidance, his chill vibe, his reassurance. And now it’s slipping through my fingers, like everything always does.
Maybe I’m being self-centered. Maybe I’m asking too much.
With a frustrated groan, I yanked off my blood-stained clothes and stepped into the shower. I cranked the water to warm, letting it sting as it ran over my cuts and bruises. The heat soaked into my aching muscles, washing away the day’s grime and blood.
And along with it, I let the tears come. I never let myself cry anymore.
But tonight, I just let it happen.
And the first thing that surfaced in my mind?
Percival.
That dream I had about him last week—it felt so real. It wasn’t, obviously. Just my brain playing tricks on me. But God... I missed him. I missed his touch. The way he made everything feel easier, even when it wasn’t.
And now, with Conor pulling away... I felt like I was losing everything, all over again. Conor saved me once. He was the one who pulled me out of the mess I was drowning in. He made me a better wolf.
What am I supposed to do without him now?