Chapter 292 NO MORE RUNNING
Edeline
I 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 down, tracing his thumb over the tattoo. “I got this after you left.” His eyes locked onto mine, filled with so much feeling. “You are my mate, Edeline. You are my Luna. My other half.” His voice was rough as we held each other’s gaze, and I noticed a glimmer in those baby blues, glassy under the soft glow of the chandelier.
A wave of shame hit me as I turned away, staring at the faucet. My shoulders slumped as I tried to swallow the lump in my throat.
“Hey, do not pull back on me, Edeline,” he said, leaning down again.
Ugh, seriously. “We have a ton to chat about…”
“I get it.” He nodded, his expression earnest. “Just keep in mind… we are in it for the long haul. There will not be anyone else for either of us. I have really missed you! You do not know how much. I have been really upset with you for leaving me. I have been feeling down... I have been a lot of things. I have all these feelings bottled up, and desire is definitely at the top of the list. I have wanted you for ages… I cannot even think about anyone else. You are the one for me, Edeline, and the pack really needs their Luna.”
“I need my Luna.” My breath caught, and I glanced over at him just as he leaned in to plant a kiss on my temple. But it ended up landing on my swollen lips instead—a sweet, simple kiss that sent shivers down my spine.
I just could not find the right words. It felt like my whole dictionary was filled with Z’s, and the only thing that popped into my head was Percival.
He stood up and walked over to the door, glancing back at me as tears streamed down my face, leaving warm trails on my cheeks. I felt so small sitting in that tub, just watching him, my heart racing. His eyes were still glistening as he looked at me. “Just call me when you are done, and I will help you get to bed. I will give your family a heads-up that you are crashing with me tonight, so they do not stress out.”
“The last thing I want is for them to worry even more than they already have.” He gave a sad smile before heading out, closing the door softly behind him.
As soon as he left, I totally lost it, sitting there and crying quietly. My tears splashed into the water, creating ripples that mirrored my chaotic thoughts.
This was not how I planned it. I did not think I would run into him so soon. I was supposed to focus on my family first, then find a way to reach out to him. And now, here I was, chilling in his tub after a wild night of crazy, unrestrained passion.
His words hit me hard. I had come a long way in some areas, but in others, I was still that scared kid.
Even though I was technically an adult female, I still felt pretty young at heart. I had this warrior symbol, and I had faced a lot, but there were still things that tripped me up.
Percival... my missing piece. My other half. He was the key to my happiness. Wow, he had really come into his own. How incredible he was now! I could only imagine how much attention he grabbed, but he was always so genuine with me. He had definitely matured a lot.
I was not running again, but I needed to check in with my heart and feelings first. We really needed to have that talk I had been dodging for six months.
It was wild how the pain from what I went through with him still felt so fresh, even with all this time gone by.
I could see the love he had for me; it felt like it was inked on his skin. He had changed so much, not just for himself but for the pack.
Just for me.
What should I do now that he had his act together? Now that I knew he was not going to pick anyone else over me, and there was no other girl expecting his kid getting in the way?
The bad vibes were still hanging around, but I was his mate. His Luna. The only one for him, and he was the only one for me.
If I could forgive Tatiana, then I could totally forgive him too.
But still, the weight on my shoulders felt heavier as my thoughts raced. It had been ages since I discovered he was my mate.
A while back.
I just let the tears flow; it had been so long since I cried like this.
I stumbled upon love in the most unexpected place… right there in front of me all along. In my own crew.
We had been through so much. We had evolved. And now, here we were.
And I still loved him.
…
Percival
I had been thinking about her thoughts lately. It felt like ages since I felt what was on her mind, a long time since she let her guard down.
Now, she was in tears.
It really bummed me out to see her in pain. I wanted nothing more than to walk back into that bathroom, scoop her soaking wet self out of the tub, and hold her tight—never wanting to let go.
She was upset, with all those memories swirling around in her head. But my commitment to her, the tattoo on my skin, my words—it was pure, unfiltered love for her. A wake-up call.
She still thought about Darius, about how much it hurt to find out who he really was—the guy she never knew, the one I had taken out. She still thought about how I had let her down.
But at least she was open to chatting. I could share how my wolf had been acting up—something I was sure she understood, especially since her brother was dealing with it now. I could tell her about how my wolf had absorbed the strength from my other side. She knew I had a rough time.
If I had met her as my mate earlier, if Anita hadn’t butted in, we’d be happily mated by now.
But everything clicked when it was supposed to. The moon was totally on board with this, clearing out the bad vibes from my crew.
After I stripped off the old sheets and put on some fresh ones, I noticed the bed frame was a goner. The left post at the foot of the bed was totally wrecked. I let out a sigh, grabbed a dumbbell, and lifted the bed to get it propped up.
It’ll do for now.
As I strolled around the room, tidying up the mess we had created, I decided the drywall debris could wait until tomorrow.
My wolf was stoked. I was stoked. Maxim... that sneaky wolf. He never mentioned he was bringing her along, just said he was swinging by for a visit. She had been around for four months, training with the beasts—the wild ones.
My adorable little troublemaker.
I caught a whiff of her scent before she even knocked on my door. At first, I thought I was just imagining things. But when that knock came, I was sure. It was definitely her.
When she swung the door open after I invited her in, that sweet honeysuckle scent hit me like a wave. It was unforgettable. I shut my eyes, soaking it in while facing away from her. Her voice chimed like silver bells, but there was a hint of edge to it that hadn’t been there before. Still gentle, though. I knew I was the only one who would notice the change.
When I turned to face her, her eyes got super wide, like they were about to pop out of her head, just like mine. I couldn’t help but stare at her, checking her out, appreciating her vibe.
Her face looked pretty much the same, though her cheeks were a bit sunken, making her cheekbones stand out more. Those big green eyes were still there, like a huge meadow full of clovers, with little bits of gold sprinkled in. Such a lovely burst of color. Her skin had seen some wear from all those days training in the sun, now a deeper olive tone.
I noticed everything, like how her body had filled out and the way she stood tall, carrying herself with pride.
The day she left, she had just started to put on a bit of weight after all that stress. She had been so thin, just skin and bones. But now? Now she was filled out nicely. There was muscle in all the right places. When she was naked, I couldn't help but want to touch and explore. Her body was firm but still had that softness. There was so much more to love, and she still retained that slender vibe. Honestly, she looked even more beautiful than I remembered. If that was even possible.
Before my sexual desires took over, I had noticed a few things. Her lips were super red and full, and her breasts had definitely gotten bigger, even with the weight gain. They were way more than a handful now, and I could tell they were swelling for another reason too.
Her heat. It was on the way.
Her hips had a nice width, and her thighs were soft and curvy. And that ass? Wow, even my big hands couldn't fully wrap around that firmness.
Her heat was about to hit any minute now. If her physical traits weren’t a dead giveaway, the sweet, euphoric scent she was giving off definitely was. I could tell she’d been sipping on some heat tea, catching those herbal notes wafting from her skin. My nose was more sensitive now that I was Alpha, so even with the tea masking it, I could still pick up on her heat. It was a scent that only I could ever recognize, no matter the circumstances.
Sighing, I tidied up the room as best as I could, then plopped down on the edge of the bed, burying my head in my hands.
I really wished this was easier.
I really wished we could just hit the reset button and act like everything was cool, but we both knew that wasn’t the case. She’d had plenty of time to reflect on everything—on us. Yet, it seemed like she just wanted to forget it all. I knew I had to let her take her time, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t be ready to step back in, hoping she would welcome me back with open arms.
Just holding her, carrying her to the tub, the way she cuddled into me... Inhaling my scent, every fiber of my being was screaming that she was mine, that I could kiss her freely. But that wasn't the reality we were in.
But she was on board too—no more running.
At that moment, the bathroom door creaked open, revealing Edeline. She stood there, dripping wet, wrapped in a cozy white towel that playfully brushed against the soft curves of her thighs.
"Edeline." I frowned slightly, noticing her limp, a reminder of the marks I had left on her skin. The claw and teeth marks made my protective instincts flare. "Why didn’t you call for me? You really shouldn’t be walking around."