Chapter 51 SEEPING INTO YOUR SOUL
Edeline
He looked down at the ground. “I was hoping we could just hang out one more time, if that’s okay with you. Just to talk,” he said, his voice heavy with sadness. I looked up and saw his blue eyes shimmering under the full moon, his expression hopeful. I couldn’t quite describe the need radiating from him.
He always has a way of convincing me. “Sure,” I said reluctantly. “But don’t you even care about my feelings, Percival?”
He gave me a disapproving look, mixed with a hint of surprise. “Are you serious, Edeline? Of course I care. We might not be bonded, but I feel it when you’re hurting. Those waves of nausea you sometimes get… they’re not just your own. They’re my feelings seeping into your soul too,” he said, his voice tinged with pain.
I pondered his words...
He’d even told the entire pack he preferred me over Tatiana. But, like Nixx had said...
“Hey, Percival, did you seriously not feel her warmth?”
His eyes locked onto mine, and the pain in them made my heart ache even more. I felt guilty, like I was dragging him down. “No, I didn’t. We were just hanging out until it suddenly hit her. And I’ll admit, it hit me too. My wolf and I were all set to wait… for you. But when it happened, we couldn’t hold back.”
My mind spun with a million thoughts...
Should I just give in? Should we give him another night? Are we really just saying goodbye? Maybe a chat wouldn’t be so bad, right? Just a simple conversation, nothing more.
I mumbled my words, almost too soft to hear. Whenever he was near, my heartache seemed to fade, if only temporarily.
Again, I told myself.
One more time.
Just one more chance to spend time with him—that’s all I was asking for. I could use a break for my heart.
With a bittersweet smile, he lifted himself off the ground and settled onto the grass, tucking his legs in. I couldn’t help but admire his physique. Those muscles—impressive and tantalizing—were impossible to ignore. And I noticed the lingering sign of excitement from our close encounter with the wolves. I was so relieved it was dark because I was sure my face was burning red.
Our eyes met, and I quickly looked away, feeling a rush of embarrassment for being caught.
He chuckled at my shyness. “Hey, Edeline…” he said, still laughing a little. “It’s a bit tricky when you’re sitting here, bare, next to your partner.” His laughter made me giggle too.
I felt a wave of relaxation wash over me. I hadn’t felt this happy in a long time. He was here, hanging out with me, and those emotions that stirred within me were almost overwhelming. That body shock, the feelings—it was all a distraction I enjoyed.
“Uh, well…” I murmured, unable to resist sneaking a glance at his body beneath my lashes. He was quite the sight.
“Hey, Edeline, no need to be shy. Feel free to look. We’re close friends, after all. Even if we can’t be together right now, I’ll always be here for you. Take your time to get to know me better. And honestly, I can’t help but be captivated by you. I won’t deny it—my eyes are always on you, even if it doesn’t seem like it.” He flashed a charming grin, his handsome face almost too perfect. He was, without a doubt, the most attractive guy I’d ever laid eyes on.
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at his bluntness, though a surge of confidence bubbled up inside me.
So, I took another glance.
“Hey, Percival. Got any spare clothes lying around? Because I’m not planning on spending the whole evening sitting here in the buff,” I said, doing my best to suppress a smirk.
His face softened, and his hand brushed gently against my cheek. “You look even better with a smile,” he said, smiling back at me. “Let’s go.” He stood up, reached for my hand, and pulled me to my feet.
I wasn’t embarrassed. I didn’t even bother trying to hide. I could feel his gaze lingering on my skin, but I just let him look. He led me to the treehouse on the other side of the clearing. When we reached the ladder, he flashed me a friendly smile. I chuckled, shaking my head with a grin as I hoisted myself up each step. I could feel his eyes fixed on my exposed backside until we were inside the treehouse.
He gave me a once-over, nibbling on his lip in a way that made my heart race. I was so pumped! After a moment, he casually walked over to a chest and tossed a large t-shirt in my direction without even looking.
“Hey, put that on. Or, you know what, don’t,” he said, turning to give me a piercing look while nibbling his lip again. “But you might want to,” he added with a mischievous smile that caught my eye, distracting me from the excitement that was practically bubbling out of me as I pulled on the shirt. It was the perfect length, reaching my upper thighs.
After throwing on some basketball shorts and the t-shirt, I watched him casually spray a masking scent around the treehouse. Then he strolled over to the mattress and flopped down near the edge, leaving the side closest to the wall open. He glanced over at me, hand outstretched, waiting for me to make a move.
Maybe it wasn’t the best idea to hop on the mattress with him...
Nothing’s going to happen, I told myself. The masking spray should do its job. Still, being this close to him got me all worked up. The thought of not seeing him for a while made me a little sad. Maybe I shouldn’t dig myself into a bigger mess... It’s just going to get worse.
It was really hard to resist the temptation.
“Hey, Edeline, relax a bit. Let’s just chill together. Come join me for a chat and a cuddle. It’s our last chance before we can’t be together anymore. Please come over here,” he said, his eyes filled with longing, their color shifting to a gentle blue.