Chapter 60 JUST A KID
Edeline
“Hey, Edeline, I’ve got some errands to run outside the pack today. I’ll be heading into human territory, so I’ll be away for a bit. I’ve left breakfast out, so just put it away if there’s any left,” she said, avoiding eye contact.
What on earth could she be up to in the middle of nowhere on a lazy Saturday? “Mom. Love you.”
She finally lifted her gaze and looked deeply into my eyes. “I love you too, Edeline. Just hang in there and be patient. I have a feeling everything will work out for you, whether it’s with Percival or someone else who brings you happiness. Tell your brother I love him dearly. I’ll have a one-on-one conversation with him later.” Her eyes were filled with tears, a sign of how stressed she’d been lately. With a soft smile, I gave a nod of agreement before heading upstairs.
I lightly knocked on Nixx’s door. “Hey, Nixx, can you open up?”
From inside, I heard him sigh, shuffle some sheets, and then the door creaked open. He peeked through with one tired eye and hair sticking out in all directions. “Want some bacon for breakfast?”
“Oh, yeah. It’s downstairs. Mom’s heading out for the day. She says she loves you and wants to have a one-on-one conversation with you later. Let me in,” I said, raising my eyebrows and crossing my arms over my chest.
He sighed again, threw his head back in a dramatic gesture, and opened the door wider for me. He seemed to have grown since the last time I saw him—no doubt about it. He was already huge when he came home, but now he looked even bigger. Working out and fighting non-stop for four months must have taken its toll.
“Thanks.” I glanced at him before strolling inside and flopping down onto his bed. The room smelled strongly of whiskey and earth, making me scrunch up my nose. “Hey, Nixxolas! Didn’t have time to shower before hitting the hay? What were you up to? Did you have a wild night, sipping whiskey from a dog bowl while in your wolf form? You know, dogs can’t handle alcohol too well, and I—”
“Edeline, you’re quite the know-it-all,” he grumbled, climbing into bed next to me and stretching out. I couldn’t help but smirk. I let out a dramatic sigh and propped myself up on my elbow. I felt surprisingly good, better than I had in weeks. It was that odd honeymoon phase—except there’s no honey and no moon… just me, a solitary wolf.
“So, let me get this straight, Nixx. You got a little tipsy and decided to go for a run? Or am I missing something here?”
Out of nowhere, a pillow flew at me.
“Nah, I got drunk afterwards, you know.”
I rolled my eyes. “Wow, you’re really being harsh. But hey, let’s talk, Nixx. I’m curious about what went down. How are you holding up? What did she say to you?”
He turned to face me, his expression serious. “So, you’re saying that after you attempted to tear her throat out?” He turned his back to me casually, leaving me stunned and with my mouth hanging open in disbelief.
“Are you really giving me a hard time about that!? Seriously, Nixx!!! It was my wolf, and why are you implying it like that? You’re my brother, and she’s carrying my mate’s baby! Nixx! Are you actually interested in her?? She’s unpleasant!” I said, my voice rising. I wasn’t yelling yet, but I was getting close.
Nixx sat up, clearly frustrated. “I don’t know what to feel, okay? But whether it was your wolf or not, you almost killed a pregnant woman. And you’re just a kid!” His green eyes burned with anger.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Are you kidding me? Seriously? I can’t believe this. During the meeting, you were against Tatiana, and now… Nixx, I’m your sister! Remember what you said at the bonfire about protecting me? And now you’ve switched sides? It’s too late, Nixx. She won’t be on your side anymore. It’s too late for both of us!” I yelled, getting up on my knees, my frustration boiling over.
He shut his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm down. I was still seething, feeling utterly betrayed. “Wow, I can’t believe he said that to me…” I thought. “Don’t accuse me like that… Maybe lean towards supporting her.” I felt a pang of guilt. “Yeah, you’re right… I’m sorry,” he mumbled, his head drooping in shame. I could see the weight of his words and realized I was partly to blame.
I sighed, running my fingers through his hair. “It’s alright,” I said softly. “Hey, can we just talk?”
He plopped back down on the bed, his feet dangling off the edge as he turned to face me. “So, I took her to Doc’s last night. I waited there for a bit. The doc said she and the baby would be fine. Then Percival showed up, asked about the baby, and left.”
My complexion lightened a bit. Percival had totally lied to me…
“So, after she got patched up, just so you know, you narrowly missed hitting her artery by a few centimeters. I stayed until everyone left because she was staying overnight for the Doc to keep an eye on her. I went into her room, and she wouldn’t make eye contact, but I could sense her reactions. Her wolf was curious, I could feel it. Even her skin got goosebumps where my gaze landed. She wouldn’t speak until I reminded her it was an order. Unless she wanted to defy the alpha, she better start talking. That’s when she finally looked at me. I felt it, Edeline. I felt what you feel with Percival, and now I understand why it’s so difficult,” he paused, glancing down at his hands. I gently placed my hand on his arm, rubbing it comfortingly.
“I asked her if she wanted to know who her mate was before all this happened. She said she never wanted one, thinking it would only lead to heartbreak. That’s why she was relieved she never met her mate. It’s also why she panicked when we discovered we were mates. She said we couldn’t be together, even if she wasn’t destined to mate with Percival, because I’m not an alpha born.” His eyes were filled with sadness, reflecting the weight of the situation.