Chapter 65 ENDGAME
Edeline
I pulled back a bit, our eyes locking. "Maybe that’s the only reason, Nixx. It could be because he’s an Alpha. Did William, as the Alpha, tell you not to talk to her?"
A sly grin tugged at the corner of his lips, like he just pieced something together. "Uh... yeah, he didn’t."
I smiled. "So, like, you can totally do whatever you want." But my smile faded as I thought it over. "Hey, what's your endgame here? Are you really trying to make everything disappear so you can be with her? Even if she's hiding some deep, dark secrets?"
"I don't know, Edeline," he admitted, his voice low and uncertain. "I’m not sure what I feel... I just have this weird desire to see their relationship fall apart. It’s not that I actually want her, but there’s something that stirs in me when I catch her scent or see her. She’s different somehow... I don’t know if I could ever really accept her. But I need to uncover the truth."
I gave him a small, understanding smile and nodded. "Well, I guess you'll get the chance to talk to her. Really get inside her head."
But honestly, I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. This was the woman who had completely messed up my life... and now my brother was married to her. The thought of him wanting to be with her tore at me. A tight knot of anxiety twisted in my stomach as I considered the possibility that Nixx might actually want her, despite what he’d said. I just hoped he would stay sharp.
"Thanks, sis. You know, for someone so young, you really do give great advice," he said with a grin, flashing his pearly white teeth. He leaned down and planted a gentle kiss on my forehead before heading upstairs, disappearing from sight.
I realized I was hungry, but the thought of eating made my stomach turn. I still had that letter in my pocket too. I needed to make sure it got where it needed to go before dinner. My mind was buzzing with questions, each one gnawing at me, making me feel more and more uneasy.
I’m starting to piece things together... but it’s hard to think straight when I’m feeling like this.
A sudden knock at the door jolted me out of my thoughts, sending a rush of nervous energy through me. Furrowing my brow, I went to open it. We weren’t expecting anyone...
When I opened the door, my heart practically skipped a beat. Butterflies fluttered wildly in my stomach, and I could feel my heart racing, like it was about to burst out of my chest. I was overwhelmed by a mix of emotions—confusion, relief, and excitement all at once.
"Mirabelle," I whispered.
...
I just stood there, staring. I couldn’t help but be captivated by the blonde-haired, green-eyed woman standing at my front door. Mirabelle—one of my closest friends since we were pups.
“Mirabelle,” I breathed, my eyes widening as I found myself frozen in place. It felt like time had stopped, but slowly, a sense of joy seeped into my previously numb self, like a weight being lifted from my chest.
She flashed that brilliant smile of hers, her bright red lips curving upward. “Hey, don’t just stand there! Come here and give me a hug!” She didn’t wait for a response, pulling me into a tight embrace with such force that our chests collided. I inhaled her familiar scent as our cheeks brushed, and a smile spread across my face as I wrapped my arms around her.
“Great to see you! But... how did you get here?” I asked, still processing her sudden appearance. She held me at arm’s length, giving me a playful once-over, her smirk widening to reveal her pearly whites.
“Well, I just finished my seer training, and now I have to intern with the pack oracle until I get my credentials,” she announced with a big grin. “So, that means...”
I couldn’t help but smile back. “So, you’re sticking around?”
She nodded, her grin growing even wider. “Yeah! And we’re gonna have a blast. It’s been a while since I last saw you. Two years, to be precise.” She breezed past me, plopping down on my couch like she’d never been away. I shut the door, taking a moment to really take her in. She’s changed so much—there’s this mysterious, alluring vibe about her now. She was rocking ripped dark denim skinnies paired with red leather wedge booties. Her Ramones t-shirt had been cut into a tank top, with a peek of her red bra showing under the sleeves. Oh, and she had a new tattoo. She wasn’t exactly fitting the mold of a typical oracle...
Mirabelle has always been someone who does things her own way, never one to worry about rules or expectations. When she turned 17, after her first shift, she discovered her ability to see things—visions. And the very next month, she was all in, determined to master her newfound power. And now, here she is... I’m 19 and about to start my own journey as an oracle.
“So, it seems like you’ve had your first shift,” she observed, her eyes studying me closely. “Have you found your mate? Is it someone from the pack? You know, I had a vision about it, but it didn’t turn out well, so I’m not sure if I got it right because there’s no chance that you would be—”
“So, I’m mated to Percival, huh?” I cut her off, plopping down next to her, the memories of those first few weeks flooding back. It had been a complete nightmare.
Mirabelle’s expression shifted, a flicker of unease in her eyes as she glanced at me. “Oops... Edeline, my bad...”
I waved it off casually, not wanting to dwell on it. I leaned closer to her, my curiosity piqued. “Hey, I’m more interested in your training! Where did you get to go?”
With a nonchalant flick of her hand, Mirabelle brushed her long, curled blonde hair to one side and rolled her eyes. "Nowhere exciting, that's for sure. Can you believe they actually imposed a curfew? When I was at the Oracle Scrying Association in Hawaii, we had to be back every night by 9. But... I managed to find a couple of locals who threw beach parties. Of course, I couldn't resist sneaking out and joining them. The next day, I was feeling pretty rough," she chuckled, lost in the memory as I tried to picture her at a wild beach party, enjoying herself without a care.