Chapter 91 BRIGHT. GORGEOUS. FULL OF LIGHT.
Edeline
I could think about transferring out, letting him take over both packs with Tatiana and the pup who might not survive. Maybe it’d be better if I wasn’t involved anymore.
I wished they had felt the pain they deserved.
Standing in the treehouse, I let go of the emotions that had been consuming me for months. I channeled my anger into a fierce determination, burning away the remnants of hurt.
I felt completely numb.
And not in a bad way. I felt utterly indifferent to anything related to Percival. I had completely lost interest. I’m sorry, but I just can’t right now.
“Hey, Wolf,” I murmured, “I really hope you’re doing well and feeling happy.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle, my laughter sounding a bit unhinged as I leaned back and rubbed my mark with a shudder of disgust.
I’m young, with plenty of time ahead of me. Now, it’s my turn to not care at all.
I left abruptly, a sense of finality in my stride.
Percival won’t get another chance. He’s permanently out of my life, and I desperately needed a new perspective.
Clutching the folded letter, I climbed down from the treehouse with renewed determination. He wouldn’t get anything more from me, ever again.
Feeling liberated, I strolled down the mountain path with a carefree attitude, unconcerned about any onlookers catching sight of my bare self. My gaze was fixed ahead, my mind wandering to the person I longed to confide in.
It’s time to start a fresh chapter in my life...
…
Bright. Gorgeous. Full of light.
I couldn’t help but be captivated by the gold locket nestled inside the beautifully crafted wooden box Percival had made for me. It seemed to mock me, sitting there so innocently.
Given its worth, I thought about just throwing it away. But as I stared out the window, I found myself clutching those precious memories, unable to let them go. Memories that were now relics of the past. The girl who used to be so hopeful had turned cynical, hardened by a world that seemed to deliver nothing but disappointments.
Still, tossing something so lovely felt like such a waste…
Maybe I could give it to Tatiana instead. I could tell her it was a gift from Percival and suggest trading my green stone for a murky brown one that would match her eyes.
With a sigh, I carefully placed the carved lid back on the box, making sure to secure the tiny latch. No matter how I felt about him, I realized I couldn’t just get rid of the gift he gave me. It was too intertwined with a moment of light in an otherwise dark storm.
They say that the emotions that hit you hardest... the ones that linger... those are the ones that change you. And I believe that, I really do.
Before Percival came into my life, I was spontaneous, carefree, always stumbling into some new adventure. But the night Hurricane Tatiana stepped out of that truck with him, it was like I could physically feel my heart breaking.
Yeah, it happened. I spent weeks miserable, lonely, crying myself to sleep every night. Then one day, it started to get better. Percival and I began spending more time together, and for a while, I allowed myself to feel hopeful again. But it was always too good to be true. I kept telling myself I wouldn’t let it happen again, but somehow, it always did. My wolf was marked, and everything changed. Now, I can’t even stand the thought of seeing him. I don’t want to hear his voice or catch a whiff of his scent when he’s nearby.
I’ve felt emotions so deeply… they lifted me up, only to crush me, stealing my sense of self along the way.
I’ve changed.
I’m not that carefree, joyful girl who used to play pranks on the other wolves anymore. Now, I’m the one with a distant look in her eyes, haunted by an agony that’s left scars on my soul. I’m just here now… indifferent to everything and everyone. My life will only bloom if I keep my distance from what could’ve been.
And I’m okay with that.
Realizing I didn’t want Percival anymore was such a relief. I’ve decided not to let his chaotic life touch mine anymore. I’m glad he was honest about not wanting to see me. I’m glad he’s committed to doing right by Tatiana. It gave me the resolve I needed to truly hate him.
I closed the bedside table drawer, deciding to store this memory where memories belong—enclosed in a container. I kept it at the top of my closet, alongside all the other mementos I’ve gathered over the years.
As I carefully shut the lid of the box, I balanced on my tiptoes to place it back on the shelf. But before I could finish, the front door downstairs swung open, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps racing up the stairs and down the hall toward my room.
The scent of Mirabelle filled the air.
She burst into my room without knocking, finding me standing in front of my closet with a neutral expression. Letting out a sigh of relief, she slammed the door shut behind her, her eyes wide with disbelief as they met mine. She hurried over, a slight frown creasing her brow as I casually closed the closet door.
“What on earth was that? Edeline, you know the Alpha won’t take kindly to your actions! The consequences could be severe—possibly as harsh as being chained to a pole!” Her voice was sharp, filled with panic that grated on my nerves.
She stared at me, arms crossed, waiting for an explanation.
I sighed, the weariness clear in my tone. “I really don’t care anymore, Mirabelle. But it’s not going to happen. You’re just being overly dramatic,” I dismissed, sitting on the edge of my bed and inspecting my toenail polish. I had a plan.
Usually, when my wolf made me lose control, I’d be a wreck—anxious, overwhelmed, finding a place to hide and waiting in terror for what would come next.