Chapter 107 UNDER THE MOON’S GAZE
Edeline
I stood frozen, my hand slipping from the doorknob as I stared at him from across the room. My eyes felt heavy with exhaustion, my clothes wrinkled, and my hair was pulled into a messy bun atop my head.
"What are you apologizing for now, Percival?" My voice came out cold, devoid of sympathy. My mind felt detached, even as my body hummed with conflicting emotions. I wanted to smother that handsome face of his—make him understand what it felt like to suffer.
He stood up from his chair, the only other wolf in the room being Doc, who had retreated to his office with his meatball sub. I watched as Percival walked toward me, tears streaming down his prominent cheekbones, making no attempt to hide them.
"Stop." I raised my hands in front of me as he approached, my voice firm, insistent. And he did. He stopped three feet away, looking like a lost little boy with that sorrowful expression.
"Edeline... I had no idea you were serious when you mentioned Mirabelle... and Anita poisoning her. I spoke to my father... and he told me it was actually meant for... for you." His voice cracked, his eyes narrowing as he struggled to get the words out.
I felt a pang of empathy for him, knowing the pain he was going through. His wolf was there, sharing the fear of losing its mate. It tore him apart inside.
"Yeah," I murmured quietly before turning abruptly, flinging the door open, and striding out, leaving Percival behind. I could feel his eyes on me, watching until the door closed, shutting me out of his view.
I walked quickly down the dirt road, each step feeling heavier than the last. The sun was setting, casting a dark shadow over the landscape. Crossing my arms tightly over my chest, I kept moving, my heels sinking into the dusty ground with every step. A wave of anguish washed over me—the pain of his wolf. I could feel it, his wolf crying out, baring its soul to mine.
But I felt a strange sense of accomplishment... I was keeping the bond at bay, refusing to let it weaken me or draw me into its irresistible pull.
He kissed her. That moment will forever be etched in my mind.
As I turned the corner and headed towards my house, I noticed how quickly darkness had fallen. The streetlights flickered on, their soft glow cutting through the semi-darkness. There were only two along this dirt road near the lake, just enough to offer some light. The sky had deepened to a rich navy, with traces of the moon and the last remnants of the sunset. The trees lining the dirt road blocked out the remaining light, casting deep shadows and creating an almost eerie atmosphere.
The only sounds accompanying my heavy breathing were the chirping of crickets and the croaking of frogs. The air was filled with their night song, but something felt off... something familiar yet tainted.
I quickened my pace, eager to reach the safety of my home. I tried to shake off the unsettling feeling creeping over me. It felt like I was being watched... and with the Witch already trying to harm me, I wasn’t about to take any chances. My wolf urged me to hurry. She felt it too, and she did not like it one bit.
Finally, I spotted my house with the porch light on, a wave of relief washing over me. I stepped onto the cobblestone sidewalk, dismissing the unease. But just as I was about to relax, I stopped dead in my tracks, my eyes widening as I sensed a presence behind me.
Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed my arm, yanking me back just as my feet touched the cobblestone path.
My heart pounded in my chest as I whipped my head around, locking eyes with a pair of intense golden orbs. A low growl rumbled from his chest.
I gasped in terror as I recognized Darius, his wolf-like gaze cutting right through me. It wasn’t just the usual intense look a wolf gives when peering into your human soul... He was shifting, but only partially. I had never seen anyone, not even him, look at me like that. It was as if he was channeling the raw power of a wolf, using its strength and ferocity to his advantage.
Panic surged through me as I tried to pull my arm free. “Darius, you’re hurting me,” I warned, my voice laced with fear. He was close to unleashing his wolf, and I needed him to understand that before it was too late.
As I growled in warning, his eyes blazing, his hand—now tipped with sharp, black claws—dug into my skin. I gasped in horror as a powerful blow struck my face, plunging me into the darkness that had become all too familiar lately.
Though barely conscious, I felt myself relax completely, but I never hit the ground. Instead, I was lifted, cradled, and carried into the quiet woods across the street.
...
I felt an immense weight on my head, like heavy objects pressing down on me. There was intense pressure behind my eyes, as if they might explode. I sighed with discomfort, rolling onto my side and wincing as I reached up to touch my head, trying to recall what happened.
Suddenly, everything came rushing back...
Darius.
I jolted awake, a throbbing headache pounding in my skull. My heart raced, panic setting in as I quickly scanned my surroundings, desperately looking for any sign of him.
It was pitch dark.
I realized one side of my face felt swollen and tender. Injured. I tried to push past the pain, my fear growing as I remembered how Darius had hurt me. He was someone who wanted to cause me even more harm. I knew that. He had made his intentions clear on several occasions.
I struggled to kneel, my movements shaky as I tried to hide my rising panic. My eyes darted around, searching for any clues. The dim light barely illuminated my surroundings, but I could tell I was still outside, surrounded by the dense greenery of the forest. The strong scent of Jasmine filled the air, helping me pinpoint my location. I was close to Doc's place, not too far away.