Chapter 116 LINGERING POISON
Nixx
"Hey there, angel. How’s Percival been treating you?" Conor greeted her warmly, but his words were laced with an undertone that only heightened the tension. Tatiana timidly approached, her eyes wide with fear. I was shocked, my mouth slightly agape at the sight of her.
She hadn’t known he was coming.
Anita, usually so composed, now wore an expression of fear and uncertainty.
They were scared of him.
"Um, I’m alright, I suppose. What brings you here?" Tatiana’s voice was soft, almost like a child’s. The fear in her eyes was unmistakable, and despite my anger, a part of me wanted to comfort her. But the memory of her betrayal kept that urge firmly in check.
"Well, darling," Alpha Conor said, embracing her while his eyes shifted to Anita, who forced a smile. "Alpha William informed me that you’ve found your mate. Surprising, though, that he’s not an Alpha... although," his gaze flicked to me, "from what I’ve seen, he might as well be."
I felt a surge of anger at the backhanded compliment, but I kept my expression controlled, my eyes narrowing slightly.
"Take it easy," Conor chuckled, releasing Tatiana, who looked at me with a desperate, pleading expression. "No offense intended... just an observation. You’ve got the presence of an Alpha, that’s all. Every summer, young Alphas come to my land to train, and you outshine many of them." He smiled, his teeth bared in a way that was more predatory than friendly.
I looked down, forcing myself to hold back, to avoid a confrontation.
"This is my son," my dad said, his deep voice resonating as he stepped beside me, placing a protective arm around my shoulders. "We appreciate the kind words."
"Hmm. No problem, no offense. Just an observation," Conor said dismissively. Then, turning to Alpha William, he added, "So... shall we start discussing business, William?" He deliberately dropped the title, a subtle show of disrespect. Alpha William’s eyes narrowed briefly, but he maintained his composure.
"Sure, Conor. Come with me." He gestured toward the house, a tight smile on his face.
As they moved inside, I couldn’t help but wish Edeline were here to witness what was about to unfold.
She would be shocked, maybe even impressed.
…
Edeline
I was feeling restless.
Well, "antsy" didn't quite capture how I was feeling.
I had been stuck in this hospital bed since last night. Sure, I was all patched up, but the poison still lingered in my body. I could sense my wolf now, which was pretty cool, though she lacked her usual strength.
At least I could sense her with me.
As I gazed at the darkened sky, I noticed a rain cloud swiftly moving above, blocking the sun’s rays from touching everything around. It looked like a storm was on the way.
I let my thoughts wander. Thinking back to what happened last night, I couldn't help but remember how scared and powerless I felt. It was a sensation I hoped to never experience again—feeling like I had no control. It made me feel like just a regular person, and I hated that.
A lump formed in my throat, and I felt tears welling up, but I quickly brushed them aside. I just couldn't deal with those emotions right now. I was really struggling with them, like my brain refused to cooperate. It kept shutting down on me, only concerned with the truth and nothing else. I felt... off.
I couldn't believe what Darius had done to me.
He really came close to...
"Edeline?" A voice called out, hoarse and uncertain, from behind the curtain that separated me from Mirabelle. She was still asleep from the effects of the poison, or at least, she had been.
My heart skipped a beat. I pushed my thoughts aside, quickly jumped out of bed, and pulled back the curtain. Relief washed over me as I saw Mirabelle's vibrant green eyes looking up at me, alive and full of light. I let out a shaky breath, my eyes scanning every part of her bare skin, making sure she was okay.
"Mirabelle! You're finally up! Oh my goodness, you had me so worried!" My heart raced as I rushed to her side and wrapped her in a tight embrace. She let out a small groan and shifted to make more space for me on the bed. I had to remind myself that she had been in a deep sleep for a few days.
Tears welled up again, this time from relief, and I quickly brushed them away. "I’m so relieved you’re alright... that poison was meant for me, not you. Somehow, Anita tampered with the herbal tea you got for me." I sniffled, trying to keep my emotions in check. Mirabelle’s eyes widened as if something suddenly clicked in her mind.
"Edeline... um... it wasn't Anita," she said, her voice still rough from days of silence.
Her words threw me off. "What do you mean, it wasn’t Anita? She’s the one who has the herbs."
Mirabelle sighed, rubbing her temples as if trying to ease the confusion. "It was Darius. If it was in those tea bags... it was Darius. He gave them to me to give to you..." She hesitated, her voice trailing off. "He mentioned that the healer made them. I assumed he meant Daisy... but what if he didn’t know? It must have been Anita who made them... but how could Darius not suspect her if she asked him to pass them on to me for you? I mean, I understand he might have been embarrassed to give them to you directly, considering it was for your heat... but how could he be so unaware? Anita really dislikes you!" Her eyes darted around the room as she tried to piece everything together.
I thought I might have some answers to her questions. "Darius has been acting a bit off lately, Mirabelle," I confessed quietly, my gaze fixed on the floor. "He came at me last night and the night before... but last night... he... he did something to my wolf so I couldn't reach her. He nearly claimed and bonded with me... if Percival and Nixx hadn't arrived just in time..." I swallowed hard, feeling the bitterness rising in my throat, but I refused to let the tears spill from my eyes.