Chapter 119 TENSE REVELATION
Edeline
Anita was also there, her fierce eyes glaring at me with clear animosity. I gave her a wide grin, even flashing my teeth this time as I winked at her.
"Well, healer, you tried to kill me. Twice. Unfortunately for you, I’m a," I said, pointing to the bold print on my shirt. Someone was really giving me some intense looks right now.
"And who’s this feisty one?" a deep voice rumbled from across the room. I glanced over and saw a man with dark hair and striking blue eyes sitting at the far end of the table. He was a big guy, with a kind of rugged, fatherly charm that caught my attention. Well, hello there, wolf! His eyes sparkled with amusement as he casually checked out my shirt, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips before his gaze settled on me. The anxious man standing behind him had the same piercing eyes as Tatiana. Her uncle, no doubt. Hey there, Beta.
I straightened up, feeling a wave of satisfaction wash over me as I responded. "Hey, I’m Edeline. Percival’s partner," I said, arching an eyebrow and flashing a playful smile. I leaned casually against the door frame, silently daring him to make a comment.
Conor’s attention shifted to Anita, who was growing visibly angrier by the second. "So, what’s the deal with you supposedly wanting to harm the girl?" he asked, his tone sharp and commanding.
Wait... He didn’t know? I was certain Tatiana had filled him in on everything... Isn’t he supposed to be in charge of all this?
"She’s the one who hurt my arm, Dad," Tatiana chimed in, her voice laced with innocence as she looked up at Conor, defending her aunt with wide, pleading eyes.
Sure... I see you, Tatiana.
A low growl escaped me as I took a step forward, my eyes locked on her. "You really got me there... tricked my wolf three times! You’re lucky you’re still breathing."
Conor’s expression darkened as he stepped toward me, anger flashing in his eyes. "Is this how my daughter is treated as a guest?! And what was this woman’s punishment for breaking a pregnant pack member’s arm, William?"
Alpha William sighed, rubbing his temples with a weary hand while my parents watched, their expressions carefully neutral. "I had my reasons for not wanting you here, Edeline..."
I met his gaze, studying him with a mix of curiosity and defiance.
"She’s completely within her rights to be here," my dad interjected, his voice firm. A proud smile tugged at my lips. I was glad he had my back on this. After all, I was involved in this whole mess. I was the only one who stood up while Annabel and my mom just stood there, silent and passive. Not very strong. They didn’t even bother to defend their own pups.
I could feel Percival’s gaze on me, warm and reassuring, before I turned my attention back to Conor. "Look, if we consider this from a different perspective, your daughter—assuming she really is your daughter—is in a situation where she had to seek refuge. It seems like you didn’t want her here initially, but now she’s here, looking for basic necessities like shelter and food. Her rights deserve to be considered in this situation."
I picked up the wolf law book from the bookshelf, quickly flipping to the page I had memorized for this exact moment. I handed it to Conor with a steady hand. "Section three. And she’s not our pack. She’s your pack. She provoked my wolf by placing my discarded underwear on the breakfast table to stir up trouble. Then she yelled at me, despite knowing she can't shift right now, and that my wolf has already tried to attack her twice. It was reckless, and that’s when my wolf finally snapped. Ever since Tatiana arrived, my once gentle wolf has been consumed by an insatiable bloodlust." I kept my face expressionless, but I could feel the shock and disbelief from everyone in the room, their eyes burning into me.
Conor’s gaze darkened as he looked down at the book. His eyes scanned the page with growing intensity, a vein in his neck bulging with anger. He snapped the book shut with a loud thud, his eyes locking onto mine with a fierce glare. The darkness in his gaze deepened as his wolf began to surface, challenging me. My dad’s warning growls rumbled through the room, shaking the walls. Conor’s beta cautiously stepped forward, watching the situation closely.
There wouldn’t be any arguments today.
Conor took his seat, his movements slow and deliberate, matching the tension in the room. "What do you mean by ‘if she is my daughter’? And why wasn’t I informed about any of this? Tatiana? Why didn’t you tell me?" His voice was sharp, his eyes boring into Tatiana, who trembled slightly under his intense gaze. She gently rubbed her belly, a feeble attempt to soothe herself, her lack of a male companion glaringly obvious.
Tatiana sniffled, tears welling up in her eyes as she let out a soft whimper. "I didn’t mean to cause any trouble, Dad," she said, avoiding his gaze. "Percival and Edeline have made it halfway through the bond... I just want to escape from here with my pup and my dignity. But every time I try, I can feel the bond growing stronger. It’s painful... I don’t want to continue anymore," she cried, tears streaming down her pale face.
Did she notice my mark on him?
She was so determined to have this pup, so desperate for Percival. But it seemed like she was finally unraveling.
I had misjudged her father... I thought he was behind all this, but if he had no idea, that just made this whole situation even sweeter. It was fascinating how no one had tried to pull me back from the brink...
The room was thick with emotion, a mix of warmth and tension, like a heavy blanket draped over everyone. But there was also a sharp undercurrent of fear... I could easily tell who was feeling it the most.