Chapter 176 SISTERLY ADVICE
Edeline
He loosened his grip slightly, just enough to pull back and look at me, his eyes pleading. "Just reach out to her soon. She’s eager to talk whenever you’re ready. It should be a private conversation, just the two of you, to reconcile. And I apologize for Percival’s behavior. As a man, I understand his possessiveness and protective instincts towards his pup, especially if he feels the pup might be in danger. But as your big brother, I have this overwhelming urge to confront him. I’m struggling to control these intense emotions, Edeline," he said hoarsely, his face still buried in my hair as he held me tightly.
A whirlwind of emotions surged within me. I felt like crying right here and now, the weight of everything pressing down on me. Why would I bother giving Tatiana any of my time? After all she did, after she betrayed all of us by begging Conor to take her back, I couldn’t see why I should.
"So, what happens if she ends up with the pup, Nixx?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. The connection between us stirred in my mind, and I knew Percival was listening, though he remained silent.
Nixx’s body tensed, his hold on me tightening. "I don’t know, Edeline. I guess I’m hoping it doesn’t happen, but I can’t turn her away if it does. But if she does have a connection with Percival, then you and I will be the ones to suffer. Sometimes, I think it’s not worth it, but my wolf disagrees. He would deal with it."
His words caught me off guard. A true Alpha would never let this happen. The thought of another male’s pup from their mate was something I could never handle.
I frowned, the weight of the situation bearing down on me. "She ran to Conor, Nixx. After discovering that you’re an Alpha, she went to him and pleaded for him to take her back. She even told him about you being the firstborn... he even approached us about taking her back, Nixx! You were there! He wants to get rid of her pup!" My fists clenched at my sides, frustration bubbling up inside me.
Nixx shook his head, his expression conflicted. "Nah, she didn’t. She didn’t go to him."
I raised an eyebrow, challenging him. "Well then, who did?"
He licked his dry lips, hesitating before speaking. "I heard from the other Beta that Tatiana was taken to her cabin and put under house arrest during their family feud. It was during this time that she mysteriously vanished after their father transformed into a wolf. Conor, realizing he needed an heir for his pack, made the decision on his own. Conor doesn’t have any other children, but Tatiana refused his offer."
This threw me off. Did she really say no?
Nixx pulled away slightly to look at me, his eyes searching mine. "Hey, Edeline," he began, his tone more serious. "We’ve heard the story of you and Percival getting together. He spilled all the details. And, well, he also mentioned how Anita played a little trick on both of you..." His expression grew somber. "I get it, you couldn’t really control the heat or the bond. I don’t blame you. Actually, I’m kind of glad you got what you deserved in a way, even though I really want to teach that guy a lesson for leaving you hanging all this time. I’ve been dealing with him non-stop for the past three days because his wolf won’t let him leave his pup. He’s torn between wanting to come to you and being afraid that he won’t be there if his pup dies. But still, I can’t help but feel like giving that guy a hard time."
This last part, the way he said it, actually made me chuckle a bit, despite everything.
"I feel like tearing him apart for being in that room with her," Nixx confessed, his voice trembling with barely contained fury. "But William is trying to keep me grounded. He wants me to understand that the pup belongs to Percival, not me... But I’m just so angry about everything, especially the way he left you, even if he does feel guilty."
Oh, so he actually feels guilty about leaving me alone? That’s good to know.
Nixx’s expression grew serious as he gently tilted my chin, making me look into his eyes. "Edeline... You’re not... Are you pregnant by any chance?"
The question caught me off guard, and I couldn’t hide my surprise. My eyes widened, and I pursed my lips as I tried to process what he was asking. "I... I’m not sure yet. I’ve got some time left before I’m supposed to start bleeding." My voice faltered, and as I spoke, I saw the worry deepen in his eyes. His face dropped along with mine, and before I knew it, he had pulled me into a tight embrace, his anger simmering just beneath the surface.
"If he dares to challenge me for the title, I can’t guarantee that my wolf won’t try to take him down. Yeah, we’re brothers," he said through clenched teeth, his eyes staring off into the distance as if he were already imagining the battle.
A sudden rush of fear washed over me, my instincts flaring up, urging me to fight back against this perceived threat. My wolf stirred, ready to defend, but I quickly pushed those emotions aside. Despite Nixx’s heated words, I knew deep down that my brother would never harm me. His anger was real, but his love for me was stronger.
"Nixx," I whispered softly, trying to draw him back to the present.
"Yeah?" he replied, his voice still thick with tension.
I looked up at his tall, imposing figure, my curiosity and concern mingling. "Despite everything that’s going on," I began, choosing my words carefully, "there’s so much drama... but you should probably patch things up with Mirabelle. She’s been in love with you for as long as you can remember. She’s done a good job hiding it, but you kind of hurt her feelings, even though she understood it was a one-time thing. Why don’t you go see her?" I pleaded with my eyes, hoping he would listen.