Chapter 204 RAGING FURY
Edeline
Before I could say anything more, the passenger door was ripped open, the force of it making me jump. There stood Percival, naked, his body still partially shifted, teeth bared, claws sharp as blades. His golden eyes burned into mine, his wolf raging just beneath the surface. The anger, the hurt, the betrayal—all of it was there, plain as day.
He stood there, chest heaving, muscles tense and ready to explode. His heavy breaths came out in hot, angry puffs. I could not move. I was too afraid to even breathe, terrified he would scent my fear.
My heart raced, but it wasn’t just for me. It was for Darius.
I felt a sharp pain twist in my stomach, not my own, but his. His anger coursed through our bond, radiating through me, a painful reminder of what he felt. And I knew he could feel it too, the bond whispering to him to stop, but he didn’t listen. Not yet.
Percival took a deep breath, his chest heaving before he yanked me out of the truck with a vicious grip on my arm. My body crashed into his, and he held me there, one clawed hand gripping me tightly while the other slammed the truck door shut with a deafening bang. He shoved me against the cold metal, his broad, muscled body pinning me there, looming over me like a shadow I couldn't escape. His face was so close to mine, only inches away, his wolf-like eyes burning with fury.
I stood frozen, struggling to keep my emotions in check. I refused to meet his gaze, focusing instead on his chest, just inches from me. I had never seen Percival like this before—so in control, so commanding.
My eyes traveled down his body, and that’s when I saw it. His skin was marred with scars, fresh cuts lining his chest and legs, some wounds still dripping with blood. He looked like a soldier fresh out of battle, his body torn but standing strong. The sight shook me to my core, but before I could process it, his voice—full of venom and hurt—tore through the air, shaking my bones.
"Where the fůck do you think you're going!? Were you running away from me, Edeline? What... you're leaving with Conor now!?" he spat, his voice so hot with anger it made my wolf stir inside me. She was torn—half of her wanted to calm him, to soothe his beast, but the other half was ready to fight, to keep him away from us.
I kept silent, refusing to meet his eyes, my defiance standing in the way of my fear. I didn’t flinch, didn’t react, even though inside, I was barely holding it together. My heart pounded, but my face remained unreadable.
"Say something, damnit!" he shouted, his hand slamming against the truck next to my head. The sudden movement made me flinch despite myself.
I saw the anger etched into his expression, but beneath that anger, there was something deeper—something raw and painful. His golden eyes softened for just a moment as he looked into mine, searching for something, anything. His voice lowered, trembling with emotion. "Are you leaving me?" His words were full of pain, a vulnerability I rarely saw in him. It almost broke me.
Almost.
The mate bond was strong, tugging at my heartstrings, but I fought it. He had to take care of his pack, of the pup. He hadn’t been there for me, hadn’t soothed my pain when I needed him. Why should I let him back in now?
"Yes," I whispered, my voice barely audible as I turned my head away from him, hiding my face. Please, Darius, don’t get involved, I silently begged.
Percival’s nostrils flared, his jaw clenched tight as the hurt morphed back into rage.
That’s when the sound of Conor’s door opening broke the tension, followed by his heavy boots hitting the gravel with determined steps. A low, feral growl rumbled from his chest, filling the air with a different kind of power. The Alpha wolf was making his presence known.
Percival and I both blinked, startled by the sudden shift in energy. Conor stood tall, his aura commanding respect, his eyes hard, chest puffed out as he locked eyes with Percival.
"Percival, let Edeline go." Conor’s voice was cold, authoritative, laced with the dominance of an Alpha. "It was her choice. Don’t you have a pup to take care of?" His tone wasn’t asking—it was an order.
But Percival didn’t care, not in this state. His wolf was in control now. "This doesn’t concern you!" he snapped, his voice feral, primal, like he was barely holding himself together.
Percival kept his eyes locked on Conor, a deep, warning growl vibrating through his chest. An alert. I'd be lying if I said it didn't make me feel something—something dark and thrilling. That sound sent a shiver down my legs, almost buckling my knees. But just as quickly, his attention snapped back to me, the intensity in his blue eyes making my heart ache. There was pain there, a raw, exposed wound. Blue skies met green grass as, for a brief moment, he shoved his wolf back, letting the man resurface.
He stepped away from me, his hands falling limp at his sides, and for a moment, he just stared. The bond between us flared to life, raw and unfiltered, and for the first time in a long while, we dropped our walls. I could feel everything—his heartbreak, his grief, his anger. And I knew he could feel mine too.
His eyes glistened, tears threatening but never falling. His voice cracked as he spoke, "My puppy didn’t make it. He was stillborn... because of Nixx. If he hadn’t marked Tatiana..." His voice broke into a scream. He cleared his throat, quickly straightening his back, as if the very act of showing emotion in front of Conor was too much.
I felt a flash of happiness, shameful as it was. My wolf was yipping in joy, and I hated myself for it. While part of me hurt deeply for him, another part... reveled in it. My guilt stabbed through me, cold and sharp.