Chapter 213 FADING BOND
Edeline
I felt his regret and sorrow. Maybe I should let him experience my feelings. See what he has done to me. But honestly, I was not keen on reopening those walls. I did not want to experience the intensity of his emotions or his thoughts. As we kept driving, it felt like our newly formed mate bond was fading away, just like a lousy Wi-Fi signal.
I really hope I never have to encounter him again. I cannot stand him. He is a real beast.
My wolf, on the other hand, already missed him. She understood his actions but was still really angry. She was grieving the loss of her pack member—a buddy of hers. Considering everything he had accomplished, she truly missed her mate.
I could not help but feel a sense of disgust, which was directed at her. She seemed to whimper in response.
She was upset and expressed her disappointment when we found out we were not pregnant. We do not want that creature.
“Hey, how are you doing?” Conor’s deep voice broke the silence. I looked up at him with my tired eyes, feeling that emptiness inside me.
“I am feeling down. Emotionally detached. Like a shell. Relieved to be away from that crazy person. I am also disappointed in this tattoo.” I brushed my hair aside so he could see it. My wolf growled at the words inside my head. “My friend is a bit of a crazy character.” My words were feeble, but I could not help but feel a twinge in my chest when I said them.
The ache in my stomach could not compare to the pain in my heart.
He gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white against the leather. There was a hint of pain in his eyes as he stared at the open road ahead. “Edeline, things happen for a reason. Darius passed away with a purpose. The moon does not make errors.” His voice was gentle, almost as if he were recalling his own personal loss.
I felt a surge of anger bubbling up inside me. I shot him a fierce glare. “Why would his death even matter? He was just a decent wolf!” My voice was filled with outrage.
Conor’s midnight blue eyes flicked towards me briefly before returning to the dark road ahead. “He seemed off, Edeline. I remember smelling that same scent before… Maximus used to have a certain odor during his wild episodes. It was quite unpleasant.” A growl formed on his lips as he recalled it.
I let out a low growl, my eyes flashing with intensity. Neither my wolf nor I appreciated his insinuations. Conor turned towards me, his growl deepening, and bared his teeth. “Hey, remember who is in charge here, little wolf. If you are not a fan of the truth, feel free to leave and go back to your pack. I did not sign up for your drama, and I am not like those weak Alphas you grew up with. I will not tolerate any wolf trying to challenge me, regardless of their hormones or gender.” His voice was sharp, clearly annoyed by my wolf's reaction.
My wolf retreated into my thoughts upon hearing his words. I found myself looking down at my lap. “I am sorry. I am just feeling down.”
The truck continued to speed ahead in a relaxed silence. There was nothing to say. I was not in the mood for music. I just shared my thoughts and my pain to keep me company.
Conor was a real leader. Not like William, you know? With William, I had complete freedom. He was like a cool uncle. Conor was something else entirely. Why did he have to say that about Darius?
“We are here,” he muttered casually.
Relief washed over me as we drove onto a long gravel driveway that seemed to stretch endlessly. I let out a sigh. Suddenly, a jolt of pain surged through my chest, and a sharp twinge shot up my neck. My wrist throbbed with pain.
“Ouch!” I yelled, bending over in agony. The pain was intense, and I was really hurting.
“What’s up?” Conor glanced at me with concern as he parked the truck. My wolf was whimpering urgently inside my mind.
“Oh no, my chest!” I panicked. “Ouch! I can feel something poking me! It is really bothering me, especially on my mark and my wrist,” I gasped for breath, flinching and whimpering as I curled up in my seat.
“Shh.”
“It is the mate bond,” Conor said, his tone serious. He turned off the ignition and stepped out of the truck. Coming to my side, he gently pulled me out, holding me in his arms as I screamed in agony. I could sense him climbing the stairs as I bounced in his arms, closing my eyes and clenching my teeth against the discomfort.
He strolled casually through the door, which was already being pulled open by someone. I opened my eyes just a sliver, wrapping my arms around myself as we quickly passed by a few wolves who glanced our way with looks of surprise.
I stayed silent, clenching my teeth against the discomfort as Conor hurried up a flight of stairs with me in his arms. I could feel the warmth of his skin against my cheek, even through his shirt. All I could focus on was the pain. It felt like I was on my deathbed.
Lately, I had been feeling really down. My heart—if it even existed, you know?—felt like it was shattering. I had never experienced pain like this before. I had never felt so empty inside. I was definitely feeling a bit under the weather.
Moments later, I found myself being gently placed on a bed. A small whimper escaped me as I closed my eyes, unable to see anything. “What did you mean by ‘mate bond’?” I asked through clenched teeth, struggling with the pain.
Someone settled down beside me on the bed while I was curled up. There was a long pause before he spoke in his deep voice. “The bond is struggling because your mate is hurt. You are experiencing his pain and the pain of the bond fading.” His words carried a hint of sorrow. “It’s going to sting a bit, but not as much as if you two had been connected for a longer time. You won’t go crazy, but it will be painful.”