Chapter 222 FACING THE TRUTH
Percival
I could vividly picture it now, how everything might have unfolded.
He was right. Completely right.
I had been overwhelmed by the responsibilities of being a parent. I had convinced myself that Edeline would show up after the pup was born, that Tatiana would fade from the picture. I thought she would be okay with it. Even though her wolf had been showing me disturbing images of harming my pup, I naively hoped that, once born, things might change.
I could not believe how foolish I had been.
How naive of me.
My wolf had clouded my judgment. Yes, Nixx was right—most women would not care about a pup that was not theirs. Nixx might have taken care of the pup, but his wolf could not tolerate the idea.
“Yeah, you are right.” I lowered my head, tears streaming down my face. It felt like my weakness was on full display.
The atmosphere seemed to shift, lightening slightly as I quietly mourned the loss of my son. When I considered the possible outcomes, it became clear that his life might have brought more trouble than joy.
When it came to choosing between my dog or my partner…
I was choosing my partner.
My wolf had seriously crossed a line with his behavior. I had let him dictate my actions, and I had to face the consequences.
I sank back into my seat, keeping my gaze averted. I continued to cry in secret, my emotions too raw to share.
“I am glad you finally see it,” he said softly, his voice low and rich with sincerity. “I am not sure what has been going on with you lately, but it seems like you have realized what truly matters. You might have other pups, but you only have one mate.”
I nodded, wiping my face with the back of my hand. I looked up at him, my expression a mix of anguish and acceptance. I noticed a trace of sympathy in his eyes. “Hey, dude… I understand it is tough… and I genuinely apologize. I am sorry for your loss. But now you can focus on improving yourself for my sister… And about Darius… Mirabelle told me about his illness and how risky it was. You made the right decision, Percival. Thank you for rescuing my sister from that… monster. I had no idea… never.” His eyes were full of the gravity of the revelation. I could not bear the blame anymore. I was deeply affected by Darius’s passing, though part of me knew it was something that had been inevitable for some time. He could not be saved.
“I am pretty sure my sister will thank you for what you did eventually. She will see it as you protecting her, you know?”
I bobbed my head, a serious expression etched on my face. “She does not want me... she left me,” I rasped out.
Nixx let out a small, amused laugh, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. “Hey, my sister is quite the romantic. I bet she will come back,” he said, though his face twisted slightly in distaste. “That does sound really strange... my sister... and my brother...” He shivered at the thought.
I could not help but chuckle in response. It was a bit unsettling, but the moon had a way of enforcing rules about mating between closely related wolves, so it was hardly surprising.
“Anyway,” Nixx said, straightening up. “I know Edeline will need to return eventually. Just be prepared and organized when she does. It is important not to make any mistakes this time and to remember her value.”
I gave a small, determined nod. “I will.”
He could not contain his smile. “My wolf would not hold back either, to be honest.”
Our conversation seemed to be going well. I felt like a heavy burden was being lifted from my shoulders.
But then, Nixx’s demeanor shifted abruptly. His lightheartedness evaporated. “Hey, I know this is a sensitive topic, but I could use some advice on how to mend things with Tatiana. Any suggestions?”
I looked up at him, raising an eyebrow. “Do you still want her, even after everything she has done?”
“Yeah. Sure.” He nodded, though a slight frown touched his face. “She would not have done those things if it was not for Anita. Deep down, she is actually a good wolf.”
I sighed deeply. He was right; Tatiana was a decent wolf, even if it was hard for me to admit. “Just be honest with her. I am not exactly an expert on advice, but my suggestion is to do whatever she says. And if she happens to be angry, well, maybe it is best to do the opposite of what she says. You know how it goes—when she says ‘stay away,’ it really means ‘you better put me first and follow me everywhere I go.’” We both chuckled at that.
Our hands intertwined, gripping each other firmly, like men often do. He looked directly into my eyes. “Percival, I just want you to know that I really care about you. You are like a brother to me, and I value our friendship a lot. I just want to ask you to please think twice before doing something like this again. Remember, I am always here for you, no matter what.”
I managed to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill. It had been a long time since I felt this loved and supported. With Mirabelle and Nixx by my side, it did ease the pain, even if just a little.
...
Nixx
I felt a wave of relief wash over me as I stepped out of Percival’s room. It was like having my buddy back by my side—close, but not quite there yet. We had managed to put our differences aside, at least for now. Despite the lingering hostility in my wolf, I was determined to sort things out with Percival. Even though my wolf was still uncomfortable with the idea of him being around—especially since he had been close to our friend, touching her skin—it was something I had to address.