Chapter 24 MORNING AFTER
Edeline
“No way, that’s not possible,” he shouted, his voice filled with disbelief. “She’s an Alpha’s daughter. Her mate would have to be an Alpha.”
My legs trembled uncontrollably, my knees feeling like they might buckle beneath me. Days of hunger had left me weak, my strength sapped. I felt as if I might collapse at any moment. Just before I hit the ground, strong arms caught me. I didn’t even need to look up to know who it was; I could feel the electric warmth of their presence coursing through me.
I felt like a cosmic joke, the Moon herself playing tricks on me. Each heartbreak seemed like a cruel twist of the knife, making me question if I would ever find peace. If the Moon was handing out favors, I wished she’d let me leave this place behind, take me somewhere I could find some respite.
The Moon certainly had a twisted sense of humor.
Tatiana was Nixx’s partner, yet he wasn’t exactly the dominant type. It was an ironic twist, given the way the situation had unfolded.
...
Edeline
The smoke from last night’s fire still lingered in the air, the scent of burnt wood filling my nostrils with an oddly comforting familiarity. As the sun peeked over the horizon, its warmth slowly spread across the morning, dispelling the last remnants of dew on the leaves. Nearby, the gentle lapping of the lake’s water against the shore created a soothing, rhythmic sound.
I stuck my head back into the tent, sliding back under the blankets as a tingling sensation shot through my left hand. Percival’s eyes, as blue as the summer sky, met mine. My gaze, framed by the grass and the tent's shadow, found his.
“Hey, good morning,” he said, his voice rough with the remnants of sleep. The magnetic pull between us was undeniable. I shifted onto my side to meet his gaze, my heart fluttering.
Sunlight filtered through the tent, casting a play of light and shadow over us. I lay there, my head just inches from his.
“How did I end up here? With you?” My voice was a raspy whisper, the effect of morning grogginess. Percival looked disarmingly attractive as he woke, his lips slightly swollen and his eyes bright but heavy with sleep. I felt an irresistible urge to press my lips to his, savoring the sweetness of our second kiss—our first encounter was one I’d rather forget.
I noticed his eyes drifting to my mouth, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was thinking the same thing.
“You passed out last night,” he explained softly, his voice barely above a whisper. “While everyone was busy, I brought you out here. We’re miles away from the packhouse. I keep a tent here for when I want to get away. No one ever comes here because it’s too far.” He ran a casual hand over his chest, and the movement sent a shiver of anticipation through me. My lips instinctively moistened.
There was a sneaky thrill in our situation, a sense of doing something clandestine. The rush it gave me was exhilarating, though I knew the high would wear off and leave me with a heavy heart.
I nibbled on my lip, trying to piece together the events of the previous night.
“Hey, Edeline,” Percival said with concern, “I’ve noticed you haven’t been eating much lately. You look really thin. Your ribs are showing—it’s worrying.” His concern was genuine, and I was surprised he’d noticed. When I lifted the blankets, I realized I was only wearing a large T-shirt and my panties.
That wasn’t my T-shirt.
I glanced back at him, curiosity evident in my eyes.
“I noticed a change in you,” he continued, his gaze intense even through the fabric. “You switched from a dress to a shirt.” His eyes lingered on my body, and I could feel a tingling sensation, a sensitive awareness where his gaze fell. The fabric seemed almost transparent to his gaze, and I could sense his focus on me.
I took a deep breath, savoring the lingering scent of the fire and the earthy aroma of the tent as our lips met. As I pulled away slightly, I couldn’t help but take in his appearance. His shirtless body was a vision of bronzed skin, every muscle perfectly defined. The way his muscles flexed and rippled was imprinted in my mind. I noticed he was only in his boxers. The proximity made my temperature rise, the warmth of his skin against mine creating an almost tangible sense of attraction, like a thick fog enveloping us. I had to snap out of it.
“So, what happened last night?” I asked, clutching the blankets tightly as I snuggled closer, pulling them up to my chest. Percival exhaled deeply, his attention shifting back to me. I glanced up at the tent ceiling, my eyes beginning to close as I tried to piece together the night before.
“Well, it looks like your brother is Tatiana’s mate,” Percival said, his voice filled with disbelief. “And honestly, I just can’t wrap my head around it.” I frowned, the idea unsettling. There was no way she could be his mate. He wasn’t the dominant type.
Just as I was about to respond, I felt his hand gently land on my hip. The touch sent a jolt of electricity through my body, the pulsation of my femoral artery quickening. My breath caught, the sensation both startling and electrifying.
…
We locked eyes for a brief, intoxicating moment, lost in the rich, heady aroma of one another. As our lips finally parted, he pulled me closer, gently turning me to face away from him. His hand slid across my other hip and then down to rest on my abdomen, drawing me even closer to his bare chest.
I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. It was a surprise that things hadn’t gone as planned—but in truth, it had. I wasn’t trying to stop it. My body seemed to vibrate in perfect harmony with his, our heartbeats syncing together as one.