Chapter 260 JUGGLING IT ALL
Tatiana
I really felt like giving up.
I totally deserved it.
I had never really had the strength to think for myself. Everything had always been taken care of for me. Choices made on my behalf.
Without a second thought, I shoved the scalpel into my jugular. The silver stung my skin like acid. Blood spilled from my throat as I sprawled out on the chilly tile floor, watching the thick, red liquid fill the gaps between each square. Cleaning the grout was going to be a pain.
I surrendered to the darkness wrapping around me, feeling my pulse thumping in my head. I felt pretty light, a bit off but somehow breezy.
I barely noticed when my door swung open with a bang, stomping footsteps echoing through the room. A familiar voice shouted, cutting through the haze. The floor shook with each step, and then I was enveloped in strong arms, a calming scent wrapping around me.
And just like that, I felt totally weightless.
…
Nixx
The sun was sinking lower now, casting the sky in shades of deep blue, purple, pink, and orange. It looked like someone had taken a bunch of colorful paintings, swirled them together, and then splattered them across the sky. The cold settled in for the evening, and even though there was no wind, the air stayed sharp. It was that time of year when jackets became a must.
Dad told me Tatiana was safe, resting at the cabin. He’d laid her on the couch and lit a fire to keep her warm. She’d be furious when she woke up, and I couldn’t blame her. Watching her go through all that pain made me sick to my stomach. I hated it—hated that I couldn’t protect her from it. She didn’t deserve any of this, not her.
It broke my heart seeing her like that, but I’m going to pull her out of that hole. I will. She’s not going back. The problem is, I’m not sure how I’m supposed to juggle it all. Taking care of my son, keeping my friend happy... It feels impossible. Part of me fears I’m going to lose. I’m going to end up like Percival—spinning out of control if I can’t keep everything together.
When Dad took Tatiana away, I was on edge. My chest was tight. But when Mirabelle and I saw our little puppy on the sonogram, things eased a bit. My wolf knew what he had to do—protect that precious life. We both knew it. We have to.
So far, the puppy’s fine. But that doesn’t mean the moon won’t take him away from me. I’ve got to be careful... I love Mirabelle, and I want her to mark me, but I can’t risk the puppy’s safety. I keep telling myself it should be easy to hold back these feelings.
But it’s not.
And then there’s what Tatiana said... I don’t want to be your mate. It hit me hard. Is this how Percival felt when Edeline turned his wolf down? Did it tear him up inside the way it’s tearing me up?
Why is the moon being so cruel? What did I do wrong?
On the way back from the doctor’s, Mirabelle got a call from Edeline. I tried to ask her about it, but she brushed me off. Apparently, when Mirabelle mentioned Percival was starting to lose it, Edeline got spooked and took off. Since then, Mirabelle hasn’t heard much from her. None of us have. I think I talked to her maybe once since then. It’s crazy to think she’s training to be a fighter now. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s getting her butt kicked during sparring. The thought made me smirk. I could picture it.
As we reached the packhouse, the sky had darkened even more, the sun racing toward the horizon. The air smelled like smoke from the huge fire burning in the garden, and the scent of grilling meats hit me hard. My mouth watered. I’ve always loved fall. There’s something about it that feels right.
Our steps faltered when a big black Yukon Denali with tinted windows crept up the driveway. All the wolves around us turned their heads toward the SUV, sniffing the air.
I felt it too—there was an Alpha in that car. It’s impossible to miss that scent, especially for someone with Alpha blood like me. I sighed, my focus shifting back to Mirabelle. The only thing I cared about was the woman carrying my pup.
"Mirabelle, head over to the barbecue. I’ll meet you there," I whispered, leaning closer as she tapped away on her phone. She nodded absentmindedly, barely noticing the SUV as it parked.
I grinned a little, watching her walk away. "Watch your step in those death traps!" I called, eyeing her high heels.
She waved me off with her free hand, not even looking back as she continued typing on her phone. It had to be Edeline texting her.
Family... it’s always something.
Annabel darted out of the backyard just as a massive guy came sprinting up to meet her. Maxim, Alpha of the Dark Moon pack, stepped out of the car first, followed by two other equally huge wolves. His dark hair was tied back, his piercing blue eyes scanning everything around him. His skin had that sun-kissed glow, and at 6'5", he radiated raw strength. Honestly, he might’ve been the biggest wolf I’d ever laid eyes on. They all wore black boots, dark pants, and black shirts—just oozing power.
The energy he carried was impossible for my wolf to ignore. People in the backyard were starting to crowd around, whispering about the famous Alpha, but I wasn’t about to hunch over like everyone else. My cat and I were curious, intrigued even, but we weren’t going to cower.
Alpha Maxim glanced around the yard, his gaze sweeping over everything with a calm, almost lazy confidence. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, like he already knew he was the strongest one here. And he was right. After a few seconds, I had to look away. I wasn’t ready to lock eyes with a man who could crush me without breaking a sweat. He was just... too much.
Annabel reached him, throwing herself into his arms and wrapping her arms around his neck. He hugged her back, his eyes flicking to his men for a split second before focusing on her again.