Chapter 279 HONEY-COLORED EYES
Edeline
Her honey-colored eyes, flecked with a hint of green, locked onto Conor as she leaned in close, flashing him a smile that made her pouty red lips curve just right. She whispered something into his ear, and he grinned in response—an easy, familiar grin that stung more than it should have.
I lingered by the doorway, watching them with a knot forming in my chest. They looked... comfortable together. Too comfortable. The other wolves at the table stole glances at them, whispering quietly among themselves. I could feel the weight of their curiosity, their silent judgments hanging in the air like smoke.
Shae—or whoever she was—leaned in even closer, her red lips brushing against Conor’s ear as he chuckled.
I dug my nails deeper into my palms, the sting grounding me for a moment. But it didn’t stop the jealousy from washing over me in a sharp, bitter wave.
There I was, standing awkwardly in the doorway, feeling like I’d just been hit by a truck, while she looked... perfect. Radiant, even.
And it hurt.
Not because she was beautiful. But because Conor was smiling at her—really smiling. The kind of smile I hadn’t seen from him in weeks.
I wasn’t really bothered by the idea of Shae being a friend with benefits—that part didn’t sting much. But when she started hanging out with my friend, taking up the space I carved out as the one who could make him crack up? Yeah, that got under my skin.
Still, I kept my expression neutral. No need to make a scene.
She playfully squeezed Conor’s bicep, leaning in just a little too close, and then threw me a friendly smile—like there were no hard feelings between us.
I kept my stride steady as I strolled into the dining hall. Conversations hushed as I approached the empty seat beside Conor on his left, the one I always sat in. The betas were already seated, heads lowered, their focus elsewhere. As I sat down, a familiar scent tickled my nose.
Shae.
It was the same scent I’d picked up earlier when I passed by Conor’s room.
Conor shifted uneasily in his seat, like he could feel the tension building. He gave Shae’s hand a little squeeze before gently pulling it away, pressing a quick kiss to her palm to soften the move.
She smiled at him at first, but when her honey-colored eyes flicked over to meet mine, curiosity flickered in them—along with something sharper, like suspicion.
I took a breath, smoothed my expression, and gave Conor a grin that looked pretty damn genuine. "You feeling any better? Looks like it." There was just enough edge in my tone to let him know I wasn’t entirely cool about what I was seeing.
Conor cleared his throat and gave me a small, polite smile. "Thanks for checking in on Tatiana earlier."
I waved it off casually. "No big deal. She’s kinda grown on me."
Shae’s gaze stayed locked on me, scanning me with interest, like she was sizing me up.
"Hey!" she said brightly, her teeth flashing against the deep red of her lips. She carried herself like some kind of goddess—polished, confident. Way too put-together to fit in with our crowd. I could tell just by looking at her: this woman didn’t train with the pack. But Tatiana said she was local... which only made things weirder.
I smiled back at her, tilting my head. "Hey there! I’m Edeline. I don’t think we’ve met before."
Her smile twitched, and I noticed the faintest flush bloom on her cheeks as she shot a quick glance at Conor. Her eyes narrowed just a bit—just enough to catch that she was surprised he hadn’t mentioned her.
"I’m Shae," she said, her voice sweet and smooth, like honey drizzled over silk.
I frowned slightly, narrowing my eyes. "I recognized your scent from Conor’s room earlier... but I don’t remember seeing your face. Do you train with the warriors?" My voice was friendly enough, but there was a subtle challenge woven into the question. I already knew the answer.
Conor coughed awkwardly, and his gaze burned into my face, warning me to back off. But I kept my cool, my smile unflinching.
Shae smirked and shook her head. "Nah, I’m not much for training... I’m more of a diva." She let out a light, musical laugh and wiggled her long red nails in front of me. "These babies are better for clawing backs." She winked, clearly enjoying herself. "Gotta keep them in good shape, you know?"
Then, with a sly grin, she turned to Conor. "Right, Conor?"
Conor.
That name was mine to use. The casual way she said it made my stomach twist, but I forced my expression to stay smooth.
Beneath the table, I slid my hands onto my thighs, digging my nails into my skin just enough to keep myself grounded. A slow, deliberate chuckle escaped my lips, even though everything inside me wanted to growl.
I wasn’t about to let anyone see me lose my composure—not over this.
I shot Conor a look—something between a glare and a warning. He looked uncomfortable as hell, like he wished he could be anywhere else.
Perfect.
Pushing my chair back, I stood up with a grin that probably looked way too casual. "Great meeting you!" I chirped, directing the words at Shae. "Oh, shoot—just remembered I’ve got an appointment with Gage at the tattoo shop. Gotta run. Hope you understand!"
Her eyes sparkled with amusement, and Conor looked relieved—at least for a second.
I met his gaze, holding it for just a beat longer than necessary, and gave him a tight-lipped smile. Then I turned on my heel, heading toward the back door with my expression slipping into something far more honest—pure frustration, simmering just beneath the surface.
I needed to make a change.
But not here, not now.
I was getting better at keeping control... slowly but surely. I just had to hang on to that grip a little longer. I couldn’t let my wolf pick up on the storm brewing inside me. That’s where I always messed up in the past—letting my emotions bleed over into my wolf until everything spiraled.
Not this time.
This time, I had the reins.
I dashed out of the dining hall and into the cool, dark night, the crisp air biting at my skin. My eyes swept across the shadowed land, everything cloaked in stillness. The moon hovered above, casting a pale silver glow over the world. Its light shimmered on the pond—the one Tatiana had been staring at earlier this afternoon—pulling me toward it like it had some kind of gravity.
The night was beautiful, quiet. The surface of the water glittered under the moon’s gaze, peaceful and inviting. For a second, I thought about diving in—it looked so calm, so chill. But the breeze whispered against my skin, telling me otherwise. The night was just a little too cold for swimming.
That’s when it hit me.
A scent carried on the wind, unmistakable. Tatiana.
A chill ran through me, and not from the night air. It was getting colder by the minute, way too cold for someone like her to be wandering around without protection. I knew she wasn’t strong enough to handle this weather—not with everything she was going through.
I scanned the edge of the pond, searching the line of trees. And that’s when I saw it.
A soft flicker of white, glowing in the moonlight. Fabric—light and airy—fluttering in the breeze at the far end of the pond. Too far from where I stood.
I knew it had to be her.
Moving faster now, I weaved through the few trees standing between us. My heart began to race as I crossed the clearing and drew closer. Blonde hair whipped in the breeze, glowing under the moonlight like spun gold. Pale skin shimmered with the cold silver light.
It was her.
And she wasn’t wearing a coat. No sweater, no blanket. Just a plain white nightgown, thin as paper, clinging to her shivering frame.
I stopped in my tracks, my breath catching in my throat. Something was wrong. The night felt heavy, like a bad omen hanging in the air.
Tatiana stood at the water’s edge, her bare foot dipping into the pond. The icy water rippled around her toes, but she didn’t flinch. Her expression was blank—eerily calm.
She shivered, just once, but it didn’t seem to register with her. Slowly, she took another step forward, her feet disappearing beneath the dark surface as the water lapped at her ankles. Then her calves. Then her knees.
She kept moving, one slow, deliberate step after another.
I stared, frozen in place, my mind struggling to catch up with what I was seeing. The pond sloped gently at first, but it got deeper the further she went.
And she just kept going.
Panic shot through me, electric and sharp. My body moved on instinct before my mind could catch up. I broke into a run, my heart pounding wildly in my chest.
She stepped deeper, the water climbing higher—mid-thigh now. The cool breeze tugged at her nightgown, and it floated on the surface behind her like a ghostly veil.
"Tatiana!" I shouted, my voice cutting through the night—but the wind stole my words, scattering them among the trees. Leaves rustled. The water splashed gently at the shore.
She didn’t respond.
She didn’t even look back.
I reached the edge of the pond just as she dove forward, her body slipping into the dark water with barely a sound. She drifted on her back for a moment, her pale skin glowing faintly in the moonlight. Her arms moved lazily, pushing through the water as she floated aimlessly. Her gaze stayed locked on the sky, lost somewhere between the moon and her own thoughts.
I called out again, louder this time, but it was like I wasn’t even there.
And then—without a word, without a sound—Tatiana drew in a deep breath, let it out slowly, and sank beneath the surface.
Gone.
She went under, deliberately, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
For a split second, my heart stopped.
She wasn’t coming back up.
Panic exploded in my chest, sharp and unforgiving. I kicked off my shoes, my heart hammering against my ribs, and dove into the water without a second thought.
The cold hit me like a punch to the gut, sharp and biting. I gasped, the breath knocked right out of me, but I forced myself to push deeper, ignoring the way the icy water clawed at my skin.
She wasn’t going to make it out of here. Not like this.
I kicked hard, diving deeper, the frigid water pressing against me from every angle. My fingers cut through the darkness, searching, reaching. My lungs screamed for air, but I kept going.
I couldn’t let her go.
Not like this.
The water grew heavier, darker, as I reached the bottom of the pond. My heart thundered in my chest, panic swirling in my gut as I searched blindly. She had to be here. She had to be.
Tatiana wouldn’t just... give up. Not like this.
This wasn’t how she said goodbye.
Not tonight.
…
Edeline
Chilly. Gloomy.
The icy water stole my breath as I glanced around. It was pitch dark beneath the surface, and I could not see anything below. Plus, I was running out of air.
I pushed myself up, breaking the surface, and yelled at the top of my lungs, “Help!!!” After gulping down a big breath, I dove back into the cold water, desperate to find Tatiana.
I swam deeper, my hands feeling around in the darkness. Finally, I brushed against something warm. Relief flooded me as I realized it was Tatiana’s arm. Gripping it tightly, I pulled her along, kicking hard to reach the surface. My lungs screamed for air, and I felt like they were about to burst as I struggled to haul Tatiana’s limp body up.
Breaking through the surface, I inhaled deeply as if it was my first breath. I dragged Tatiana along, my limbs heavy and numb from the cold water, fighting my way toward the shore. Each movement felt like a battle, but I pressed on.
Finally, I reached the shallow end. Standing up, I scooped Tatiana into my arms, cradling her like a bride. Her head hung back limply, and I noticed her skin was taking on a blue hue in the moonlight.
I lunged onto the bank with her, my body trembling from the cold. My hands shook as I brushed damp blonde hair away from her face, revealing her pale complexion and blue-tinged lips. “Tatiana! No!” I shouted, panic clawing at my throat. I pressed my hands on her chest, just below her breasts, and pumped hard before tilting her head back and pinching her nose, breathing into her mouth.
Nothing.