Chapter 28 THE FALLOUT OF DESIRE
Edeline
From behind me, his voice came closer, tense with a hint of amusement. “I can tell when you’re checking me out. It’s like a jolt of electricity every time your eyes find me.”
“What got you all excited?” I asked, trying to keep my tone light.
I turned around, my canines retreating back into my gums. I looked up at him, meeting his bright blue eyes. “Wow, your back looks pretty bad. I’m really sorry.”
He chuckled and grinned. “Yeah, I’m into them. Seriously, I can vouch for their existence.”
I ducked back under the water, washing away his scent and the soap from my body. As I popped back up and made my way to the shore, I climbed out and heard him call out.
“Hey Edeline, there’s something I need to tell you...”
I turned and held my hand up, cutting him off. “No worries, Percival. No need to go into detail. I get it, we messed up. We should keep our distance,” I said, avoiding eye contact.
“Wait, hold on a sec. Edeline, I really don’t want to be apart from you. It’s not like you were some kind of mistake. Yeah, our wolves kind of took control, but that doesn’t mean it was a mistake. I genuinely care about you. And if Tatiana ends up having a miscarriage, I want a chance to win your love. I just... I want to be with you.”
I shot him a pained glare. “So what if she doesn’t? What if she actually delivers?” My eyes were filled with hurt, unable to hide the turmoil inside me.
Percival glanced at me briefly, then shifted his gaze to the water below. “I already mentioned this to you. If she has the baby, I won’t acknowledge it. It doesn’t matter if you accept me or not. I can’t predict what will happen in the future, but if the pup survives, I’ll be a dad. I won’t be in a relationship with Tatiana, but I’ll be a father until the child turns ten and has to leave. After that, they’ll come to visit me every summer, on their own. I’m not sure if you’ll be interested in having me around or not…” He paused, meeting my eyes. “But hey, I’ll keep that option open for you. It’s totally up to you to decide. I know it’s a big ask, so I won’t push it. Let’s just wait and see... I mean, come on, the moon isn’t that heartless to keep us apart. Deep down, I honestly think the pup won’t make it. I know it sounds terrible, but a part of me secretly hopes she does miscarry. But then again, my wolf instincts kick in and it’s like, ‘Hey, I want that pup!’ It’s a strange situation, being torn between two sides, but my wolf is feeling all parental and stuff…”
His words hung heavy in the air. We’d shared a moment earlier, just the two of us, where we’d managed to ignore everything else. It was nice, but now reality was crashing back in, squeezing the breath from my lungs. Life was unpredictable, like a snake coiling around you, squeezing until there’s nothing left.
“Hey Edeline, I don’t want to act like this didn’t happen. You mean a lot to me, and to my wolf. Tatiana doesn’t matter to us. She’s just an incubator. My wolf and I want you. We can hang out together, just the two of us.”
I shook my head. “No, Percival, we can’t. Remember what happens when we’re alone? We lose control. We become possessed and have no say in what happens. The consequences could be much worse, and then what? We simply can’t risk it. Despite how much I want to be with you, I can’t. It will only end in pain... And you need to stop seeing Darius as a threat. He’s your brother and my best friend! I will continue to be friends with him. Please tell your wolf to back off. Is it fair to forbid me from having anyone? To deny me the company of my friend? Meanwhile, I have to watch you flaunt your other partner like a trophy...” My anger flared, my wolf urging me to claim him and remove Tatiana from the equation, but I was determined to resist.
I walked outside, feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin. It was bright, likely around 9:00 AM. I decided to let the air dry me, careful not to touch any of his belongings that might still carry his scent.
As I stood there, enjoying the warmth, I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching me. The sensation of twigs snapping behind me sent shivers down my spine. My senses were on high alert, picking up every slight sound and movement around me.
Percival’s eyes were filled with concern as he watched me, his voice carrying a note of desperation. “Hey Edeline. I just can’t shake this feeling, you know? I understand that it’s not exactly fair to you... or anyone, really. But I genuinely believe that it’s for your own safety. You’ve got to trust me on this.”
“Hey, come on! Enough already!” I yelled, my frustration boiling over. “I just want something, anything! I want my friend back!” I pounded my fists against his chest, the anger and sadness overwhelming me. His hands moved to grab my wrists, but I quickly yanked them away.
He let out a low, warning growl, and I felt my strength falter. I collapsed onto the grass, tears streaming down my face. The weight of everything was too much to bear, and my sobs mixed with the sounds of nature around us.
Percival knelt beside me, his knees making a popping sound on the grass. He placed a gentle hand on my back, rubbing it in an attempt to comfort me. “Oops, my bad. Really sorry about that,” he murmured, his voice tinged with discomfort.
…
After my little meltdown, we scrambled to get ready. Thankfully, he had thoughtfully packed some of my clothes, so I didn’t have to borrow his. I tossed my ruined panties into the woods and slipped into my jeans and T-shirt, skipping the bra, underwear, and shoes. It felt oddly liberating to just have a T-shirt on.