Chapter 29 SHADOWS OF DUTY
Edeline
I turned to him, curiosity bubbling up. “How did we end up here?”
He gestured to the trees above us, where a canoe was cleverly camouflaged behind the brush. We helped him get it down, and after a bit of maneuvering, we plopped it into the water and hopped in. As we rowed towards the pack lands, the rhythm of our paddles synchronized effortlessly. I marveled at how he managed to get us here alone last night—it must have been quite a feat.
I watched his muscles flex with each stroke, and my gaze lingered on his skin, which made me shiver. I quickly looked away, focusing instead on the task at hand. But then a thought struck me.
“Hey, Percival, how’s Tatiana Nixx’s mate doing? I heard her father is an alpha.”
He shrugged casually, letting out a relaxed breath. “I’m not sure... I need to talk to my dad about it. There might be some things that either she or her father isn’t telling us. Maybe he was part of the pack and beat the previous alpha in a challenge to become the new alpha. But without alpha blood, his chances of beating a real Alpha are pretty slim. I don’t know. It’s all a bit confusing.” He sighed, looking tired. “Oh. Alright,” I murmured, sensing there was more to it, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.
The rest of the journey passed in silence, each of us lost in our own thoughts. About an hour later, we neared the pack house. Percival asked for my paddle, and I handed it over without a word. He guided us into a secluded spot along the bank, just out of sight of the pack house. Once there, he secured the boat to a tree that jutted out from the bank.
I was relieved he chose such a discreet location, away from prying eyes.
He extended his hand to me, and I placed mine in his. A rush of tingles surged through me, and as soon as my feet touched the ground, I pulled my hand back, trying to regain my composure. I couldn’t shake the sensation of his touch—his kiss, his agile fingers.
“Edeline,” he said, snapping his fingers in front of my face, pulling me back to reality.
“What…” I blinked, still dazed.
“Did you catch what I just said?” He frowned slightly as I shook my head. “I was asking if you could do me a favor and promise me something...”
So, he was asking me to make a promise? I couldn't believe his nerve.
“Hey, Edeline, listen, it’s not what you’re thinking. I just need you to do me a favor and promise you’ll start taking better care of yourself, okay? I think you’re stunning no matter what, but I worry when you look so thin.” His eyes locked with mine, and I was swept up in a wave of emotions. Those blue eyes of his were filled with sincerity, and I could see the honesty there. He bumped into me, and I felt pinned in place, unable to move an inch. We shared a soft kiss, but I pulled back, stepping away.
“I gotta go,” I said, my voice cracking, my gaze dropping to the ground.
“Hey, can you do me a favor? Just eat something, okay? Give it a try. I’d really appreciate it,” he said, his voice tinged with longing.
I nodded, looking away. “See ya, Percival.”
“Nah, catch you later. No need for goodbyes,” he said in a deep voice. I kept walking, not daring to look back. As I put distance between us, I felt a chill creep over me. Tension coiled inside as I replayed the recent events and our interactions.
I really don’t want to go through that again. I can’t be around him. Waking up next to him wasn’t my fault. Now I understand the consequences of having my wolf so close to him. She takes over when she senses responsibilities to someone else, pushing me aside. I should be able to feel comfortable in my own skin.
The strength of the mate bond…
I walked through the trees, noticing that no one was outside on this side of the house. I slipped into the side door of the mudroom, relieved to find no one saw me.
Once I hop in for another shower and give my skin a good scrub, I’ll start tracking down my brother. I need to have a chat with him.
Well, I guess I’ll have to find Darius then. Ugh, Percival and his annoying requests. I couldn’t care less about his wolf.
It’s kind of funny how my life used to be all bright and shiny… And then, after my birthday, things took a turn for the worse.
A real bummer of a twisted tragedy.
…
Edeline
The steam in the bathroom was thick, almost like I could reach out and touch it. It rolled off the hot water in heavy clouds, fogging up the shower door. I leaned against the glass, drawing a sad face in the mist with my finger before quickly smudging it away.
I cranked up the water temperature, desperate to wash away the grime and the memories. My skin stung as I scrubbed, turning red from the rough scrubbing. His sharp fangs had left a map of love bites and scratches all over me, each mark a vivid reminder of our time together.
Every time I peel off my clothes, the memories hit me. Even as the marks start to fade, I can't shake off the memory of his strong arms around me—his embrace was so tender, with his muscles and veins throbbing with every heartbeat.
I slumped onto the shower floor, wrapping my arms around my knees. The scalding water poured over me, burning my skin and making me feel like I was melting into the tiles. A wave of emotional numbness washed over me, tightening my stomach and making me feel sick. I was betraying the promise I made to him. I had no appetite—just thinking about food made me want to gag.