Chapter 291 BRIDGING THE GAP
Edeline
His eyes were no longer filled with wonder; they carried pain and knowledge. Yet, despite it all, those piercing blue eyes had remained the same, shining even brighter against his sun-kissed skin. His hair was longer on top and shorter on the sides, giving him a more polished look.
He looked even more handsome now, completely in charge of himself. The way he moved, the way he held himself—it all made me wonder about the changes in him and what had shaped him during our time apart.
“You hungry?” His deep voice pulled me back to reality, his eyes locking onto mine.
I was still feeling shy, and I wondered why that was.
“I’m fine,” I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady.
He nodded and made his way to the door. “I’ll give you some space. I can tell you’re not really feeling it with me around. Just hit me up when you’re ready, and I’ll help you get to bed since you’re not feeling great.” He flashed a sad smile and reached for the doorknob.
My heart raced a bit. I really did not want him to go, even though I was feeling shy.
“Hey, Percival. Hold up!” I called out, peeking out from behind the foam and bubbles.
He turned to me, that look in his eyes as if he was waiting for something.
Biting my bottom lip again, I asked, “Can you stick around?”
I had a few questions swirling in my mind. This was the first time we were really getting to meet again after everything.
I just did not feel right about pushing him away, not after what we had just shared.
I could sense a glimmer of hope in him through our connection. I wanted to share more with him, to bridge the gap that six months had created.
This guy was so strong in ways that made me feel tiny. I felt shy, which felt so childish.
I was not a kid anymore, but he still treated me like one.
“Of course, Edeline.”
…
Edeline
“Sure thing, Edeline.” He ran a hand through his hair as he stepped away from the door, a casual gesture that somehow felt loaded with meaning. He took a couple of long strides and plopped down on the toilet lid, the sound echoing in the small room. I could not help but stare at the bite mark I left on his neck and chest, the evidence of our wild moment still fresh. His back was adorned with long, deep scratches that trailed down his torso, a reminder of the intensity we had shared.
“My bad,” I said, my eyes widening at the sight. I felt a twinge of guilt, but he just looked down for a moment and waved it off like it was nothing.
All of a sudden, a wave of awkwardness washed over me.
We had just shared an intense moment not too long ago, and here I was, chilling with him. My buddy. It really should not feel weird, but somehow it did.
“Hey, Percival?” I whispered softly, sinking into the foam of the bath. Only my collarbone and arms peeked out above the bubbles, and I could feel the sting of his claw and teeth marks on my skin. His relentless assault on my core left bruises blooming on my hips and waist.
His eyebrows shot up in curiosity as those stunning blue eyes locked onto mine.
What is going on? Why are you crashing in the Alpha’s quarters now? I had a hunch about it. I pieced it together when I felt that raw power radiating off him while we were together. Still, I needed to hear it from him. The warrior symbol on his inner bicep told me he had been training hard. He was a pro from the south, but honestly, I had no idea how all of this had happened.
He smirked a little, one corner of his lips lifting as he studied me closely. Shaking his head, he said, “How do you not know? I thought Mirabelle would have filled you in.” His voice had that rich, deep vibe that just oozed confidence.
I could feel my cheeks heating up. I could not bring myself to look at him as a wave of embarrassment washed over me. It was like he was reading my mind, sensing everything I was feeling since we were so close, our defenses down and letting each other in.
I swallowed hard. “I... I have not really talked to anyone.” I chewed my lip nervously, glancing up to catch the confusion in his eyes. “I have only spoken to Mirabelle twice.” I whispered that part, a little embarrassed. “The last time she talked to me, she mentioned that Nixx was being forced to train for Alpha.”
So, it turned out that William was not really respected anymore, and the pack was looking to kick him out. That was wild.
He held my gaze, and my wolf was practically purring with happiness just being around him, all curled up and content in my mind. “I am the Alpha now.” His tone was steady, almost proud. “This is my crew. And you, being my buddy... you are the Luna of this pack.”
Whoa. I could not believe it! I had never really considered this before. I mean, I always thought my rank as an expert warrior was what boosted my strength. It made sense, right? When your rank goes up, your wolf gets stronger too. You could hit the gym all day, but if your rank stayed the same, you were just a strong wolf and nothing else.
Back when we took that picture together, I figured it was all about my strength and rank, calling me a warrior. I saw he had the same symbol and had a feeling he was the new Alpha of the pack.
But... I am the Luna?
Getting mated to him just meant I was Luna by default.
“Oh, that makes sense! I have been feeling this extra boost of power for the last four months,” I said quietly, almost to myself. I had just thought it was because I had leveled up.
So, I am a Luna now?
That is why the lady downstairs called me that...
I am a freaking Luna.
The woman in charge of this group.
But did I really want that?
I was kind of lost right now. This felt like a lot, and I was not even sure what was going on between us.
We still had a lot to chat about.
I raised my hands, running them through my hair. As I did, I felt the cramping in my lower body ease up. My eyes wandered over Percival's tattoos. The Southern expert warrior symbol on his bicep caught my attention, along with the intricate design that flowed over half of his pec, across his shoulder, and down his arm, stopping halfway on his forearm. Earlier, I noticed a large symbol on his upper back. He looked so rugged now.
It was pretty hot.
Out of nowhere, his eyes widened, and he started making his way over to me. He grabbed my arm and turned it so he could see the inside, awe and wonder shining in his blue eyes.
“What is up with this, Edeline? Hey, what have you been doing all this time?” His voice was breathy as he glanced back and forth between me and my tattoo.
I checked him out, feeling the tingles from his touch racing up my arm. “Training,” I whispered, not sure how to explain it all.
“How does that work? How did you make it this far?” He looked genuinely confused.
I squinted at him, feeling a flash of irritation. “Just because I am a girl does not mean—”
“No.” He released my arm, shaking his head. “That is not what I meant. I meant… how did you pull that off? A skilled fighter from both the north and the south? What is up, Edeline?” He stared at me like I was some kind of mystery, a puzzle he could not crack. I could feel his emotions wash over me—confusion mixed with genuine admiration, a surprise that seemed to linger in the air.
I just shrugged and looked away, my gaze drifting. “At first, it was all about feeling the pain… so I would not feel any other pain. It just… got even better.”
He understood that. I could sense it through our connection. He had been through something similar, but for a different reason.
“So, how did you end up becoming Alpha?” I settled deeper into the water, relishing the warmth, while Percival chilled next to the tub, his forearms propped up on the edge.
His deep voice echoed off the tiles as he spoke, his gaze lingering on my face, making my skin feel warm and tingly. “I snapped. I have started training too, to toughen myself up. My wolf, huh... he had taken in the strength from my skin sides. My skin side was feeling pretty weak, and the wolf was starting to show up even when I tried to keep him in check. He was going after other wolves, anyone who got on our nerves. So, Gaspar ended up here to train me. Instead of getting my strength back from the wolf, he held onto the power, and my skin got even stronger—stronger than the wolf. Now I can control him, but my training turned into something else entirely. I started wanting the title. I just wanted to be tougher for the crew… just for you.
The night Maxim showed up for the first time, I totally lost it. I got challenged… and I took out my opponents.” He paused, and I raised my brows, turning my head to look at him.
Did he really kill someone?
“How many?” I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.
“Three. Hey, have you…”
“One.” I looked away, biting my lip and shutting my eyes. I really did not like thinking about that. It was either me or him. Nothing else to it.
He took a deep breath, and there was a pause before he continued. I was pretty much used to watching the challengers meet their end by now. It did not really bother me anymore, and that was exactly what he was waiting for—my reaction through our bond.
Percival cleared his throat. “So… afterwards, I felt this rush of power flowing through me. Nixx was totally falling apart. He did not want to be the Alpha. I took on my dad and came out on top.”
My lips parted when I caught his eye, worry flickering across my face. “Is he…?”
He shook his head. “No. I did not do it. I decided to let him stick around. He is still my dad. But his punishment, though… he got whipped that night. Alpha Reynold got an invite to check it out… Darius's buddy's dad—the one he raped and murdered.” A hint of danger lit up his eyes, and I felt a lump in my throat at the thought of him.
“William moved into my old cabin by the lake. You are not allowed at pack functions unless I invite you. He does not need to interact much, but he is supposed to train every day. Get stronger. He has been doing better. I have let him come around more.” He dipped his finger into the water, swirling the foam around in a circle, leaving me totally captivated by his movements.
I kept my eyes on that finger while I talked. “Annabel… how did she end up with Gaspar? Hey, guess what? You have got a little brother coming soon…”
He paused, pulling his hand back, and I could feel the tension in the air as he said, “Annabel did a lot of wrong. My dad let her go without a fight. Gaspar was her consequence. He has turned her life into a nightmare just because he has a lower title. It bugs her.”
I totally knew it was the ideal punishment for her—handed over to the wolf that turned her down. Honestly, I was not shocked that she was pregnant. He looked a bit lost in thought, not really processing it, but it did not catch him off guard. I mean, with the way they were going at it like crazy all the time, I guess it made sense.
“Hey, Edeline! These last few months... I have gone further than I ever imagined.” He lifted his hand to gently touch my cheek, and warmth spread through me at his touch. “But I missed you way more than I thought I would. I figured you would be back… when you did not, it totally broke me. I have been missing you more and more every single day. Do not make me go through that again.”
“Sure.” There was a hint of sadness in his eyes that made my heart skip a beat. I felt a swell of emotion in my chest as I looked down, nodding quietly.