Chapter 63 SLIGHTLY JEALOUS
Edeline
I stepped out of the side door of the mudroom, glancing around and taking a deep breath, trying to catch his scent. I thought it might be fun to check out the woods near my favorite spot. Darius loved running and hunting there because of the challenging terrain. He always said it was more of a challenge that way.
Instead of sticking to my usual path through the woods, I decided to switch things up. I veered off onto the dirt road leading towards Alpha William's family home and a few others. The road ended at a forest, so I figured Darius might start there if he decided to shift and go for a run or hunt.
As I walked past Alpha William’s house, I caught a whisper of something in the distance. I took a deep breath, and there it was—Darius’s scent mixed with a nauseatingly sweet gardenia.
Tatiana!
I moved as far as I could without risking being spotted. The wind was blowing north, so my scent wouldn’t carry. My curiosity was piqued by the loud voices, and my wolf was restless, pacing in my mind and itching for another shot.
I crouched behind the trees lining the path, watching carefully. Through the swaying limbs, I saw Darius facing Tatiana. She stood with crossed arms and a fierce scowl, whispering angrily. I noticed her bandaged neck and a wave of guilt washed over me. Meanwhile, my wolf seemed to revel in the scene, feeling satisfied with another achievement. There was no way she wanted to fight us.
Darius sighed, looking defeated by whatever she had said. Tatiana stamped her foot in frustration, her flowing blonde hair getting tangled as she tried to free it. She gestured towards him, speaking quickly before abruptly turning and striding away towards the dead end. The oracle’s place wasn’t too far from there.
I grew wary when I noticed Darius groaning and rubbing his face. He looked exhausted, each step he took seemed to drain him even more. I kept my eyes on him, analyzing his every movement as he slowly made his way toward me. I hesitated, biting my lip. He was about to see and smell me soon enough. I couldn't hide.
Yeah, I can totally question him...
I was pretty close to the path, even though I was hiding behind a tree. When I stepped out, it startled him, and he jumped back, his eyes wide, heart racing. He took a deep breath, clearly on edge.
"Edeline!? What are you doing here!? You startled me!" he exclaimed, placing a hand over his heart, still a bit shaken. No worries.
I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms. "So... what's the deal? Why are you whispering and hanging out with Tatiana all of a sudden?" I asked, my tone full of suspicion. I couldn't fully justify it, but I stuck to my guns, casually tucking my hair behind my ear.
He glanced around, looking bored, then let out a frustrated sigh. "So, she's curious about you and Percival, huh? No need to fret, I didn't spill the beans. Especially about you two being in close proximity or him gifting you that necklace." A mischievous grin crept across my face, my eyes playful.
The little brat... I had a feeling he knew the necklace’s origin, but there he was, teasing me again... Just like last night.
I didn’t want this. I confidently took two steps to meet him, staring straight into his determined blue eyes. He had a rather unpleasant scent, and my wolf was itching to come out and playfully nip at him, but she’d had enough fun already. I flashed him a grin, making him take a step back in surprise.
"Darius, it would be appreciated if you could refrain from making sarcastic remarks. It seems like you're intentionally trying to provoke me. I never expected you to stoop so low. My personal matters are just that—personal. If I wanted you to know, I would have told you. If you're not supportive, please stay out of my life. Is that clear?" A growl escaped my throat, catching him off guard, just as it did me. I turned and left him standing there, casually walking back toward the pack house. I rubbed the spot where the growl came from and looked down at my chest, feeling a bit puzzled. I've grumbled before, but nothing quite compares to the intense sensation I just felt...
What was that?
Just as I was about to reach the spot where the dirt road turned into grass, I heard Darius running up behind me. "Hey, hold up, Edeline!" he called out.
I turned around and watched as he jogged up, slowing down before stopping in front of me. He approached cautiously, his eyes quickly scanning my face. "Hey, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. It's just... I care about you a lot, and ever since Percival messed things up for you and they made us stop being friends, you've been distant. I don’t want that. I just want things to go back to how they were. I just want to see you happy, without my brother.” His voice softened, and he looked down at me with a sad expression.
I felt a familiar sinking feeling in my chest, like shattered glass weighing me down. As usual, I tried to mask my emotions. He must have noticed because he stepped closer and casually wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a hug. "I really don’t want to see you go through that pain again, Edeline. I’d rather not experience that myself..." His breath brushed against my neck, sending a brief shiver down my spine.
I couldn’t believe it. When he hugged me, it hit me—I was about to get my heat soon.
The mood swings, the feelings... it all made sense. I really enjoyed spending time with Percival. It was my heart.
I gave Darius a gentle pat on the back before slowly pulling away, avoiding his eyes. "It's all good. Let’s just move on." I finally glanced up at his face, catching his smug grin. "But don’t do it again." I shot him a stern look, and his smile quickly faded. He nodded, letting me go. I had to make a quick exit.