Chapter 9 TORN BETWEEN TWO WOLVES
Edeline
After a while, we shifted back to our human forms. Transitioning from wolf to human is actually smoother than the reverse shift, so I managed to stay quiet this time, avoiding any loud outbursts. Wolves don’t pay much attention to each other’s nudity; it’s a norm for us. Only a mate would react, and Darius wasn’t that.
We dressed quickly, and he took my hand, guiding me down the hill through the forest towards the pack house.
His voice was soft, almost a whisper amidst the crunch of the forest floor beneath our feet. “So, I heard you had a chat with Percival… He paid you a visit?”
I simply nodded.
He gave me a look that seemed to say, Keep going.
I sighed in frustration, knowing he wouldn’t let it go. “He said he wouldn’t mark her.”
“Huh?” Darius’s surprise was evident. He hadn’t realized that detail.
As we continued our walk, I filled him in. “Yeah, he’s giving you the whole story. Apparently, she didn’t even know her heat was coming and he couldn’t sense it. Classic mistake for an unmated wolf, right? And now, here we are. What’s worse, she overheard him say he wouldn’t mark her and that he’d leave the option open for me, regardless of what happens with the pregnancy.” My heart sank, the joy of our earlier play seeming like a distant memory. I couldn’t believe how much I loathed Tatiana.
He held my hand gently, our palms fitting together in a reassuring clasp. “Hey, Edeline… I’m really sorry. Are you going to… wait for him?” His curiosity was clear.
I shrugged, feeling a weight in my chest. “I just can’t do it. I can’t wait around and hope she has a miscarriage. He even said he’d stick around for the first ten years to raise their pup together. He’s moved here to be close to them, and then, when the pup turns ten, he’ll let Tatiana take the child back to her pack for training, with the pup visiting him in the summers. How am I supposed to live like that? It’s a constant struggle, Darius. My wolf is desperate to mark him, but I can’t let that happen. My heart feels shattered, trembling within me… craving the touch of our loved ones. My wolf was determined to find her mate, no matter the obstacles, but I’m not sure I’m there. I don’t just go with my gut. She does.”
A flicker of annoyance towards Tatiana flared within me. It was her presence that was pushing me to the edge. I couldn’t help but blame her for the turmoil I was feeling.
“Hey, Edeline, I’m sorry, but I don’t think my brother is the right match for you. It’s not fair for him to expect you to wait, constantly watching and hoping for something to change. If it doesn’t, it’ll only weigh heavily on your mind. The thought of not being the mother of his first pup would surely breed resentment in your wolf… and honestly, he was right.” Darius's words stung with their truth. My wolf would always remember this. The pup would be seen as a troublemaker, and my heart couldn’t handle that.
I shook my head, trying to keep the struggle between my emotions and logic in check. I didn’t want to dwell on the what-ifs. I just needed to focus on the present moment.
As we walked out of the clearing towards the pack house, a comforting warmth enveloped me. I saw Percival by the lake, comforting a tearful Tatiana. He looked a bit annoyed with her, but his gaze softened when he saw me. My heart raced as our eyes locked.
But then, Percival noticed Darius’s hand still holding mine. His face hardened with anger, his posture straightening, and his fists clenching at his sides.
“Darius, just let go,” I whispered, my voice trembling.
Darius gave me a disapproving look before turning his gaze toward his brother. He met Percival’s furious stare with a steely resolve. The tension was palpable, and Percival’s growl, filled with menace, carried through the air.
I released Darius’s hand and walked towards the pack house alone. Behind me, Darius and Percival were locked in a heated glare, their conflict a stark reminder of the strained dynamics between the two brothers. Darius always looked out for me, while Percival's possessiveness was hard to ignore.
I caught a glimpse of Tatiana watching Percival with a suspicious look before I quickly averted my gaze. The thought of her being with my mate was too painful to entertain.
As I walked inside the pack house, I resolved to let it go. This wasn’t my fight. I felt a pang of guilt for being caught in the middle of the two brothers, but they both had their own ways of making me feel special and valued. They needed to sort this out on their own.
You just don’t mess with two male wolves determined to prove themselves.
Age didn’t matter in their world.
Just as the door began to close behind me, a sudden, violent crackling sound pulled me out of my thoughts. The unmistakable growls of battling wolves echoed through the air. My heart raced as I realized what was happening.
I dashed back outside, panic surging through me. What I saw before me made my breath catch in my throat.
I yelled, trying to reach them through the chaos.
I couldn't believe what I was seeing! Percival and Darius were both in wolf form, and the ground was littered with torn shreds of clothing. Percival, a big ol' wolf, was getting his butt kicked by his little bro, who, though smaller, was still pretty big for his age.
Darius had Percival firmly gripped by the scruff of his neck. His teeth sank in, and blood flowed freely. He let out fierce growls as he vigorously shook his head, ripping fur and flesh in the process. My heart pounded as I watched, feeling a mix of horror and awe. Percival was giving it his all, using every ounce of his strength. They hit the ground with a loud thud, Darius’s wolf letting out a soft whine as he landed on his back, the sound of cracking filling the air. They were both covered in blood, looking like a complete mess.