Chapter 95 FURY SURGED
Edeline
As evening fell, the sun dipped below the horizon, leading us through dense vegetation and neglected paths. Somehow, it felt like just another day. We reached the end of a dirt road, where the alpha’s residence was located—Tatiana’s cabin near the edge of the forest. We’d walked through the entire front forest of the pack’s land, a journey that would have taken us just fifteen minutes on the main route.
“Why are we standing here next to Tatiana’s house!?” I asked, frustration bubbling up. Why had he brought me here?
“Just watch.” He pulled me in closer, his arm draped around my shoulder, as I tried to see what he wanted me to notice.
That’s when I caught it.
The aroma of Nixx started to intensify. Curiosity got the better of me, and I glanced over the path, spotting a wolf in the backyard of her cabin. My brother has a pet wolf. I started to explore the area near her residence, complaining a little as I did.
“What?” I barely managed to whisper as Darius guided me away from the cabin, retracing our steps through the woods while I stubbornly tried to turn back. She wasn’t there... What was the reason for his presence?
“He comes at night. Just sits and watches. I’ve seen him here every night when I pass through... observing.” His soft-spoken words made me feel deceived, as though the wolf inside me had been betrayed. He was shielding her from me. I’m his sister. “Observing their verbal exchange...”
Frustration bubbled up inside me. I couldn’t tear my gaze away from his. I had a surprised look on my face. I understood the mate bond, but she was a real challenge for him, available to anyone who desired her.
I’d definitely need to talk to him about this soon... and we’d probably argue. I felt a pang of hurt. Why would he betray my trust like this? I strongly disliked her, but she was his mate...
And I’d done the same...
But that didn’t justify it. He and Percival had a somewhat cordial relationship, but she and I were far from it. Considering the stunt she pulled earlier, it would have been nice if he had protected me... Both him and Z should have, but they ended up fighting over her.
“Where are we headed?” I whispered softly as he gently grasped my hand, guiding me through the enchanting forest. The ground was adorned with numerous saplings, their delicate forms illuminated by the ethereal glow of the moon.
He looked at me with a certain intensity in his eyes. Abruptly, he halted and embraced me, his touch unwelcome. “Hey, Edeline. Can you please listen to me?” He gazed down at me, his eyes scanning my face with a gentle concern. I paused, letting him find the right words, my jaw tightening in annoyance at his sudden dependency.
“Edeline... it’s hard to believe, but I have strong feelings for you. More than just friendship,” he whispered into my ear, leaving me in shock. “The night we spent together at the hot springs was truly enchanting, even if you don’t recall it. It felt like we were in our own little world...” He kissed my forehead gently, his hands lingering on my back.
“What?!?” I pulled back from him, his eyes narrowing in anger. “What are you talking about?” I shouted, fully aware we were deep in the woods, far from any potential interruptions. A surge of intense emotions swept over me as I looked up at him.
Just one step closer, and my wolf was on edge. I had agreed to work the half shift, ready to defend myself if necessary. She stared at him, her eyes reflecting my confusion. I was starting to understand her perspective more clearly. She wanted to witness what I was experiencing, to showcase our strength.
“We had a very intimate moment, Edeline. But then you suddenly started feeling unwell and mentioned you’d taken a nerve pill, so I stopped. Your lips were delightful, and the sensation of touching you was incredibly pleasurable,” he said, his eyes turning a deep shade of blue with a radiant light shining from behind them.
I looked at him with disgust. “You didn’t...” I growled, my chest heaving with frustration. But he seemed unaffected as he continued to close the distance between us.
“We did...” he said, a smile forming on his face as he observed me with an intense focus.
“You make me sick.” The words were spat out as I swiped my claws at his arm. He blocked the strike with his own clawed hand, spinning me around and pressing my back against his chest as anger consumed my thoughts.
“Edeline, please relax,” he whispered in a menacing tone, his warm breath on my skin making me feel incredibly uncomfortable. Embrace the power of the wolf. That wasn’t him. It felt wrong. “I just told you that I love you. It’s something I’ve felt for a long time and will continue to feel. It hasn’t been easy to keep it hidden, but I think it’s best to let Percival be with Tatiana. I don’t want to fight that. However, I want to mark you because I plan to challenge my brother in the future. If you choose him, you’ll be without a mate when I defeat him. And any offspring he has won’t survive for long.” His tongue glided across my skin as I struggled to comprehend what was happening.
Fury surged within me, fiery and intense. Darius was no longer my friend.
I nestled into him, letting his grip on me loosen. I adjusted my neck slightly, trying to get more comfortable. He leaned down, planting kisses on my skin that felt anything but pleasant. His hands relaxed their hold, and that’s when I saw my chance.
With a surge of adrenaline, I let my inner wolf take over. I attacked him with a fierce snarl, my claws raking across his arms while my teeth dug into his shoulder. He cried out in pain, his body writhing as he tried to shake me off. The taste of his blood was sharp and bitter on my tongue. It shouldn’t have gone down like this.