Chapter 96 CONFESSED
Edeline
I made a quick decision, flipping my wolf’s skin to the back and springing into action. My wolf leapt gracefully through the air, her powerful hind legs propelling her forward with astonishing speed. She landed with each step on her front paws, digging into the ground as she ran. The evening breeze rustled through her fur, carrying a sense of purpose.
As soon as we left the pack house, my wolf’s nose picked up Percival’s scent. Even though it was faint, she was drawn to it. She wanted him badly and wasn’t about to let me stand in her way.
She sprinted, the wind whipping past me as we raced up the dirt road, the scent growing stronger with each step.
He was close.
When my wolf turned the corner, she slowed down and began sniffing around the building. She eventually pinpointed the spot where his scent was strongest. Suppressing a growl of frustration, she leaned towards the window to get a better look inside.
Inside the room, I saw Tatiana lying in a hospital bed. Her arm was in a sling, awkwardly positioned due to a fracture. Despite being pregnant, she was healing quickly. Broken bones took longer, though, and it wasn’t something that would fix itself overnight.
Percival sat beside her, his hand gently caressing her stomach with an expression of deep sorrow. It was heartbreaking to watch. My wolf was overwhelmed with a mix of sadness and fury, itching to burst through the window and tear Tatiana apart.
Then the door creaked open, and the healer entered—a woman with an enigmatic presence whom Tatiana called Aunt. She greeted them with a smile, her eyes shimmering with a mysterious allure. Her ebony hair was striking, but there was something unsettling about her. How had no one noticed this before?
She exchanged a few words with them, and Percival nodded, leaning down to kiss Tatiana’s stomach. The gesture made me feel nauseous. I was desperate for this connection to end. He was hiding something.
Yet, at the same time, my wolf ached for him. She tried to get his attention, signaling his wolf that she needed him. His eyes suddenly darkened, shifting to the window as he hurriedly left the room.
My wolf cautiously retreated to the rear, putting some distance between herself and the building. She sank to the ground, overwhelmed by a whirlwind of emotions. That’s when Percival arrived.
I noticed his boots first before lifting my gaze to see him staring directly at my wolf. His hands were clenched into fists, and his jaw was set tight.
“Edeline, what brings you here?” His voice was a low, controlled whisper. “You’ve already caused enough harm. You could have endangered the pup’s life, and my wolf would have been far less forgiving. Have you forgotten that you were the one who urged me to do what’s right? What is it you want now?” He crouched down and began to gently caress my wolf’s head. She whimpered and nuzzled his hand in response.
“Shift,” Percival’s voice cut through the air with authority.
Without hesitation, my wolf complied, letting me take over as she retreated. I found myself back in my human form, completely exposed, glaring up at him with a mix of anger and frustration.
He extended his hand towards me, his expression serious. I ignored the gesture and stood tall, feeling the sting of his piercing gaze as he took in the scent of his brother on me.
“Your brother seems to have lost his mind, Percival,” I murmured, as he firmly grasped my arm and led me further into the woods behind the building, away from prying eyes. He tried to look away from my exposed body, but his efforts only made the situation more awkward. I couldn’t stand the way the tension between us had suddenly intensified. I loathed it.
Once we were in a quiet spot, he focused intently on me. His gaze was sharp as he studied my face. “What do you mean? Why is his scent all over you?” His voice was laced with a dangerous edge.
I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the weight of frustration. “According to him, he made advances toward me while I was under the influence. I don’t remember any of it.”
Percival growled lowly, his teeth lengthening and claws extending in response to his rising anger. Jealousy seethed within me, clouding my thoughts. I rolled my eyes. “He confessed his feelings for me and suggested you should mark Tatiana so he could mark me. He’s planning to challenge you for the alpha title once he’s stronger, with the intention of eliminating you and any potential offspring. Honestly, his forcefulness toward me made me question his mental state. And my brother has been unusually interested in Tatiana’s place since he arrived. Something feels off.”
I kept my gaze steady, arms crossed over my chest, waiting for his reaction.
His eyes, dark as night, burned with intense anger. “He won’t survive, Edeline. I’ll deal with him when I confront him.” The fury in his voice was palpable.
I sighed and shook my head. “No, Percival. You need to inform your father. Something is seriously wrong with him, and his behavior is troubling.”
"Because he deeply cares for you, Edeline! Can’t you see it? Are you unable to perceive it?" Percival shouted, his voice a raw edge of frustration. My wolf urged me to submit, to give in to our mate's demands, but I struggled to surrender as easily as she did.
I shut my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me. I had made up my mind to move on from him, despite the deep pain this bond caused me. The emotional strain of his angry outburst twisted and warped my feelings, making it hard to bear. I held onto my stomach, feeling an intense ache. An overwhelming urge to cry surged within me, to show my love for him, to express my dependence on him, and to reveal how he failed to choose me over her.
But as soon as our gazes met, I forced those emotions down. “Fine, Percival… just handle it,” I said with finality. I turned on my heel and walked away, acutely aware of his intense gaze following me. A shiver ran down my spine, a mix of relief and unsettling happiness.