Chapter 169
Edward's POV
The buzz of conversation in the Clifflands stadium faded as I walked away from Sebastian, Maddox, and Quinn. I couldn't face Eleanor, not yet, maybe not ever. The confrontation between my companions and Sebastian provided the perfect excuse to escape.
As I navigated through the corridors, my mind drifted back to Eleanor. We'd been together since we were seventeen. Seven years. It seemed both an eternity and a heartbeat. How could something that had defined such a significant portion of my life be reduced to such a brief chapter?
Shame washed over me as I walked, the bitter taste of it coating my tongue. Eleanor had accomplished what I couldn't. She'd kept her promises while I had broken mine. The night she came home naked and covered in wounds flashed through my mind. She'd reminded me of my vow to her, and I had just sat there on our couch.
The truth I couldn't escape was simple: I was afraid. Afraid of losing the precious gift that had been given to me. I had hoped Eleanor would understand, would accept this fundamental weakness in me.
I remembered telling Killian that Eleanor would reject him for Sebastian. The words I hadn't believed it myself, I'd just wanted to stop Killian from pursuing her. When I heard she had actually rejected him, my shame only deepened.
Sebastian Levenston was a better match for Eleanor. He made promises and kept them. He was the kind of man I had failed to be.
I would have to prepare myself for friendship with Eleanor, though it would be excruciating. But friendship, however painful, was better than silence and distance. At least I might regain some of the trust of the woman who had once been my confidante.
When I returned to our private box, Charles was sitting beside Claire. Hatred bubbled up in my chest at the sight of him. Sebastian had told me that Charles had orchestrated the attack on Verdantia in Lakeside territory, framing Quinn in the process. The deaths from that raid still haunted me.
"Edward," Claire greeted me with a smile. "How did the meeting with Sebastian go?"
"Not well," I lied, keeping my expression neutral. She frowned, reaching out to rub my back before kissing my upper arm.
"I hope the Alpha King isn't too angry," she said, concern in her voice.
I continued the lie. "Maddox and Quinn got in Sebastian's face, which made me nervous." Claire's frown deepened.
"Those stupid Alphas," she muttered. "Quinn is the one who got Forestvale in trouble in the first place, and Maddox nearly caused a second incident."
I patted her hand reassuringly. The last thing I needed was for her to go into labor in a box at the Clifflands stadium.
I wanted to tell her the truth, that it wasn't Quinn but her treacherous father who had caused the trouble. But I held my tongue.
"My father could support you against Quinn and Maddox in the Council," Claire suggested, smiling at her father. "Forestvale was much more peaceful when he was in charge."
Charles shook his head. "Maddox and Quinn have Edward's support. I can't oppose that."
Claire looked at me expectantly. "You would support my father, wouldn't you?"
"No," I replied bluntly. "Alpha Charles is retired, and I can keep Quinn and Maddox in check."
"Clearly you can't," Claire argued, "or they wouldn't be causing wars and friction between Clifflands and Forestvale."
"Quinn didn't attack the western border of Verdantia," I stated firmly. "I believe him, and I don't care who did it." I kept my face neutral, not wanting to alert the actual culprit sitting right beside us.
Claire's face flushed with emotion. "Do you remember how Eleanor was taken away in chains? She could have pointed the finger at me or let them kill you, but she sacrificed herself."
"And now she's the Luna Queen of Clifflands," Charles commented with jealousy in his voice. "Quite fortunate for her."
"She did get lucky with the Alpha King," Claire agreed.
I cut the conversation short. "Let's head back to the hotel. I'm tired of this conversation." In truth, I was tired of Charles and still processing what Sebastian had told me about his involvement in the attack.
Back at the hotel suite we shared with Maddox and Quinn, I showered and changed into comfortable clothes. I picked up the internal phone to order room service.
"What do you want to eat?" I asked Claire as she emerged from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her body.
"Surprise me," she smiled, her wet hair clinging to her face.
I ordered her favorite dishes, grilled salmon with roasted vegetables and chocolate mousse for dessert. Her face lit up when the food arrived.
"You know me so well," she said, settling beside me on the couch in her nightgown, leaning against my chest.
"Did you tell your father everything that happens at home?" I asked after a moment of silence.
She stiffened slightly before answering. "Not exactly. He asks questions, and I answer them. I'm his only child, so he's curious about my life."
I forced a laugh, but inside I was making a mental note to be more careful around Claire. Every word I said to her was potentially being reported back to Charles.
"Now that Eleanor is getting married and happy," Claire began cautiously, "will we get married too?"
I sighed. "We've already marked each other, Claire. There's no need for a ceremony. Only chosen mates have Purplemoon ceremonies and weddings."
The truth was, I refused because I knew her father was pushing her to ask, and I wasn't ready to officially make her my Luna. Not yet.
After dinner, Claire fell asleep watching some mindless movie. My eyelids grew heavy too, but I jolted awake at the sound of Maddox roaring in the living room.
I left the bedroom wearing only my sleep pants. Maddox was pacing furiously around the room.
"What the hell are you doing?" I demanded. "Claire is sleeping."
Quinn turned to me, his eyes blazing with anger. "What good are you?"
"Excuse me?" I growled.
"What fucking good are you as a leader?" Quinn spat. "You have no backbone. All you had to do was ask for an exchange and you couldn't even do that."
"You're a coward," Quinn continued, his voice dripping with contempt. "No wonder Eleanor left you so quickly."
Something snapped inside me. My fist connected with Quinn's face. I heard something crack, but I didn't care.
"You will show me some respect," I snarled, Zephyx taking over. "I've had enough of your bullshit."
Quinn staggered back, holding his bleeding nose.
"I accepted this invitation for you," I continued, my voice deadly calm. "I came to Clifflands and I begged Sebastian Levenston for you."
I pointed an accusing finger at Quinn. "You couldn't control your men, and someone used them to attack Verdantia's border, which provoked Sebastian's retaliation."
My voice broke slightly. "I'm still in pain from losing Eleanor, and you dare call me a coward?"
"I knew she was in Sebastiane's box today, but I didn't even have the courage to look at her because it's so fucking hard," I admitted, my chest heaving. "You got our mates taken from us, Quinn."
I turned to face both of them. "Natalie is not some object you can trade back. She's happy with Samuel Callaway and pregnant. Let her go."
I stared at Quinn. "Are you on drugs? No woman would come back to you after what you did to her."
"I can't understand how you let your soldiers rape your wife in front of you," I said, disgust evident in my voice. "That's sick."
I ran my hand through my hair in frustration. "I'm ashamed to call you my friends. I've done enough for you both."
"I lost my wife to a better man," I admitted. "You should accept the same reality."
Maddox stepped forward. "We may be your subordinates, but we're Alphas too. I want to make things right with Maggie."
"Everyone deserves a second chance," he insisted. "I never meant to hurt her. Della lied to me. I believed her."
He collapsed onto the sofa, tears streaming down his face. "It started as a heated argument, but then it became normal..."
"I won't help you try to get them back again," I said firmly. "I won't antagonize Levenston, Savidge, and Callaway for this."
I returned to the bedroom to find Claire sitting up in bed, crying. She had heard everything, but at that moment, I didn't care.
I climbed into bed, letting Zephyx take over as I tried to comfort her. I needed to move on faster than this.
The next morning, we headed to the stadium. Maddox and Quinn had decided they would find Natalie and Maggie.
"We'll catch them when they're alone," Quinn explained, determination in his eyes. "We'll explain ourselves and beg them to come back."
I thought they were delusional. And, I was certain this plan wouldn't end well for any of them.