Edeline

Percival, my mate. He was my everything, but now he's starting his future with someone else.

I snapped back to reality as Darius snapped his fingers in my face. "Edeline! Are you okay?"

I tried to shake off the awful feeling inside as my stomach tightened. "Yeah. Yeah. Of course. Sorry. I was just trying to remember what he told me. He said he was sorry, but he had to do the right thing. That's all." The last word came out in a whisper.

I felt like I was tearing apart inside and couldn't keep it all in for much longer.

Darius's anger flared as he looked out at the water. "That asshole! I'm going to kill him," he growled.

I couldn't fully blame my mate, except he should've stayed loyal. A female's heat is something no male can resist, and that night I found my mate and had my heart shattered in minutes. He told me the blonde she-wolf had been tempting him. He couldn't resist.

Darius's intense gaze returned to me, focused and hard. "You gotta talk to him. Alone. Ask him what he's gonna do. It's gotta be you, Edeline," he urged.

I felt the ache inside me grow as my face twisted with sorrow. Shaking my head, a small cry escaped my lips. "I just can't. I can't face him, Darius," I pleaded, my voice shaking.

His hand tightened around mine. "Then we'll face it together. Don't worry, I'll just be by your side."

I looked up, seeing the determination in his eyes. He'd go through anything for his best friend, and I'd do the same for him. But this was something we had to handle alone.

That's not what I wanted. Darius shouldn't hate his brother for something he couldn't control, and I didn't want to know what my mate was planning. It would only break my heart more. It was too much for a new wolf to handle. Just keeping my emotions in check was hard enough.

Darius gripped my hand as I fought back tears. Loud voices echoed across the water, and we turned to look. 

My mouth dropped open as I realized we'd drifted too close, now facing hundreds of wolf eyes from the pack having a barbecue on the shore. We were exposed in the canoe, with the entire pack looking at us. But all I felt were the eyes I couldn't escape. 

He was there, watching me. His gaze burned into me, and I let go of Darius's hand. I risked a glance and saw my mate sitting with his pregnant female, his jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed. 

Everyone knew Darius and I were best friends, but this felt too personal. I knew what they were all thinking. 

"We gotta leave, now," Darius said, his eyes fixed on mine as whispers and gasps floated from the shore, reaching us even on the water where gossip was already brewing. 

"Come on, hurry up, Darius," I begged, hiding my face from prying eyes.

I could already picture the rumors that would spread tomorrow. I didn't bother glancing back at my mate. It wouldn't change a damn thing, and seeing him with blondie would only wreck me.

I could see the rage on his face. But hell, he's got no damn right. None whatsoever. 

...

Waking up, I felt too sick to move. I stared at the swirls on the ceiling, my stomach churning painfully. I'm just gonna stay in bed today. Couldn't bear facing anyone. Getting caught with my best friend and then seeing my mate hook up with someone else was too damn much.

A knock made me freeze, eyes wide with fear. I hadn't even noticed him coming. "Edeline? Edeline, it's me. Please, open the door."

It's Darius.

I rolled my eyes, throwing the blankets off and staggering to the door. My knees wobbled. I still couldn't eat. Unlocking it, he barged in with blood all over his hands, cuts on his arms.

"What happened to you!?" I gasped, staring at him, my hand covering my mouth as my eyebrows shot up. He looked like shit, so I knew this had just gone down, probably in the last ten minutes, 'cause the blood hadn't even started to crust.

He slammed the door and leaned on it, a smug grin on his messed-up face. "I finally told big brother to go screw himself."

I was speechless, just gaping at him. I didn't even want to know. But he looked so damn pleased with himself. I figured I had to stroke his ego somehow. I gave him a thumbs-up.

"Darius, you didn't need to do that," I said, shaking my head, seeing his expression falter a bit. My lips curled into a smile. "But, thanks. For sticking up for me. You're awesome. You're really my best friend."

His grin was back in a flash as he rushed to my closet, tossing clothes my way. A dress smacked me in the face before I could catch it. "Ugh! Why do you keep doing that?!"

"Get dressed. We're heading down for breakfast," he said, peeking out from the closet with a smile.

Even after a fight, he looked good. Must've won if he's this happy.

I shook my head, feeling nervous. I wasn't ready to face everyone. "Go now," he insisted, standing in front of me. I met his gaze, feeling scared. "And then we're going for a run after my training. You need it. Your wolf needs it."

Darius was right. I hadn't shifted since my first time, and I wasn't sure how my wolf felt. She was stronger than me, I knew that much. Sometimes, her anger and sadness mixed with mine, but I couldn't grasp her exact thoughts. She could take control, but I trained hard to keep her in check. 

But there's always that chance...

"I'm not so sure about this, Darius..." I said, glancing up at him. His blue eyes softened as he put his hands on my shoulders.

"You'll be fine. You're tougher than you think," Darius reassured me.

I just shook my head, not really buying it. 

Darius's face turned serious as he straightened up. "Put your clothes on. No arguments. You need to face them eventually. I know you're not ready, but you have to fake it. People will gossip more if you hide. Stick with me-I'll handle any stares. Think of me as your shield. Now go."

Tears started welling up in my eyes, but I nodded and grabbed the first dress I saw, heading to change. As I was about to put it on, I realized it was way too short. My mate would not be pleased seeing me like this-

"Wait! Why the heck do I still care what he thinks? Forget it, I'll show him what he's missing, even if I look ridiculous," I muttered to myself, stepping out of the bathroom.

"Ready?" Darius asked, grabbing my hand as I emerged. I nodded, and he led me down the hall toward the dining area. My stomach felt like it was in knots, and I squeezed Darius's hand without even noticing. He squeezed back, giving me a concerned look.

"I'm here. Just focus. Breathe in deep. Hold it when he's around," he whispered, guiding me along.

We walked into the dining hall, where the noise of clinking forks and chatter filled the air. Percival's scent hit me like a wave-comforting yet painfully nostalgic.

I could practically smell him twice as strong as we got closer to where he could see us.

My whole body tingled at the thought of him looking at me, but I kept my eyes on Darius.

My throat tightened as we neared the buffet. Clutching Darius's hand tighter, we made our way to the breakfast spread.

Darius let go of my hand and grabbed a plate. "What do you want?" he asked, his eyes fixed on me. I felt like I wanted to vanish.

A guy fixing a plate for a girl, especially if he's high-ranking, means something. Darius doing it for me would stir up rumors, and Percival wouldn't be pleased.

I wasn't playing games, Darius was just here to support me. Taking a shallow breath, I managed a small smile.

"Just the usual," I whispered.

I felt a low growl behind me. I'm sure it's my mate. My mate didn't like his brother taking care of me. I couldn't even bring myself to say his name.

I felt his eyes scanning me, and anxiety tightened my gut. I hugged myself, trying to stay calm. My body ached for his touch. The wolf inside me stirred, nudging me towards him.

Edeline

After breakfast, Darius and I took a chill walk along a peaceful river that ran through the woods next to the Packhouse. The morning sun sparkled on the water, and the gentle flow made everything feel super relaxing. We chatted about the usual stuff-pack plans, upcoming events, and a bit of gossip. The conversation was easy, and I felt totally comfortable with Darius.

Eventually, we reached a quiet spot by the river where the trees cleared, giving us a stunning view of the cliffs overlooking our territory. Darius paused, looked at me thoughtfully, and said, "I've got to head to training soon. I'll be done in about two hours. Feel free to stick around here, explore, or shift if you want. Just don't go back to your room, hmm? We can run together later. I promise."

He gave me a friendly smile and ruffled my hair before heading back along the river. I watched him go, smiling to myself. The peaceful spot was perfect for some alone time. I settled by the river, dipped my fingers in the cool water, and let the calm wash over me.

The sun felt great on my face as I closed my eyes and soaked in the wind and sun. The river's gentle murmur and the rustling leaves created a soothing background. Everything felt so peaceful.

But then, I suddenly felt like the calm had been shattered by someone watching me. It was like a sharp, intense gaze on my skin.

I snapped my eyes open and looked around. Everything seemed normal, but the feeling of being watched was strong.

I focused on my senses and saw a pair of eyes peeking out from the dark bushes where Darius had disappeared. We locked eyes, and a chill ran down my spine.

Before I could react, a white wolf burst out of the bushes and raced toward me with surprising speed. I stayed calm as I sat down. There was no fear, just an odd sense of detachment. I just stared at the wolf, feeling an eerie stillness.

The wolf's intense stare never wavered. Slowly, his form began to shift, bones and muscles changing beneath the surface. In moments, the wolf transformed into a naked man-Percival.

He stood over me, his eyes locked onto mine with a desperate intensity, like he was missing me deeply. His body was sculpted and powerful, every muscle defined and stretched tight. Despite his strong presence, I stayed calm, matching his gaze.

Driven by something, Percival leaned in, his lips nearing mine. I could feel the heat of his breath and the urgency in his movements. Just as he was about to kiss me, I pushed him away, my heart racing.

"What's wrong with you, Percival?" I demanded, my voice shaking. "Why are you doing this? Why are you here?"

Percival's face showed a mix of frustration and sorrow. "We need to talk."

"Talk?" I said, almost laughing bitterly. "How did you find me?"

Percival's gaze softened, though it remained intense. "I can track your scent anywhere. It drives me crazy when I come across it. With my libido, it's hard to keep my wolf from hunting you down. It's tough to control anything when you're involved."

I stared at him blankly for a moment before replying, "We don't have anything to talk about, Percival. Go back to your soon-to-be Luna."

I turned to leave, but before I could take more than a few steps, Percival grabbed my arm, his grip firm but pleading. "Please, Edeline, just listen to me."

I turned back to face him, my eyes locking onto his. His wide blue eyes were glassy with unshed tears, and his face was etched with pain. He looked at me with a mix of longing and anguish, his emotions raw and unfiltered.

He wasn't shattered, but he was hurting. I wasn't sure if it was because of me or how his pack now saw him. Either way, it was clear he had a lot of shame. I could feel the weight of his struggle, and despite everything, I felt a pang of empathy for him.

"I want you to know what happened," Percival said, his voice trembling.

I shook my head, my voice cold. "I don't want to know. It's none of my business."

Percival's expression hardened with determination. "It is your business. I need you to understand."

He didn't want to let me go? A little too late for that. I shook my head and fixed my gaze back on the stream before me.

Guess he took that as a sign to keep talking.

"Edeline, in that summer camp, the guys there... They're always fighting, challenging each other. The women are nice, but it's not like it is here. They don't value the mate bond like we do."

"Neither do you," I whispered.

He hung his head, looking ashamed. "I do, Edeline. I always have. My only friends there were women. The guys saw me as a threat, so I hung out with a few of them. Tatiana was just a friend, someone to talk to. We didn't have much one-on-one time; I was mostly with her friends. I only spent time alone with her once. Two weeks before I was due home, Tatiana went into heat."

This was exactly what I didn't want to hear. But he needed me to know, even though it would just hurt me more.

He lowered his gaze to where my hand was gripping the ground, and I felt a shiver run through my fingertips. He kept talking, his eyes avoiding my face so he wouldn't see the pain his words were causing me.

"It hit her before she even knew it was coming. We were up late, everyone else had gone to bed, and suddenly it was there. I should have sensed it coming, should have picked up on the signs, but I didn't! I don't get why!"

He slammed his fists down on the ground, and the pain in his voice was real. I could tell he genuinely didn't understand why.

Every female knows when her heat is coming, and so do the males. It's this sweet, musky scent you can smell coming off them. Tatiana should have felt it coming, so it didn't make sense. She would have sensed it weeks in advance.

"After everything was done, we realized how big of a mistake it was. A male just can't resist that, Edeline."

And that's true. Males can't resist a female in heat. A mate will be drawn to their she-wolf, and unmated males will try to get to any she-wolf, mated or not. That's why females are usually kept separated during that time, away from temptation. Usually, their parents or mates step in to protect them.

Hearing this made me sick to my stomach. I could feel a tear slipping down my cheek as I took in everything he was saying, keeping my eyes fixed on the grass between us. I felt his intense stare on my skin again, warming me with the burn of his gaze.

"But, Edeline... I won't mark her."

I lifted my eyes to meet his, searching for any hint of deceit. There was none. He was either being completely honest or just sincere in that moment.

He really wouldn't mark her.

Edeline

"You won't?" That single question gave me a glimmer of hope, though it felt too late for that.

He shook his head slowly. The way his skin shimmered was messing with my head, making me think I might have a chance with him. But I wouldn't if another woman was involved.

"She's staying with the Oracle at the cabin with my parents. I'm holed up in a house across the lake that's not being used. I didn't want her staying with me because of her wolf, and my dad thought it'd be best if I stayed away from you for now. Being across the lake helps because your scent isn't always around."

I stared at him in shock. I'd thought she'd be with him. They seemed like they were trying to be a family, like we should have been.

Then it hit me.

"You're staying away so your wolf won't be tempted to mark me, and vice versa?" I raised an eyebrow, feeling a mix of anger and relief.

He helped me, but he also broke my heart. The news pissed off my wolf but made me happy in a weird way. I didn't want to be near him.

With his head still lowered, he nodded, and I stayed quiet, waiting to hear more.

"Omega Conor, the leader of the Celestial Moon pack, is Tatiana's father. He told me to take her home and mark her as my mate as soon as he found out I didn't have one. It would unite our packs and give me control over both one day." I looked into his blue eyes. "The night I saw your face and smelled your scent, I knew what you meant to me. I thought about it a lot. Things changed after that. She was furious and didn't want to lose face, so she begged for my help. But, I couldn't do it. I can't do that to myself or to you." My hands were lifted from the ground, and I gasped as I looked deeper into his eyes. He was calling my wolf.

"You're a gift from me. I know how you feel about me and that you won't want me now. But there's a small part of me that's still holding on to hope. I really want to mark you as mine, but I'd never force that on you. Right now, my only duty to Tatiana is to help her through her pregnancy. I'm not sure what I'll do when the baby is born, but I can't just send it back to Celestial Moon with Tatiana."

His words cut deeper, tearing my heart apart. What did he think was the right choice? The only good thing about this mess was that he hadn't marked her. The Alpha of Tatiana's pack might want them to mate to unite their packs, but he wouldn't be happy if Percival didn't claim her, because it would mean his only child would lose honor.

Females can't take over a pack on their own. To get a pack, they have to mate with another Alpha. If she can find him, her true mate would be an Alpha. That's how it works. Alpha females can only mate with Alpha males because a male can't just become an Alpha. Any female Alpha can mate with an Alpha male because, no matter what, the female will always be the Luna.

I had tears in my eyes as I looked at him. Our feelings were so intense. "So, you're going to make her part of the pack? Take care of the baby together?" I asked. "If she's his only child, her dad wouldn't let that happen." I tried to stay calm, but my voice cracked and more tears rolled down my cheeks. It was hard to handle everything.

It's not every day that the person you love ends up marrying and having kids with someone else.

"She can't be packed," he sighed. I get it. "She's supposed to mate with an Alpha who can take over her pack. And since she's pregnant, her dad wants me to be that guy. But you know how rare it is for wolves to have babies with anyone other than their mate."

He was right.

You could have babies with someone other than your mate. It happened all the time, and it was tough. If you bred with someone who wasn't your mate, you could end up with a miscarriage or a baby. It was hard to say what would happen if your souls weren't linked. But it helped wolves whose mates had died, turned them down, or never found them. The moon would feel their pain and let them mate with someone else and have babies. But a guy who had a mate? One who never got a chance to leave her mark?

It wasn't clear if that baby would survive or not. Since I was here with them both, Tatiana had almost no chance of keeping that baby.

The Moon Goddess couldn't really dislike me that much.

Could this work out for me?

It was pretty selfish to hope someone would die so I could have a chance.

He'd be crushed to lose a baby. It didn't matter what kind of mother it was.

I didn't want that for him...

I lifted my face to his, and he placed a finger under my chin. It made my heart race, like a fire inside me. His touch made my insides tighten, and that one finger on my skin sent shockwaves through me. It hit me deep.

My red-rimmed eyes met his hooded blue ones again, and then his hand left me. It left a trail of cold as he closed his eyes and breathed in my scent.

I needed his touch again. I felt the wolf inside me urging me to lean towards him, but I didn't listen. I couldn't.

"The wolf would be to blame for anything I did, and I couldn't handle feeling any worse about myself." He shook his head, trying to snap out of it. I could feel his pain and desire, just like he felt mine.

"She's upset that I won't mark her," he said. "She's worried because she thinks this pregnancy won't end well. She wants what you have because she knows I only care about you and not her, Edeline. I don't know what will happen between her dad and me, but I'll make sure she doesn't lose respect for you. I don't love her. I've only seen her as a mistake since that night. I haven't touched her since then. I'm not going to touch her again."

Even though he said it like it didn't matter, my wolf was relieved to hear it.

When he told me the truth, I closed my eyes, grateful that I was wrong about what I had seen that day. But that didn't mean I'd offer myself to him. I wasn't going to wait around and be his backup plan.