Chapter 4 IRRESISTIBLE TEMPTATION

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.