Chapter 14
Eden
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The car pulls into the school parking lot, and my stomach unclenches when Azriel finds a spot and finally stops the death machine. He parks carelessly, taking up two spaces instead of one, which suits his personality since he is a fairy prince who thinks he is important.
“We’re here,” he announces unnecessarily, his smile calculated and not reaching his eyes. “And you’re safe and sound.”
“Safe is a matter of perspective,” I mutter, reaching for the door handle.
Azriel’s hand shoots out, long fingers gripping my arm. He isn’t a werewolf, but he is strong. I can’t pull him off. His face suggests he doesn’t understand that I even tried.
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“Eden,” he says, his voice dropping to that silky purr that I know would make women fall to their knees and beg to be kissed by his lips. “A word of advice.”
I freeze, not expecting more danger so soon. “What?”
“Don’t try to run.” His fingers tighten around my bicep. It isn’t enough to hurt me, but definitely enough to remind me of his strength. “My sister would send her best hunters after you if you tried.”
I force myself to meet his unnatural violet eyes. “Are threats your only form of communication?”
He releases my arm, leaning back with a casual grace, chuckling with his chin jerked my way. “Not threats, Eden. Promises. There’s a difference.”
“Right,” I say. “Because you’re so trustworthy.”
Azriel raises an eyebrow, smirk deepening. “I don’t remember ever lying to you.”
His not telling me who he was and pretending to be interested in me feels like him lying to me. But I don’t tell him that. It. would be like opening a can of worms to admit I’m hurt, so instead, I marsh towards the school.
Azriel chuckles behind me. “I will drive you and your friend home later. You leave with them, yes?”
“I can walk home on my own!”
Those are the last words spoken to the fairy bastard before I storm off inside.
First, I go to the bathroom, pee, and make sure my makeup looks nice over my acne. Then, I enter the corridor. Students are everywhere, talking and laughing. I spot Elvira waiting anxiously by my locker. She must have gotten her while I was in the bathroom.
“Oh my god, you’re alive!” she exclaims in relief, pulling me into a tight bestie hug. “I was worried he’d kidnap you and take you to fairyland early!”
“Not yet,” I mutter, opening my locker with trembling fingers. “But he made it clear running isn’t an option.”
“We’ll find a way,” Elvira insists. “There has to be some sort of loophole. Fairies always have weaknesses in the old stories. Iron, or salt, or-”
“Or finding my mate,” I finish, gathering my textbooks. “That’s our only realistic option.”
The hallway goes quiet, and thanks to some deeply rooted werewolf instinct, I know that Logan has arrived. I jerk my chin, and goosebumps prickle over my skin. The new Alpha moves through the crowd of students like Moses parting the Red Sea, students pressing themselves against lockers to clear his path.
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Chapter 14
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He looks different now. Stronger. Colder. Bigger. Like he has grown overnight. The power of being Alpha has settled on his broad shoulders like an invisible mantle. What surprises me is that he isn’t followed by his usual group of friends. Logan is entirely alone and scanning the hallways with his piercing blue eyes until they land on me.
“Wow,” Elvira whispers beside me. “Logan went to a total daddy Alpha overnight…”
She is right. Pack members will automatically be attracted to their Alpha, and I am very much drawn to Logan. Only to his ridiculous looks, though. The guy is a total asshole and not exactly boyfriend material.
He is also still staring at me.
“Eden,” he says in his Alpha voice, making my wolf want to roll over in submission.
“A–Alpha,” I stammer, hating how my voice quivers. My wolf is whimpering inside me, desperate to please my Alpha despite my human side knowing better.
Logan’s jaw tightens when he looks between Elvira and me. “I need to speak with you. Alone.”
Elvira, who should be afraid of her Alpha, steps forward with her chin lifted. “Wh–whatever you have to say can be said in front of me too, Alpha!”
Logan looks ready to bite her head off, but to my surprise, he doesn’t pull rank. He just exhales slowly through his nose as if mentally trying to calm him. “Fine. I wanted to let Eden know that I’ve arranged for her mother’s funeral. It will be held tomorrow evening.”
Right! My mother. Dead. The funeral. I hadn’t even thought about it, too consumed thinking about my own future death.
“Oh.” I whisper. “Thank you.”
Logan has the decency to nod. “The Valentine pack will cover all expenses. It’s the least we can do, considering…” He trails off with guilt, making his Adam’s apple bob.
“Considering your father murdered her?” Elvira finishes in a blunt whisper.
Nearby pack members gasp at her being brave enough to say to our Alpha, but Logan doesn’t react with anger. Instead, his muscular shoulders sag.
“Yes,” he says quietly. “Among other things.”
The bell rings, saving us from the awkward silence that follows…or so I think until I realize Elvira and I don’t have the same class while Logan and I do. And walking there together with him? Not fun.
I look to my side, and my face grows hot when I realize I’m eye–to–eye with a bicep that’s thicker around than my thigh. He stretches to release a yawn, that same arm lifting high, his white shirt riding up just enough-
Stop. Stop staring!
But I do.
And, of course, he catches me red–handed.
Logan arches a silent eyebrow. His usually cold and emotionless face that’s reserved only for me has turned into genuine surprise. “Enjoying the view, Felicity?”
Oh my god! Did he have to call me out like that?!
“I wasn’t…I was just-”
“Save it,” Logan interrupts, but he doesn’t sound disgusted or mean. If anything, he looks almost…amused? “We’re going to
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Chapter 14
be late.”
I don’t respond. I can’t. Not when the tension between us could be cut with a cake knife. I have no idea why Logan is walking with me, but I’m glad since all the other students part for Logan like he’s radioactive. Pack members bow their heads, and normal human students watch with undisguised curiosity. No one’s used to seeing one of the hottest guys on campus walking with the acne–prone failure.
“You’re staying with the Fagerlöfs?” Logan asks suddenly in a low voice.
Is he finding it awkward to talk to me? Is that why he is making that strange face?
I clutch my books tight to my chest. “They’ve been kind enough to take me in.”
“Good,” he says. “I don’t want you staying alone in that house. Not after what happened.”
His concern irks me. A week ago, Logan wouldn’t have cared if I’d slept in a ditch. “I’m surprised you care, “I blurt out and then regret it.
What am I doing talking like this to my Alpha?
Luckily, Logan doesn’t get angry. He actually looks…vulnerable?
“I’ve always cared.”
The statement is so unexpected that I stumble, my books nearly slipping from my grasp. Logan’s arm shoots out right in time, steadying me with a superhero grip that sends actual electricity up my arm. The hell?
“Careful,” he murmurs.
I jerk away, confused by my body’s reaction to his touch. “Thanks,” I mumble, avoiding looking into his absurdly blue eyes. What’s with guys and pretty eyes? “Look, you don’t have to pretend to be nice to me just because I’m going to die. It’s actually worse.”
Logan stops walking, his face hardening. “Is that what you think this is?”
“Well…what else would it be?” I ask.
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