CHAPTER 3: EDELINE’S SCENT

Percival

Dragging my hands through my hair, I let out a long, tired sigh. Just once—just one fucking time—I wanted something to go smoothly.

She was probably headed to her parents’ house. Somewhere safe. Somewhere that didn’t have me.

Fine. Let her go for now. I wasn’t gonna let her spiral alone forever.

It was time I checked the damage. She’d said she wasn’t gonna leave again. I planned to hold her to that. But first, maybe I’d give her a little space—and give myself a second to breathe.

I dressed fast, then shot out the door, sprinting all the way to the packhouse. The scent of breakfast still clung to the air.

As I stepped into the dining hall, every head turned. Conversations halted mid-sentence. Eyes went wide. A wave of tension hit the room like a damn bomb.

Right. I forgot… an alpha male with a potentially pregnant mate? That’s a special kind of dangerous.

Everyone looked like they were calculating how to not piss me off. Smart move.

My mind drifted—was she pregnant? No idea. But the thought rooted itself deep in my gut and refused to move.

Maximus lifted a hand, flagging me down from across the room where he and Gaspar sat with Jack. “X! Over here.”

I raised a brow as I stalked toward them. Gaspar? Shit, I hadn’t even noticed him arrive. “Hey, Gaspar. When the hell did you get here?” I asked, sliding into my spot at the head of the table. Jack sat on my right, grinning like the smug bastard he was.

Maximus chuckled, throwing me a knowing look. “You mean while you were locked up getting your rocks off?”

Gaspar smirked too. “I came in the morning of the challenge. Was supposed to be a short stop, but I had to chase you down for those goddamn reports. Couldn’t find you that day, though. Wonder why.”

His tone dripped sarcasm. I scowled, biting into my toast.

“Oh—and FYI?” Maximus said between mouthfuls of bacon. “You only lost ten guys and one sorry-ass she-wolf. Not too bad.”

My fingers clenched around my fork, but I didn’t say a word.

Then Jack let out a grunt and turned to me with that lethal look of his. “Percival. You should’ve showered before showing your face here. You reek of my daughter.”

His voice dropped to a growl. The air around us got real fucking cold.

I didn’t need to reply. He wasn’t wrong. Her scent was all over me, and even if we had showered last night, that kind of heat sticks. It clings to your soul.

I let it slide. No point in adding more fuel to the fire. Instead, I turned my attention to Gaspar.

“Gaspar,” I said, my voice low and heavy, still laced with alpha edge. “How’s your morning?”

He winked, all smug. “Pretty damn good, actually. My mate’s pregnant with a boy.” He leaned back, arms crossed, pride glowing off him. “At least now she’ll have something to keep her hands full, instead of throwing shit at me every five minutes.”

Jack gave a low chuckle, amused despite himself.

Gaspar narrowed his eyes. “What’s so funny, old man?”

Jack just smirked and went back to eating, saying nothing.

Wolves at the surrounding tables began to murmur as I ate, voices low but sharp with curiosity. The talk shifted—Nixx, apparently, had dominated a few males out on the training field a few days ago. I paused mid-bite, raising my voice just enough to cut through the noise. "How the hell did Nixx get out of the clinic that day?"

Jack didn’t miss a beat. He smirked, setting his utensils down with a slow, deliberate clink. “Truth is, I let him go.”

That made me straighten, the chair creaking beneath me. “What?” My brows knitted together as I turned toward him fully. “How did you know Edeline would—”

“My mate,” Jack interrupted, his tone calm but firm, like he’d been waiting for the question. “She caught something off about Edeline’s scent that morning. Said it didn’t sit right. She asked me to check in.”

He leaned back, folding his arms as he continued, “I got to the field just in time to see you two heading off—and those three males moving in. I knew the rest would turn on you. Gaspar had just pulled up with Annabel. I told him and Maximus to stay put, hold the ground. Then I went to get Nixx, figured his bite would be more useful in that moment than a muzzle.”

He shrugged like it was no big deal and turned back to his plate.

A rare swell of pride surged in my chest. Now that—that was solid leadership. Calculated. Sharp. Exactly what I needed from my Beta. “That was a damn good call, Beta Jack.”

My wolf stirred beneath the surface, ears perked, gaze sharpening. I could feel the tension radiating from the room. The air shifted. A low, vibrating growl built up in my chest. I rose to my full height, letting it rip through the hall like a thunderclap.

“Anyone got something they’d like to say?”

Silence snapped into place like a trap. Wolves ducked their heads, eyes dropping to their plates, shoulders curling in. Trembling. I knew what this was about. I knew the fear.

“The wolves who died a few days ago—they were killed during challenges,” I barked, my voice slicing through the uneasy quiet. “And every damn one of you knows a challenge is your choice. A fight to the death is your choice. Mine too. And my mate’s.”

I caught Jack’s raised eyebrows. Even he seemed surprised at the bluntness.

“No one should be afraid—unless you’re stupid enough to try and take what’s mine.” I paused, letting the words hang heavy. “Do I make myself clear?”

Nods rippled through the hall, some mumbled affirmations. Shoulders relaxed just a touch. Yeah, I’d have to play clean-up later. The families of the fallen would still grieve. And Jazz’s mother? Shit. She’d probably be out for blood just like the rest of them.

I cleared my throat and dropped back into my seat. Maximus was grinning like a damn fox.

“So…” He dragged the word out, eyes gleaming. “How was the heat? Heard you didn’t find any condoms.”

Jack choked violently on his food, coughing and wheezing like an old engine. He glared at Maximus, who was already snorting behind his hand, barely hiding the laughter.

Then Jack slammed both hands down on the table with a resounding thud. His face was thunder. “That heat you’re talking about? None of your business. That’s my baby girl, you shit.”

Gaspar chuckled from the other side, elbows on the table as he leaned in with a crooked grin. “But what if you’re a grandfather now? Don’t you wanna know?”

Jack’s glare flicked to me—then widened, his expression faltering.

“Wait. Is that real? I’m… I’m gonna be a grandfather?” His voice dipped into something softer. Uncertain.

Fuck. This was awkward. The kind of awkward that made my spine stiffen and my throat dry out.

I cleared my throat. “Uh… maybe. I’m not sure yet. It’s looking like a 90% chance. Edeline’s not exactly thrilled with me right now.”

I stabbed at my eggs, appetite gone. It killed me knowing she was upset. Again.

Jack’s smile bloomed before he let out a loud, genuine laugh. He clapped a heavy hand on my shoulder hard enough to make my fork bounce on the plate. “Well shit. I’m gonna be a grandpa!”

Then, with a sudden edge, his voice dropped into a growl. “But listen, X. If you ever hurt her again, I don’t give a fuck what title you hold—I’ll put you in the ground myself.”

His green eyes locked onto mine, unwavering.

I lifted my hands slightly, half in surrender, half in assurance. “Jack, if I ever hurt her again, you have my full permission to do whatever the hell you want to me. But it’s not gonna come to that.” I exhaled, jaw tight. “If I’d known Edeline was mine from the start, none of this would’ve happened.”

I looked up, gaze drawn out the window, at nothing in particular. “But the Moon Goddess? She writes the chapters. Not me.”

Maximus and Gaspar smirked at me as Jack leaned back in his seat, deep in thought. “Congratulations,” Maximus beamed.

I shook my head. “We don’t even know what the situation is yet. Plus, I’m pretty sure Edeline would prefer we didn’t talk about this. So, both of you, drop it.” I scowled, pushing my plate away from me.

Jack leaned in, his tone turning serious. “I forgot to tell you—Conor’s unmated wolves will be arriving on pack lands soon.”

“What?” I jerked my head to meet his gaze. My eyes widened. “Why?”

He raised an eyebrow. “It’s time for the mate picnic.”

The mate picnic. I had completely forgotten about it.

Each year, we alternate hosting a gathering with one of our allied packs. This year, it’s Conor’s turn. It’s a tradition where unmated wolves—both males and females—gather to search for their mates. If a male finds his female from another pack, she’ll leave with him to join his pack. It’s always been this way.

I ran my hand through my already disheveled hair. “This is great. When does it happen?” My Alpha tone returned.

Jack chuckled. “They’ll be here tomorrow. The picnic’s the day after that.” He clearly enjoyed watching me squirm.

A wave of unease hit me. My wolf, especially in light of Edeline’s situation, would become overly protective. If she’s expecting, I’d have an even harder time holding back my instincts. I’d never gotten close to Tatiana because she wasn’t my mate. But Edeline? That was different. My wolf would want to protect her with everything he had.

“I assume Tatiana and Mirabelle will be here too?” I asked.

Jack nodded. Maximus’s pupils widened slightly, and he perked up. “I heard she miscarried.”

“Mirabelle...” My voice faltered, and a ghost of a smile flickered across my face. What a tragic situation. Mirabelle wasn’t one to stick by her friends for long.

Maximus leaned closer, his face serious. “What if we throw a big celebration? I’ll bring my unmated partners, and we can all enjoy it.”

Jack cleared his throat, and I considered the idea. “Bad idea. Gaspar and Conor aren’t on the best terms.”

Gaspar growled at Jack’s comment. “Because Conor drove my sister to take her own life with the way he treated her.”

Jack shook his head. “You really think Conor’s not sorry? He’s had to think about that for a long time. Hell, he was raised by Maximus. Even Maximus can vouch for how much that’s haunted him.”

Maximus nodded, his expression distant. “Dad had a way of keeping Conor’s title over his head. But we can get through one night. My wolves need their mates. It messes with them when they can’t find them.”

I silently pondered Maximus’s words. If Conor truly hadn’t met his mate yet, or if something else had happened...

Standing up, I glanced over at the three wolves nearby. “Fine. We’ll do it. Bring them. Jack, let the cook know we’re expecting extra wolves. And tell the guest concierge to prepare the rooms. Maximus, how many do you have?”

He grinned, broadening his shoulders with pride. “Just forty. Twenty-five males, fifteen females.” He was an Alpha, after all. The idea of his wolves finding their mates clearly excited him.

I nodded in agreement. Jack grumbled under his breath as I turned to leave. “We’ll have the picnic. I’ve got some other matters to take care of. We can hash out the details later.” But his gaze would occasionally shift back to mine, the thought of becoming a grandfather lingering in his mind.

I stepped out of the dining hall, wanting to talk to Edeline, but I knew she wasn’t exactly in the mood to see me. The picnic was set for the day after tomorrow. I’d have to stay on my toes, though, because once all the wolves showed up tomorrow, they'd probably just want to settle in and kick back. This event was going to run all weekend, and it could be the biggest one we’ve hosted so far.

I just hoped everyone acted like adults.

My mind wandered briefly to Nixx. Where was he now? Was he still staying with his parents, or was he heading back to the clinic with the lockdown in place? I should’ve asked Jack, but honestly, I couldn’t stop thinking about Edeline the whole time. Could she be pregnant? Could I be about to become a father?

When I got to my room in the pack house, it hit me right away—the familiar mix of Edeline’s scent and mine. The night we spent together had left my room a bit of a mess, but her fragrance was everywhere, lingering on everything she touched.

It felt good to have her back, though…

Her accusations… saying I’d purposely tried to get her pregnant. That wasn’t even close to the truth. I tried to avoid it. It wasn’t just on me. She could’ve been more careful, too. Why does it always fall on the guy, though?

She hadn’t even decided if she wanted me there during her heat. We were kinda thrown into the situation. Once it starts, though, it’s like there’s no separating a mated pair. The moment I told her I couldn’t find any contraceptives, that was it. No going back. Our wolves had their own plan, and we were just along for the ride. I just wanted to make sure she knew what was going on.

Being a wolf has its downsides…

But, the gift of having a mate… that’s something special. Someone made just for you.

Honestly, that was always gonna outweigh any of the bad stuff that comes with being a wolf.

Part of me hopes she’s not pregnant, just for her sake. But the other part of me? I kind of hope she is. From the outside, we probably look like a couple of kids, but for wolves, it’s different. Once we find our mate, that’s it. No courtship, no long dance. We find them, we claim them, and we’re bonded. Some wolves are lucky if they find their mate when they’re seventeen after their first shift. The lucky ones? They wait until they're eighteen to mate and usually end up pregnant right after.

If I’m being honest, I’d be shocked if she wasn’t pregnant. Last week, I spent way more time inside her than I planned.

A lot more.

I just want to talk to her. I want to share a moment with her, to finally get on the same page.

I can’t keep doing this—back and forth. It’s either too hot or too cold, and I’m getting tired of it.

“I’m done with this, and the wolf is getting restless.”

Before I could think more, I heard a knock at the door.

“Come in.” I could already smell who it was. The last person I wanted to see.

The door opened, and there she was—crystal blue eyes filled with both pain and something else. She gave me a soft smile.

“Hello, my son.”