Eden’s POVAdrian motioned for me to sit down with him on the ground, so I did.“It’s a beautiful night,” he sighed, looking up at the sky. I did the same. The night sky was clear and speckled with stars. The air was cool and crisp, with the fresh scent of lilacs.Lilacs.The scent brought me back to the night before my big fight with Seth. We had stood in the garden under a similar star-speckled sky, the scent of lilacs mingling with his scent of white pine and amber. We kissed that night. My heart did flip flops at the memory. His lips, so warm. His hands, so strong on my back. His…No. I forced myself to stop. I was getting lost in the memory and that wasn’t the right place for me to be. I needed to stay focused on the present. Adrian helped draw me back to the present, too.“So I guess you overheard our conversation?” He looked at me, a confident half-smile on his face.“I didn’t mean to. Honestly. It was an accident. I was passing through the garden and I heard her say my name.”
Eden’s POV“Well,” Adrian shrugged. “I can only marry someone that Alpha Miles approves of. He doesn’t approve of Selena.”I was shocked! “Seriously?” I asked, my mouth gaping. I didn’t think my grandfather was that controlling.“Yes,” Adrian said. A sad expression crossed his face.This didn’t sound like my grandfather at all. Maybe he just didn’t understand. “Have you tried talking to him? Maybe if you explain the situation…”Adrian cut me off. “No, it’s not like that,” he said, shaking his head. “Alpha Miles didn’t demand anything from me. He respects me. You’re right, if I explained the situation, he would let me choose my own wife. He’s not forcing me to do anything.”That sounded more like my grandfather. “Then what’s the problem?” I asked.“This is my choice, Eden. He’s voiced his plans for me. You know, told me what he wants me to do. How he sees my future playing out. So out of respect for him, I’m choosing to follow his wishes.”“But why?”“You know he adopted me, right?”I
Eden’s POVWe both jumped up and ran to her. Selena screamed again, her face writhing with pain.“What’s happening?” I asked, shocked.“It’s…my….wolf…” she breathed, her jaw clenched tight.“Oh my moon goddess, she’s shifting,” I said out loud. Adrian knelt by her side.“It’s her first time,” Adrian said. I stood back, giving her and Adrian space. “It’s okay,” he said soothingly.“I’m scared,” she told him, her eyes wide. She clenched and unclenched her fists. “Adrian, it hurts. It hurts so bad.”He stroked her arm. “Just let it come out,” he said, his voice gentle. “The more you fight it, the more it will hurt. Give yourself over to your wolf, Selena. Let the wolf surface.”She nodded, her face contorted.“Breath with me,” Adrian instructed. They both took some deep breaths.And then, her body began to shift. I could see a calmness wash over her face as she gave into the wolf. The wolf surfaced, shifting her legs and limbs. It was a beautiful sight, watching this young woman shift fo
Eden’s POVSerena stopped, mid-pounce. She cocked her head to the side.I figured the fact that she had stopped was a good sign. Had I finally gotten through to her? “Yes, you heard me right,” I told her. “He loves you. Not me.” She was frozen in place for a moment. And then…right before our eyes, she shifted back into her human form.She realized she was naked and tried to hide her private parts with her hands. I averted my eyes. Adrian tossed her the dress that had ripped off when she shifted.She awkwardly covered her naked body.“Is this true?” she asked Adrian.But Adrian didn’t answer. He just stood there like an oaf.I could have kicked him! Serena had finally calmed down. She was ready to listen. This was his chance! His chance to tell her everything he’d told me.So why was he just standing there like a moron?“Adrian, is she telling the truth?” Serena asked again. “Do you…” her voice trailed off. Her face said it all, though. Hopeful and nervous.But Adrian’s lips were sea
Eden’s POV“Eden! Hello?”I opened my eyes. Someone was rapping on my door. Disoriented, I glanced around. I was in bed. It was morning.“EDEN!”Whoever it was sounded frantic. The knocks continued in urgent succession.“Eden! Are you awake? It’s me. Serena.”Serena?What was she doing pounding on my door like this first thing in the morning? A thought hit me then.Had Adrian not explained things to her? Last night? Was she still bitter and jealous towards me?What if…What if she wanted to duel?She’d been really hostile towards me in the past. She cut my dress. Then she tried to attack me…in wolf form! Several times. If she still thought that Adrian had feelings for me….well…Who knew what she was capable of?I walked to the door and opened it, just enough to peek out and see her.I expected to see a woman wild with rage. But instead, I saw a young girl with a sad, dejected look on her face.Oh…Serena.I swung the door wide open and motioned for her to come in.“Was it true?” she as
Eden’s POV“Who’s Jacob?” I whispered to Serena as we scuttled down the hall together. I had thought about staying back in my room, but Serena had urged me to come.And truth be told, my curiosity got the better of me.Adrian was well ahead of us.“A classmate. From werewolf school,” she snipped. Her voice had an edge of frustration. She seemed annoyed that she had to go and meet this ‘Jacob’.“A classmate?” I raised my eyebrow at her. I had a feeling ‘Jacob’ was more than just a classmate, judging by how awkward both Serena and Adrian had been back in my room.She stopped and looked at me. “Fine,” she finally sighed, rolling her eyes. “He likes me, okay? But I’m not interested. I’ve told him that. Plus he’s a playboy. A real sweet talker. You know the type. Adrian’s warned me about Jacob more times than I can count.”It was all starting to make sense now. The look on Adrian’s face. The awkward tension between them…Adrian was upset that Jacob was here. But if that was the case, then
Eden’s POVAdrian left in a huff. He’d seen enough. He’d heard enough.It was perfect.Serena immediately went to follow him, but I grabbed her elbow. “Excuse us for a moment,” I said to Jacob.“Whatev,” he replied.I pulled Serenna to the corner of the room where Jacob couldn’t hear us.“Don’t go after him,” I whispered to Serena.“But you saw him. He was upset. I think…he misunderstood. I don’t want to train with Jacob. That’s the last thing I want to do.”“No, actually, it’s EXACTLY what you want to do.” I fixed her with a mischievous smile.“I don’t understand,” she said, shaking her head.“This is all part of the plan,” I told her.“What plan?” she whispered back.Jacob had returned to the window. His back was to us, with his hands clasped behind his back. He looked over his shoulder and winked at Serena.“You weren’t kidding when you said he’s a playboy,” I whispered.“This isn’t even the worst of it,” Serena sighed. “But I really need to go after Adrian. He looked so mad. I jus
Eden’s POVI had to admit, Adrian was smart. I wasn’t sure how he figured that Zane was the father, but he had.“Please,” I said, knowing there was no use in denying it. “No one can know.”He nodded. “Your secret is safe with me, Eden,” he winked. I had no choice but to trust him.Later, we met up with Serena and Jacob for lunch. I had suggested we all go to lunch together. It was part of my plan to make Adrian jealous so he’d confess his true feelings to Serena.Te-he.I ordered a salad at the counter but Adrian gave me a ‘look’.“Fine,” I sighed, rolling my eyes. He was right. I needed to eat more. For the baby. So I ordered a sandwich and soup, too.When we got to the table, Adrain pulled out my chair for me. Then he scurried back to the counter and brought me my meal.I know he was doing this because he now knew I was pregnant. But I could get used to this!We all chatted for a bit about the warriors and the training.“Eden, I think you should take a few more bites of that sandwic