Sold to the Alpha With Silver Eyes - Chapter 43: Chapter 43

*Eden*
It’s been a solid week of sleepless nights staring at the bedding on the floor where Dev used to sleep. Every night I get angry and tear it apart, tossing the blankets to the side in a clump of cloth, but then I curl up in it as the sun rises. I like to imagine his scent is still there, lingering for me to remember the comfort of being near him, but then again, it’s not like I can smell it if it is there.
Leoni doesn’t bother to bring him up or anything that has to do with him unless it is important. Like how Dev was the one to catch Paxton after he escaped the dungeon and he killed him. Not that I feel bad for the asshole. He chose his path, and it led to an early demise. But I can’t help but wonder how killing Paxton might have affected Dev. Or rather, Prince Dev.
“Okay, I can’t do this anymore.” Leoni finally exhales, placing a pint of empty ice cream to the side.
“You could just let me wallow on my own, you know,” I tell her, and she scoffs.
“Sorry, Eden, but you are planning to leave me here all alone soon, so I want as much quality time with you as possible. This,” she points at us lounging on the couch, a spread of junk food around us and a romantic comedy on the TV, “Is not how I want to remember our friendship.”
I groan, rolling off the couch and onto the ground as I crawl to the coffee table and force myself to stand. It’s dramatic, but it feels necessary. I am tired of feeling like I am constantly having to be a fucking butterfly and emerge from chrysalis and spread my wings. I did that weeks ago, going on two months ago now and it’s damn tough.
“What do you want to do?” I ask, brushing chips from my shirt. “Hold hands and skip down the street?”
She levels me with an unamused scowl before she rolls her eyes and pops up.
“We could start with a makeover? Or a shopping spree or some freaking vegetables?” she mutters and I fight back a smirk. She has been overly sweet to me all week, not once fighting back when I say no to training or turning away the invitation to be a lazy slob and feel sorry for myself.
“Fine.” I shrug and she freezes, her eyes lifting to meet mine, one brow lifting in a suspicious curve.
“Fine, what?” She asks, her hands coming to her hips. I roll my eyes and throw my arms up in defeat.
“I don’t need a makeover, but I could do a hair cut I suppose? Maybe some clothes that aren’t all…sports wear?” I offer and she nods in approval.
“And some freaking carrots or something, because I swear on all things holy. If I start to get fat, I’m not sure I can be friends with you any longer.” Leoni rushes off, leaving me behind as I follow and watch her hum along down the hall.
“Where are you going?” I call down to her.
“If you think I am going into town like this, you are sorely mistaken.” She shouts over her shoulder. “You should shower and go heavy on that soap, too. You may not smell yourself, but I can smell you. Trust me, soap is your friend.”
I stick my tongue out at her back and sneer before I stomp my way to the bathroom and do exactly what she said. Not that I haven’t showered, because I have literally every day. Okay, maybe every other day.
Either way, the point is, I’m not nearly as terribly off as she claims. Though that doesn’t stop me from scrubbing my head extra hard and exfoliating. By the time I step out and get dressed, she is waiting and looking perfect as ever with her dark skin and sparkling eyes.
“You ready?” She asks, turning and walking off without me.
“I guess I am,” I mutter, scrambling to catch up to her.
The second we step outside, I am shocked to see a black sedan waiting for us. I sidle up to her side, worried it might be Dev or even the King. Shit, or worse, it could be Jasmine coming to discuss my past and make me relive everything that broke me. Instead, Topher rolls down the window and winks at me.
“Your ride has arrived, ladies.” He grins and Leoni looks at me with a smirk.
“Too much is floating around on the streets about a certain person, so in order to keep the mood light and ‘Eden’ focused, I hired us a driver.”
“And by hired she means I was promised a nice dinner with the two of you at a high-end restaurant in town.” Topher adds.
“I think you got the bad end of this deal,” I tell him playfully, and he chuckles.
“My stomach is the only way to sway me.” He teases as we crawl into the back. “Where to first?”
“Bee’s Beauty Salon, Eden, is getting a new haircut.” Leoni beams and the nerves hit me in the gut like a brick falling on my toe.
Dev liked my long hair. He was constantly pushing it away from my face or touching it in some manner. The thought of cutting it suddenly feels daunting. What if he hates it and he thinks I’m not attractive anymore?
Ugh. I hate that I care what he thinks when I know he is with her. The only person worthy of him could be Jasmine, and I would know because I spent my whole life looking up to her.
Jasmine was the niece of my pack’s alpha. Raised by her uncle because her father traveled a lot and wanted her to have a more normal life. I still remember the first time I met her. Both of us were timid when we were told to go to the kitchen for a snack.
When we both asked for the same thing, it was like instant bonding. We could have had any treat we wanted, cakes, cookies, pastries, anything. And yet we both asked in unison for chocolate pudding with a dollop of chocolate whipped cream.
She called my parents’ mom and dad and considered my brother to be hers. Which is why her betrayal, selling out my family in order for me to live, feels so fucking awful. Jasmine had everything, beauty, skill and status and yet, she felt she had to keep me around. Did she just need to feel good about saving me? Or did she truly hate me all along and want me to suffer a life of that loss?
“Hey,” Leoni whispers, concern written in her brown eyes. “You good?”
It takes a lot to muster a smile, but I find the will power and offer it to her.
“Yeah, just thinking about what I want to do with my hair. I have never had hair above my shoulders and I don’t think I want to start now…” I admit and she is quick to agree.
“You could stand to look six inches, maybe add some layers? Even whisper side bangs?” She offers, turning to face me as she touches my hair, sizing it up. “Are you thinking of adding any color?”
“Should I?” I ask her.
“Purple.” Topher says with confidence.
“Please don’t speak unless you are asked for advice.” Leoni says in a flat voice that clearly disagrees with the color suggestion he gave.
“Listen, it’s like a midlife crisis. Isn’t that what women do? Change their hair color?” He seems genuinely confused as Leoni snorts and I bite back a smile.
“I’m not having a midlife crisis.” I offer. “Just a heart-broken girl who is looking for a change.”
“Hmm, then I’d suggest some highlights, only a few shades brighter to bring out your face. It’s about damn time you stop trying to hide behind that wall of hair you have.”
Somehow his words warm my chest, a genuine smile coming to my lips as I meet his eyes in the rearview mirror.
“I like that idea.” I admit and Leoni rolls her eyes, but I can tell she doesn’t think this idea is all that terrible.
“And then if you don’t love it you can always say ‘Hey, at least it isn’t purple.’ It’s a win-win, really.”
“Okay, we are here. Pull over and let us out.” Leoni has the door open before he even comes to a stop. I frown at her, curious why she is in such a rush or why she is trying to avoid chatting with Topher.
“Did something happen between you and Topher?” I ask and she snorts a laugh.
“No, he just…he is annoying lately. It feels like since Dev can’t come around much, he is checking in more often. I’m still feeling out if he is genuine or if it’s for Dev…you know?”
“You know, I don’t mind if you are friends with Dev. He is your alpha and your mate’s best friend. I don’t want to come between anyone.”
“I’m upset with him too, you know.” She whispers. “Not just because of you, but because he shuts everyone out. Hastings begged me to keep him close and help him, but he is so damn sealed up.”
“He has a lot going on, I suspect.” I offer, feeling a little strange defending the guy who lied to me and broke my heart, but I can understand her fear for him.
Dev has some deep things going on and it seems like he has no one he can really lean on. Which is why leaving sooner rather than later is a must. He needs Leoni more than I do, and yet here she is with me, ignoring him and not allowing him near her home. I have become the problem, a wedge between years of friendship and I hate being that.
“Well, hello!” A cheery, rosy-cheeked woman beams at us from behind the counter. “My Leoni, that was fast. I feel like I barely talked to you minutes ago on the phone.”
“We drove,” Leoni says sheepishly. “Felt a little lazy I admit, but also it’s a day of pampering, so it was a must.”
“Oh! So you can get manicures and pedicures as well.” The woman asks and Leoni looks over at me. I grin wildly and nod.
“That sounds amazing.” I admit and Leoni claps her hands together.
“Bee, we will have the works!” She says cheerfully.
Bee takes us to two chairs next to each other and calls for her worker to come and work on Leoni. They massage my scalp as they shampoo my hair into a thick lather and rinse it with the perfect temperature water.
I can feel the stress leaving my body with every gentle stroke before moving on to having her cut my hair. I close my eyes, peeking out once or twice to check on it.
“I know you mentioned potentially adding highlights, but I have to say, you have naturally highlights in here. Leave your hair down and go out in the sun a few times and they will really pop. But if you want me to do them still—”
“No, no. I’m happy with how it is.” I interrupt her, feeling at ease knowing at least my color will be a constant in my life.
“Then let’s finish you up and give you a blow out like you have never had before.” She winks at me in the mirror.
We walk out two hours later and it feels like I have found my shine again. Leoni can’t help but keep giggling and touching my hair in awe. It feels so much lighter now, falling only an inch below my shoulder with a few shorter layers framing out my face.
“I hate to say it, but Topher was spot on with his suggestion.” Leoni mutters.
“What suggestion?” I hear from behind us and my heart sinks, falling straight to my feet as I spin around and find myself face to face with Dev.
His eyes grow wide, skirting over my face and hair as he swallows roughly, his eyes closing tightly for a moment as if he is trying to capture the moment in a lens.
“You look…” He pauses and I panic.
“It’s personal.” I rush out, taking a step back, needing room to breathe as I try like hell not to look him up and down.
His hair is neatly done, face freshly shaved, and he wears black dress pants with a rich burgundy button up that hugs everywhere right. He looks so damn good and like a man ready to lead a pack.
No longer the alpha warrior who runs amuck and makes his own decisions. But then again, he was always a man ready to lead. I was just the only person who didn’t know it.
“Devereaux!” His name is called and I look over seeing Jasmine in a skintight black dress with the same colored lace roses on her bodice. She looks fabulous as always and I have to fight the jealousy growing in my stomach. “Your uncle is ready for our—”
She pauses, looking at me before she rushes over and I take a step back, Leoni placing herself firmly between me and Dev as Jasmine comes to a halt.
“Eden, I have been trying to find you. We really should talk…” she offers and I clear my throat, looking at the ground those pesky years of submitting to anyone who is better than me creeping up.
“We have nothing to discuss and I would hate for you both to be late to your—”
“Our engagement dinner,” Jasmine says, and I can feel her eyes watching me. “Rather, our chosen mate bond terms.”
“I am so happy for you both.” I offer, spinning on my heels and rushing for where Topher is parked.
“Eden, wait.” Dev shouts after me but I ignore him, hearing Leoni talking to him in a low voice as my wrist is grabbed, and I am spun around to look at Jasmine.
“Please, let us explain.” She whispers low, moving in close, “This is all fake, okay? It’s just for show…Devereaux wants you, not me.”
“Sadly, I am not an option for him.” I hiss, yanking my arm away from her. “So both of you keep your scheming lying ways away from me. I’m so tired of hurting because of you both.”