Sold to the Alpha With Silver Eyes - Chapter 46: Chapter 46

“Even if I wanted to just leave, I can’t. That wolf is an intruder on pack lands, Eden. He is coming with me.” Dev says, his face going statuesque.
I look at the large grey wolf, panic growing as I lick my lips and try to think. Dev is right, I know that, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it or allow him to take this wolf. I can’t be certain it is the same one as the attack a week ago, but I do know they are protecting me.
I move closer to Dev, stepping around the wolf with my hands down, easing my way between me and the riled up Lycan and growling wolf. Then I look over my shoulder, meeting the wolf’s eyes and mouth the word ‘Run!’
He jets to the side, heading for the borderline as I throw my arms around Dev’s shoulders, clinging to him tightly. His muscles tense, his body lurching to the side before he stops and grabs my biceps, pushing me away. His eyes search mine, a small crack in his facade as I see a flicker of something I can’t decipher.
Dev then tries to gently push me to the side, turning his attention to the wolf. My hand comes up contacting his cheek as I turn his face to look at me and in a last ditch effort to distract him long enough, I press up onto my toes and steal a kiss.
Electricity zips through me, like a shock of lightning, and suddenly I’m in a blaze of white euphoria, his hands creeping into my hair as he tilts my head back. His tongue teases along the line of my lips and there is no fighting it as I open and accept the passion flooding me.
Not a damn thing matters as I melt into his touch, my fingers clasping together behind his head as I pull him to me harder, my body pressing to his as if seeking his warmth after a blizzard. Heavens, how can a single embrace feel so damn right?
One of Dev’s hands releases my hair and roams down my back, caressing my spine in a soft up and down motion. Then, as quickly as the sparks came on, my heart aches, reality sinking in and the memory of what he has done resurfaces as I hear a howl in the distance. I tear myself away, stumbling back a few feet, my lungs searching for air as my side burns with effort.
Dev’s eyes are fully black, his chin up high as he swallows hard and his chest rises and falls in time with mine.
“Fuck.” He mutters, finally taking a step away from me on his own before he drops his head into his hand and turns his back to me. I wish I didn’t feel guilty, but I do as I watch his back stutter in movement before he lifts his head and stands in silence.
“Dev…” I whisper, not sure what to say or even do at this point. What was supposed to be just a distraction imploded. My whole body feels weak and all I want to do is cry. “I’m sorry, but he saved me. I couldn’t let you…”
“Go back to Leoni’s Eden.” He interrupts me, his voice hoarse. “If I see that asshole on my pack grounds again, I will make you watch as I kill him.”
Then he storms off, leaving me alone with weak knees and swollen lips. What the hell was that electric feeling? Is it because we have fought being around each other for so long?
Is it just a natural wolf or lycan response when you love someone? I suck in my bottom lip, biting down hard before closing my eyes and focusing on controlling my breathing.
I need to talk to Leoni, and I need to figure out who the wolf or wolves on the other side are and why they keep helping me. Once I feel I am in control of my emotions, I head back to Leoni’s, my body and eyes more alert as I look around expecting to spot Dev or whoever the hell he has tailing me. But I see nothing and no one as I walk up to Leoni’s and she rushes out, fury written all over her face.
“So I take it Dev's mind linked you?” I sigh and she scoffs, her hands on her hips.
“Eden, for fuck’s sake.” She mumbles. “Why the hell would you go near the border, especially after you were attacked near there?”
“Did you know Dev has someone following me around?” I ask her, and she blinks, her head rearing back a bit.
“Yes.” she responds, but she wears no guilt in her answer. “I didn’t like the idea of it at first, but that last attack scared me. Eden, you are reckless, and I can’t lose you right now. I know I act all strong, but you are the only thing keeping me together now that Hastings is gone.”
“That’s a terrible excuse to lie to me.” I scoff, shoving past her.
“I didn’t lie. I just didn’t tell you because my alpha asked me not to.” She parries and I roll my eyes, pushing the door open.
“Oh, so much better.” I mutter, stomping to the kitchen as I whip open the fridge and yank out a bottle of water.
“Look, I know it feels like everyone is trying to lie to you or keep you out of the loop…”
“You think?” I bite out. “From the second I met you guys, it was lie after lie. At least with you, forgiveness comes easier. You didn’t know the other stuff.”
I pause, narrowing my eyes. Her hands fly up and her eyes grow wide.
“Eden, I told you already. I only knew he didn’t want you to know his true identity yet.” Leoni swears, crossing her hand over her heart. “I swear on Hastings’ grave.”
“I know,” I sigh, “Sorry. It’s just... it feels like there is so much happening and I am on the outside of it all. Dev is trying to control everything around me, even now, and I just… shit.”
I pull out the chair at the table and slump down into it, my head between my hands.
“What can I do to help, Eden?” Leoni asks, her words soft and sincere as I shake my head in my hands side to side.
That is exactly the problem. I don’t know what can help or where to start to find it. Dev has betrayed me on such a deep and painful level I can’t ever forgive him. Explosive kisses or not, my family is gone.
Their screams still haunt me and make it hard to sleep. The one thing he could have done for me was let me die in that basement, but he saved me, only to break my heart. Not just once, but twice. It’s like a sick game. Save the girl and then betray her, over and over again.
“I just need to leave.” I whisper, dropping my hands and staring down at the hardwood table. “It’s impossible to be around him and I feel so stuck…”
Leoni doesn’t speak, and when I look up at her, I catch her wiping a tear from her eyes. She clears her throat, but the pain is still in her voice.
“Where would you even go?” She asks and I exhale, picking at my thumb, no longer wanting to look her in the eyes. She is going to tell me I am being an idiot the second the words leave my mouth. But how do I explain the feeling, the connection I feel to the people who seem to want me to come to them?
“Well…” I mumble and then she scoffs, her hand hitting the table as she draws my attention to her.
“Don’t you even think about it,” she growls out, leaning over the table. “Are you fucking nuts?”
“Says the woman who agreed it was wise to come back to this pack in the first place with the guy who bought me as a breeder.” I retort, and she groans.
“That is different, Eden. I know Dev, trust him, this wolf saves you a few damn times and suddenly you think he will keep you safe?”
“Well, I’m glad someone can trust Dev, because I sure as shit can’t, which is why I am trusting my gut with this one.” I shout at her, standing up as the chair scraps away from me.
“Your gut, really? Your gut says to trust this wolf that constantly inserts itself where it shouldn’t be to save you?” She blinks at me, waiting for an answer.
“I don’t know how to explain it, but it just feels like I can trust them, at least more than I can trust Dev. And right now, that’s enough to make me want to pack and run.” I admit, and she rubs her hands over her face before she hisses.
“Trust them how?” She finally asks. “If you feel this way, maybe you know them, but you just can’t place them?”
I roll my eyes and chuckle. Now she is reaching for any random thought.
“If it was someone I knew, I would know their wolf.” I remind her and she shrugs.
“Maybe you forgot? Could it be your parents? Or, like maybe, their best friend or their buddies they worked with?” She asks good questions, which is more than I have even asked myself yet.
“My parents are dead and I will never forget their wolf. Travis is dead and even if by some random impossible miracle he wasn’t, he isn’t old enough to shift yet. And my dad’s best friend was the Alpha who turned him in–so other than that, I don’t know.”
Leoni’s brows furrow together.
“You never had an aunt or cousin?” She asks, and I roll my eyes.
“My family had a falling out a long time ago.” I offer, and she paces back and forth.
“Just, can you give me a few days to see what I can find, or maybe let me come with you to the border so we can figure out how friendly they really are? Please?”
My stomach drops at the thought of waiting a few more days. I’d rather pack and rush away right now than I can ignore the kiss with Dev and pretend it never happened. But Leoni may be right. Perhaps these wolves are trying to trick me. Everyone else in my life has. Why would strangers be any different?
“Fine.” I grit out, realizing that having Leoni come with me gives me an opportunity I didn’t have before. If Dev has people following me, then as long as he knows Leoni is with me, maybe he won’t send someone else. Less sketchy eyes locked on to me, the better.
“Now,” Leoni says, clearing her throat again. “Perhaps you can discuss this kiss of distraction with me?”
Her lips curl into a devious smile, and I look up at the ceiling, cursing my existence.
“What is there to discuss?” I say finally, walking past her and into the hall, crossing into the living room.
“Oh, I don’t know. Perhaps the sparks that Dev mentioned he felt…” She says and I whip around, my brows in my hairline as I scan her face.
“D-dev said he felt it too?” I ask, shocked.
“Yep, said it felt like the mate bond on steroids. He couldn’t bring himself to let you go until you broke the trance.” She crosses her arms over her chest and I can see the wariness on her face. Leoni wants me with Dev, I know and get that, but she also wants both of us happy.
“Can a broken mate bond come back?” I whisper, and she shrugs.
“I’m not entirely sure, but in theory, I feel like maybe it was always there, just dormant?”
“How is that even possible?” I scoff.
“The bond is a two-way street. Did you ever accept his rejection?” She asks her hand, reaching out and taking mine as she drags me to the chair and sets me down.
“I- don’t think so? It felt like a dream for so long…something I couldn’t tell if I made up because the pain intensified or…” I pause. “What if I didn’t accept the rejection or if it was an acceptance out of confusion and pain? Can it really come back?”
“I mean…with you involved? Maybe, weirder things have happened to you, so who is to say it can’t happen?”