A Rejected Wolf and a Court of Ash (Eden and Azriel) novel Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Eden

When Logan carries me outside, I shiver at the cold. I know he is my Alpha and not my boyfriend, but I am so frozen that I am desperate. I reluctantly snuggle closer to his warm, naked chest. It doesn’t go unnoticed by Logan, who gives me a look that hints at amusement.

“Werewolves usually don’t get cold,” he says quietly with a gleam in his eye.

I think he meant to be playful, but I can’t be too sure. Years of him bullying me makes my hackles rise immediately.

I scowl up at him, and then, I forget our pack rankings again since angry Eden is sharp Eden. “Yeah, well, maybe I’m defective,” I look at the blonde hair on his chest and ignore my blush to add, “or maybe I just don’t have as much fur as you.”

He snorts. “You saying I’m hairy?”

“I’m saying you’re basically a walking space heater with a grooming problem.” I try to shift away from his chest, but he just holds me tighter. It’s unfair, especially since his pectoral muscles are flirting with me.

Logan, however, seems oblivious to me checking him out. He isn’t as sharp as Azriel, that’s for sure. Instead, he raises an eyebrow and says, “You know, omegas are supposed to be polite, especially to their Alpha.”

I deadpan, “And yet here we are.”

He smirks, lips twitching. “Want me to drop you?”

“Wouldn’t be the first time. At least now there’s snow to cushion my ass.”

I expect him to say something back, maybe give me the cold Logan that I know and hate.

He shocks me by looking guilty. “I’m sorry for how I’ve treated you.”

“Really?” I whisper.

“Yes,” he lowers his voice, “I don’t mean to be cold… I’m just…afraid to be myself. I have things to live up to as the Valentine Alpha. Expectations to

meet.”

Is he…opening up to me?

“Is this an apology?” I whisper.

He looks away, but there’s no mistaking his reddening ears and the way his throat works, “For someone who just had a monster try to eat her face, your mouth is still working fine.”

“If it wasn’t, you’d probably start worrying.” I pause and add, “Or celebrate.”

He gives me this sideways glance like he’s not sure what to say or do. Eventually, he murmurs, “Trust me, Eden, your running commentary is…

memorable.”

“Memorable?”

“Yeah… Anyway, I got to set you down so I can shape–shift and let you ride on my back.”

“Oh, right-” My eyes widen. “Wait, carry me?”

“Uh–huh?” Logan blinks. “Do you see a car anywhere? We got here by running.”

In the background, pack elder Yang shape–shifts to allow Elvira to climb on top of her back. The twins elbow each other when they see us, laughing

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15:31 Tue 24 Jun

Chapter 22

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before shape–shifting and racing each other in the snow, and my face grows hot.

It would have been easier to ride on Yang or one of the twins, but I guess my Alpha wants to carry me himself. Sighing, I stare at Logan. I notice how his eyes turn a lighter blue before he backs away and sets me down gently on the ground.

“Don’t move,” he orders, his voice gruff. “I’ll be right back.”

I nod, hugging myself in the cold. Logan isn’t wearing anything else other than a pair of white Calvin Klein boxers and grabs the hems to pull them down. He has the most beautiful v–lines, and his abs-

Logan clears his throat, a small smile on his lips. “Do you mind?”

“Right!”

I face the other way, letting him shape–shift into what I know is going to be a huge, white wolf. I’ve seen him before, of course. Just never interacted with him fully transformed. Gosh, he wouldn’t be mean to me, would he?

There’s a rush of wind tickling over my skin and the crunching of snow suggests something much larger than Logan’s human form is standing behind me.

I’m right.

When I turn around, I’m face–to–face with the white fur of Logan’s wolfish chest. There’s a lot of fluff there, and I turn into a paralyzed and frightened girl when he lowers his head to stare into my eyes with his massive blue.

I take an involuntary step back, hoping it won’t make him attack me to see my submission. Werewolves act on instinct a lot in their wolf forms. That terrifies me.

What if Logan’s wolf sees me as prey?

I force speech. “L–Logan?”

The wolf, who I know is Logan, tilts his head, those familiar blue eyes studying me. Even in this form, there’s something distinctly Logan about his gaze. Must be the intense, observant, somewhat impatient eyes of his.

The size, however?

Oh boy.

“You’re… really big.”

Logan’s wolf huffs.

Is he…laughing at me? Seriously?

-He takes a step forward with his massive paws kicking up snow, and I instinctively take another step back with my hands raised. It’s silly, I know. It’s not

like it would be able to stop him.

“I know you’d never hurt me,” I say quickly, though it’s a lie, I’m not entirely convinced. “It’s just… you’re kind of intimidating like this,”

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