A Rejected Wolf and a Court of Ash (Eden and Azriel) novel Chapter 27

Eden

“What the hell is the meaning of this? Why is Eden sleeping on your fucking back?!”

I open my eyes to find myself cozy and warm on Axel’s back. It feels safe. Almost perfect. The only thing ruining my morning is Logan standing by the last of the bed with his face half–shifted so that he can grit his teeth at Axel.

The Beta immediately whimpers and folds his ears back, but he doesn’t make a move to throw me off his back. Neither does he stand up from the bed.

Logan growls. “I. Will. Turn. You. Into. A. Coat!”

When the Alpha looks about ready to kill Axel, I finally come to my senses to defend him, “No! Don’t hurt Axel!” I climb off Axel’s back, shocking both of the men by talking back against my own Alpha. “Axel only let me sleep on his back because I was freezing last night. Nothing funny happened. He has honestly been an angel, and you’re the one who assigned him to take care of me, right?”

Logan looks shocked while Axel jumps off the bed to come and stand behind me, almost as if I’m his protector, which is funny since I’m just an omega. Yet he still stands behind me, tail between his legs.

It makes Logan sigh. “You really are special, Eden. One night, and you’ve already turned one of my Betas into a loyal puppy.”

“Don’t call him a puppy!” I object, feeling oddly protective of Axel even though he’s been one of my bullies for years. “He is the reason I didn’t freeze to death last night!”

Logan’s jaw clenches. “Get dressed and shift back,” he tells Axel, who obediently slips from the room, his fluffy chocolate tail still tucked between his legs. Once the door closes, Logan turns his full attention to me.

“Did he touch you?” he demands.

I cross my arms. “Seriously? He was in wolf form the entire night. And why do you even care?”

There’s an emotion I can’t name flickering over Logan’s face, and my heart does a strange little skip. But then it’s gone, replaced by his usual stoic mask.

“I don’t,” he says, but his words lack conviction. “I just need to make sure my Beta knows his place.”

Ah, so he is back to treating me like I’m his enemy again? How lovely. This guy is definitely going to give me emotional whiplash from his hot–then–cold behavior.

“Anyway, I came to tell you that your ride to school is here,” Logan says bitterly. “I told the guards not to open the gates, but the fucking fairy used magic to have them opened. When I told him to stay the hell away from my pack and territory he said he won’t unless I agree to train you in combat. So later tonight after school, you’re with me, okay?”

I stare at Logan like he’s just told me the sky is green. “Azriel is here? And wait, you’re going to train me? An omega?!”

He runs a hand through his hair, looking about three seconds from losing it. “Is that so weird? Elvira is making great progress training with her brothers. She can shape–shift now. Has she told you that?”

Huh? Elvira can shape–shift? She hasn’t told me that at all! She also jumped out through the window when the hollow attacked, so I just assumed-

“Fuck!” Logan swears as if regretting what he just told me. “She hasn’t told you, has she?”

“No,” I say quietly. “She didn’t.” Why didn’t she? We are best friends.

Logan winces. “Look, I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s not my place to-”

“It’s fine,” I cut him off, but it isn’t. Not really. Why would Elvira keep something so important from me? I feel left out. “So what kind of training are we talking about? I can’t shift.”

Chapter 27

“Yet,” Logan corrects me. “You can’t shift yet.”

I snort. “I’m almost eighteen. If it hasn’t happened by now

“It will,” he says with such determination that I almost believe him. “We just need to find the right… trigger. And once you’ve learned how to shane d that fairy will finally leave you alone.”

“Until I turn eighteen, which is pretty soon.” My birthday is right around the corner and Logan winces when he realizes that I’m right,

The silence stretches between us as I watch conflicting emotions cross Logan’s face. Maybe he regrets promising me to the fairies, or maybe he’s just annoyed at having to babysit the pack omega.

“Training starts at seven,” he finally says, his voice gruff. “Don’t be late.”

“Wait,” I call as he turns to leave. “What about Azriel? You

said

he’s waiting for me?”

Logan’s jaw tightens. “Unfortunately. And despite my best efforts, I can’t legally keep him off pack lands since he made that deal with the elders.” He glances at me, something unreadable in his blue eyes. “Be careful around him, Eden.”

I want to tell him I don’t need his concern, especially when he’s responsible for my situation, but I just nod not to cause any morning drama. “I will”

Logan leaves after that, and a maid brings me fresh clothes. It’s a pair of skinny jeans that miraculously fit my fat legs and a beige cardigan. My body looks good, and so does my red hair, which is, for once, collected in a ponytail.

The only thing not looking good is my face. My acne is breaking out on my cheeks, and there’s no foundation in my room to cover it. All my makeup is at home. Maybe Azriel won’t comment on my looks if I keep my eyes on the scenes outside the window?

I make my way

downstairs to find Azriel waiting in the foyer. The man looks like a fantasy that just stepped out of the TV. No other man is this beautiful. It only makes the heartbreaker vibe worse that he is wearing a black leather jacket with his hair perfectly styled. Not a strand is out of place.

“There she is,” he says when he spots me, telltale smirk in place. “I was beginning to think the Alpha had locked you in a tower.”

I roll my eyes, hoping he won’t notice my makeup–less face. “Not a tower. Just a really nice bedroom.”

“With a Beta, from what I hear,” Azriel says, his voice light but his eyes sharp. “The Alpha seemed quite upset about it.”

My face heats up. “It wasn’t like that. I was cold.”

“Right,” Azriel says, though his tone suggests he doesn’t believe me. He steps closer, studying my face with those uncanny violet eyes. “You look different today.”

I fight the urge to cover my face. “I don’t have any makeup.”

“I like it. Human faces are so interesting, changing from day to day.” His head tilts, eyes actually warm when he says, “The little imperfections make you – more real.”

I’m not sure if I should be flattered or offended. “Gee

“It wasn’t an insult,” Azriel says, reaching out to touch my cheek. I flinch away instinctively since I remember yesterday, when he looked at me like I was a meal. His elegant hand, with its long fingers, pauses in response to my reaction. “Still afraid of me?”

“Cautious,” I correct him. “You did admit you want to eat me.”

His smile turns predatory. “I admitted to many things, Eden. Some more pleasant than others.” The way his gaze drops to my lips makes my insides

flutter.

Do not think about how it felt like when he kissed you. How he tasted like darkness and lust combined.

“We should go,” I say quickly, stepping around him to get to the door. “I don’t want to be late for school.”

Chapter 27

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“Of course,” Azriel murmurs, following me. “We wouldn’t want to upset your new Alpha protector”

The drive to school is mostly silent, but I can feel Azriel stealing glances at me. His driving is still terrifying, but I’m getting used to it. The radio plays some rock song on low volume and soon we’re parked outside the school.

Azriel and I share the same classes today and the other students immediately begin their gossip when we walk in through the doors together.

“Are they dating?”

“What? No!”

“Seriously, Olivia. You really think they are dating? Look at them,” a girl whispers from her locker, not even trying to be quiet. “There’s no way they’re together. He is out of her fucking league.”

I pretend not to hear, but my cheeks burn as I catch more whispers.

“Maybe she’s his charity case,” another girl says with a snicker. “Like, he’s doing community service by hanging out with the acne girl.”

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