A Rejected Wolf and a Court of Ash (Eden and Azriel) novel Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Eden

I don’t sleep for two days.

Not because I don’t want to. My body is begging for rest. But when I close my eyes, I hear their boots, their laughter, or the dripping water that feels like it’s counting down the seconds of my sanity.

The pack warriors come and go.

Food is thrown into my cell.

Kicks are too.

I’m also given words that cut deeper than knives.

“Did you hear what happened to Axel?”

That name jerks me out of my haze like a punch.

“He defended her. What an idiot. Marcus stripped him of his Beta title. Now he’s rotting in the south wing.”

There is a belt of laughter. Then, a pause.

“How did she make Axel defend her? She’s a runt.”

A silence.

A whisper, “Is it just me, or has her scent changed?”

My heart is pounding now.

What?

I freeze, hoping the pack warriors will walk away. But one of them moves closer to the door. There is the grind of boots on stone, then the peephole

opens.

Eyes study me. Sharp. Searching.

“Something’s…off,” he mutters to his friend, closing the peephole. “She doesn’t smell like a wolf anymore.”

I curl myself into a ball, trying to slow my breathing.

Do I smell like a fox now?

I don’t know anything about foxes. Only the stories.

Seductive. Mischievous. Liars.

Enemies of the wolf bloodline.

Hated by every pack in the region.

If they even suspect I’m not one of them-

The peephole slams shut. Their footsteps fade.

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Chapter 40

But the fear doesn’t

It lingers. Crawling up my spine, whispering in my ears.

You’re not safe.

I wrap my arms around myself.

I always knew I was different.

Couldn’t shift.

Didn’t build muscle as easily as the others.

But I thought it just meant I was a weak omega.

Not…something else.

Not another species entirely.

I take a deep, calming breath, trying to fight back the storm behind my eyes, but the pressure builds..

And then something stirs inside me.

And when I finally do sleep-

I dream.

Of paws pounding against the forest floor.

Of shadows stretching under silver moonlight.

Of red fur and eyes that are brown and green like mine.

Heterochromia.

I’m looking at myself.

My fox.

With nine glowing tails.

And those eyes are staring at me.

Do you accept what you are?

I wake up with a jolt, but reality isn’t any better. Azriel is sitting on the floor with a bag of chips. He stops chewing when I stare at him and then holds it

out.

“Want some?”

I blink at Azriel, then at the bag of chips, then back at him. “Are you fucking serious right now?”

“What? You look like you could use some salt and carbs. Or is that not part of your tragic omega meal plan?”

“That’s not the point! I’m just…” I suck sticky air into my lungs, but it does nothing to kill my anxiety. I still sob, and ther have you been?”

Surprise flickers in Azriel’s eyes. “You actually wanted me to come here sooner?”

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stopping my tears. “Where

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པསས་

Chapter 40

“Yes…” I whisper, too tired to bother lying.

He doesn’t speak at first. Doesn’t come clo

Azriel just sits there on the floor, watching me with long legs spread on the floor.

Eventually, he pokes me with the toe of his boot. “Rough night?” he asks, voice low. Almost gentle.

I don’t answer. I can’t.

My throat is tight. My eyes burn.

He pokes me again, and I inhale sharply. I’m not wearing shoes, only the same workout clothes that I arrived in. I stink like sweat and shit.

Doesn’t prevent Azriel from leaning forward so close that his perfect face is eye–level with mine.

“How are you?” he asks, louder like he is passive aggressive from me not answering his last question. Though his eyes are amused. Not one bit irritated

He is messing with me.

But I’m too tired for games.

“If you’re here to banter with me, then just leave. I’m too tired for that,” I whisper.

Azriel blinks repeatedly, then tilts his head. “Tired?”

“Yes!” Is he blind? “My pack tied me up in the fucking pack dungeon, Azriel! I’m not okay, and I can’t pretend that I am. I’m messed up!”

He stares at me, then clicks his tongue without moving.

I continue talking. “And since I know you’re going to read my mind, I might as well just say it… I… I don’t think that I’m a wolf. I’m something else, and when the pack finds out that I’m not a wolf and the omega they need for the sacrifice…”

I trail off, unable to finish.

Azriel is quiet. Too quiet.

I force myself to look at him.

He’s studying me, eyes unreadable but softer than they have any right to be.

“They’ll kill me. If you don’t kill me first,” I finish. My voice cracks at the last part.

Azriel needs me to be this special omega so that his sister can eat my flesh. How will he react knowing I’m not a wolf? Will he end me tonight?

Something shifts in his face. Subtle. Like a storm cloud drifting across a calm sky.

He moves on the floor until he is sitting right beside me. His eyes don’t flicker to mine once. He just plops down on the floor again, hands clasped over

his bent knee.

We sit like that for at least five minutes until he reaches for my hand on the floor.

I flinch.

But I don’t pull away.

His fingers are warm. Strong. Gentle.

Then he asks, so quietly it feels like a secret,

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Chapter 40

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