A Rejected Wolf and a Court of Ash (Eden and Azriel) novel Chapter 45

Eden

I’m staring down at my naked feet. Today is the day before my eighteenth birthday. One more sunrise and I will belong to the fae. Aznel said a blood moon was needed for the sacrifice, but perhaps I can be brought there before I’m given to his sister. Before my flesh will be eaten.

Footsteps clip–clop closer, and I snap my head up, heart hammering.

This is not Logan, Paris, or Azriel.

The door opens, and Elvira steps inside. Her blonde hair is longer and styled. Silver earrings glimmer in her ears. Her clothes are in fashion. Her parents would never be able to afford them, so I’m guessing Paris paid for her wardrobe change.

I swallow thickly, averting my eyes. I don’t want this backstabbing bitch inside my cell.

Elvira once braided flowers into my hair. Now, she is a stranger wearing my best friend’s skin.

“You look terrible.”

I don’t respond.

She shifts her weight awkwardly and although I’m not looking at her I can feel her staring me down like she regrets coming down to the pack dungeos.

Almost.

“I came to talk some sense into you,” she says after a moment. “If you just apologize to Paris, they’ll let you out. You could go back to the packhouse. You could have warm food, a bed, a chance at surviving.”

I finally look at her, releasing a “Tssk” sound before muttering, “Surviving? I turn eighteen tomorrow and wouldn’t have long before I’m sacrificed to the

fae.”

“But Paris-”

“FUCK PARIS!” I interrupt. “She only wants me to apologize to save her ego before I die.”

Her mouth tightens, and I slowly drag myself to sit up straighter. My body screams in protest since I’ve been beaten by the dumb guards. I ignore it.

“Don’t worry about me. I’m going to die no matter what.”

Something flashes across Elvira’s face. Pain. Regret, perhaps? But she doesn’t move. Doesn’t reach for me.

She just hugs herself tighter.

“You’ve changed,” she whispers.

I let out a breath that sounds more like a laugh. “So have you.”

I think she might break or fall to her knees to apologize to me for being such a shitty friend. But then she turns without a word and walks away, slamming

the door shut.

I close my eyes.

What a bitch.

Well, Elvira was right about one thing. I have changed. I’m not the same frightened, submissive omega who let people wall more dangerous now.

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or her. I’m something

Chapter 45

Tonight I’m going to prove it.

Hours crawl by as I wait for the guard change. The first one doesn’t do. No. I wait until Howard, the laziest guard ever, le stationed area may an idiot who sneaks wine down here when he thinks no one’s looking.

I watch him scroll on the phone through the bars, studying his every move. Then, when he leans against the wall with a bored sigh, Istri

Not with fists or violence. With my mind.

I close my eyes and reach for the sticky, honey–sweet magic inside me. I’m met with golden light and the eyes of my fox staring straight at me

One brown and one green. Just like mine. She is also very excited. Trickery is what she lives for, oh, and to remind me that we are very much crushing on Azriel, but I try not to focus on that right now.

I need to compel the guard.

I lift one hand and aim it at the guard’s hunched figure. I push the magic out of my fingertips, weaving it toward him.

He stiffens when my magic hits him and jerks his head to look at me.

an candy. “Open the door.”

I smile seductively, and even my voice comes out sweeter

He hesitates at first, then he gets up and brings the keys with him. The door swings wide, and I walk up to him, still wearing a smile.

“Fall asleep,” I tell him. “Now.”

The guard’s eyes flicker, and then he falls down on the floor hard enough to make me jump.

My smile falls. “Geez, am I getting good at this, or what?”

I step over the guard after stealing his keys, my heart thundering in my ears. I might be a badass, but I still need to find Axel and somehow make it out of here alive.

Finding my bestie isn’t hard. I follow the scent of him until I stand in front of his cell.

Finally.

I unlock the door, and my heart twists at the sight of my favorite werewolf.

Axel is in his wolf form, thin and ragged, his once–sleek chocolate fur dirty and matted with blood. His body is curled tight like he’s trying to make himself smaller. To disappear into the floor where he won’t have to suffer.

“Axel,” I whisper, falling to my knees beside him.

His ears twitch. He lifts his head weakly, a low whine slipping from his throat,

Tears burn my eyes. “What have they done to you?”

He licks my hand when I stroke his bloody snout. Still loyal even after they have beaten him.

I bite my lower lip to stop myself from crying. “I’m going to get you out, okay? Just hold on.”

I try to help him stand, but his paws are weak and even malnourished he is still huge. One moment we’re standing and the next I fall on top of him.

“Fuck!” I curse. “Why are you so big?”

Axel makes a sound that’s probably the wolf equivalent of a laugh, and I can’t help but smile despite our dire situation. I look around frantically, I need something to help him walk.

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Chapter 45

“Okay, new plan,” I whisper. “You need to shift back to human form. I can’t carry you as a Woll-

Axel’s eyes meet mine, and he makes a small whining sound again.

“I know it hurts,” I say gently. “But we have to get out of here. Please, Axel.”

He whines again, and that’s when I get what he is trying to o say–shifting is going to be too hard on his body.

“Damn it! What are we supposed to do then?”

Axel gives me a look and call me insane, but I think he is trying to tell me to save myself. It makes me gasp and hit him on the snout lightly

“I’m not leaving your ass!”

Amusement shines in his eyes, but it falters when there are footsteps. Voices.

There are guards are coming.

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