A Rejected Wolf and a Court of Ash (Eden and Azriel) novel Chapter 54

Chapter 54

Eden

54%年

I wake up tangled in soft sheets on the couch, still sore in places I didn’t know could be sore, my body humming with the lingering memory of Azriel’s. mouth. The fire is flicketing in the hearth now. Someone must have decided not to let me freeze. How nice. The glow is a soft orange over the walls. I stretch and my imuscles ache, but in that good, blissed out way that makes me smile.

Then I hear footsteps.

Before I can even my head, a strong pair of as swoop me up off the couch.

1 yelp and squirm, startled. “Hey!”

Laughter rumbles through a chest much broader than Aniel’s “Morning, short stack.”

Axel.

In his human form.

I blink up at him. His green eyes sparkle with mischiet His skin is rich brown glowing in the firclight, and holy hell, when did he get this beely? Did forget how big he was since he spent so much time as a wolf? He’s huge. Like, biceps as big as my head huge. He’s also… shirtless.

Of course.

I slap his shoulder lightly. “Put me down, you idiot!”

He grins wider and twirls me around once, just to annoy me, then gently sets me on the floor. My cheeks are hot with laughter. We didn’t behave like this back at home, but a lot has happened.

I stood up for Axel. He remained loyal to me. Ariel saved us both..yeah, we have been through a lot, and now it seems we’re best friends. Axel is already busy hugging me. I let him. Physical contact is important for wolves, even when the relationship isn’t romantic. So I bury my face in his chest, breathing him in. My new best friend because fuck Elviral.

“You smell like bacon and fae musk,” he says, wrinkling his nose.

“Don’t judge me,” I mutter. “I’ve had a very emotional few days”

*More like sexy days…”

“What? Not like you can keep it a secret. You can barely keep your hands away from that mate of yours.”

I want to regain my pride by saying it isn’t true, but that’s when Azriel appears in the doorway. He is already dressed in a black long sleeve shirt and pants. He watches us for a beat, then smirks.” go fetch some water. You two catch up.”

He disappears with a knowing gleam in his eyes

Axel sits on the arm of the couch and watches me like I might disappear. “You okay, Little Bookworm?”

“Better now that we have escaped from the Valentine pack. It feels safe here for now, at least.

There’s understanding on his face. “Until the crazy fairy finds you.”

“You know about Mara?

He laughs, but the sound is quieter than usual. “I’m big. Not dumb. I’ve been keeping up the pace.”

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13:07:1hu, 26 Ju

Chapter 54

“Really?” I’m surprised.

His expression goes theepish. “And Arriet might have spoken to me while you were sleeping to fill in the blanks.“

“You’re kiends?”

“Well, he did save it, te from the Valentine pack

There’s silence for a long moment before Axel says, “Thope you’re okay with me following you like a shadow now. I can’t exactly leave your side or would become a mindless rogue since you’re my pack now.”

Ilace up at him, voice soft. “Why did you choose the Axel? Over the others? Over the Valentine pack and Logan

His eyes turn serious. “Because after all those nights you spent sleeping on my back, something happened. I don’t know what it is exactly, it’s not like what you have with wing boy, but it feels like… like we’re soulmates. Just not the romantic kind”

Hie. “I feel it too.

My heart aches a little. “I feel it too. It’s deep Like family”

His lips twitch used to have a crush on you.”

My jaw falls to the floor. “Walt, what?!”

“It’s true!” Axel laughs, not ashamed at all. “That’s why I was bullying you at school. I’m sorry. It was really childish of me, but yes. I had a crush on you, Eden Felicity, the tiny omega of the pack.”

“And now?”

He smiles, one of those rare, honest ones. “And now you’re stuck with me because I’ve realized that you’re more loyal than Logan or my brother ever was. You’ve turned into my best friend.”

“Good.” I nudge his arm. “Because you’ve turned into my best friend, too, and I’m not done bossing you around yet

Azriel returns with a jug of water and raises a brow. “Should I be worried?

Axel grins. “Only if she makes me Alpha of our new little screwed–up–freak pack. I’ll kick your fae ass out of this realm.”

Azriel smirks “Careful, wolf. I saved that ass of yours, remember?”

The grin on Arel’s face fades into something a little more solemn. “Yeah. And I never thanked you property for it. So thanks, Azriel. For getting me and Eden out of there.”

Azriel inclines his head, accepting the gratitude with surprising grace. “You’re welcome. You deserved better

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