A Rejected Wolf and a Court of Ash (Eden and Azriel) novel Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Eden

I slam the front door to shut out the world and Azriel. The house is dark expect for the living room. When I pass it, I see the TV flickering while being on low volume. My mother is passed out on the couch, an empty bottle of vodka on the coffee table. I sigh. She is a total mess. At least she won’t be asking about my day.

I trudge up the stairs, each step a battle against the weight of today’s events. The hallway is lined with pictures of me as a baby–happy times when I didn’t know my mother hated who and what I was. I avoid looking at them, instead focusing on getting to my room, where I can hide and wallow in peace.

My room is untouched, exactly how I left it. The sanctuary where nothing bad can get me is inviting. But even as I close the door behind me, I can’t shake off Azriel’s words. I strip off my dirty sweater, tossing it into the corner like it’s his voice I can silence. But his words echo in my head, cutting deeper than Paris’s insults ever could.

He called me heavy–as if my self–confidence weren’t in tatters already!

Gods, why do I care so much about what he thinks?

Because he is the hottest guy you know, and you thought he was being nice to you, secretly already planning your wedding and babies in the back of your head.

…freaking overactive imagination!

My head is driving me insane and I realize the best thing to do is sleep. I check my computer first, opening it to see a

Unwantedfridge99: I have all the time in the world. Will be here when you come back.

What do I type back to that?

Me: Hey. Sorry for disappearing. Tonight was… a disaster.

Sharing secrets with a stranger is risky. The smart thing to do would be to forget about Unwantedfridge99 and text Elvira. Tell her what happened.

But I’m tired of being the friend who never got anything good going on for herself. Something about the anonymity with Unwantedfridge99 makes me braver than I am in real life.

I write more.

Me: Ever have one of those nights where you think maybe things will be different, but then they’re worse than you could have imagined?

The reply comes faster than expected.

Unwantedfridge99: All the time. What happened?

Do I dive in? Tell me everything even though they could be someone from my school?

This could be a grave mistake.

But what if it isn’t?

Screw it!

Me: Got slimed at a party. Humiliated by the popular girls. Then, the hot new guy at school drove me home and told me I was heavy. So yeah…amazing evening.

1/3

10:21 Mon, 23 Jun

Chapter 6

Unwantedfridge99: He said WHAT?

The message pops up so quickly it’s like he was waiting with fingers hovering over the keyboard. Then he types again and I smile since..well..who the heck is this fast when it comes to typing back to me of all people?

Unwantedfridge99; I mean… that’s…who says that to someone? Especially after you’d already had a rough night.

1 giggle.

Me: I know, right? Like, thanks for the ride and the rescue, but maybe keep the weight comments to yourself?

Unwantedfridge99: He is an idiot.

Me: Agreed.

Unwantedfridge99. For what it’s worth, I bet you looked beautiful tonight. Even with slime.

I stare at the screen, my heart doing a weird little flip.

Me: You don’t even know what I look like.

Unwantedfridge99: I don’t need to. Your writing shows who you are. The way you see the world, how you describe emotions… people like that are always beautiful.

And now I’m blushing so much that I’m sweating. Who Is this guy? I am smiling at my screen like a lovestruck teenager.

Me: I needed to hear that.

Me: Thank you.

Unwantedfridge99: No need to thank me for telling the truth.

There’s a pause before another message appears.

Unwantedfridge99: So this guy who drove you home…you like him?

My fingers freeze over the keyboard. Do I like Azriel? After what he said? No..yes? He makes my pulse run wild, but I also get mad and embarrassed thinking about what he said.

I wet my lips, then pour my heart out some more.

Me: He is stupidly beautiful and gives me all the feels. Hard to hate someone when they look like the prince from a fantasy novel and give you butterflies.

Unwantedfridge99: A fantasy prince who calls you heavy? Sounds more like a toad to me.

1 laugh out loud, then quickly cover my mouth. Mom might be passed out, but I don’t want to risk waking her.

Me: Maybe he’s under a curse. Doomed to say the wrong thing at the exact wrong moment.

Unwantedfridge99: Curses can be broken.

Me: By true love’s kiss?

Unwantedfridge99: Only if the person deserves it. Not all princes are worth saving.

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