20. Eden

A/N: thanks so much for all the comments! I love answering them and hearing your theories! Drama starts after this last chapter! Eeek!

I'm very flattered and humbled by the fact i actually even made it on the hot list! Still is a thrilling concept to me! So keep the VOTES coming!

We have a new POV coming soon...and the chapter after this one... will be FULL of craziness. Nova might have a problem on her hands...

Xoxo

Chilee

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Nova

I stood there, staring. Not being able to take my eyes off the blonde haired green eyed woman standing at my front door that has been one of my best friends since i was a pup.

"Eden." I breathed with widened eyes, unable to move. It was as if I was frozen, happines creeping inside my once numb body.. taking a weight off my chest.

Her smile was dazzling, surrounded by her red lips. "Well dont just stand there staring! Give me a hug, you!!!" She pulled me into her arms so hard that my chest collided into hers, arms going around me squeezing tightly. Inhaling her familiar scent as our cheeks pressed together, a smile crept onto my face as I held her.

"Im so glad you're here! But.. how?" She held me at arms length to get a look at me, her signature smirk broadening, showing her white teeth.

"Well... I finished seer training.. but now i have to intern with the pack oracle until i get my credentials." She beamed. "Which means...."

My face lit up. "You're here to stay??"

Nodding, her grin multiplied. "Yep! And we are going to have some fun. Its been years since ive seen you. Two to be exact." She glided past me, making herself at home on my sofa like she used to. I closed the door, admiring how much she has changed. She has really come into her own with this whole... dark and seductive thing going on.. ripped dark denim skinnies, red leather wedge booties and a ramones t shirt that had been cut into a tank top, exposing her red bra beneath, under the sleeves. I also noticed she got a tattoo. Not very oracle like of her...

Eden has never been one to follow guidelines or rules.. she liked to follow the beat of her own drum. On her 17th birthday, she discovered she had the gift of sight after her first shift and the next month, she was going off to excell in her gift, learning how to control it. Now here she is.. 19 and ready to begin scrying as an oracle.

"So, I sense you've had your first shift" she mused, eyes assesing me. "Have you... found your mate? Is it someone in the pack? Ya know.. I had a vision about it but it wasn't a good outcome so I dont think I got it right because there's no WAY that you'd be-"

"Mated to Zaryn? I am." My lips pursed as I flopped down next to her, remembering the first two weeks of realizing he was my mate. It was hell.

Eden seemed uncomfortable as she peered over at me. "Oh... Nova I'm so sorry..."

I waved my hand, brushing it off as if it wasn't a big deal. Turning in my seat, i angled my body toward hers with excitement. "So, tell me about your training! Where all did you go?"

Brushing her long curled blonde hair to one side, she rolles her eyes. "Nowhere fun that's for sure. Do you know they give you a curfew? When I was at the Oracle Scrying Association in Hawaii, we had to be in every night at 9. But... i found a few local humans who would have parties on the beach. Of course you know I snuck out and partied with them. I was so hungover the next day." Laughing, she shook her head at the memory as i tried to imagine a night like that. Something exciting and fun.

We sat for what felt like forever .. i told her what had happened between Zaryn and I, how once he brought Grace back then discovering I was his, how everything changed. And also how she is Nic's mate along with my assumptions that she is no alpha's daughter.

"What a WITCH!" Eden shouted as my mind reeled over everything i had told her. I couldnt help the giggle at her use of words.. Z had nicknamed her the same thing.

"Yeah well wait until you meet her for yourself." I sighed, getting up to put our plates in the dishwasher. I managed to finally eat, Eden being here calmed me and my wolf was whining inside my head, wanting a chance to meet her wolf. A female we could trust.

Eden hopped up, grabbing her purse as she sauntered over to the kitchen island. "Well sexy, i have to go check in with the oracle.. i just wanted to stop by here first. Ill see you tomorrow yeah? Im pretty jet lagged so I'm going to go relax for the rest of the day. ". I still couldnt fathom how much she had changed, going from a skinny lanky brunette to the curvaceous blonde she was now.

My lips tugged at the edges into a smile, pulling her into one last hug before she headed out the door.

"Oh Eden on more thing." She turned to me expectantly.

"Grace lives with the Oracle.."

Her devious smirk appeared "Not for long!" She winked, closing the door behind her as she left.

A small splayed on my lips as I thought of the trouble Eden would cause and get into now that she was back. It was so nice having my other best friend back.. I had something to lool forward to now.

I could hear shuffling upstairs before the step at the top of the stairs creaked, followed by Nic bounding downstairs. His steps were so heavy, i am actually surprised sometimes that he doesnt fall through the floor.

"So Eden is back eh?" He grinned, showing his teeth in a non threatening way.  Eden used to crush on Nic so hard before she got sent away to school which is my guess as to why he didnt show his face. He never had any interest in her but if he saw her now he would.

"Yeah.. and you should have seen her! She looks wild! Amazing and wild. She has changed alot over the years style wise... blonde hair, curves, tattoos. The works." A sly smile pulled up at the corner of my lips as i watched Nic.

He seemed to think to himself for a moment, deep in though before shrugging it off. " i dont believe it. Hey i wanted to mention something to you." He came into the kitchen as i watched him from my perch on the counter with raised  rows as he devoured a banana, waiting for him to finish.

"Dont tell anyone about my meeting with alpha blake. I want to keep Grace in the dark about her dad coming because im pretty sure he wont call her about it." He had this evil twinkle in his eye. I attempted to hide my smile, He was breaking her down. "Alright. Got it."

Nic grabbed a bottle of water before leaving without a word as to where hw was going.

I decided I would take the opportunity of no one being around, to head up to my spot and put the letter in the tree house for Zaryn.  Outside, the rain had finally gone but the sky was still cloudy .. overcast with the dark tufts clouds with moisture in their underbellies. I trudged across the pack house backyard and up the other side that led to the cliffs. Making my way, the mud that formed on the once dirt path was sticking to the bottom of my flip flops, coming up onto my feet. I sighed heavily, reaching down to take off my flip flops and continued up the mountainside with them dangling from my hand.

Once i made it to the top, my secret spot, i felt at ease. My stomach wasn't in knots for once.. anxiety didnt cripple me, and my shattered heart was still, not moving. Looking down onto the pack house that seemed so small from this vantage point, I could see pack members having a mud fight near the lake. They seemed like smal grains from up here. I was on top of the world.

I dipped my feet in the stream along with my flip flops, cleansing them as i stared up at the clouds that seemed to be moving, spreading apart so that beams of sunlight could peek through but just barely. A rainbow appeared in the distance, shimmering through the sky.

I exhaed happily as I turned towards the wooded area behind the cliff and and walked through the wet clovers to the hidden tree house behind the treeline that shielded it. Once i finally made it up into the tree house, i checked our cubby hole, noting that there was no letter for me yet. Feeling slightly disappointed, I left mine.

Our first correspondence. I wouldnt keep this up, i just needed answers and I needed to tell him what I knew about Grace. I had this gut feeling something bad would happen soon and this was our way of keeping each other informed.

After sliding the piece of wood over the hole, i looked around the room, my eyes falling to the matress we had shared moments on. My stomach lifted with butterflies, remembering the things we did. The things we shouldn't have done. But i dont regret it. Not yet.

Just as i was about to leave, the hatch swung open causing me to jump in surprise until i saw it was Zaryn, his blue eyes widening when they landed on me. My heart was racing.

"Oh my gosh Zaryn what are you doing here!?" I panicked.

He smiled up at me, those dimples forming below his model high cheekbones. "the same thing you are i suppose?"

I glanced out the window, paranoia setting in. I know someone was out here last time.. i felt it. "Well we should come at separate times.. i dont want anyone snooping and catching us around each other." I crossed my arms as I shifted my weight to the side.

He stood to his full height, ducking slightly as his eyes raked over my body, darkening slightly. "Yeah. We can do that. Im sorry. I just wanted to give you this." He held out the letter and I took it, my skin brushing his for a brief moment, giving me chills up my spine. I would read the letter later, i thought, as i stuffed it into my pocket.

"Here" i took my envelope out of the cubby hole and handed it to him. "Zaryn you lied to me yesterday. About seeing Grace before you came here to see me." I accused, my eyes meeting meeting his, hurt crossing my features.

He let out a breath, lookin down. "Im sorry.. i didnt want you upset but i didnt exactly lie. I didn't lay eyes on her. I just asked Nic if the pup was ok. Im sorry Nova." He looked me in the eyes and I knew he was telling me the truth.

I nodded, expecting he would say that.

"Wheres your necklace?" He asked with a hurt expression. I cringed inwardly, remembering I had taken it off earlier.

I pulled it out of my pocket and put it on before i met his bright blue orbs once more. "I saw Deacon. He knows you gave this to me."

Zaryn smiled a little. "He should. I showed it to him the day after I came back from the North. When i told him i was stuck. He told me not to give it to you... but now here we are."

His smile was contagious but i didn't feel like i should be here in this moment. It felt so nice being in his presence but it was bad for me in the long run. I couldnt take my eyes off of his though.. "Zaryn. In the letter.. I'd  like to go ahead and tell you.. my brother talked with Grace. She kept telling him that they couldn't have been together anyway.. said she never had any interest in finding her mate because she didnt want one. That he would have only gotten his heart broken. She told him even if she wasn't set to mate with you... she still couldnt be with him because he isnt alpha born. He asked what if he had been and she said it wouldnt have mattered .. that her path was already chosen for her. When he asked her what would happen if she lost the pup, she said it wouldnt matter because she would already be mated to you or either another alpha because she needs an alpha to bring to her fathers pack! You cant tell anyone i told you this... but Zaryn.. she assumes that you and her will be mated soon.. "

His eyes were wide, anger pulsing in his body. I could feel his agression radiating out of his skin the same while his jaw clenched. "No. That will never happen. Nova... between the fact i couldn't sense her heat.. and now this information.. her seeming so desperate for an alpha mate... im thinking she made this happen Nova." His eyes cast down on me, worry showing through as I expressed my sadness before they switched to anger once more.

I bit my lip, thinking if i should tell him the next.

I have to. I have to tell him.

"One more thing. Conrad is coming. He knows about Nic being her mate now but tell no one because she doesn't know and we want to keep it that way." I pleaded.

Taking a deep breath, he nodded solemnly. He stared down into my eyes, wanting to reach their depths. "Nova. I will find out what happened when i was there. I will find out what Grace is up to. I promise. " his hand rested on my shoulder at which i shivered and moved away from the satisfying touch.

My eyes darted around, ignoring the pain in his eyes. "I need to go. I just wanted to warn you.. and get answers. Ill... ill write you again soon if anything comes up." I made my way to the hatch before he spun me around, hand in my hair with the other on my lower back, eyes gazing at me with an intensity. "I love you. Dont forget." A blush crept up my cheeks and i nodded, smiling. My stomach flipped with his touch and his words...

If things would have been different, i would be happily with him. But even if he isnt at fault on this... he still has a pup on the way. That's something i can't compete with.

I climbed down the treehouse quickly, not wanting another moment there to make me fall for him and not wanting to get caught but its like i could feel eyes.. watching me.

I ran, speeding my way down through the path as the sun shown brightly above me now, drying up the rain. I burst out of the woods and into the grass at the bottom of the slope before i slowed down, the feeling of eyes on my skin had me spooked but I still felt them. As i began walking slowly, trying to catch my breath, I searched around, looking at the wolves swimming and laying out, playing volley ball on the lake's  beach. The tap on my shoulder had me spinnimg around, ready to attack, my heart stuck in my throat.

It was Deacon.

"Deacon?" I frowned, looking at the woods behind him from whence I came.. then at the path to the left that led towards where Grace was staying with the oracle. "Where did you come from? Grace's?" I rose a brow.

He smiled, shaking his head. "No. I dont talk to that female. I was in the woods, saw you running so i followed you down here. Hey, you think we can talk?" He bit down on his bottom lip nervously, blue eyes pleading with me.

I sighed inwardly. I pray he didnt see Zaryn enter that treehouse after me.. I hope he didnt know anything about that. It would only cause chaos.

"Yeah sure. Where do you want to go?" I relented.

His lips turned up into a smile before splitting into a grin. "Come on, we are going out on the boat." He tugged my hand, pulling me along with him, not giving me room to protest.

I really didnt want to.. but then i recalled the last time we were out on the boat. When i was holed up in my room for two weeks.. he helped me then. He has always helped me and ive been pushing him away lately just because of his overprotective attitude toward me.. i owe it to him.

"Alright." I smiled

He led me to the row boat by the dock and helped me in before he climbed in himself. We began rowing down stream, the paddle caressing the water as it plunged through the surface but i felt eyes on my skin. Looking up behind Deacon, i saw Zaryn, looking down from the cliffs where i had been at just a moment earlier, he seemed to be frowning with fists at his sides. These two brothers were driving me crazy with both of their protective instincts.. hating each other.

We managed to row downstream, away from curious eyes before we stopped about a half mile away, just sitting.

Deacon's eyes lingered on me a moment before he gazed at the locket around my neck. I had forgotten to take it off.

"Nova. I want the best for you.. always." He spoke softly. "My brother.. he is going to wind up marking Grace and its going to crush you. I wish you could see that. When you would go see him.. building ideas in your head.. expectations..it only makes it worse in the end. I wish you would trust me."

I shook my head angrily. "I know what could happen Deacon. Im prepared for the worst case scenario.. trust me. But those moments, letting me know how he felt.. it helped me to become numb instead of dying inside, wondering if he just never even wanted to give us a chance. I got answers now.. and i can live my own life now. Im not waiting for Zaryn, Deacon. Im focusing on me. Yeah there are things im trying to uncover for the people that matter to me.. but this whole thing is messed up. Someone mainly Zaryn, im positive, is being played. So despite my feelings about everything that has happened... im going to be fine.. might even meet someone i like. But i wont let you or anyone else tell me what i should and shouldnt do Deacon. Im a big wolf now. If i want to bring myself pain then i will.. and if i want to live my life, i will.. which im trying to start doing. But people like you aren't helping." I growled low, watching his exlression.

He sighed defeatedly. "I get it Nova. Im sorry. You know i love you right? Im always here for you.. just come to me. Okay?" He softened his gaze staring into my eyes with those blue deep infinite eyes similar to Zaryn's just slightly darker.

I guess we buried the hatchet.

He sank down into the bottom of the boat and held his arms out with that puppy dog face that used to get me every time. Huffing, i fought a smile as i climbed down and turn to lay my back against him as we just watched the water splash occasionally with bass when they would flip out of the water.

"This is nice." He inhaled. "Just me and you... how it used to be before the unmentionables came along.

I couldnt help but to giggle at that. Peering up at him as my head lay on his shoulder, my lips drew into a smile. "Yeah. It is nice to have the old you back. Not the father version of you." I giggled.

We sat out in the boat until it started to get dark and that's when he suggested paddling back to the pack grounds.

After we docked, he pulled me up onto the wooden platform with him and into his chest, nose goig to my neck which made me uncomfortable. He was too close.

"Nova, your heat is coming soon. My wolf can smell the sweetness seeping from your skin." His voice was rough and broken. I felt warmth flood in my face, backing away from him quickly, his arms leaving my back.

"Um. Yeah.. mom is going to lock me away when it does. No worries. Its not for another week or two." I forced a smile. He pulled me into him hard again, nose going into my neck once more.

"I can almost taste your scent on my tongue Nova.." his tongue dipped out and darted across my flesh giving me that feeling only Zaryn has ever given me. Suddenly i panicked and my wolf surfaced, teeth coming out. A snarl from me broke him out of his trance and he let me go with widened eyes.

"I-im so sorry. I dont know why i did that." He looked down nervously, a blush spread across his cheeks. This was humiliating for the both of us. My wolf didn't like him getting too close. She wanted only one wolf... but my human form reacted to him.

It had to be his wolf sensing my heat.. its something you cant escape.

"Um.. its ok.. i know it wasn't you.. Well... i gotta go eat dinner. Ill see you tomorrow ok? Oh! By the way. Guess who is back!?" My smile brightened, not wanting him to feel embarassed.

"Who?" He frowned.

"Eden!" My grin was contagious because soon he was grinning too, all traces of embarassment vanished.

Deacon, Eden and I used to get into the biggest and best kind of trouble.. always sneaking around.. pulling pranks on other wolves.. they called us the trio of trouble.

"Shes with the oracle.. i dont know about living arrangements yet but shes here for good.

"Good" his grin toned down to that of a sly smile. He knew trouble was back in the crescent moon pack.. and it wouldn't be long until it started.

"Hey Nova. Don't forget what tomorrow is.."

I turned to face him, confused as i cocked my head to the side.

"The healer is coming."

Words i didnt want to hear.. something i had forgotten about. I had a really bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.

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Hope you enjoyed!

This was just a filler chap to spill some info without any actions happening yet..

To those of my readers whom i love to pieces for your votes and wonderful comments! Guess what....

The action is starting to happen... next chappy! Get ready! Eden actually plays a part in all this too. Shes an oracle in training!