Eden Grace
Eden's heart tugged painfully though an invisible thread had been pulled tight inside her, connecting her to the fragile creature before her.
Eden's lips parted and her voice trembled out of her."I-Ishira…? My wolf?"
The small wolf's ears twitched. Its fragile body shifted slightly, as though gathering the little strength it had.
And from its throat came a soft, trembling sound. A low, gentle whimper so vulnerable yet so unmistakably alive.
Eden's breath caught.
"No… way…!" she whispered, her voice breaking.
Another small sound escaped the wolf, almost like a quiet coo, filled with innocence and longing.
That was all it took.
Eden broke.
A sob tore from her chest as she ran forward without thinking, dropping to her knees beside the wolf.
Her arms wrapped around its small, trembling body, pulling it carefully against her heart as though she was afraid it might disappear if she let go.
"Ishira…my wolf!" she cried softly. "You're real… You're really here…"
The wolf nestled weakly against her, pressing its tiny head into her chest, responding to her touch with faint, comforting whimpers.
They clung to each other in silence like two broken souls finally finding what they had been missing all along.
Eden buried her face into the soft, shimmering fur, her tears soaking into it.
"Where were you…?" she whispered shakily. "Where have you been all this time…?"
"I thought…" Eden choked. "I thought I had no wolf…I thought I was alone. But you were here. You were always here…"
The wolf whimpered softly, pressing closer, as though agreeing. As though saying 'I never left.
I was just waiting.'
Eden's fingers trembled as she gently traced the outline of Ishira's small body.
Only then did she realize how fragile she was. How light. How weak. How delicate. It was as though her wolf had only just been born.
All these years she thought the moon goddess had forgotten her, had abandoned her completely. But now seeing Ishira, her heart was overwhelmed with happiness.
Eden laughed weakly through her tears. "You're so beautiful…" she whispered in awe.
Its fur shimmered with shifting hues of silver, soft gold, and faint rainbow light, as though moonbeams, starlight, and dawn itself had been woven into every strand.
When it moved even slightly, the colors rippled gently across its body, creating a mesmerizing glow that felt unreal, almost sacred.
It looked less like a creature of flesh and blood. And more like something born from the heavens.
"You're mine, Ishira…" Eden said softly. "And I'm yours…"
Eden curled herself into a small, trembling ball on the soft glowing ground, her arms wrapping protectively around Ishira's fragile body as though she were afraid that even a single careless breath might make her disappear again.
The little wolf let out a faint, broken whimper and pressed closer to her chest, its shimmering fur brushing against her skin like warm moonlight, sending gentle waves of comfort through her aching heart.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, soaking into Ishira's glowing fur, but for the first time in so long, they were not tears of loneliness.
They were tears of reunion.
Of relief.
Of belonging.
Eden drifted into a peaceful stillness, her soul finally resting after so long.
.
.
"Eden… Eden, wake up." A distant voice echoed through the light.
"Eden! Please get up!"
"Eden!"
Her eyes flew open. She gasped sharply as though she had been pulled out of deep water..
"God you're awake! Eden Grace, you absolute maniac! I thought you were fucking dead!" Bella's voice was shrill, breaking and furious.
"I called you a hundred times! You didn't pick up, you weren't answering texts. I had to track your damn location! And when I found you…God Eden, there was blood all over you!"
Blood?
The memory struck like a blow to the chest when Eden heard the word. Oh right, the man, the poison, the wolf!
Eden's breath hitched as realization rushed through her like wildfire.
That gigantic wolf. It had sensed Ishira.It had reacted the moment her own wolf awakened.
Her wolf awakened because of him!
Her fingers curled tightly into the blanket as her heart began to pound violently against her ribs.
That meant…that handsome man was her mate!?
He was not just some powerful werewolf, he was the real mate chosen by the Moon goddess herself!!
"Eden, do you even hear me!? What are you thinking? And what the hell happened to you? You should have called me, goddamit!" Bella looked at her in concern.
"It's because of that bastard isn't it? God I swear I'm going to kill him. How could he do this to you? With Freya of all people?"
Bella fumed and she got up abruptly. "He is seriously going to get killed. How could he treat you like this!? He had the nerve to..."
"Bella, stop." Eden groaned, raising a shaky hand to her temple. "Please stop yelling, my head feels like its splitting."
Bella froze mid rant, her anger draining from her face and guilt replaced it.
"I'm sorry," she said quickly, kneeling again beside the bed. "I didn't mean to yell. You just scared the hell out of me, I don't know how to react."
Eden managed a faint smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I'm fine."
"There's no way you're going to be fine. Just look at you, you look like a dried bean for god sake. You must be hungry! I'll go make something to eat!!" Bella ran towards the kitchen immediately before Eden could even speak.
Eden sighing, leaned back against the pillows and slowly closed her eyes, letting out a quiet breath.
She could feel and see Ishira, her precious wolf. Ishira had curled herself, resting peacefully. Eden smiled.
'Ishira…that enormous black wolf, is that our mate?'
The moment the word mate formed, Ishira stirred. She cooed this time more clearly, more happily, as if answering her without hesitation.
Eden's fingers tightened around the blanket, her heart pounding wildly as she pictured that wolf, that handsome young man who looked like a fallen angel.
"My… mate…" Eden whispered. "I really have a mate…!"
After everything Jake had done to her, after the way she had sworn never to trust again, fate had decided to give her someone else.
Eden felt something warm in her chest. I need to meet him again..!
"Eden! Come sit on the sofa. I'll bring the porridge in a minute." Bella called out from the kitchen, her voice loud and full of energy as usual.
Eden lifted her head slowly, pulling herself out of her thoughts. "Okay," she replied softly.
Reaching the sofa, Eden lowered herself onto it carefully and leaned back, letting out a quiet breath.
After Bella brought all the food prepared Bella and Eden started eating.
Eden ate slowly, her stomach turning at first but settling as the warmth spread through her.
Bella didn't push her to talk. For once, she was quiet, offering company without questions.
To distract Eden's restless thoughts, Bella reached for the remote and turned on the television.
Eden reached for her water, but then the news channel caught her eye. She leaned forward, frowning as she felt the person on the screen felt way too familiar.
Wait, isn't that the guy…I encountered in the dark alley? My mate!?
The headline rolled across the screen.
"The rumoured Alpha heir of legendary Blackthorn pack, Cassian Blackthorn is hospitalised under mysterious circumstances. Security is tight, No Official Statement. Source says it was an assassination attempt."
Eden's blood ran cold as she recognized him. Heir of Blackathorn..!? Cassian Blackthorn!?
Eden hands shot up to her head, "Fuck…!"