Eden
Before going back, I took a moment of calming myself down and letting the revelation sink in. Elvion was sitting beside me letting me cry it out and think about this. I look at him and he meets my eyes "Thank you, Elv" I say to him, my voice barely more than a whisper as I wiped the tear from my cheek. His eyebrows furrows and he asks "For what?". I muster a smile and look to the sky "For being beside me and helping me for as long as I have lived" I said. He puts his tiny hand on my lap as if reassuring me and understanding the silence that is exchanged between us.
Emrys was stirring inside me, a mix of fear and anger simmering beneath the surface. My pulse thrummed in my ears, but all I could think of was the horror I'd just learned.
My legs felt weak earlier so my back was resting against a large tree as my world crumbled around me. But its time to face this "So what do I do now?" I whispered, my voice cracking. "If they're after me, I can't just stay here and wait for them to come."
Elvion crouched in front of me, his face serious. "You need to prepare. You need to understand your power—both fae and werewolf. It's time for you to embrace who you are, Eden. It's the only way you can fight back."
"How?" My voice was fragile, wavering between anger and despair. "I don't even know what I am."
"You're more powerful than you realize," he said gently, his hand hovering over my shoulder as if he wanted to comfort me but knew he couldn't. "But you have to stop running from it. I can help you, guide you through it, but you need to trust yourself."
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to hold back the storm of emotions swirling inside me. Everything I thought I knew—about myself, about my family, about my world—was a lie. And the truth? The truth was far worse than I could've imagined. How could I have not predicted this with the amount of books I've read?
There's no point in bringing up the past. It's time to be brave now, Eden. Emrys encourages me and for once, I agree. I'm usually a pacifist in these type of situation but obviously that can't be me anymore.
I stood up, brushing the dirt off my pants as I steadied myself. "Alright. If they're after me, I won't hide anymore." My voice was shaky but determined. "Teach me what I need to know. I'm done running."
Elvion's expression shifted, pride flickering in his glowing green eyes. "Good. But you must be careful. The magic in you is ancient, raw. If you don't control it, it could consume you. I'll go stay with you more now. I just have to wrap a few things up. We need all the time to practice your magic. I'll meet you at your room later"
I swallowed hard, the weight of his words pressing down on me. But there was no going back now. I nod and we said our goodbyes. It pains me to take Elvion away from his home but this is the necessary move to protect everyone. I don't have anyone either to teach me about magic. In fact, I don't think I've ever met a fellow fae. I'll trust Elvion that he can teach me because if he was able to instruct me how to heal him then we can both do more when given the time.
I took my time walking back to the house, looking at my hands sometimes remembering what I was able to do last night. If I can heal Elvion, could I then heal the patroller from last night?
I'll have to try once I have a plan and courage to tell Cassian everything. People will ask if our pack member miraculously healed overnight…
There's so many problems to think about and so little answers. My mind is clouded with anxiety and worries.The morning air and the bird chirping had given way to the golden warmth of midday, but I hadn't been able to shake the tension coiling inside me. I spent most of the walk back quietly, replaying Elvion's words in my mind.
Once I reached the house, I saw Aunt Mira in the garden, kneeling among the herbs she tended to with such care. She hadn't spoken to me about last night, and I hadn't had the energy to press her. But now, with everything Elvion had told me, I needed answers.
She must have known right? Yeah, she was friends with your parents. Emrys answers and I sigh.
I approached her, my feet crunching softly on the gravel path. "Aunt Mira," I said, my voice uncertain but steady. "We need to talk."
She didn't look up, but I could see the tension in her shoulders. "About what?"
"About what you're hiding," I said, more forcefully than I intended. "About my parents. About me. Elvion told me things already but I would like to hear it from you"
Mira's hands stilled over the basil plants, her back rigid. For a long moment, she didn't move or speak. The silence between us stretched, and I could hear my heartbeat in the stillness.
Finally, she sat back on her heels, letting out a slow breath. "I hoped you wouldn't find out this way," she murmured, her voice heavy with resignation. "But I suppose it was only a matter of time."
I crouched beside her, my heart racing. "Please, Mira. I need to know."
She turned her face toward me, her eyes full of a sadness I hadn't seen before. "Your mother was fae, Eden. Not just any fae—she was one of the strongest of her kind. Your father was a great warrior, one of the most respected wolves in the pack. They thought they could keep you safe, but… they couldn't. One of your Mom's closest fae friends named Tessa along with Elvion came to me one night holding you in their arms. They said I have to take you in, you were in danger. "
Her words echoed what Elvion had already told me, but hearing them from Aunt Mira made it feel more real, more painful. "Why didn't you tell me?" I whispered, my voice breaking. "Why keep this from me?"
"I thought I was protecting you," she said, her voice trembling. "The truth is dangerous, Eden. Knowing who you are, what you are… it puts you in the crosshairs of powerful enemies. Your mother sacrificed everything to hide you, and I—" Her voice broke, and she wiped at her eyes. "I couldn't bear to lose you too."
I swallowed the lump in my throat, a mixture of anger and grief rising inside me. "But now they know. They're after me. What am I supposed to do? You guys will be in danger and I don't know what I am supposed to do with Cassian. Does he even deserve this? Do I deserve him?"
Mira looked at me, her expression resolute despite the tears in her eyes. She hugs me and she whispers "You fight, Eden. You fight like your parents did. You don't let them take what they've already stolen." The tears that I have been holding back surges and I cry on her shoulders.
Despite me being scared, her words ignited something inside me—a spark of defiance, of strength I didn't know I had. How can I disappoint her? How can I not protect my aunt? She has been my family ever since I lost mine. We both lost our loved ones and I can't afford to hurt her by losing me too. I stood up, I wipe my tears off and my fists clenched at my sides. "I'll fight. I have to. Elvion will be staying with us for a while to teach me magic."
Mira rose beside me, her hand resting on my shoulder. "You won't be alone, Eden. You've always had me, and now… you have Cassian."
At the mention of his name, my heart skipped a beat. Cassian—strong, determined, unyielding—was already intertwined with my fate, whether either of us liked it or not.
"I have to tell him," I whispered. "He needs to know but I don't know where to start"
Mira nodded, her face softening. "Just start from the beginning, sweetheart. I know Cassian I watched him grow up too. He'll understand and support you and besides, this also concerns the pack"
I nodded, determination solidifying in my chest but I still have my doubts and worries. I don't know how to soften the blow of this news to Cassian and I can't be too lax about him still accepting me to be his mate especially what happened to my parents.
Aunt Mira and I stepped through the door, and the comforting warmth of home greeted us, mingling with the smell of fresh herbs and woodsmoke. Mira placed a hand on my arm, urging me to have breakfast before I broke the news to Leo and Cassian. I had a long, daunting day ahead, and she knew it. But as we moved further inside, we both stopped dead in our tracks.
Something was off.
The air held a scent that wasn't ours—not Mira's, not mine, not anyone from the pack. My body tensed, every muscle going rigid as the unfamiliar scent curled around us like smoke. It was faint, but unmistakable.
Mira's posture shifted, her fingers tightening on my arm, her eyes narrowing. We were both on edge, instinctively preparing for a fight, muscles coiling, ready to spring. A low growl rumbled through me as Emrys, my wolf, stirred, bristling at the foreign presence.
They wouldn't dare attack now, would they? Emrys snarled, her readiness for battle surging through me like a live wire. My heart raced, my senses sharpening as the world narrowed to the impending threat.
And then the hallway creaked, the sound of footsteps reaching us before a figure emerged from one of the side rooms.
Elvion.
But this wasn't the tiny, ethereal figure I was used to. No, Elvion appeared—in human form, and most astonishingly, human-sized. His long hair, though still possessing that otherworldly sheen, cascaded loosely over a simple shirt, his elven grace muted but still present in his movements.
I blinked in shock, my pulse slowing only slightly as recognition set in. "What the…?"
Beside me, Mira's rigid stance melted away, and she chuckled, though the sound was a little too relieved. "You had us on edge there, Elvion," she said, releasing the breath she'd been holding. Her hand relaxed its grip on my arm as she spoke, but my mind was still spinning.
Elvion gave a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry about that. Hi, Mira. It's been a while."
I walked over to him, still staring, disbelieving. Without thinking, I reached out and poked his arm. "You can… do this?" I asked, my voice more incredulous than I intended.
He laughed lightly and nodded, batting my hand away as I went to poke him again, testing his solid form. "Yes, we can. I had a bit of help to make it possible, but yes. I can do this," he said, looking rather pleased with himself.
"Well, I didn't know you could grow yourself to our size." I shook my head in disbelief, finally letting my hand drop.
Mira, her usual composure returning, turned toward the kitchen. "How about we discuss this over breakfast?" She smiled, already moving to the stove. "Bacon, eggs, and everything in between?"
Elvion and I answered in unison, "Yes, please!" I was still shaking off the remnants of shock, but the mention of food, especially Mira's cooking, grounded me again.
As Mira busied herself in the kitchen, I grabbed Elvion's arm and dragged him toward the spare room down the hall, his light chuckle following behind me. "You can't walk around here looking like you belong in some enchanted forest," I joked, throwing open the closet and rifling through Leo's old clothes. "Here," I tossed him a pair of dark jeans and a worn gray shirt. "You need to look normal—like one of us."
Elvion examined the clothes as though they were some kind of relics. "Normal, huh?" he muttered with amusement, but he nodded, taking them without protest.
"Just… try to blend in." I gave him a pointed look before leaving the room, letting him change in peace.
When I returned to the kitchen, the smell of sizzling bacon hit me, and I slid onto one of the bar stools, watching as Mira expertly moved around the stove. There was a certain comfort in the routine of it all, despite everything that had just happened. It almost made me forget the turmoil swirling inside me—the burden of the truth I still had to reveal.
But Elvion's presence was a reminder that my world was no longer simple. He soon comes out of the room and I laugh at his appearance. His long luscious blonde hair just didn't seem to fit the ragged jeans and shirt he's wearing. These type of clothes look more like a costume on him rather than the elvish clothes he was always wearing. Mira looks at him and smiles "Well, you certainly look normal" she chuckles and Elvion scratches the back of his neck shyingly.
He took a seat next to me at the kitchen bar, his elven presence oddly natural in the cozy, werewolf home. I slid him a cup of tea, steam rising from the porcelain as it mingled with the scent of bacon and eggs in the air. He took a small sip, his eyes studying me over the rim of the cup.
"Where do we start with our magic lessons?" I asked, my voice tinged with both anticipation and nerves.
Elvion set the cup down and cleared his throat, the soft clink of porcelain marking the shift in our conversation. "Well, you managed to heal last night, so that's a solid start," he said, his smile calm yet approving.
Mira, who was flipping bacon at the stove, glanced over her shoulder with a proud smile. "You did? Good job, Eden!" She set down a plate in front of each of us, sliding two pieces of bacon onto them with her usual no-nonsense efficiency.
I smiled back at her, the warmth of her approval sinking in. "Thanks," I said softly. It was nice to know I'd be able to help in case of further attacks, especially with the dark threats lurking around us.
Elvion leaned forward slightly, his tone shifting into something more instructional. "In relation to that, I think we should focus on something more advanced today. We'll learn how to create a healing orb—a concentrated ball of light that allows you to heal larger, more complex injuries at once."
I nodded, placing my hands flat on the table, the wood cool beneath my fingertips. The idea of creating a healing orb felt like a monumental step forward, but I was eager to master it, knowing how critical it could be for the pack's safety.
Elvion's gaze softened as he reached out, taking my hands in his. His touch was light but purposeful as he lifted them from the table and guided them to face each other, palms up. The closeness felt intimate, almost reverent, and for a moment, everything else faded into the background.
"Close your eyes, Eden," he said softly. "Feel the energy between your hands. The same energy you channeled last night."
I obeyed, letting my eyelids flutter shut. The kitchen sounds—the sizzle of bacon, the clink of plates—fell away, leaving me in a quiet space with only the pulse of magic swirling through me. I inhaled deeply, focusing inward, imagining the flow of energy collecting between my hands.
"Now," Elvion whispered, his voice grounding me, "visualize that energy expanding. Picture it growing into a sphere, radiating light. The further apart your hands move, the larger the orb will become."
I concentrated, pushing the energy outward as my palms slowly drifted apart. At first, there was nothing—just the cool air between my fingers. But then, a faint warmth began to grow, like a tiny spark igniting. I open my eyes and see a ball of light between my hands floating.The sensation spread quickly, an invisible glow manifesting between my hands as I imagined the light growing larger, more vibrant.
Just as the orb began to form fully, the sound of a knock startled me, and the energy dissipated like a broken spell.
Mira called out from the kitchen, her voice cheerful and unbothered by the interruption. "Oh, it's Leo! Come in!"
My eyes snapped open, and I inhaled sharply. But before I could even process Leo's arrival, another scent hit me like a wave—Cassian. My eyes widened, panic flickering through me. I'm not ready to tell Cassian everything.
The front door creaked open, and there they were—Leo and Cassian, standing in the doorway, the morning light casting long shadows behind them. Cassian's dark green eyes locked on mine immediately, but then they flickered down to where Elvion's hands were still clasped around mine.
Leo arched an eyebrow, his amusement barely hidden. "Well, well. I didn't know I was interrupting something."
Cassian, however, wasn't amused. His gaze lingered, sharp and unreadable, as if he were silently assessing the scene before him. His presence was magnetic, drawing all the air from the room, and I could feel my pulse quicken under his scrutiny.
Elvion, seemingly unfazed, released my hands and stood up, offering a nod of greeting to the two men.
"Good morning, gentlemen," Elvion said smoothly, stepping aside as if nothing had happened. "We were just... going over something"
Leo, ever the peacemaker, slipped onto the bar stool next to me and took a sip from the tea cup Mira had left out. "something, huh? and it requires holding hands?" His eyes flicked between me and Cassian, clearly trying to ease the tension by teasing us.
I nodded, feeling my face heat under Cassian's unwavering gaze. "Yeah," I muttered, shifting awkwardly. "Leo, you know Elvion. Elvion meet Leo and Cassian"
Cassian finally stepped further into the room, his eyes softening just a fraction as he regarded me. He nodded to Elvion as an acknowledgement "Nice to meet you" he said quietly, though the weight of his words felt like an impending storm.
Leo gave a knowing glance at Elvion, "Elvion! So this is what you look like! I was wondering since Eden always talks about you" I glare at him and he smirks clearly teasing me because that can be misinterpreted by Cassian. Elvion who caught on what was happening immediately coughs and looks at Cassian and I "Right," Elvion said, straightening his posture. "I think I'll give you guys some privacy. Would you mind going somewhere with me Leo? I have some important news"
He gestured to Leo, and they both made their way toward the door. But just before Leo left, he paused, flashing me a quick, teasing grin. "Good luck, Eden. You're going to need it with this one." He jerked his thumb toward Cassian, and with that, he and Elvion disappeared out the door, leaving me and Mira, with Cassian.
"Actually, you know I think I need to get some more eggs in the coop." Mira turns off the stove and wipes her hands in her apron. She then smiles at me and gives me a nod of encouragement.
Not her leaving us too… Once I heard the backyard door close, I look at Cassian.
As the silence between us thickened, it felt like a storm about to break. The weight of everything I needed to say pressed heavily on my chest, yet the mate bond tugged at us, pulling us closer even when words failed. Before I could gather my thoughts, we both spoke at the same time.
"Cassian—" "Eden—"
We both froze, our names hanging in the air like an unfinished sentence. I swallowed hard and gestured toward him. "You go first," I murmured, feeling a little nervous under his intense gaze.
Cassian's eyes, dark and unreadable, stayed locked on mine. He shifted his weight slightly, a sign of his unease. "Who is Elvion?" he asked, his voice low but carrying a tension that made my heart skip. "Where did he come from? I know he's not from the pack."
The directness of his question hit me harder than I expected, and my hands instinctively clenched on the table. I could see the discomfort in his posture—the subtle tightening of his jaw, the way his shoulders stiffened. He wasn't just curious; he was unsettled, maybe even jealous, at seeing someone else close to me in such an intimate way.
Cassian's protectiveness was palpable, and it made me all the more aware of how fragile this moment was. My heartbeat quickened, nerves flaring. I couldn't hide the truth any longer. Not from him.
It's time, Eden, Emrys' voice whispered in my mind, her presence more steady than my own. He needs to know. Tell him the truth.
I closed my eyes for a second, letting her words wash over me. I had to do this. Cassian needed to know everything—about Elvion, about my fae side, about the danger that was coming.
When I opened my eyes again, I saw the flicker of vulnerability in Cassian's gaze, buried beneath layers of his usual strength. He didn't like feeling out of control, especially when it came to me. And in this moment, I had the power to either push him away or draw him closer.
I took a deep breath, my voice softer than I intended. "Elvion... he's not from here. He's not a werewolf." I hesitated, searching his face for a reaction, but Cassian remained silent, waiting. "He's... an elf. He's here to help me."
"Help you with what? What could an elf possibly teach a werewolf?" he asks and I take a deep breath and stare at him.
"I'm half-fae, Cassian. He's helping me learn magic because we're in trouble"
The words hung between us like a secret finally set free and I waited for him to talk but he was just staring.