18. Taming The Wolf

"Are you blackmailing me?!" Eden yelled, his face mimicking a five-year-old kid who had been deprived of his favorite candy.

"Eden, I honestly don't think I am capable of that but if that's how you take it..." Marley replied gently. Her expressions gave away the fact that she was still amazed by how their conversation took an interesting turn.

"I will never apologize for keeping guys off you!" Eden growled menacingly.

Eden's anger was as ferocious as ever, but at that instant it failed to strike fear in Marley instead it seemed more amusing. She didn't know the reason for this sudden change but cherished the feeling of finally not being afraid of him. Maybe, dealing with his temper was becoming a habit.

They were inside Eden's car, which was parked at the school's parking. They still had about twenty minutes to spare before their first class started. So, Marley decided to bring up the topic which only yesterday had caused a heated argument between them before Eden's perverted mind stirred the whole squabble into a make-out session.

As much as Marley hated confrontation, she couldn't let Eden's hostility towards Jason slip away. It was completely wrong and unacceptable for her to just ignore it.

Only a minute ago, she had frustratedly grumbled about not kissing Eden ever, which perked him up badly. Although Marley had not really meant a single word yet Eden's reaction about it amused her. She wondered if only these kind of lewd threats went through his thick head.

"Look Eden, believe it or not, I have some principles. One of them is to never befriend or date people who are mean to others." She sighed to calm her nerves and continued with her soft tone. "What you did yesterday was mean and wrong. I don't care if Jason likes me or not, he didn't deserve it. And by the way, it's completely natural to like someone. I've liked hundreds of guys before I met-" Marley was abruptly cut off by Eden's vicious growl. She could only shake her head at his useless jealousy. "Even if Jason had asked me out, I would have simply said no. There was no need for you to go all hulk on him. He's actually a great guy and-"

"You find him good, great and every-fucking-thing that I am not!" Eden roared, slamming his fist on the dashboard. Marley internally winced at his sudden reaction but refused to show it.

"Didn't you hear a single thing that I just said!" Marley's patience with him was wearing low, very low. "You are too engrossed in your jealousy to even think rationally. Fine! If this is the language that you understand then so be it. I cannot break up with you Eden, you won't let me but I'll make sure you never touch me." Eden was about to cut her off again but Marley beat him to it. "I cannot believe I have feelings for a guy who doesn't even respect my emotions and principles." She muttered to herself but loud enough for Eden to hear every single word. With that she walked out of the car, slamming the door shut with a little more force than needed and leaving behind an awestruck Werewolf.

Marley was pretty sure that her threat really didn't make a lot of sense as Eden's supernatural strength was more than enough to overpower her, letting him grope her all he wanted. He had been doing it a lot since these past few days. Even though it was a petty threat made in the heat of anger, it had to do.

She made her way through the sea of students and got to her class. Her face always displayed all her inner battling emotions to its viewers. She hated it that she couldn't conceal or mask them with indifference. She could already feel the eyes of her classmates analyzing her every move. Dating that over possessive idiot had actually turned her into a circus animal.

"Hey, you okay? Don't tell me it has something to do with Eden! I freaking hate that guy." Marley glanced upward from her desk and saw Kiara's frowning face.

"Uhm..." Marley was at a loss of words. Should she tell her? Kiara already guessed it right so, there was no point in hiding it. "Yeah." She shrugged, trying her hardest to look unaffected.

"Let me guess, it has to do something with yesterday's massacre." Kiara chuckled lowly, shaking her head. Marley nodded. "Break up with him! Let me introduce you to good guys. You know one of my exes would be so happy to date you." Kiara chirped, smiling but Marley noticed her mocking tone.

If only it was that easy. She was already in too deep and her feelings for Eden were only growing despite his barbaric behavior. Marley didn't know if it was mate bond or not, but now she couldn't even imagine her life without him. Her nose scrunched up at that thought. *When did she turn into a lovesick puppy?*

"Okay, Marley don't be sad. You two will work it out." Kiara's face turned serious. "Look I've always known Eden to be a douche and heck he still is but the way the guy looks at you, it's like Rachel looking at Nutella, maybe even more intense." Marley's lips twitched up into a small smile. "I don't want to sound like Rachel but you two look really cute together. It's like you two fit together. I know it is going to sound crazy but I am rooting for you two too. And I said *you two* many times. Didn't I?" Her face then resembled as if she was in deep thoughts. "But then again if he's being an asshole don't hesitate to dump his sorry ass. I'll give you Michael's number." She grinned, pleased with her conclusion.

Marley had to smile at that. Her sour mood wasn't forgotten but she did feel better in Kiara's company.

"Marley! Now let's stop talking about that douche. I don't want to see you sulking. I got something for you."

"What?"

Kiara tentatively placed her notebook at Marley's desk with a sheepish smile. The pages had some algebra questions scribbled on it. "Will you mind helping me solve some of these? I really couldn't get them right. I wasted half of my day at that. Don't worry I'll treat you with chocolates later." Kiara winked, making Marley chuckle.

"Sure." She needed distraction anyway and what is better than maths to get that. It always required your full focus and their teacher was running late too.

********

***I have feelings for a guy who doesn't even respect my emotions and principles.***

Eden's inside felt giddy as he brooded over Marley's words again and again. Those words had been engraved in his mind since the morning. Marley didn't realize that when she said she had feelings for him before storming off he was left dumbfounded at her not so intentional confession. But at the same time it pained him to know that Marley thought he didn't value her feelings. He did, really did but his wolf just couldn't take anyone else going after his mate. Werewolves were territorial, it was as simple as that and he hoped Marley could get used to that.

"Man! First Matthew then Mark and now you two." Callum groaned but had a taunting grin on his face. "Eden, I really thought you will not be the one to get whipped but you are actually the worst of them all." He chuckled.

"Fuck off!" Eden barked, shutting up his friend.

Eden, Callum, and Oliver were walking to the cafeteria. Eden looked over his shoulder to see a gloomy Oliver. Apparently, he had a fight with Sanjay because of yesterday's ordeal or more like Sanjay had mouthed him off for not stopping Eden. Seriously the guy needed to stop putting his nose where it wasn't needed.

Nevertheless, he hoped that what he was about to do will also end their meaningless fight along with his. He was going to apologize to Jason. Even thinking about it made him want to puke. Marley better start appreciating the things he would do for her and prepare herself, because after this he was going to cuddle the life out of her. *Never touch her again*, he scoffed at the idea as if that could ever happen.

As they entered the cafeteria, everyone turned their heads towards them. It was like they were already expecting a show. The whole student body was about to witness his ego to be bruised.

"Good luck my whipped friend!" Callum exclaimed, patting Eden's back a bit harshly and left to join others at their usual table.

Eden was about to flip Callum off when his eyes landed on Oliver. He was staring at something behind Eden with so much longing that it made the Alpha uncomfortable. He followed his beta's gaze to find Sanjay, who was eating his food without any care in the world. *Bastard!*

"Seriously, it's not even been a day and you are already acting like you haven't talked to him for years. It's pathetic," Eden said, annoyed with his friend's unusual behavior.

Oliver rolled his eyes. "You are the one to say that. You have been pining over Marley all day ever since you had your fight with her this morning." He snorted. "Admit it we are both pathetic." After a light chuckle, he followed Callum to sit at their table. Eden could only glare daggers at his back as he strolled away.

As Eden took a deep sigh, he watched Marley walking in through the doors. Her eyes found him like a reflex but she quickly averted her gaze, making him frown. One more reason to get over this whole drama. He watched her sitting at her table with narrowed eyed Rachel and Kiara. Why did her every friend hate him?

So, the audience was ready and now it was show time.

"Hey, Jason." Eden croaked, half-heartedly after reaching Jason's table. Jason's back was facing him as he was eating with his friends, talking about some anime show. *Nerd.*

"Eden! What do you want?" Jason looked at him as if he had grown two heads. Eden must give it to a guy that he never got scared of him, at least until he punched him.

"Look, I am sorry for yesterday."

"What?!"

Eden gritted his teeth and repeated his words, a little louder. "I am sorry!"

"O-okay." Jason mumbled still taken aback by the whole situation.

"But if I see you near Marley again, I won't hesitate to punch you and don't ask her out or-"

"What the hell dude!" He was interrupted by one of buff looking Jason's friend, whose name he never bothered to remember. The guy stood up ready to cause the scene. Eden barely suppressed the urge to roll his eyes at him.

Luckily, Jason sprung into action before the situation could escalate further. "Calm down, Patrick! And you-" He turned to Eden. "Why the hell would you think I will ask Marley out when I already know she's dating you?"

"But the other day-" Eden stopped himself as he recalled his memory of the day when he had heard Jason talking to his friend about asking Marley out and Eden was pretty sure he had seen him looking at her at the cafeteria and the changes in his body gave his intentions away. "You like her!" He spat bitterly.

"Whoa! Where did you hear that from? I like Marley but in a totally platonic way. She's cool and all but I don't have any romantic feelings for her. However, I don't understand what she's doing with someone like you." Eden's fist tightened at his last sentence but he was visibly relaxed as Jason wasn't lying. But if he wasn't lying, then why the other day he was looking at her like that. *Fuck!* Eden's eyes slightly widened as a realization came to him.

Jason liked Kiara or Rachel.

Eden shook his head and smiled. "Well, then I believe you. I am sorry and have a nice day." With that, he left. He heard Jason muttering 'weird guy' and his friends egging Jason up for a fight but the Werewolf tuned them out. As long as Jason wasn't after Marley, he could do whatever he wanted.

Eden looked at his pack and saw all of them smirking. They had already figured it out. He was grateful that Marley wasn't a werewolf and she was out of their earshot. She didn't need to know about his blooper.

His eyes unconsciously wandered toward Marley. He smirked, seeing her mouth half opened in awe as she stared him wide-eyed. Not even a month and she already had him tamed.