46. Making Up

Eden for the umpteenth time tossed around in bed, fighting off the blanket that was clad around his waist. The thick sheet was starting to feel uncomfortable. He didn't need it anyway.

It was two in the morning, but the werewolf hadn't slept a wink. Only one reason: Marley. Although the girl, previously, had been many times the cause for his sleepless nights yet those reasons were far more pleasant, unlike tonight.

Eden, with a tired sigh, got off the bed and moved to stand beside the window. The crescent moon in the black sky along with the twinkling stars provided him with some sort of serenity. Despite considering the myths about the connection of wolves with the moon utter bullshit, Eden did found some glum peace at the sight of it.

Maybe it was his human side that was more fascinated by it... or he was turning into a sappy shit.

The werewolf mentally rolled his eyes at his own dramatic self. The changes that inflicted his body when he hit puberty and made his first shift were nothing compared to the ones he faced mentally and emotionally when he found his mate. At least, the previous ones had calmed down with the age, but the latter would always be there to make him struggle.

Since forever, the tale of extra ordinary love between the mates had been whispered into his ears, and they were astonishing. Until he turned thirteen. Entering into early adulthood brought about some transformation into Eden's way of thinking, and one of them was not to put his faith in something that he had never experienced himself. Thus, he gave up the idea of pure, magical love of mates, and decided to believe and go along with what he felt at the moment. The reason for his promiscuous lifestyle.

But the second his eyes fell on Marley, that lost faith had been restored. The feeling wasn't extraordinary, it was otherwordly.

But no one ever mentioned how mates were not only there to give them immense happiness, but were also capable to cause immense pain. And that's what Marley did to Eden when she admitted better off with being another guy.

And that hurt. *Fucking badly!*

He knew that Marley really didn't mean it... or did she?

A small lump formed at his throat at the thought of Marley leaving him. Only imagining such thing was maddening. Eden was aware that he wasn't exactly the most glorious guy out there. He had his flaws. And maybe, his ways of wooing his mate had been unconventional. But she can't just leave him? *He loves her too much...*

The flashbacks of their time spent at her previous house invaded his mind. A small smile stretched at Eden's lips as he recalled how they had let out their feelings to each other, and the sincerity in Marley's eyes when she had said aloud that she loved him. A big wave of reassurance flowed inside him. *She loves him back.*

The Alpha promised to himself that he'd make everything right again in the morning. This petty fight wasn't doing any good to either of them. Plus, it was kind of his fault for hiding the whole Jason thing from her.

But she too blew it out of proportion! And she regretted it...

Eden remembered the gooey eyes that Marley had kept on giving him throughout the dinner, whereas he persistently ignored her. Okay, he had been a tad bit of harsh. He did need to make things right.

With this in mind and a small smile, the werewolf advanced towards his bed, but stopped abruptly. Last night Marley had an episode of a nightmare, triggered by the memories of the events she faced with Odis's clan. Eden's lips twisted down in a frown, and once again he weighed his actions.

He probably should give his girl a break, she was already going through a lot and didn't need a grumpy, angry boyfriend to add on top.

Eden decided to first check up on Marley before going to bed. When he reached her door he half-expected it to be locked, but it wasn't. She was waiting for him. With light steps he entered inside the dark room, and the sweet scent of his mate engulfed him, lulling his chaotic mind into calmness. Marley was sleeping on her duvet, wrapped around in blanket. Her soft breaths and steady closed eyes were enough for Eden to know that she wasn't having any night terror.

The werewolf looked at her with a mini-pout. "How can you sleep so soundly after giving me so many sleepless nights?" He thought ridiculously, his pout turning into a light smile.

He was about to leave when his eyes caught a book lying on the bed, just beside her pillow. Eden tried his best to not roll his eyes at her.

*This adorable nerd...*

He walked to the side of her bed, and picked up the book to place it back on the shelf. It was the English textbook prescribed by their school. The midterms were going to start from Thursday, and as far as Eden was concerned his preparation for examination was nil.

If he wasn't going to doze off then might as well do some light reading for the exams. He took the book with him to his room. Eden knew that Marley wouldn't mind him borrowing her book, if anything she'd be ecstatic to finally see him studying. All his own textbooks were collecting dust at his parents' house.

A minute later, Eden was comfortably tucked in his bed raptly reading the book. And seven sentences later he too drifted into a deep slumber.

*******

Marley took a long calming breath, and once again pep-talked herself to knock at the wooden door right in front of her. She had been standing outside Eden's room for last five minutes, trying to muster the courage to knock at his door.

He hadn't shown up at breakfast, and Marley was worried it had to do something (everything) with her. His cold behaviour at last night's dinner was a solid proof to her theory. Was he still angry?

Her mind was struggling to come up with any excuse to give Eden for standing outside his door. Or maybe, she was just afraid. Not of him but rejection.

*Start with apologizing* -her inner conscience poked. Marley internally nodded.

Also, they were getting late for school.

It was 7:35 and their classes started at 8:00, so she did need to get wolf out of his lair as he was her ride to school. The boy had already taken the job of her chauffeur since the day she discovered his supernatural world.

Finally, after procrastinating for another minute, she gave a timid knock at the door, so light that the sound didn't even reach her own ears.

When no reaction came from the inside, she knocked again, louder... Still no response.

"Is he ignoring me?" Marley wondered, a sad frown etching on her face.

With shy movements, she twisted the knob and moved to peek inside his room.

"Marley!"

Marley dropped her hands from the door, and turned to see Callum who was jogging toward her.

"Good, you're ready," he said after reaching her. "Get your bag. We are getting late for school."

"But I go with Eden."

"Yeah, he's not going school today. Our pack warriors are returning, so he and his dad will be here to sort some things. Mr. Brown just asked me to take you to school." Callum explained. "C'mon hurry up, Mark and Emilia are waiting for us."

Marley nodded and rushed back inside her room to get her bag. Her mood sulked ten times more, thinking about having to spend next six hours without a single glimpse of her mate.

*******

A big object crashed on Eden's face, violently waking him out of his sleep. He immediately sat up in alarm, ready to charge on the attacker.

A 4 ft. something figure was standing right in front of his bed. He blinked few times to get rid of the hazy vision, and saw his brother looking back at him.

"What the hell Ethan?!" Eden growled, glaring at the seven-year-old, and threw the pillow -which was lying on his waist- back at him.

Ethan easily dodged the flying target, and faced his elder sibling. "Dad wants you to drop me to school." He announced without blinking an eye at Eden's angry face.

Eden's glare didn't drop. "I have to take Marley to school. Go find someone else." He barked.

"It's way past eight, and Marley already left with the others."

The Alpha frowned in confusion, before his face shot up at the wall clock, which was showing 20 minutes past eight. He fumbled for his cellphone on the bedside stool, and found its battery dead. "Fuck!" He cursed softly, not wanting it to reach his brother's ears.

"Now, get up. I don't wanna be late." Ethan groaned.

"Shut up. I cannot take you. Our pack members are about to arrive. I've to be here." Eden wasn't going to attend school today, but he had hoped to drop Marley, and make up with her on the way, also maybe sneak in few kisses. But his whole plan went down the drain because his fucking phone's alarm didn't ring.

"Nope, they won't be here for another two hours. Dad received a message that they'll be late. That's why he wants you to drop me."

Eden rolled his eyes at his lazy father. The old guy never missed an opportunity to relieve himself of his duties.

"Don't waste time. I don't wanna hear my teacher's nagging," Ethan whined.

"Give me five minutes." Eden yawned, and stretched his limbs. "I wanted to spend time with my mate, but I have to be stuck with you," he mumbled sullenly.

"You know, I was with Marley when she was about to go," Ethan said innocently. "She kissed me on the cheeks before leaving." His face beamed with a toothy grin.

*The little devil!* Eden bit back his growl, and settled on glaring at the boy. He knew that his little brother was harbouring some sort of crush on Marley, but there was no need to rub that on his face.

"Out!" Eden yelled. "Right now!"

"Why?"

"Because I said so," Eden retorted with an air of authority, which elder siblings always carry. "Out or I won't take you."

Ethan pouted, but listened to his brother. "Fine, I'll just wait inside Marley's room. She's so much better than you," he muttered, before closing the door behind him.

Eden could only growl at the closed door.

*******