47. Conflicts

After dropping Ethan to his school and getting fresh, Eden decided to wait at the office with his father. Nicholas was working with some documents that recorded the previous exchanges which took place between them and the other packs. Eden was just lounging around, too exhausted to help his dad - besides he wanted to enjoy his little vacation as much as possible.

The Alpha's face didn't hide the anguish that was brewing inside him.

"Heard about your lover's quarrel." Nicholas looked up from the files lying on the table in front of him and faced his son. "Does your long face have anything to do with that?"

Eden looked at him with tired eyes and shrugged, before turning his gaze back to window.

His father nodded understandingly. "I won't interfere between you two. But just one word of advice, don't stretch it for too long."

"I know. I was going to sort this out today, but apparently something always has to go wrong," Eden grumbled frustratedly.

Nicholas chuckled seeing the young Alpha sulking. "Talk to her when she gets back, but for now I need you to focus at our current situation."

"Whatever."

"Eden, there's something I need to tell you." Nicholas's light demeanor changed into a serious one, making Eden stare back at his father with raised brows. "Matthew told me that Kyle is coming with them. I think something is going on there, else Iosif wouldn't risk letting his mate tag along with wolves, especially when we are not exactly on friendly terms."

"Dad, if anyone who's risking anything, it's us by letting those vampires work with packs. It is Iosif's brother who is the enemy here. Maybe... no, most probably, trusting those knights can blow up on all our faces."

"I know son, but you do realize that trust has to be established from both sides." Nicholas pressed, and Eden gave a hesitant nod. "That's why, we have to decide if we're going to trust those two knights with everything: this war, our packs, and most importantly our lives... or we're going to get them out of our way for good."

Eden's jaws tightened listening to his father's words. "I need to talk to Shawn and Thea. Their opinions matter just as mine."

"I know." Nicholas sighed. "Unfortunately, you've been closer to all the events that took place related to the lycans and the knights; so it's obvious that Shawn and Thea will most likely follow your lead."

"My lead?" Eden's brows knitted in confusion. "Are you saying that this whole thing is on my shoulders?"

"No, not like that," Nicholas replied immediately, pacifying his son. "We're all here to share the burden, but sometimes most important decisions are going to be tossed your way... and I'm afraid this is just the start."

Eden kept silence.

"I'm sitting on this chair only for few days, but you're the Alpha, so you're going to be the one to call the shots." His father reminded with a small smile--which vanished as soon as it came. "Now back to the point; are we putting our trust in those knights or not?"

********

Eden internally groaned seeing Kyle climbing out of the jeep with others. He was absolutely not in the mood to deal with this annoying knight.

Kyle had his arms casually thrown around one of their warriors' shoulders, leaning his whole weight against the poor wolf. The knight was non-stop rambling and laughing into the other man's ear, whereas the latter was trying hard to keep his face stoic, but anyone could easily see behind his miserable facade. The werewolf was extremely irritated.

"Ah, Eden, my great Alpha!" Kyle called out as he reached near the doorsteps, freeing his captor. Eden was sure that he had heard the warrior's relieved sigh. Kyle's eyes then fell on Nicholas, who was standing beside his son. "And my favourite Alpha daddy!"

"Why couldn't Iosif come himself?" Eden this time groaned out aloud.

"Now, don't be so mean. I'm so much a better company than a hundred-year-old morbid vampire." Kyle moved to give a hug to both of them. Nicholas could only pat him back awkwardly, while Eden shoved his hands away, making the knight pout. "A little enthusiasm won't kill you."

"If you don't tell me why you're here, *I will kill you*."

"Not even a hello... Huh?"

"Kyle, let's not waste time." Nicholas interrupted, knowing that today Eden wasn't in best of his moods. "We know you're here for something, and it's better if we get to that sooner." He gestured him inside. "Let's discuss this in our office."

Kyle nodded, dropping his comic act.

A few minutes later, all the three men were seated around in a wooden-furnished room. Eden looked at Kyle, silently asking him to begin.

"So..." The knight drawled out. "We might be facing a tiny problem back there. There's a high chance that a majority of shifters might attack the wolves."

"Our warriors can take them down easily," Eden said blankly, "they all are going to die."

"How about we avoid killing?" Kyle suggested with a sly smile. "Not all lycans are against you, some wants to aid us in defeating Dimitri. Let's not go after the good ones."

"I'm sure Iosif sent you here to tell us the alternative."

"First of all, Iosif doesn't tell me to do shit. I'm here because I wanted to be. You wolves might like to order around your mates, but that doesn't roll with us knights, especially not me." Kyle grinned as Eden glared at him. "As for your alternative, we do have one."

"What is it?" Asked Nicholas.

"Set the half-shifters free."

"Are you fucking insane?" Eden glared at him. "After what they did, you want us to just let them go?!"

"Don't cuss in front of your father, Alpha." Kyle chided playfully, and Eden tightened his fist, restraining himself from throwing the arrogant knight out of the window. "Before you loose your cool, here me out. Those shifters attacked your pack and abducted Marley because Odis wanted them to. Most of them have been rogues before they were turned, unwillingly. They knew that messing with a wolf's mate, especially an Alpha's, wasn't exactly the most wise thing to do. But they did it because their leader ordered them.

"Shifters or lycans cannot really go against their creator--in this case Odis. And when he died, many of them were planning to leave that God forsaken place, but you guys chose that exact moment to show up and go all Sparta on them. So, they are left a bit annoyed for having their freedom restraint because of something that wasn't even their fault to begin with." Kyle explained, his face unusually sober. "Let them go. After all, isn't it the freedom that we all are going to fight for?"

Eden turned to Nicholas, who looked just as conflicted.

"What is the guarantee that our decision of setting those lycans free is not going to harm us back?" He challenged.

"There's no guarantee, there never will be," Kyle answered. "But it'll be the right thing to do. Also, I'm sure that slaughtering number of lycans, just for your guarantee, isn't going to be your cup of tea."

Eden and Nicholas didn't reply.

"Think about it."

*******

Marley once again found herself outside Eden's room. The first thing she did after coming back was throw her bag inside her room and stand at his door. Now that she was here, the familiar feeling of rejection and guilt surrounded her, making her hesitate to face her mate.

She raised her hand to knock, but the door opened itself before her knuckles could reach the wooden board.

Eden was standing at the threshold, staring down at her in surprise.

"Um-I... I'm here.." Marley stumbled over her words, her face turning red and clammy, thinking about confronting the werewolf. "Do you need help with Maths?" The question spurted out of her mouth before she could stop. The urge to runaway and hide in her room because of the embarrassement was at its highest.

Eden looked at her in amazement. "Who's going to help me?" He asked with a small smirk playing at his lips.

"Me," Marley replied timidly. "Of course, only if you want. I'm not-" She was cut-off as Eden pulled her inside the room, and shut the door behind them.

His mouth at once found hers. Werewolf kissed her hungrily, like he'd been starving for days, and Marley too devoured his lips back with equal ferocity. Their hands moving with their own accord, tugging and pulling each other's hair. Eden picked her up, making her let out a surprised mewl, before walking to the other side of the room and setting her down on the desk. Throughout, his lips never leaving hers, and claiming every bit of them.

Eden, at last, pulled away, allowing both of them to breathe. "I'm sorry, I should've been more honest." He heaved out, looking at her sincerely.

Marley shook her head. "It was also my fault. I was kind of dragging it. I'm sorry too," she replied, between her heavy breaths.

Eden nodded, and got back to his previous task. His mouth dropping wet kisses at her jaw and slowly moving down to her neck. Marley's moans and whimpers pushing him to never stop and continue ravishing her.

His day went from being a shit to lot better.

********