AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You don’t have to tell me anything,” Nolan assured her, hesitating for a moment before he reached out to pat her shoulder. “Your past is your own, it doesn’t affect the way I respect you in the present.”
“No, you deserve to hear this.” Eden wiped her hands down her face before looking back to him. “It’s something you should have known a while ago, I was just scared to tell you.”
“Alright,” Nolan said calmly, bracing his arms on the table. “I’m listening.”
“My name now is Eden Remalle, but I was born Eden Bralechi. Mylo and Lila are my older siblings.”
Nolan nodded solemnly, his eyes soft. “No wonder I thought he looked a little familiar.”
“Our parents were arrested when I was ten, caught in a huge drug bust that the Guard had been working on for months,” she continued. “It was a big deal back then, but my Uncle Clay was the head of the family at the time, so the guard wasn’t able to completely take down the whole operation.
“But the Guard knew they couldn’t give custody of the three of us back to the family, so a pair of retired guards took us in instead.” She leaned back in her chair, rubbing her hand across her face, redness pooling in her cheeks. “Mylo was seventeen at the time and Lila was fourteen. They both had already learned so much from our family and their corrupt ways that when they turned eighteen, they both went back. Mylo eventually took over the family when Uncle Clay retired.”
“But you didn’t follow them,” Nolan said—not as a question, because he already knew the answer.
“I couldn’t.” She shook her head. “Ellie and Kayla basically raised me, and they used to tell me stories about being in the Onyx Guard. The way they helped people. It would excite my soul in a way my family’s ‘business’ never had. I finally started to realize what was right and what was wrong, and I couldn’t follow my siblings back.
“So, I took my foster parents’ name and joined the Guard. I hoped I could make up a little for the decades of crimes that my family has committed.” She shrugged, her eyes lowering to the table. “I know it sounds lame, but it’s the truth.”
“From what I’ve been told and what I’ve witnessed over the past few weeks, you absolutely have done that,” Nolan encouraged, my cheeks warming at the kindness in his words.
“How can you even say that after meeting my brother? After learning about my family’s past and my connection to them?” She shook her head in disbelief. “How can you even trust me now?”
“You aren’t your family, Eden.” Nolan smiled at her. “If I’ve learned anything over the past few weeks of working with you, it’s your passion for being a part of the Guard and keeping this country safe. I promise, I will never doubt your allegiance.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” He stood, walking around the table to pull Eden from her chair and wrap her in a hug. “I trust you. And on top of that, I couldn’t have asked for a better Gamma. I’d been telling myself for weeks I was the luckiest guy for getting you and Greyson as my seconds.”
“Thank you.” She sniffed, pulling away from him, wiping a stray tear from her eye. “I’m sorry I acted so horribly when you first arrived.”
“Eh, you were wary of me,” Nolan laughed, his shoulders relaxing. “Just another sign you’re good at your job.”
“Speaking of our job, we need to get back to searching these files.” Greyson cleared his throat, his posture rigid in his seat. “The sooner we do, the sooner we can focus on Lila.”
“Yes, we do.” Nolan tugged his seat from around the table so it sat next to Eden’s. He began pulling stacks closer to himself and rifling through papers, Eden’s eyes widening as she watched him.
“I have to go.” I stood up, my eyes stinging. “I have counseling, but call me on my Comms if you need anything. And I promise to help search for Lila with you.”
“Thanks, Kas.” Eden wrapped me in a hug, her face buried in my neck for a brief second. “You are the greatest friend a girl could ask for.”
“Back at you.” I kissed her temple lightly before she pulled away.
I turned to leave, casting one last glance over my shoulder—watching her walk back to her seat between Greyson and Nolan, the three of them passing around files and bickering like three partners that had worked together for years.
Chapter Thirty-Three
“It sounds like these past few days have helped you and Nolanget along better.” Vanessa nodded, writing a few things down in her journal. I had told her about everything that had happened over the past week, from the High Faction’s surprise visit, to my wolf eyes reappearing briefly, and Nolan and I kissing—ultimately leading to a few days of very successful investigation.
“They have.” I stared mindlessly at the floor. At least she hadn’t said I told you so about letting go of my anger. Even though she had told me it would help, I still couldn’t shift, which meant anger wasn’t the only emotion I was struggling to accept.
“What do you think helped break a bit of that barrier?” Vanessa asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Besides the fact that I made out with him?”
She chuckled. “Yes, besides that.”
My fingers traced my lips as I thought back over the past week. “Learning more about him helped, I suppose…knowing the real reason why he wanted to be transferred here.”
