Chapter 0126

Athena

It never seemed to end.

One secret after another, spilling out like some twisted game.

The dungeon echoes with choked gasps. I look up to see Alexander, his arms thrust through the bars. His hands are locked around Dominic’s throat. Squeezing until Dominic’s lips start turning blue.

His body convulses. His hands slip from the bars. His mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water. No sound escapes.

His eyes bulge from their sockets as Alexander crushes his windpipe.

‘Now.’ Nyx whispers. ‘Finish him. For good.’

I step forward. My hand stretches through the bars. Long, sharp claws sprout from my fingertips.

My palm presses against his chest. Slowly, my claws pierce his flesh. They slide through skin and muscle with ease. Until they brush against his beating heart.

I pause. Staring into the eyes of the man who caused me so much pain.

He never apologized. Not once. Even now, seconds from death, he stares back. Ignoring the Wolf crushing his throat.

His voice echoes in my mind. ‘Do it. I’ve been waiting. I knew this day would arrive.’

‘What do you mean?’ I murmur through the link.

‘I knew I would die once you found yourself. Once you realized your true power.’

He gurgles as my claws sink deeper. Piercing the edges of his heart.

“Goodbye, Dominic.” I whisper.

My claws plunge into his heart.

I keep them there. Watching the light fade from his eyes. Feeling his heart struggle around my claws. Blood leaks out.

Alexander releases him. Dominic takes a hollow, rasping breath. It sounds like an ancient door creaking open.

I don’t expect him to grab my wrist. Forcing my claws deeper.

His eyes close. More empty gasps escape his throat. Then silence.

His heart stops fighting. His lungs stop demanding air. The only thing holding him up are my claws.

I pull my hand free. His body hits the cement floor with a sickening crack. Blood pools around him instantly.

A single tear escapes my eye. I’ve finally closed the door on my past.

Alexander carries Dominic’s body outside. He dumps it on the grass. Theodore appears with a box of matches and a small can of fuel.

I watch silently as Theodore douses the body. He lights a match. He glances at me for confirmation. I nod.

The flame ignites Dominic the second the match touches him. Huge orange flames race along his body. Drowning out the scent of blood.

Now the air fills with the nauseating smell of burning flesh.

Alexander slips his arms around my waist. He presses his chest against my back as we watch the body burn. “They’re all gone.” he whispers.

I nod. Words escape me.

“You won, Athena.”

“Is… Is Sophia okay?” I ask softly. I want to ask about Ethan, but I’m not ready for that yet.

“She’s inside with Sebastian and Isabella.” Theodore informs me.

I can feel their eyes on me. They expect me to talk about what happened. But there’s nothing to say. I killed them. End of story.

“Has Julian rejected her yet? Is that why they’re with her?”

“It’s more complicated than that.” Theodore shakes his head. “She’s refusing to accept the rejection.”

“Why?” My voice comes out higher than usual.

“What do you mean, she’s refusing?” Alexander demands.

“She flat-out told him she refuses it. She didn’t say no. She said she refuses.”

“Can she do that?” I frown. “I mean, I was still mated to Marcus after he tried to reject me.”

“That’s because you didn’t accept the rejection properly.” Alexander mutters. “I’ve never heard of someone refusing a rejection outright.”

“She could die!” Panic flutters in my chest. We all know what Julian is like. If he sleeps with another female, it will kill her.

“Where’s my brother?” Alexander questions.

“He left.” Theodore avoids his gaze.

“He left? Where the hell did he go?”

Theodore shrugs. “We tried to stop him. He was too angry.”

“At Sophia?”

Theodore shakes his head. “At the Moon Goddess. She’s the one who paired him with Sophia. He’s furious.”

“I need to find Sophia.” I murmur.

They let me go alone. With all the Lycans gone, Alexander isn’t worried about me going anywhere by myself.