Chapter 0154

Athena.

"Hi Sebastian." I whisper as he enters my room. "Is everything alright?"

"It's fine." He murmurs, securing the lock. "Alexander just wants you to remain here for now."

"Why?"

"No specific reason."

He's lying. Nyx whispers.

I know. I retort silently.

Sebastian avoids my eyes as he moves through the room, inspecting each window.

"You realize if someone truly wants inside, they'll just shatter the glass."

He continues avoiding my gaze.

"It's returned, hasn't it? The Rogue Lycan. That's why you're here and Zachary left."

He offers a weak smile. "Not long ago, you kept your thoughts to yourself. You avoided hard truths."

"Alexander went after it, didn't he?"

"He's with Zachary and Theodore, yes."

"Alexander told me what Zachary said about Rogues. How they enjoy games? If you're checking every lock, you believe it's coming here. You think it's coming for me?"

"Just a precaution. We don't know its intentions."

"Where?"

Sebastian stays silent.

"Sebastian, tell me."

"It was at the hospital. It took Isabella."

"What? Why?" I stare, frustrated he withheld this.

He's not stupid. He knows you'll want to help. Nyx murmurs.

"I don't know. It was at the hospital when Isabella linked Alexander."

"And?

"It took her into the forest. Athena, Alexander insists you stay."

"It's a Lycan." I state.

"A Rogue Lycan." Sebastian replies. "You can't reason with it. It answers to no one."

"But Zachary believes he can help?" I frown.

Sebastian's shoulders slump.

"You're hiding something. What is it?"

"The Rogue is Zachary's brother." He finally meets my eyes. "I don't know details. But this isn't his first time targeting Isabella."

I stumble back, sitting on the bed. Annoyance flares through me. Why keep this from me? Why didn't Zachary say anything? Or my own mate? Isabella is my friend.

I march to the closet, yanking out boots.

"Athena, you can't. Think of the twins."

"I'm not abandoning her!"

"Consider the twins!"

"I am! Do you think it stops with Isabella? What about every pack child? They become easy targets while I stand aside and allow it!"

He blocks the door. "I can't let you leave. Alexander's orders!"

"Move, Sebastian!"

"My duty is to protect you."

"Then come with me." I glare.

"Alexander will kill me." He mutters, stepping aside.

"Then ensure nothing happens to me." I snap, striding out.

Sebastian follows, insisting this is a mistake.

I whirl to face him. "Perhaps it is. But Isabella doesn't deserve this. They were turned because of me. Now—because one took it too far, she might die? I can't allow that, Sebastian. Without her when Genevieve drugged me, I wouldn't be here. So please, stand with me. Help me find her."

He nods reluctantly. We hurry toward the forest.

I step quietly into the trees, asking Nyx to block Alexander. He asked me not to, but he shouldn't worry about me with his sister missing. Only Sebastian knows I'm here.

My legs carry me swiftly, instinctively knowing the direction.

We haven't traveled far when a scream pierces the air. A scream that sounds like Isabella.