Chapter 0164

Isabella

“Wait.” That was too much information all at once. “I have so many questions. So it wasn’t just because he was your brother?”

“It was both.” Zachary’s voice is low. “Even if he wasn’t my brother, I would’ve tracked him.”

“I didn’t think Lycans left a scent when they shifted.” I glance at Athena, who’s still staring down, a deep frown carved into her forehead. “I thought you found me because of me?”

The moment the words leave my mouth, I regret how needy they sound. Especially in front of everyone. Titan chuckles, which doesn’t help.

Zachary’s dark eyes lock on mine. I fight the heat rising up my neck.

“Of course we have a scent. It’s faint, but it’s there.” Zachary replies.

“Faint?” Alexander cuts in.

“What else do you want me to say, Alexander? Would you have preferred I couldn’t scent my own brother?”

“That’s not what I’m saying.” Alexander snaps back.

“Alpha Athena, tell them. Confirm that Lycans carry a scent even in shifted form.” Zachary looks to her for backup, but Athena is just staring at her stomach.

He nudges her gently. She looks up, blinking slowly as if pulling herself back into the conversation. “I can’t smell them. Why didn’t anyone tell me I was carrying Lycans?”

Zachary tilts his head. “I assumed you knew.”

Athena opens her mouth to speak, but no words come out. Instead, she stands abruptly and rushes from the room. Alexander is right behind her.

“To us, they smell like Wolves, but only in human form.” Sebastian explains. “When they shift, the scent vanishes.”

“And the Alpha? Is what she said true?”

“Yes.” Theodore confirms.

“She tracked me through the forest better than you or Alexander.” Zachary gestures toward Theodore. “She had to have known.”

Sebastian shakes his head. “She described it as a feeling—her legs carrying her without conscious thought. Not scent. Though she can scent you now, since you’ve pledged loyalty to her.”

‘We really need to ask him about that.’ Titan murmurs inside me.

“And Sophia.” Theodore adds. “She can scent Sophia, too.”

“I tried researching it.” Theodore says quietly. “There’s very little documented about your kind. We’re learning as we go.”

“Could it be related to her past… being bound?” I ask.

“Possibly.” Theodore replies. “Maybe not all of her abilities have fully surfaced yet.”

“Abilities?” Zachary’s interest sharpens.

“She can partially shift.” Sebastian tells him.

I watch Zachary’s eyes widen in surprise. “That’s new.”

“It did take a while for Nyx to show herself.” I add.

“Who is Nyx?” Zachary looks between us, clearly missing context.

“Athena’s Lycan spirit.” I frown. I thought he would’ve known this already. But then again, he was turned. Everything he knows, he learned. Just like Athena.

Sebastian explains it to him. Zachary nods slowly, absorbing the information.

“So all Alphas have this?” He asks.

“No. Only those born directly into the bloodline. So Alexander, me, and Julian in this pack.” I tell him. “And Athena, obviously.”

“That explains who you were speaking with in the forest. What about the traitor in the dungeon? Does he have an inner spirit?”

“No. His father took over as Alpha years ago but wasn’t blood-related to the original Alpha.”

“But you won’t become an Alpha? Neither will Julian?”

“Julian and I have a different mother than Alexander. The gene still passed to us. And I’m glad I won’t be Alpha. I don’t want that responsibility.”

“Everyone, as fascinating as this is, we’re getting off track.” Sebastian interjects sharply.

Zachary leans back in his chair. His dark eyes haven’t left me, a faint smile playing on his lips. Why is it that every time he learns something new about me, we’re surrounded by other people? He could say how he truly feels. But he doesn’t. It’s as if his words are meant for my ears only.