Chapter 0177

Zachary

Normally, I would have been impressed by Athena’s kill.

But right now, worry was all I felt.

Brianna nudged me.

Her expression mirrored my own concern.

I knew exactly what she was thinking.

I gave a slow shake of my head.

We needed to be extremely careful.

Isabella kept her face buried against my chest.

She was still grossed out by how Athena had killed Ethan.

Athena had made him suffer repeatedly.

She only stopped when she decided it was enough.

Or more accurately, when she grew bored of toying with her prey.

“Isabella, go with Brianna. I need to speak to Alexander.”

Her dark eyes lifted to meet mine.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“I just need to confirm a few things. That’s all.”

I hoped that vague answer would satisfy her.

I didn’t want to keep secrets.

But Alexander was her mate.

He deserved to hear this from me first.

“Come on,” Brianna smiled at her.

“You’re mated to my best friend. We should get to know each other.”

Alexander watched me suspiciously.

But Isabella followed Brianna anyway.

After a moment, he ordered Sebastian and Theodore to go with them.

Just in case Gabriel decided to show up.

Gabriel wouldn’t reveal himself yet.

Whatever he was planning, he was drawing it out.

Much like how Athena had tortured Ethan.

I wondered if she even realized she had spent hours on him.

“What?” Alexander snapped once the dungeon door closed.

It was just us and Ethan’s dismembered body.

“You once told me her Lycan was a separate spirit.”

“And? I said you could kill Ethan. Is that what this is about?”

“No. It’s just… since I’ve been here, I’ve noticed something.”

“When her Lycan pushes forward, her eyes turn dark. Almost black.”

“It’s her Lycan that gives her the courage to kill.”

“Yes.”

“They weren’t black, Alexander. They were her usual blue.”

“She had no help from her Lycan.”

“She wanted to kill him. She wanted to torture him.”

His strange crimson eyes locked with mine.

“She has deep-seated anger. None of us are angels. Not from what she’s told me.”

I nodded, a half-smirk forming.

“She told you about my past.”

He continued staring.

I could see why he intimidated so many people.

But he didn’t scare me.

I’d dealt with far worse.

“We all have a past, Alexander. Every single one of us.”

“But I’m talking about the present.”

“The one where you’re at risk of losing your mate.”

He slammed me against the wall.

His arm pressed hard against my chest, pinning me.

“I suggest you take that back.”

“I would never lay a finger on her.”

I shoved him back and straightened my shirt.

“I made a promise to protect her.”

“I’m telling you that you need to stop her from killing anyone else.”

“No matter how much you agree with it.”

“I won’t stop her from seeking justice. It’s her right to hurt those who hurt her.”

“Then listen to me, Alexander. You will lose her, and it won’t be to death.”

His brows furrowed as he glared.

He shook his head. “You’re wrong.”

“Brianna saw it too.”

“She was just getting revenge for Sophia,” he defended, but I heard the skepticism he tried to hide.

Deep down, he saw it too.

“Think about it, Alexander.”

“You grew up knowing how to punish people. Making them pay for their sins.”

“Most Rogues didn’t.”

“The ability to kill with ease became a new adventure for them.”

“And I see that in Athena.”

“You said it yourself.”

“For sixteen years, she was a slave.”

“Her abilities were bound. Her true life was kept from her.”

“And she regained everything in less than a year.”