Chapter 0273

Lucas Adler

The resemblance to Seraphina was unsettling.

I knew it wasn't her.

Her eyes were different.

Her soul gave her away completely.

Darkness clung to her essence.

But she hadn't turned Rogue yet.

She was fighting it.

She had been fighting for a long time.

No other Lycan had resisted this long.

Most succumb within weeks.

Some hold out for months.

Athena had fought for over a year.

Perhaps her entire life.

She didn't even know the battle raged within.

A Hunter's instinct demands action.

Eliminate the threat.

Prevent future devastation.

Yet I saw something different in her.

Her soul's edges were stained black.

But its core remained brilliantly bright.

This shouldn't be possible.

Yet here I was witnessing it firsthand.

She was locked in constant combat.

She hadn't achieved victory.

But she continued trying.

They pressed for more answers about Seraphina.

Brianna revealed she killed my parents.

There was far more to the story.

Those details remained mine alone.

They pushed relentlessly for information.

Except Athena.

She stayed silent.

They didn't need to know about me.

I came here for a job.

That was all that mattered.

Athena stood suddenly.

I found myself rising as well.

I secured my gun at my waistband.

Alexander leaned down to kiss her cheek.

The gesture reminded me of mates.

I needed to speak with her alone.

I needed to observe her soul's colors.

"Can we talk?"

"Why?" Her defenses snapped into place.

Those blue eyes assessed me.

They tried deciphering my intentions.

"I work alone usually."

"I hunt in specific ways."

"If we're partnering up, I need your methods."

"I require your plans and intentions."

The words were lies.

I already understood her approach.

Act first.

Think later.

Common among trauma survivors.

Perhaps that's when the darkness began.

"Not a good idea." Alexander muttered.

His crimson eyes narrowed.

"Can't she decide for herself?" I challenged.

She was his mate.

A Luna of his pack.

An Alpha in her own right.

She was far from helpless.

"It's not her judgment I doubt." He countered.

"I won't harm her."

"Unlike predictable Wolves, I control myself."

My gaze returned to Athena.

She hovered near the office door.

Her hand rested on the handle.

Yet she hadn't left.

I drew my gun again.

Her eyes tracked the weapon.

I placed it on Alexander's desk.

I could still kill her if desired.

This gesture might reassure her.

Instead I witnessed transformation.

Her soul's light dimmed to grey.

Her eyes darkened instantly.

It happened faster than expected.

Did she understand what caused this?

Or had she blamed something else?

Her hands clenched into fists.

She shook her head sharply.

Her cheeks puffed out.

Minutes passed before her soul brightened again.

She exerted more control than her Lycan preferred.

Her Lycan was the darkness.

It fed on her pain.

It consumed her anger.

It pushed violent thoughts into her mind.

"Go see your boys." I murmured.

Her soul ignited with brilliance.

It pushed back the edges until too bright to observe.

I had to look away from her.