Chapter 0282

‘There he goes with that soul nonsense again.’ Titan grumbles. ‘I still don’t get how anyone can actually see a soul.’

“Are you telling me her soul is corrupted?” I question Lucas Adler.

I didn’t know what to make of his claim.

Once, I wouldn’t have believed someone could survive four bondings either.

I’ve seen too much these past few years to dismiss anything outright.

“Not corrupted. Cracked.”

“Cracked?” Titan and I say at the same time.

“Every soul begins as a tiny sphere of light. It expands as the person grows, slowly forming their shape. Some souls stop growing when the person becomes trapped in a cycle. Others, those who endure trauma, develop fractures. When these cracks connect, the soul shatters. And so does the person.”

“How severe are hers?”

“She should have broken apart already.”

“Is that how the darkness entered?”

“No.”

“How can you be certain?”

“It was always there. Waiting.” He lets out a low chuckle. “You know, I’ve never actually spoken to Lycans or Rogues before. Only hunted them. Listened to them beg. I must admit, Athena is nothing like I expected.”

“If her soul is fractured, what’s holding her together?”

“Still working that out. Got another beer?”

“We’re limited.”

“Because of the blonde’s problems. Understood.” He smirks, one eyebrow raised. “You don’t believe me, do you Alexander?”

He stands and tosses the empty bottle into the trash. “But you believe in Witch magic, don’t you?”

“Assuming you’re being truthful… You said her darkness was waiting. You’re talking about her Lycan, aren’t you?”

“Exactly. But you’ve suspected that for a while.” He sits back down across from me. “Athena has astonishing control over her Lycan. I watched her force the darkness back. Something I’ve never witnessed.”

“Never?”

“Not once.”

His fascination with her was obvious.

I couldn’t tell if it was good or bad.

Given his hatred for Lycans and Rogues, it likely wasn’t positive.

I needed to ensure he stayed on her side.

“How do I help her control her Lycan if Nyx is the problem?”

“Who knows.” He shrugs. “Her cracks indicate she shouldn’t be alive. She’s constantly battling her Lycan. Survived four bondings.” He keeps muttering to himself. Listing facts I already knew.

He looks directly at me. “Maybe binding her is what saved her.”

“You’re insane if you think I’d bind her.” How dare he suggest that.

“You’re not hearing me, Alexander. You asked what’s holding her together.” He drums his fingers on the table, thinking. “Humans are full of cracks. Tiny ones that weave through their souls. Rarely connecting.”

He grabs Charlotte’s coloring book from the table and flips to a blank page. Quickly sketching a human form.

“Humans crack under pressure, stress, financial worry. But their cracks become part of them. They learn. Like applying a bandage. Some end up in psych wards when their fractures collapse.”

“Athena isn’t human.”

“I’m aware. But she nearly was. Her body learned to defend itself. To survive. A cracked soul isn’t something we heal from, Alexander. Yet she’s managed to stop the cracks from spreading.”

His lips curl into a smile. “Fascinating.”

“Fascinating?”

“Just when I thought I knew everything about Rogues and Lycans, something new appears.” His hazel eyes gleam with delight, giving him a sinister look. One I disliked intensely.

“You won’t touch her.” I warn.

“I won’t touch her. Can’t promise the same for the other two.” He winks. I assume he means Zachary and Brianna, not the twins. But I have no intention of letting him harm any of them.