Chapter 0337

'Athena, you're panicking.' Nyx's voice is unnervingly calm.

"I killed Isabella." I whisper as I shift back to human form.

'No. You killed Julian. Isabella was already gone. Zachary confirmed it. You can feel what Alexander is feeling. Her body was just an empty shell!'

I knew I was panicking. I didn't understand why. I had made my intentions clear to Zachary. No one tried to stop me. They all wanted this too, right?

'Yes.' Nyx agrees, though I hadn't asked her.

I quickly pull on leggings and a sweatshirt. I jam my feet into boots. I needed to get out. I needed to think.

My legs carry me out of the house. Or maybe it was Nyx. I wasn't sure. Focusing was difficult. I didn't care as long as I could breathe.

Killing those who harmed me had been easy until now. I keep telling myself it was Julian as I run into the forest. Yet all I see is Isabella.

'Athena, we have to stop.' Nyx mutters.

I can't stop. But I wasn't running away either. I just needed to keep moving.

'ATHENA!' My own name roars inside my head. I come to a complete stop. 'Athena, it's okay to feel this. I liked Isabella too. But there was nothing you could do to save her. She was already gone.' Nyx continues reminding me.

I slump down on a fallen tree trunk. The tears break free. I look around, half expecting Alexander or even Zachary. Neither had followed me. I was alone.

'You are not alone. I am right here. This is a new feeling for us.'

'Right.' I swallow the lump in my throat.

'We couldn't let him parade as Isabella. Not after everything. Not after all his lies.' Nyx tells me. 'You know this, Athena.'

Nodding, I take a deep breath. A twig cracks not far behind me. Wiping my tears away, I'm on my feet. I sniff the air. A Lycan was heading towards me. Someone from the pack I didn't know well.

"Athena?" The voice calls out. "Athena, it's Caleb. Is everything okay? I saw you running. I wanted to check...."

"I'm fine." I mutter back. He steps through the trees anyway. He looked odd among the trees. Like he didn't quite belong.

He frowns when he sees me. "Do you want me to get Alexander or someone else?"

"No."

"Has something happened?" He parks himself on the fallen tree a little way from me. “Is it Seraphina? Is she here?” His eyes dart around the nearby area.

I snort. With everything happening, I hadn't thought about her. "No. Nothing to do with Seraphina."

"The girl, Brianna. Is she okay? Did she make it?"

"She's in good hands."

"That's good news. The others in the training hall are being guarded."

I had forgotten about those Lycans too. I didn't even know where they were. "Right."

"It's not my place to tell you what to do, Athena. Considering what my stepdaughter has done, I appreciate you letting us stay here. If there is anything I can do, I am happy to help."

"Ever killed someone you care about? Or sort of cared about?" I wasn't sure how to explain Julian and Isabella's souls.

I feel his gaze on me. He's quiet for a few minutes. Choosing his words carefully.

“If we kill someone we care about, it is normally for good reason. Something that's been thought about. Options weighed. I am certain you had a good reason. I've watched you from afar. You don't rush into things. But when forced, your decisions are valid."