Chapter 0363

"If it's self defense, I won't have time to bring their problems to you." Luc slams the door shut behind him.

"You know he was attacked too, not just me." Athena murmurs. "Yet you're treating him like the enemy."

"My priority isn't protecting him."

'She's right.' Titan reasons with me. 'He did exactly what you asked. He protected our mate. After killing them, he could have walked away. But he didn't.'

"He doesn't have to help. He could leave anytime, yet he stays." Athena sighs.

"Yeah, because his mate is here." Zachary retorts.

"You found your mate here too, Zachary." Brianna gives a sad smile.

Zachary frowns at her. He never speaks of my sister. He acts like it was just a minor event in his life.

"I found mine here as well. It happens." Brianna continues.

"This is different." Zachary shakes his head.

"How? You lost it when Gabriel took Isabella. Just like Luc is furious someone took his mate. You two have more in common than you admit. Maybe you know it but refuse to accept it. You've even started carrying a gun again, just like when you were human."

"Bri," Sebastian begins.

"No." Brianna stands and hands Logan to Sebastian. "I need a moment."

Athena passes Evrin to me and follows Brianna out of the office.

"I should go after..." Sebastian mutters, trying to give Logan to Zachary.

"Let Athena talk to her." I tell him. "This isn't just about what happened this afternoon." I glance at Logan in Sebastian's arms. Brianna had been holding him, bouncing him, but never looking at him. It was like she was just going through the motions. "Damn." Zachary mutters. "I didn't think. She didn't say anything."

"She wanted to be here." Sebastian adds. "She would have spoken up if it was too much. She loves the twins. Maybe for a moment, she... forgot." He sits in the empty chair, leaning forward with elbows on his knees. "I wasn't paying attention."

"You can't be in her head every second." I offer. "She needs to grieve."

"You're right." He sits up straight. "So what's the plan for this Cooper situation?"

"We stick to Athena's plan for now. At least a few days. Everyone needs to monitor pack movements. Especially those coming and going."

"And then?" Zachary asks.

"Then we make a plan. But first, you need to take the Blood Oath. Become an official part of Obsidian Howl. I need you to link everyone. The Lycans aren't ready to swear allegiance yet."

"I thought you planned some fancy ceremony?" He raises an eyebrow, a smirk forming.

"There was going to be one. But something tells me you'd rather get it over with."

"Good."

"There's something else."

Sebastian nods at me. I'd already discussed my plan with him. Whether Zachary would agree was another matter.

"What is it?" Zachary asks, his gaze shifting between Sebastian and me.

"I want you to become a representative of Obsidian Howl."

"Doesn't my Beta role already cover that?"

"Yes, but I want you to become a Black. Like it or not, you're one of us."

He laughs. "You're joking, right?"

"You do realize that by mating Isabella, you became family. Athena sees it that way. I see you more as a brother than Julian ever was. I don't care about your genetic makeup. You're one of us."

He looks at Sebastian. "He's serious?"

"Completely serious." Sebastian muses.

"Then why didn't you..."

"I took the Beta oath. Becoming a Black wasn't an option for me. My parents would hang me if I ditched the family name."

I clear my throat. "The question is, Zachary, how important is your surname? And do you see yourself as a complete part of this pack?"