Chapter 0380

I glance back at Alexander over my shoulder. "He's lying to me, isn't he? This is just some sick psychological game to punish me before you execute me, right?"

"No."

I turn to glare at Lucas. "Then how couldn't you detect she was a Lycan when we first arrived? I call complete bullshit."

"I'm still working that out myself. She masked her scent remarkably well and concealed her true nature somehow. But now, it's fading. And she's currently locked in the dungeons." Luc smirks at me. "Actually, I'm betting she either wants Levi for herself or she's the mastermind behind this entire operation."

I shake my head in disbelief. This had to be a trap, some elaborate deception. A way to lure me back here, though they still hadn't killed me yet. I knew all about tricks—I'd executed plenty myself. After Levi, I'd sworn no one would ever manipulate me again. Someone here was lying, and it definitely wasn't me.

"She took me in." I whisper the words. "She can't be Lycan. She told me her entire story. She showed me proof."

"All part of the act." He shrugs casually. "And you fell for it completely."

"So what if I did? Why do you even care? You could've just told me to get lost."

"Because like you said, you brought her here. Now she's our problem to deal with."

I sit in stunned silence. They had to be wrong. She told me how she escaped. She described everything done to her. She showed me her evidence box—the hospital gown, the empty IV bag. Her detailed escape plan.

"And the villain falls." Lucas laughs as he spins my chair back around to face Alexander.

Alexander watches me with his jaw tight. His crimson eyes lock intensely with mine. I can't read his reaction at all, but the suspense is torturing me.

"Go get Athena." He mutters to Zachary.

I keep my focus on Alexander as Zachary brushes past me. Minutes drag by without anyone speaking. Eventually, two sets of footsteps approach the office behind me.

Athena walks around to the other side of the desk. She sits in the large chair, partially obscured by Alexander's presence.

"I know you don't want to listen to me." I begin.

The single blue eye I can see focuses intently on me. "Everyone leave." Athena commands.

Hands land on my shoulders, making me jump. "Looks like you're getting exactly what you wanted."

I nervously pick at the material on the chair's armrest. My arms remain bound to it, and as my anxiety grows, I desperately need something to occupy my hands. The repetitive picking helps calm my nerves slightly.

The door closes behind the men. Athena says nothing. I'm unsure whether she's waiting for me to speak first or deciding how to handle this situation.

"Could I... could I get some water?" I ask quietly.

"Would you have killed me?" She asks directly.

"Possibly." I whisper the truth. I remind myself to be completely honest now.

"Did you want Alexander too? You wanted to be Alpha—that would mean becoming his mate."

"No. It was never about him. I wanted the Lycans. I wanted our kind to rise, to become superior to the Wolves." I snort derisively. "To be better than Humans."

"Wanted?"

"It was a mistake. I know that now. It just took losing everything for me to finally see it clearly. And I'll keep saying it until you either kill me or believe me."

Claws extend from her fingertips. She flexes her hands and the claws retract. I need to choose my words much more carefully.

"I told Alexander that I had a chance to..."

"I heard. You should have left and taken Evelyn with you."

"You believe Lucas?"

"I was the one who suggested it to him. She reminded me of someone from my past. Always talking, constantly trying to control situations. I'd say you were about three days away from becoming her punching bag. I stopped Luc from killing you so I could get more answers."

"Evelyn isn't... Is she still alive?"

"For now."

"Are you going to kill her?"

"Soon."

I take a deep breath. "Why haven't you killed me yet?"