Chapter 0442

Athena

"Wait." Alexander's hand closed around my wrist, halting my angry stride. "Stop."

I turned, frustration burning in my veins. "Why can't she see it? If she's telling the truth, why doesn't she realize how wrong his treatment was?"

His crimson eyes held mine. "If she's being honest—and that's a significant if—it's likely due to brainwashing. He manipulated her with promises she believed."

'She's still an idiot.' Nyx muttered. I echoed her words aloud.

Alexander's grip tightened. "Would you have said that about yourself? I understand why you left that dungeon, Athena. It hits too close to home."

"So many bastards in this world," I whispered.

He pulled me against his chest. "You're right. There are."

"Do you believe her?"

"No. I operate on distrust until proven otherwise. Before you stormed out, I was heading to find Luc, as Zachary suggested."

"He's at the house. Trying to convince Theodore he's a Witch Hunter."

Alexander's gaze snapped toward the pack house. "Did I hear that correctly?" I nodded.

"A Witch Hunter?"

"Apparently. Luc said he was wrong before. About the initial marks meaning mates. He thinks because Theodore isn't bothered by Lycans like he is, that makes him a Hunter. He believes Theodore is meant to kill Levi."

Alexander stared, bewildered. I shrugged. "I don't get it either."

"Theodore scented Levi. Levi keeps calling him his mate. You heard him at the gate—he blamed us for stabbing Theodore." Alexander's frown deepened.

"Luc said something about Theodore tolerating Levi's nonsense. And how there would be more Witches if they were all mated to the name on their mark, not fewer."

Screams erupted from the dungeon below.

"Is she shifting again?" I asked, confused. Why force another shift?

"Sounds like it," he muttered.

"Why is her Lycan so large? It's bigger than Zachary's."

"Unknown. But keeping her contained is safest. We can monitor her condition."

Curiosity burned through me. "You go talk to Luc and Theodore. I'll stay with Zachary."

"Stay out of her cell." His eyes demanded agreement.

"I won't enter the cell."

He tipped my chin up, pressing his lips to mine. "I'll be listening."

'Anyone would think we're planning something reckless,' Nyx murmured.

I crept back down the dungeon steps. Just in time to hear Evelyn mention a voice in her head.

Zachary's dark eyes flicked to me. Evelyn was curled under a blanket in human form. Her shift had failed or she'd stopped it.

"Where's Alexander?" Zachary asked.

"Gone to find Luc." Evelyn whimpered at the news. "What voice?" I pressed.

Evelyn hid beneath the blanket. "Just tell me. I won't have to force it."

Could it be Levi? Was he somehow in her head?

"It started yesterday. It woke me. Sometimes she shouts. Sometimes she whispers."

'When she woke us,' Nyx muttered. 'Was her Lycan linking us?'

'She can't have a Lycan spirit without Alpha genes.'

"You said 'she'," Zachary spoke. "Who is she?"

Evelyn shrank against the wall, blanket pulled tight. Only her legs were visible. "She calls herself Dakota. Says she's my Lycan."

"Impossible."

"I'm not lying." Her voice was barely audible.

"You need Alpha genetics for a speaking Lycan. I wouldn't be able to force you to answer me otherwise."