Chapter 0445

"I understand, it's just..."

"Painful memories?"

She nods slowly. "If Alexander hadn't come to that house, my life would be completely different now. Or I might not even be alive. I would never have awakened my Lycan nature. I likely would have died without ever knowing my true identity. And it's not just about Dominic, Victoria, or even Marcus and the others. That's where I witnessed my parents' murder. The place where I was framed for a crime I didn't commit."

Her blue eyes lock intensely with mine. "How can a single word transport you back so completely?"

"That's how our minds work. But you survived, Athena. You became something they never got to witness. You have hundreds of Lycans here who would follow you into battle without hesitation. They wouldn't need orders—they'd do it willingly."

"Thank you, Zachary." She offers a faint smile.

"You don't need to fear the past, Athena. Everyone from that time is gone. You emerged victorious. This journey is solely about finding answers."

She nods determinedly. "Then I should go pack and ensure the boys are prepared for Brianna."

"Not Sophia and Sebastian?"

"No. They haven't experienced Evrin's shifting yet. I'm not certain they're ready for that."

Alexander drives while Theodore occupies the passenger seat, explaining how and why Luc believes he's a Witch Hunter. I roll my eyes because Luc has been increasingly mistaken lately, and I wouldn't trust anything he says.

"That doesn't add up." Alexander murmurs.

I glance at Athena while listening. She's asleep, using her arm as a makeshift pillow behind her head.

"She's anxious." Alexander observes quietly. "Sleep provides her some relief."

"She mentioned it was the memories." I respond.

"You knew Victoria's nature. If it were up to me, I would have displayed her head on a spike for the life she forced my mate to endure."

"Do you think this will help her find closure?" Theodore asks.

"We'll discover that soon enough."

At the fuel station, we switch drivers so I can take over. When Alexander gets in the back, he pulls a drowsy Athena toward him. She curls against him, resting her head on his lap while his hand protectively covers her stomach. I wonder if either of them knows yet.

Following Alexander's directions, we turn onto a narrow road. The trees and bushes have become so overgrown that we must abandon the car and continue on foot.

The packhouse is significantly smaller than the one at Obsidian Howl. Covered in thick ivy, the entrance is nearly invisible.

"Where are the other houses?" Theodore asks.

"Around back. The layout here is reversed. The main house isn't protected by the others." Alexander explains.

I tear the ivy from the door and push it open. The musty scents of dust, death, and decay fill the air. Theodore gags upon entering, and I suppress a laugh. "Are you certain you're a Wolf?" I tease. "It was unexpected." He mutters in response.

"No one has been here for years. How could it be unexpected?"

Athena remains frozen on the porch. Her eyes widen as she stares at the front of the house. Alexander moves back to her, silently offering his hand. She sighs but accepts it, following him inside.

"Shall we split up?" I suggest, and Alexander agrees.

Upstairs, despite the smell and dust, everything appears immaculate. I search the bedrooms one by one, finding nothing significant.

At the hallway's end lies a tiny bedroom, too small to swing a cat. I recognize it as Athena's room the moment I open the door. Her scent still lingers, but only a small bed and an old rotting dresser remain. No photos, toys, or artwork.

"She arrived with just a carrier bag of clothes," Theodore remarks from behind me. "When I first met her, she was terrified. She probably believed she was escaping one hell only to enter another."

"Back when I was Human, I eliminated Humans like Dominic and Victoria. Those who harmed children and tore them from their parents. Sometimes even the parents deserved punishment. If I had known..."

"That was Victoria's nature. Even Brianna admitted she didn't see it, despite spending considerable time here. We never knew of Silver Creek's existence until their leader requested Alexander's help. It was surprising that a pack lived so close yet remained off our radar. That was Dominic's fatal error. That's when everything collapsed for him."

"Yet Athena was the one who suffered."