Chapter 0460

They circled the house, taking turns.

I couldn't take it anymore.

Slipping from bed, I quietly grabbed the rifle stored in my wardrobe.

I crept toward the window.

I aimed at one but didn't fire right away.

They spoke to each other in low, rough voices.

They used some kind of code.

Then they just left.

They disappeared behind the empty house across from mine.

Strange behavior for Rogues.

They usually didn't care about locked doors or windows.

I watched until sunrise.

They never returned.

"What are you doing?" Athena asked with a yawn.

"Rogues were here last night." I wouldn't lie to her.

"You didn't wake me?"

"They didn't do anything. It seemed like they were searching for someone."

"That's not normal, is it?"

"No."

"Were they looking for you?" she asked.

"I'm not sure."

Her eyes scanned the room.

It was like she expected to see Levi here.

She shivered and quickly dressed. "Can we go back to Obsidian Howl now?"

"Sure."

Athena stayed quiet in the car.

Bringing her had been a mistake.

But without her, I never would have gotten that poison out of my back.

"I will keep you safe," I muttered, placing my hand on her thigh.

She pulled away.

"You can't promise that."

"I know I want to protect you. I know I can, now that I'm at full strength again."

"He tricked me into injecting you. How can you keep me safe from that? How do I know this isn't another one of Levi's illusions?"

I pulled the gun from my hip and handed it to her.

"If you think this is a dream, point it at me and pull the trigger."

She took it and slowly raised the gun.

I didn't slow the car. I didn't stop.

If she truly believed this was a dream, I was about to die.

I glanced away from the road to look at her.

She could barely hold the gun steady.

Tears filled her chestnut eyes. "I don't know what to do."

"Yes, you do."

Her breathing grew heavy as she kept the gun aimed at me.

A small gasp escaped her parted lips.

"He wouldn't know, would he? He wouldn't expect you to let me shoot you?"

I winked at her.

She dropped the gun into her lap.

"Besides, you'd have to take the safety off first." My fingers tapped the steering wheel. "He really got inside your head, didn't he?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her nod.

"It's like nothing belongs to me anymore. He took my abilities. He manipulated me into hurting you. What else did he make me do? Did he force me to harm others? Did he touch me when I was with him? How long has he been watching us?"

I had no answers for her.

But I understood why she hesitated to go beyond kissing.

He had shattered pieces of her soul.

I wouldn't let any more cracks appear.

"He wouldn't have touched you. He prefers men, not women."

I watched her relax slightly.

Then she leaned forward. "Is that Seraphina's brother?" Athena asked.

I slowed the car.

A boy with blonde curls was running in our direction.

His feet pounded the pavement.

Sweat dripped from him as he frantically looked around.

He ignored the passing cars.

"Why would he be out here alone?" Athena asked.

I pulled the car over.

The moment I stepped out, he tried to speed up and run away.

It took me two seconds to grab him.

"Where do you think you're going?"

The little brat tried to kick me in the balls.

"Not happening. Get in the damn car."

"You can't tell me what to do. I hate you."

I glared at him, and he fell silent.

This kid definitely had a dark aura.

"Get in the car."

We were only a couple of miles from the pack.

He had made it pretty far.

But who was he running from?