Chapter 0482

Zachary

We collected every last piece.

We built a pyre from what remained of Levi, adding dry kindling to fuel the flames.

Evelyn placed his head atop the pile.

Luc eagerly threw a match onto it.

The fire took a moment to catch.

Then it erupted, engulfing everything in vibrant shades of orange.

The scent was overpowering, thick enough to taste.

A sickly sweet odor that churned the stomach.

No matter how many times you smell it, you never get accustomed to it.

The others stood with me, watching the flames.

Silently savoring the victory.

We had finally stopped this man before he could cause more destruction.

One by one, they departed.

But Evelyn stayed.

Her grey eyes remained fixed on the fire.

I wondered what thoughts occupied her mind.

This was her first kill, as far as I knew.

Yet he had been her brother.

She said he raised her.

"Evelyn?"

She turned her head toward me.

Confusion flickered in her eyes at hearing me speak in Lycan form.

"Are you alright?"

She nodded slowly.

"I doubt Athena will send you back to the dungeon." I offered.

She lowered herself to the ground, drawing her long legs to her chest.

She began shifting back to human form.

Her face contorted with pain, but she didn't scream like she had in the dungeon.

"It feels strange." she murmured after completing the shift.

"He was my brother. But I had to help. He caused so much pain and suffering."

"I almost killed my brother once." I kept my gaze on the flames, giving her privacy.

"You didn't go through with it?" I felt her eyes on me.

"I was going to. Seraphina got to him first."

"Gabriel was your brother?" Surprise colored her tone.

"She told you about him?"

"Bits and pieces. I clearly don't know everything." She sighed deeply.

"I feel like I should mourn Levi. But mostly, I feel guilty."

"For his death?"

"For his actions. Maybe if I had tried harder, I could have stopped him long ago.

If I had stood up to him... If I had sought help earlier..."

"Hindsight is always clear. You couldn't have known it would come to this."

"I know my father would be rolling in his grave." She paused.

"I thought I would feel pain too. He was family, and our bond has been severed."

"It depends on how close you were. Your bond wasn't a true family connection.

He controlled you, Evelyn, just like Athena said. He preyed on you."

I groaned softly. "It's ridiculous. Every species has bastards like him."

I sat beside her as the flames began to die.

Embers glowed in the ash among shattered bones.

Droplets of rain started falling, diluting the smell of burnt flesh.

Suddenly, she leaned her head against my shoulder without speaking, still hugging her legs.

"Ready to head back?" I asked.

"Why?" she responded quietly.

"You said Athena probably won't imprison me. There's nowhere else for me to go. Not anymore."

"You can stay in the house I'm using. Until we figure things out."

"What about Jasmine?"

"I haven't figured that out yet." I told her honestly.

"I'm not ready for another mate. Not yet."

"What was Isabella like?"

"Different. Gorgeous. Cared about others more than herself.

That's why she loved working at the hospital.

We argued over stupid things, but I always knew we were good together.

She had an insane love for ice cream.

Thought I didn't know about her secret stash of sweets in our bedroom."

I didn't know why I was telling Evelyn, but it felt easier talking to someone who didn't know Isabella.

"She was close to Athena, but something changed.

I'm still not clear on what. Until I am, I can't accept a new mate."

"You should tell Jasmine that. It's not fair to let her hope.

If I met my mate and he wasn't ready, I'd want to know.

I'd want someone who desires me and only me.

Someone who accepts me for who I am.

Not someone trying to figure out past mistakes."

"Wise words." I mused.

I felt her shrug. "I read a lot on my little farm.

Take it with a grain of salt—I've never been mated."

"We should go." I muttered.

"The question now is how I get out of the forest naked without anyone seeing me."