Chapter 126 My Angel | 019
NOELLE
"I-I don't understand," I whisper. I have the strongest urge to vanish into thin air, especially with the pairs of eyes boring into me. The stranger rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.
"I should introduce myself. I'm Cameron, Azren's zeta," he says, flashing me a sheepish smile.
He kind of reminds me of a Great Dane. Just like Jake, he's powerfully built. But there's a simmering playful energy oozing from him. It is restrained, though. Maybe because he's in his Alpha's presence?
"I'm Noelle," I tell him, and he grins.
"Trust me, every pack official knows who you are," he responds, and I smile.
"Why would Haden call me a golden wolf? Is he trying to draw attention to me? I'm just a human. Azren, you know that," I say to Azren, and he frowns slightly.
"That's the problem. Haden never bluffs. I've been wondering why someone as conceited as he is wanted to marry a human. He doesn't do anything unless there's some kind of benefit," he replies.
My heart sinks as I process his statement. Now that I think about it, Hayden had been insistent on getting me pregnant. What if... he just wanted to merge my bloodline with his?
But I'm not a werewolf. I don't have super speed or strength. I don't...have animal senses. So, why?
"Thank you for the intel, Cam. Do you mind waiting for me in my study?" Azren says, slipping into boss mode.
I don't think I can get used to the stark difference in his tone.
"I'll be in your study," Cameron says. He glances at me and gives me a gentle smile before leaving.
Very polite. Unlike the wild horse that is Jake. Speaking of that wild horse, where did he go? He must've left after Azren's episode. But is there a chance he saw what happened with Sabrina? Or did he leave before then?
"Get some rest, Angel," Azren says, tucking me in bed. I nod, melting as he presses a kiss to my hair.
I watch as he straightens and heads towards the door, his grey sweatpants hanging low on his hips. My gaze lands on the massive tattoo on his back. A praying angel. Hmm. I wonder what inspired that. I also wonder what he did with his boner earlier.
Silly me.
I close my eyes, letting the exhaustion pull me under.
The dream starts soft. I'm floating in a vast, dark pool. The water is cool against my skin, soothing the bruises I can still feel under my ribs. For a while, I think maybe this is what peace feels like.
Then fingers close around my throat.
I open my eyes, and Haden is there, suspended in the water with me, his face inches from mine. His black irises have swallowed the whites entirely.
"You already belong to me," he says. His voice doesn't travel through water the way it should. It vibrates straight into my skull. "You always did."
I thrash, but the water is thick now. My arms move like they're caught in tar. His grip tightens. Not enough to choke me yet. Just enough to remind me he can suffocate me to death.
"You think a piece of paper would change anything?" he smiles. "That tribrid can fuck you raw in every corner of his penthouse. He can call you whatever he likes. He can even believe he owns you." His thumb strokes the frantic pulse under my jaw. "But your blood knows the truth. It remembers who it was promised to."
I try to scream. Bubbles explode uselessly from my lips.
His other hand drifts down, his palm flattening over my lower belly, the same place Azren soothed my cramps only a while ago.
"I planted something in you once," he murmurs. "Even if it didn't take root... the claim lingers. You'll never wash me out of you, little wolf."
Little wolf?
My lungs burn. I claw at his wrist, my nails raking skin that doesn't bleed. He only laughs, the sound vibrating into my bones.
"You will never escape me. Ever."
His fingers squeeze.
Black spots dance at the edges of my vision. My chest heaves, desperate for air that isn't there. I'm sinking, the light above me shrinking to a pinprick—
I jolt awake with a strangled gasp.
My body curls in on itself. Sweat soaks the sheets. My hand flies to my throat. It hurts. I'm panting so hard my ribs ache all over again.
The room is dark except for the faint city glow seeping through the curtains.
And my wrist is glowing.
The incomplete flame mark is no longer faint. It pulses with a bright gold colour, the lines stretching and sharpening as if something inside it is waking up. I stare at it, my chest heaving, half-convinced I'm still dreaming.
"What...?" My voice cracks.
The glow brightens for one moment, then it dims again, settling into a steady, low shine.
I press my trembling fingers over it.
This isn't normal.
My mind flashes to Haden's voice in the dream.
I scramble upright, dragging the sheet around me. Azren isn't beside me. The space where he should be is cold. Panic is slowly seeping in because the dream had felt too real.
I need to find him.
I need to tell him about the dream, the mark, and the things Haden said. I need him to look at me and say I'm not losing my mind.
I slide off the bed on unsteady legs. I’m not sure exactly where Azren’s study is. But I just keep moving.
My wrist throbs again like a heartbeat.
From downstairs, I hear voices.
"...the golden wolf is real. Haden's already put a bounty out. Every hunter in the city knows the scent now."
My blood turns to ice.
I press myself against the wall, my heart slamming so hard against my ribs, it borders on painful.
Azren's voice booms through the air.
"Then tell every hunter who comes looking that if they step foot in my territory, they'll leave in pieces."
Cameron responds then. “We will have to station high security around her. You know she can’t always be by your side. Everyone will become a suspect. She thinks she’s human now. If you take away her sense of peace, she’ll feel haunted all the time.”
“What do you want me to do then?”
“Be discreet about it. She can’t know about how dire the situation is. Especially with the veil thinning. Her power is worth more than any gold. She just doesn’t know that yet.”
I press a hand to my mouth, breathing heavily.
So, I am truly the golden wolf? What the fuck is happening? My life is never going to be normal again.
Tears well up in my eyes, silently streaming down my face. There’s too much going on.
“Noelle?”
I look up at the sound of Azren’s voice. He’s standing a little distance away, concern all over his face. He rushes to me and pulls me into his arms. Ugly sobs tear out of me, my body shaking.
“How much did you hear?” He asks softly, and I shake my head.
“I’m scared, Azren. I’m so scared,” I whimper.
“Oh, Angel, you’re going to be okay,” he breathes, and I shake my head.
“You don’t know that.”
He pulls away enough to cup my face in his big hands and gently wipe my tears away with the pads of his thumbs.
“I know you’re the toughest woman I’ve ever met. I know you’re relentless and stubborn. I know you will overcome anything because you are strong. You are enough, Noelle. More than enough. And I’m on your side. No matter what happens. I am yours, and you are mine,” Azren says.
His long lashes lower, his expression soft.
“They can try. But you are my woman now. Not even fate can take you away from me,” he whispers.
Emotions swell inside of me, clogging my throat. I reach up for him, and he leans over to rest his cheek against my palm, his lashes lowering even more. I stare at this beautiful man in front of me, terrified and in awe. He says he’s mine. But do I deserve him?
Gently, I brush his hair away from his face, letting my fingers travel down his temple to his sharp jawline.
“You can’t take those words back, Az,” I rasp, and he holds out his pinky, wriggling it.
I let out a small laugh, entwining his finger with mine.
“Seal it with a kiss,” he says, his hypnotic blue eyes gleaming.
I lean up on my tiptoes and press my lips to his. His lips curve against mine, dimples popping out.
He’s so gorgeous.
The bigger his smile becomes, the more my grin widens.
Is it too early to say I want him to be my forever?
“Alpha?”
I stiffen at the sound of Sabrina’s voice. We both turn to look at her. Her face is blotchy and red like she’s been crying.
“Can we talk?” She asks weakly, holding up her forearm. My eyes go wide when I see the mark on her wrist. It’s identical to mine!