Chapter 142 My Angel | 035
NOELLE
My pulse roars in my ears, my breathing quickening at the thought of Sabrina finally being apprehended. But, judging from the voice of the person on the phone, something's... off.
"What did you find? Spill," Azren says, his expression blank.
His voice, however, is thick with authority. He's undoubtedly in Alpha mode.
"Alpha, I'm not sure if she's been fooling us all along or if she's really...dead."
Azren goes rigid, every muscle in his body tensing. "What?"
"We found her body. She's...dead. But here's the thing...there was no blood or any signs of attack. She wasn't poisoned either. But the body is already deteriorating. It's swelling, and it stinks."
Azren's eyes meet mine. I can tell he's thinking the exact same thing I'm thinking. There's no way someone like her could have died so easily. Was there a chance she could switch bodies? I can't help but wonder.
"Hand the body over to forensics," Azren orders.
"Yes, Alpha."
My husband hangs up, staring at the phone as if it had offended him. He's annoyed now, I can tell. Still, he takes a deep breath and rests his forehead on my abdomen.
"I don't care whether she's dead or alive. She won't get into my head again. Over my dead body."
I gulp, letting my fingers slide through his silky hair.
"I trust you."
He looks up at me, his eyes shimmering. He watches me for a moment longer. Then he inhales deeply.
"Come with me."
Azren pushes to his feet, leading me back upstairs with his hand warm around mine. Butterflies swarm my belly as I stare at our joined hands, our matching rings glinting under the lights. I lean into his side, letting myself bask in his sweet scent.
He doesn't speak until we reach the bedroom. The door shuts softly behind us as we step in.
He releases my hand only long enough to head over to the dresser, open the top drawer, and pull out a small black velvet box. Then another one that looks slightly larger.
My breath catches in my throat.
He walks back to me slowly, like he's giving me time to run. But running is the last thing on my mind. He stops in front of me, close enough that I can feel the heat rolling off his body.
When he opens the box, I let out a gasp.
A delicate gold necklace rests on satin lining. The chain is fine and light, but the pendant is exactly like the mark on my wrist, except this one is finished. A perfect, symmetrical golden flame, the edges set with tiny diamonds that catch the light like captured stars. And right at the base, engraved in elegant script is the letter A.
He lifts it carefully, the chain dangling between his fingers.
"Turn around," he says.
I do, my heart racing.
His fingers brush the back of my neck as he sweeps my hair aside. The metal is cool against my skin when he fastens the clasp.
A smile tugs at my lips as I touch the pendant. It's warm now. Azren's arms slide around my waist from behind, pulling me back against his chest. And then, his soft lips find the shell of my ear.
"Do you like it?" he whispers.
I nod, swallowing hard. "It's beautiful."
He chuckles.
"There's a tracker in it," he says casually as if he's merely commenting on the weather.
I freeze. Then I let out a shaky laugh of disbelief.
"You're joking."
He turns me slowly to face him. His eyes are glittering again, but this time it's not mania. It's pure, unapologetic obsession.
"I never joke about protecting what's mine," he says softly. "Hunters are coming. The new order might want you. Haden wants you. I won't lose you to anyone, Angel. Not ever."
His thumb brushes the flame pendant where it rests between my breasts.
"So yes, there's a tracker. And no, I'm not sorry."
Heat floods my face and my chest, traveling lower. My thighs clench involuntarily. He notices, his lips curving into that slow, wicked smile that always makes my knees go weak.
"You like it," he says.
I bite my lip, nodding.
"It's... sexy," I admit, my voice small. "Knowing you're always watching. Knowing you'd come for me."
He presses a kiss to my forehead and proceeds to reach into the other box.
This time he pulls out a thinner gold chain, an ankle bracelet. The same tiny flame charm dangles from it, matching the necklace perfectly. He drops to one knee in front of me.
My breathing quickens.
I watch as he lifts my foot gently, slides the bracelet around my ankle, and clasps it. The chain is light and cool against my skin, the flame resting right over my pulse point.
He presses a slow, open-mouthed kiss to the inside of my ankle, right over the charm.
“Two marks,” he says, his voice rough. “One at your throat. One at your ankle. Both saying the same thing.”
He leans in, kissing my knee.
“You. Are. Mine.”
He looks up at me from his knees, his eyes burning.
"I'll track you. I'll hunt for you. I'll tear everything apart and burn it all down before I let anyone touch you."
His hand slides up my calf, possessive and reverent.
"And when I find them, if they ever try?" He stands slowly, towering over me again. "I'll make them watch while I remind you—over and over—exactly who you belong to."
My thighs are trembling, heat settling low in my belly.
He leans in, his lips brushing mine.
"You like that too, don't you?" he whispers. "My filthy little obsession. My Angel, who gets soaked just thinking about how far I'd go to keep her."
I nod, breathless.
"Yes," I whisper. "I love it."
His smile is dangerous. So dangerous it nearly sends me into cardiac arrest. Especially with those devilish dimples.
"Good," he says. "Because I'm never letting you go."
He kisses me then, reclaiming me with his lips.
And all I can think is… Mine. He's finally mine.
...
I've been subconsciously fiddling with my necklace all morning. There's a stupid smile on my face that won't disappear no matter how hard I try. I am so giddy, it almost feels like constipation.
"Let me guess, my alpha used his world-famous charms on you," a soft feminine voice speaks from my left, and I jerk my head to the side.
A stunning young lady with long red hair is sitting there, her beautiful pale blue eyes fixed on me. They look like ice with a ring of black. She's so...pretty.
She pops her bubble gum and gives me a big wave, her numerous rings glinting off her fingers.
"Hi, I'm Blue. One of your hubby's gammas. I'll be hanging out with you undercover. Don't tell anyone," she whispers, winking at me.
"Are you a fairy?" The words tumble out of my mouth unbidden.
She chuckles, blushing as she tucks strands of her fiery red hair behind her ear.
"Hehe. Thank you. But no. I'm part fox, though."
My eyes go wide. "Really?!"
"Yup."
I gape at her, completely blown away. It just keeps getting better and better, doesn't it?
I lean closer to whisper to her. "So, do you have nine tails and stuff?"
She grins. "Not nine yet. But I do have...tails."
My jaw drops. I have so many questions! So many! I can already feel an inspiration for my next book coming on. It's going to be fun, I can tell.
Blair comes rushing in right then. She slides into the seat on my right, panting.
"Jeez, I'm so late. What did I miss?" She asks.
"Four classes, Blair. I can give you my notes if you want," I shrug, and she pouts.
"You're a lifesaver!"
I'm tempted to ask her why she's so late. But that would mean that I am being nosy. So, I decide to mind my own business.
That is, until Blue taps my wrist. I turn to look at her, and her voice suddenly floods my head, startling me.
'Who's she?'
I falter, wondering how I'm supposed to respond. Mind-to-mind? That would work, right?
So I focus on thinking about the answers.
'I met her yesterday. She's really cool.'
Blue squints at me. 'Something is...off about her. She's...masking her aura.'
My eyes go wide, my heart sinking. Did Haden send her? Or is she a hunter?
The door to the classroom opens, and a female lecturer walks in. I recognize her right away. Mrs Filch.
"Noelle Kennedy?" She calls out, and I freeze.
"Would you please come to my office right now?" She asks, and Blue straightens, narrowing her eyes.
Clenching my fists, I rise to my feet, and Blue stands up too.
"Don't worry, I'm right behind you. Go," she says, and I nod.
Taking a deep breath, I follow Mrs Filch out. We head to her office in silence while I brace myself the entire way. When she finally opens the door, I'm greeted by the sight of faces I never thought I would see again. The faces of my adoptive parents.