Chapter 180 My Angel | 073
AZREN
The pain hits me the moment I regain consciousness. It's a deep, skull-splitting throb that makes my head spin even before I open my eyes. My throat is raw, burning with thirst. My body feels heavy, like it's been dragged through hell and back.
"Noelle..." I rasp, my voice barely audible.
I try to sit up, but the room sways dangerously. A strong hand immediately presses against my back, steadying me.
"Easy, Alpha."
Jake.
I blink slowly, trying to focus. He's sitting on the edge of the bed, one arm wrapped around my back, supporting my weight. A glass of water appears in front of my lips.
"Drink," he urges.
I gulp it down greedily, water spilling down my chin. It soothes the fire in my throat but does nothing for the pounding in my head.
"What the hell are you doing here?" I mutter, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. I can barely recognize my voice.
Jake snorts softly. "Your wife refused to leave your side. She looked ready to fight me when I suggested she let you have some rest. So I told her I'd stay and watch over you. She finally agreed... but only if she could stay right there."
He nods towards the corner of the room.
I turn my head and my world stops spinning.
Noelle is sitting cross-legged on the floor, her hands clasped tightly with Jake's mother. Her eyes are closed in deep concentration. A soft, radiant golden glow pulses from her entire body, gentle but undeniable. Even her hair has strands of warm gold shimmering through the black.
She looks... ethereal.
My breath practically glitches hard in my chest. A fierce wave of love and obsession crashes over me so strongly it almost hurts more than the runes.
Mine.
That single word echoes through the chaos in my head, drowning out everything else. My woman. She's glowing like she was made from the stars themselves.
"Fuck..." I breathe, completely awestruck.
Jake glances at me and lets out a low chuckle.
"Look at you," he teases, his voice laced with amusement. "Big bad tribrid reduced to heart-eyes because your girl's glowing. You're whipped, man."
I don't even have the energy to glare properly. "Shut up."
"No, seriously," Jake continues, grinning as he keeps me propped up. "You've got literal drool forming. Want me to wipe your chin, or are you good?"
I shove at his shoulder unsteadily. "I will end you."
"You can barely sit up straight," he shoots back, laughing under his breath. "Save the threats for when you're not dying, Alpha. Besides, you should see your face right now. You look like you want to eat her alive and worship her at the same time. It's disgusting."
Despite the pain, a tired smirk tugs at my lips. "That's my wife you're talking about."
"Yeah, yeah. We all know. The entire pack knows. You've been obsessed since day one." Jake adjusts his grip to keep me steady. "How are you feeling, though? For real."
I exhale shakily, my eyes still locked on Noelle. The golden glow around her is pulsing softly, like a heartbeat.
"Like shit," I admit. "Head's killing me. Body's on fire. But... looking at her makes it quieter."
Jake nods, his usual teasing fading into something more serious.
"She's strong, Az. Stronger than any of us gave her credit for. She's been at this for hours. She refused to stop even when my mum tried to make her rest."
My chest tightens with fierce pride and aching love.
"That's my Angel," I whisper.
I reach out a hand in her direction, even though I know I can't touch her right now. The golden light around her seems to brighten for a moment, as if she can feel me watching.
Jake keeps supporting my weight, steady as always.
"You're not alone in this," he says, his voice gentle. "You know that, right? You're not a burden."
My throat tightens, moisture clouding my eyes because I know exactly what he's talking about. Lately, I haven't consulted with my officials because of the time bomb on my body.
I've been attending my meetings on my own, prepared to be condemned and lashed out at. My dignity is in pieces, to be honest. Nonetheless, I don't want my people to suffer for my sake.
"We are all worried about you, Alpha. Even her. Especially her," he says, glancing at Noelle.
I don't answer. I just keep staring at the glowing woman on the floor and let that single truth settle deep in my fractured soul.
I'm truly not alone.
The light around Noelle suddenly brightens. Her lashes flutter, and then those beautiful amber eyes open slowly, hazy with exhaustion but filled with something fierce and warm.
She inhales deeply, as if pulling strength from the air itself.
"Noelle—" I start to say, but she's already moving.
She rises from the floor and rushes straight to me. She throws her arms around me, wrapping me up tight, pulling my upper body against her chest.
The moment her skin touches mine, it hits.
A wave of pure, golden warmth floods into me like liquid sunlight pouring straight into my veins. I gasp, my back arching as the healing energy surges through every fractured part of me. The screaming in my head quiets. The burning runes on my chest dull to a faint throb. The fire under my skin cools for the first time in hours.
"Fuck..." I moan, the sound raw and helpless as I sag heavily against her.
It feels like a drug. Better than any dose Sabrina ever gave me. Better than blood. This is her. My Angel. My peace. Her Light is wrapping around every broken piece of me and gently putting it back together.
I bury my face in the crook of her neck, breathing her in like a dying man given oxygen. My arms tremble as I wrap them around her waist, holding on as tightly as my weakened body allows.
"Noelle..." I rasp against her skin, my voice thick with awe and relief. "How do you feel, baby? Are you okay?"
She doesn't answer right away, she just holds me closer, her fingers stroking my hair.
I hear soft footsteps. Jake clears his throat.
"We'll give you two some privacy," he says, a hint of a smile in his voice. His mother murmurs something gentle before they both slip out, closing the door behind them.
The room falls quiet except for our breathing.
Noelle pulls back just enough to look at me, her golden strands still shimmering softly in her hair. She looks radiant. Exhausted, but radiant.
"I'm... hungry," she admits softly, almost shy. "Very hungry."
A tired smile curves my lips despite everything. I reach up with a shaky hand and cup her cheek, brushing my thumb across her skin.
"My baby should never starve," I murmur, my voice hoarse. "Not even for a second."
She smiles, and it feels like a gaping hole in my chest just got fixed.
"How are you feeling?" She asks, her voice shaky as she cups my face with her small hands.
I can tell she's trying so hard not to cry. She's still smiling, but her lips are trembling and her eyes are welling up with tears.
"I'm much better now. Thanks to you."
A tear rolls down her cheek, and I quickly wipe it away with my thumb.
"I hate seeing you suffer. First, the withdrawal. Now, this. Why won't they leave you alone? It's not fair. You scared the shit out of me, Azren. I've seen you hurting. But I've never seen you lose control of your own body like that."
She's sobbing fully now, her lips in the cutest pout. I know I should comfort her, but suddenly I'm hit with the mortifying memory of her walking in on me drowning in my own vomit. I bet that wasn't so hot.
Heat creeps up my neck. The words feel vulnerable on my tongue, but I force them out anyway.
"Thank you... for taking care of me," I say, my cheeks burning. I can feel myself blushing like a damn teenager. "I know I was... a mess. You didn't have to clean me up or carry me or... any of it. But you did. I don't deserve you, Angel. I really don't."
Noelle's eyes soften even more. She leans in and presses a gentle kiss to my forehead, then my temple.
"You do deserve me," she whispers. "You're mine, Azren. And I take care of what's mine."
I close my eyes, pulling her into a hug, letting her warmth sink deeper into my bones. The pain is still there, lingering in my bones, but it feels distant now.
All because she's in my arms.
I pull her closer, pressing my face into her neck again, breathing her in.
"I love you," I whisper hoarsely. "More than anything."
She sniffles as I stroke her hair. "I love you too, baby."
A smile tugs at my lips, her cherry blossom scent wrapping around me.
Suddenly, she stiffens, pulling back to look into my eyes.
"There's something I haven't told you," she breathes. "It's... about... Cooper."
I narrow my eyes slightly, the mere mention of that name stirring up a soul-deep irritation.
Maybe I should have killed him and compelled Noelle to make her forget. But that would mean that I was digging myself an early grave, wouldn't it?