Chapter 183 My Angel | 076
NOELLE
I figured I'd ease Azren's mind by helping his father recover. So here I am, back in the Lakewood mansion, making my way to my father-in-law's room. Danika keeps smiling at me. I think she's the cutest.
"Come in," she says as she opens the door.
I hesitate at the door, feeling awkward. I mean...it's their bedroom. Probably the place where Azren was conceived. The thought makes my cheeks heat up.
The room is dimly lit, curtains drawn to keep it peaceful. Kaziel lies propped up against a mountain of pillows, looking pale but alert. Danika moves over to sit beside him on the edge of the bed, one hand gently resting on his arm.
"Noelle," Kaziel says, his voice still strained but carrying that familiar strength. "I'm surprised you decided to visit so suddenly."
I offer a small, nervous smile and move closer to the bed.
"I wanted to help," I say softly. "If I can. I... I think I might be able to speed up your recovery. Fully."
Danika's eyes widen slightly, but she doesn't interrupt. Kaziel studies me for a long moment, then he gives me a slow nod.
"I would be indebted to you," he says. "Truly."
Danika reaches out and squeezes my hand. "Thank you, sweetheart. From both of us."
I take a steadying breath and sit on the chair. Gently, I reach for Kaziel's hand. His skin feels cool, almost fragile compared to Azren's burning fever from yesterday.
Closing my eyes, I reach inward, towards that warm, presence stirring inside me. My wolf. I let Blaze guide me, feeling the energy rise like sunlight pooling in my veins.
I direct it carefully into Kaziel's hand.
A soft gasp slips out of him.
Warmth flows from me into him, gentle but powerful. I can feel it knitting, soothing, and dissolving whatever darkness Nyxara left behind. The transfer lasts only a minute or two, but it feels longer.
When I finally open my eyes and pull back, Kaziel's blue eyes are glowing brighter, the dull haze gone. His pallor has faded, replaced by healthier color in his cheeks.
"How do you feel?" I ask, my voice trembling slightly with hope.
He blinks, and then slowly, he sits up straighter. With careful movements, he lifts the hem of his shirt and peels away the bandage over his side.
The wound is completely gone. There's smooth, unmarked skin where there had once been damage.
Danika lets out a soft, choked sound and pulls me into a tight hug before I can even react.
"Thank you," she whispers fiercely against my hair. "Thank you, my daughter. You have no idea what this means to us."
I hug her back, tears pricking my eyes. "I'm just glad it worked."
Kaziel reaches out and takes my hand again, his grip firmer now.
"You've given me back strength I thought I'd lost forever," he says, his voice thick with emotion. "We are truly in your debt, Noelle."
They both look at me with such warmth and gratitude that my chest feels too full.
"Stay for lunch?" Danika asks, still holding me close. "We can have something light prepared. It would mean the world to have you with us a little longer."
I smile softly, pulling back just enough to meet her eyes.
"Maybe next time," I say gently. "Right now... I've got things I have to handle with Azren."
Danika's expression softens with understanding, a playful glint entering her eyes.
"Of course you do," she teases lightly, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "Go take care of your husband, sweetheart. He's lucky to have you. We all are."
Kaziel chuckles softly from the bed, the sound warmer and stronger than before.
"Tell him his father is whole thanks to his mate," he says. "And that I expect to see both of you soon, when you're both ready."
I nod, my cheeks warming at the obvious affection in their voices.
"I will."
With one last gentle squeeze of Danika's hand, I slip out of the room and head out, feeling lighter than before.
'Good choice,' Blaze tells me, and I smile.
"You think so?"
'I know so. That man is a powerhouse just like his son. A war is coming, Noelle. We will need as many allies as possible,' she replies, and chills travel down my spine.
How does she even know that?
'Don't understimate me. Our power is rare for a reason.'
'Huh. Looks like someone knows her worth,' I say, and she practically purrs.
I leave the mansion with lighter steps than when I arrived, but my mind refuses to settle.
Kaziel is healed. Danika is smiling again. And yet... my thoughts keep circling back to Azren.
The image of him from yesterday, burning, shaking, and barely holding himself together, clashes violently with the man I know. The man who stands at the top of an empire, untouchable, and unbreakable.
My chest tightens.
For him to be truly whole again, we need to banish the spirits from his body, cure him fully from his withdrawal symptoms, and fix the veil.
Gosh, it’s a lot.
….
The elevator doors slide open on the top floor of Lakewood Group, and I step out with my heart doing ridiculous flips.
I'm here for the Executive Operations Field Study, my semester-long project. Officially.
But the small bouquet of white lilies and blue forget-me-nots in my hands feels anything but professional.
I adjusted my white blouse twice in the car, but the neckline still dips just enough to show a hint of cleavage. I know he'll notice. Part of me hopes he does.
His executive assistant, a polished woman in her thirties, smiles when she sees me.
"Mrs. Lakewood, he's expecting you. Go right in."
I thank her and push open the heavy door to his office.
Azren is standing behind his massive desk, reviewing something on his tablet. The moment I step inside, his head lifts.
Those electric blue eyes lock on me and then drop straight to the flowers.
For a split second, his entire expression changes.
The ruthless CEO facade cracks. Something raw and boyish flashes across his face. First, he looks surprised, then a deep, aching tenderness that makes my knees weak softens his eyes.
"Angel..." he breathes.
I walk over and hold the bouquet out to him, suddenly shy.
"I brought these for you. Thought your office could use something pretty."
He takes the flowers carefully, like they're made of glass. His fingers brush mine and linger. He lifts them to his nose, inhaling deeply, and then he looks at me again with eyes that have gone molten.
"No one has ever brought me flowers before," he says in a low voice. "Not once."
My heart squeezes so hard it hurts.
"I'm glad I'm the first, then."
He sets the bouquet gently on his desk, right where he can see it, and then he rounds the desk and pulls me into a warm hug. His face presses into my hair.
"Thank you," he whispers against my temple. "You have no idea what this does to me."
We stay like that for a long moment before I reluctantly pull back, clearing my throat.
"Okay... project time, Mr. Lakewood," I say, trying to sound professional even as blood rushes to my cheeks. "I have questions about decision-making under pressure."
I sit in the visitor chair across from his desk and open my notebook, my pen poised.
Azren leans back against the edge of his desk, his arms crossed, watching me with that intense, predatory focus I know too well.
I start asking my prepared questions about crisis management and delegation and how he balances short-term risks with long-term strategy. He answers smoothly, his voice deep and authoritative, every bit the powerful CEO.
But his gaze keeps drifting down. To the slight dip in my blouse and to the curve of my breasts.
It happens three times.
Heat crawls up my neck. On the fourth time, I set my pen down and narrow my eyes at him.
"Please don't stare at me like that, Mr. Lakewood," I say, my voice laced with warning. "My husband wouldn't like it."
A dangerous smirk curves his lips. The kind that makes my thighs press together instinctively.
"Is that so?" His voice drops into that low, teasing register that always drives me crazy. "And what exactly would your husband do if he caught me looking?"
I tilt my head, playing along, fighting the smile threatening to break out.
"He's very possessive," I say innocently. "Extremely jealous. He's the kind of man who might pin me against the nearest surface and remind me exactly who I belong to."
Azren's eyes darken. He pushes off the desk and stalks around it like a predator. In one effortless motion, he spins my chair around so I'm facing him completely.
He leans down, caging me in with his arms on the armrests. His face is inches from mine, his breath warm against my lips.
"And if I told you," he says softly, his voice velvety, "that I don't care what your husband thinks?"
My breath hitches.
He dips his head and presses a gentle kiss to my forehead. Then his hand slides up my side, bold and unapologetic, squeezing my breast firmly through my blouse.
A tiny gasp tumbles out of me.
"What do you think your husband is going to do about that?" he whispers against my skin, squeezing again, possessive and teasing. "Hm, Mrs. Lakewood?"
I bite my lip, my heart racing, desire flooding low in my belly.
"He might have to come over here and remind you exactly who I belong to," I breathe, my voice shaky with want. "Right here in this office."
Azren's smirk deepens, his eyes glowing faintly.
"Careful, Angel," he growls softly, his thumb circling my boob. "Keep talking like that and your little project is going to get very... hands-on."
I look up at him through my lashes, smiling sweetly even as my body aches for more.
"Then maybe you should stop staring at my cleavage, Mr. Lakewood... and start answering my questions properly."
He laughs darkly and leans in closer, his lips brushing my ear.
"Make me."