Chapter 77 The Night Belongs to Adonis
Phoebe
Soft laughter from Zion and Finley drifted faintly through the doorway when Hayden’s gaze met mine—steady, unreadable, and just a little too serious.
“So,” he said, his tone a mix of calm and curiosity, “who are you planning to spend the night with, Phoebe?”
The question sliced through the air, silencing everything around us.
I could almost hear the shift in their breathing—three pairs of lungs, suddenly out of sync. Zion leaned lazily against the wall with that infuriating smirk of his, while Finley pretended to focus on his drink, though his eyes kept flicking up at me.
I drew in a slow breath, trying to calm the restless thud in my chest. Persephone—my inner wolf—stirred softly within me, whispering a single name. And somehow, I already knew what my answer would be.
“Adonis,” I finally said, my voice quiet but firm.
Three sets of eyes widened instantly.
Finley let out a dramatic sigh. “Of course. The genius himself.”
Zion chuckled, nudging him with an elbow. “Come on, Fin. That face alone gives you away—you were hoping she’d pick you, weren’t you?”
Finley shot him a glare. “At least I don’t lose every bet just because I’m not the pretty one.”
Their banter earned a sharp look from Hayden. He lifted his hand slightly, cutting through the tension.
“Enough,” he said evenly. “It’s still Phoebe’s birthday. Let’s not ruin it with your egos.”
His tone was calm, but the glint in his eyes said otherwise. That look he gave Adonis wasn’t casual—it was a warning.
He stepped closer, his voice dropping low enough that only I could hear.
“Take care of her, Adonis. If she gets even a single scratch—”
“I know,” Adonis interrupted, his expression tight, his voice steady. “I won’t mess this up.”
I reached for Hayden’s arm gently, offering a small smile. “Hayden, I’ll be fine,” I whispered. “You can trust me.”
He studied me for a long second before exhaling. “I do trust you. Doesn’t mean I won’t be jealous, though.”
I laughed quietly. “A little jealousy looks good on you.”
Adonis’s room felt different tonight—warmer, softer. The golden light from the lamp bathed everything in a quiet glow, making the shadows dance lazily across the walls.
He opened the door for me and gave a small grin. “You look nervous.”
I chuckled under my breath. “Maybe a bit.”
To break the silence, he reached for something on his desk—a laptop and a small white box still sealed in plastic.
“I bought two of the same model,” he said casually. “Hayden mentioned you’re still figuring out Apple. I thought I’d help. And maybe…” His lips curved slightly. “Matching phones could be our little romantic statement.”
I blinked, surprised. I hadn’t expected that kind of thoughtfulness from him. Adonis had his own unique way of showing affection—subtle but deeply personal.
I took the phone, turning it over in my hand. “I don’t even know how to turn off the Wi-Fi. Everything looks so different from my old Android.”
He laughed softly, his voice deep and comforting. “Here, let me show you.”
Adonis sat beside me, close enough for me to feel the warmth radiating off his body. His fingers brushed across the screen as he pointed things out one by one.
“Swipe down from the top-right for quick controls. This is the camera. AirDrop, Face ID…”
I nodded, pretending to focus, but truthfully—I was more distracted by the way his eyes lit up when he explained something. That spark of quiet excitement, that gentle patience—it was rare to see him so relaxed.
“And this,” he added, tapping the screen again, “Mobile Legends. You should reinstall your account—Zion said you could still practice, even if you’re not on the roster anymore.”
I laughed lightly. “Don’t tell me Zion asked you to be my coach too?”
“Could be,” he teased, a small smirk tugging at his lips. “But I don’t mind. I like teaching you. I think everyone does—especially Hayden, the ultimate control freak.”
His grin was disarming, sending a faint flutter through my chest. There was something magnetic about him when he smiled like that.
After a moment, I asked, “Adonis… how did you even manage to erase all those rumours about me online? The ones about me pretending to be Phoenix?”
He hesitated, as if deciding how much to reveal.
“It’s not that complicated,” he said finally. “Every system has loopholes. You just have to find the right entry point, rewrite the metadata, and redirect the search queries. Once the algorithm flags it as missing content, it vanishes.”
I blinked. “That sounds like witchcraft.”
He chuckled quietly. “Not witchcraft. Just logic… and a lot of time.”
I pouted. “Still sounds impossible. I swear, my brain’s not built for that kind of genius.”
Adonis looked at me for a moment, his eyes softening. “I don’t care if you’re a genius or not, Phoebe. I don’t need someone who can hack the world beside me. I just want someone who’ll accept every part of me—even the sides I struggle to accept myself.”
His voice was low, almost fragile beneath its calmness. I could feel the weight of it—the fear that came from knowing he wasn’t entirely one person. His other side—the darker one—was always there, waiting.
I lifted my hand and cupped his cheek gently. “I accept all of you, Adonis. Even the parts that scare you.”
He closed his eyes briefly under my touch, as though grounding himself. When he opened them again, the look in his eyes had changed—softer, but deeper.
“Phoebe…” he whispered, my name trembling on his lips like a prayer.
I didn’t know who moved first, but suddenly the distance between us was gone. His lips met mine in a kiss that started tender—almost hesitant—but carried a quiet electricity that set every nerve alight.
Warmth bloomed through me, spreading fast, melting the space between our heartbeats.
Adonis drew back slightly, his breath uneven. “I’m scared I’ll lose control,” he murmured hoarsely. “Especially tonight.”
I looked up at him, my voice a whisper. “Then let me be your anchor. I’m here.”
For a heartbeat, he just stared at me, and the world seemed to shrink until there was nothing left but us—two broken souls learning how to fit together.
His touch was steady now, his presence grounding yet intoxicating. I could feel the rhythm of his heart syncing with mine, the warmth of his breath brushing my skin, the quiet intensity that filled the air like a pulse.
When he kissed me again, it wasn’t hesitant anymore. It was deep, honest, and full of all the words neither of us could say. I kissed him back with everything I had, surrendering to the moment—trusting him, trusting us.
The night unfolded in waves of warmth and closeness, not wild but real. Every breath, every heartbeat, every glance felt like a promise.
And as I rested against him later, the silence between us wasn’t empty—it was full.
Full of understanding. Full of something that felt dangerously close to love.