Chapter 133 My Angel | 026
NOELLE
Everything snaps back into motion as if someone just flipped a switch. The dining room noise floods in all at once—silverware clinking, Levi laughing at something Azalea said, and Danika asking someone to pass the wine bottle. As if nothing happened.
Except Sabrina is now right beside me.
I don't remember moving. I don't remember her grabbing my wrist. But her hand is locked around mine, and there's a knife in my palm.
A steak knife.
The blade is already buried in the side of her throat.
Blood wells up instantly, dark against her pale skin. She lets out a wet, gurgling sound, and her eyes roll towards me, wide with fake terror.
"Noelle—" she chokes, her voice trembling. "Why...?"
She releases my wrist, but the knife stays lodged in her throat because her own hand is still wrapped around the hilt, guiding it deeper.
Everyone's eyes snap to us.
Sabrina collapses off her chair with a dramatic whimper, one hand clutching her neck, blood seeping between her fingers. She looks up at the table, straight at Azren, with huge, glassy eyes.
"She... attacked me," she rasps, her voice cracking. "Again. Just like... just like she pushed me down the stairs."
Levi is moving before anyone else can blink. He's suddenly at her side, dropping to his knees, his hands hovering uselessly over the wound.
"Fuck—Sabrina—hold still—"
Azren is on his feet. He doesn't speak. He just stares. And oh god, his eyes are blank. It's the same look he gave me when I told him she pushed me.
My stomach lurches so hard that I almost throw up.
"No," I choke out. My voice cracks. "No—no, that's not—I didn't—"
Azalea stands up so fast her chair tips backward.
"Are you serious?" she snaps, her voice high-pitched. "You just—right in front of everyone? You stabbed her?"
"I didn't!" My hands fly up, and blood smears across my palm from where I was holding the knife. "She—she grabbed my hand! She did it herself! I swear—"
Uncle Tyler is already moving towards Sabrina, pressing a napkin to her neck. Danika is staring at me with teary eyes. Grandpops Matthew is on his feet, his face pale. Grandpops Denzel looks like he's about to be sick.
Azren still hasn't moved. His eyes are locked on Sabrina. Then slowly, they shift to me.
My knees buckle.
"Azren—" My voice cracks into a whimper. "Please. You know me. You know I wouldn't—"
He blinks once, and when he speaks, his voice is flat.
"Come with me."
It's clearly not a request. It's an order.
I shake my head, hot tears pricking my eyes.
"I didn't do it," I whisper. "I swear—I didn't—"
"Now, Noelle."
He doesn't yell. He doesn't even raise his voice. But the tone is so cold that it slices straight through me.
I glance around the table. Every pair of eyes is on me.
Azalea is shaking her head slowly, disgust written across her features.
"You're an attention seeker," she says, her voice trembling with rage. "Why did he have to bring someone like you here?"
Levi won't even look at me. Uncle Tyler is still pressing the napkin to Sabrina's neck, whispering to her like she's the victim.
Grandpops Matthew and Denzel are both staring at me like I'm a stranger who wandered in off the street.
I feel like I'm shrinking. It feels like the room is getting bigger and I'm getting smaller and smaller until I disappear.
Azren takes one step towards me. His expression doesn't change. But something dangerous and dark flashes in his beautiful eyes.
I flinch, and his jaw tightens. Then he turns and walks towards the door without another word.
I follow.
Because what else can I do?
My legs move on autopilot. My vision blurs with tears. I can feel every stare burning into my back.
The hallway is too long. I can't breathe.
Azren doesn't look back once. When we reach the top landing, he finally stops.
He doesn't turn around. My heart is pounding so fast, it feels like it's about to explode.
"What is this, Noelle? I thought I asked you not to cause a scene?" He asks slowly, and my stomach knots tightly.
I'm going to be sick.
How the hell did Sabrina do this?
"Azren, look at me," I croak, trembling.
He slowly turns to look at me, and I nearly flinch again from the intensity of his stare.
"What are you doing? Acting like you're the victim won't get you out of this. You are currently my wife, I know that. But it's only on paper. Sabrina is the one I..."
I'm shaking my head in horror as I mentally beg him not to say it. Because it's fake. It's all fake.
Azren pinches the bridge of his nose. "I'll let this slide for now. But you'll have to take care of her yourself. She's fragile. Unlike most werewolves, she can't heal."
I bite my lower lip, gripping my dress with trembling hands. He can't...he can't mean that.
He exhales slowly. "I expect you to be on your best behaviour, and for goodness' sake, stop fucking acting out just because you're jealous."
No....
What do I do?
Just as he's about to walk away, I wrap my arms around him from behind, holding him tight. He freezes, every muscle in his body tensing.
"What. Are. You. Doing?" He demands coldly, and I squeeze my eyes shut.
"Apologizing," I rasp weakly, tightening my hold over his abs.
"Apologize to her instead," he deadpans, unhooking my arms and moving me to the side. "One more thing. Don't touch me again."
Then he storms off, leaving me standing there, drowning in the horror of this nightmare.
...
The car ride back home is terrifyingly quiet. Jake keeps glancing at me through the rearview mirror. Sabrina is sitting at the back with Azren while I sit beside Jake. My eyes are swollen, but it's not because I cried so hard. No, it's because I've refused to cry. I've done enough crying. And I won't shed another tear because of that witch.
I glance at Azren, who has his eyes closed, his imposing presence consuming the whole space.
Sabrina whimpers beside him, clutching at her throat and leaning against my husband. It makes me want to actually commit murder. I mean, why not?
It hurts to see Azren acting so cold, but he clearly warned me so many times not to expect too much. But I...I got greedy. I want him. I want his touch. I want his kisses. God, I want his attention on me. Am I pathetic for thinking like that?
"Noelle," Azren says, and I perk up instantly, my heart rate spiking.
"Y-yes?" I respond, my throat going dry.
"Tomorrow, you'll go back to school. You'll stay out of my way unless I call for you. And when you get back, keep Sabrina company and make sure she's comfortable," he tells me, and I ball my hands into fists.
My gaze meets Sabrina's through the rearview mirror. The bitch is actually smiling. Rage boils in my veins, stifling the oxygen in my bloodstream.
Even so, I quietly look away. What is she going to do next? Make Azren send me back to Haden?
The thought makes me want to scream. I'm helpless, utterly so. But I won't go down without a fight.
When we get home, Jake steps out and opens the car door for me while Azren does the same for Sabrina. She stumbles into his arms, moaning.
"Az? Would you please carry me in your arms? I think I lost too much blood. I'm so dizzy," she utters weakly, swaying.
Azren sighs and scoops her into his arms. I follow behind them, my vision blurring with tears.
Jake moves over to me, reaching for my hand and gently squeezing. I turn to look at him, and the faint shimmer in his eyes instantly tells me he wasn't affected by Sabrina's spell. But how?
"Az? Can you please ask Noelle to bring me warm water to soothe my throat?" I hear Sabrina say, and Azren glances at me.
His gaze darkens when he sees Jake holding my hand. That's a reaction, right? To confirm it, I hold Jake's hand tighter. A muscle ticks in Azren's jaw, and I swallow past the lump in my throat.
That's it, that's how I'll crack the code.
"Noelle, get Sabrina some warm water," he tells me, and I smile.
"Yes, honey."
Then I move over to him, reaching up to plant a kiss on his cheek. "You don't have to worry. I plan on being a very good wife."