Chapter 148 My Angel | 041
NOELLE
The drive home is quiet, the unsettling kind. Blue keeps one hand on the wheel and the other tapping an absent rhythm on her thigh, but her eyes dart to the rearview mirror every few seconds as if she's expecting something to materialize in the backseat.
I stare out the window and try to sort through the mess in my head.
Cooper.
I rub my wrist absently. How the hell am I supposed to handle being his mate? What exactly is he? A werewolf too?
Blue glances at me. "You're thinking so loud, I can hear it from here."
I force out a small laugh. "Sorry. Just... trying to figure out what Cooper is."
She snorts. "Human, obviously. But not just human."
She taps the steering wheel. "I sensed witch aura on him. But the rest of him was... clouded. Like someone threw a glamour over it."
My stomach tightens. "Could it be a spell masking his identity?"
"It's possible." She shrugs. "And that glow on your mark when he touched you? That wasn't normal. Not for a human. Not even for most witches."
I press my lips together. "So he could be lying."
"Or he could be telling the truth and someone's using him as bait." Blue's voice drops. "Either way, we're not taking chances. I already sent his photo to Levi. He's already running his name through every database we have."
I nod, grateful, but the knot in my chest doesn't loosen. When we arrive at the penthouse, there's a strange thickness in the air.
Blue frowns. "Do you feel that?"
We hurry up the front steps, my heart pounding.
The hallway outside Azren's bedroom feels colder. The air is thick, as if the house itself is holding its breath.
Jake is planted in front of the door like a wall, his broad shoulders filling the frame, his arms crossed. His eyes are fixed straight ahead, his jaw clenched.
I stop a few feet away. Something is going on with Azren. The realization makes my eyes water.
"Jake," I say.
He doesn't move.
"Step aside."
"No." His voice is flat. "Alpha's orders. No one is allowed to go in. Not even you."
From behind the door I hear it. The sounds of agony. It's raw and relentless. Hot tears cloud my vision. I can tell that he's trying not to be loud. He's trying to breathe through it. He's desperate enough to try and muffle the sounds. But I can still hear him.
My heart feels like it's being ripped in half.
"Jake," I try again, striding closer. "Let me in."
He finally looks at me. His grey eyes are glassy and filled with pain, but his stance doesn't waver.
"I can't," he croaks. "He made me swear. He's... not himself. The spirits are loud tonight. He's terrified he'll hurt you if you get too close."
Another restrained grunt leaks through the wood.
My throat tightens.
"Please," I whisper. "He needs me."
Jake's throat bobs. "I know. But he made me promise. He said if anyone tries to get in while he's like this, I'm to stop them. Even if it means knocking them out. He said he'd have my head if I let anyone near him right now."
Another wretched sound reaches my ears, and a tear rolls down my cheek. He was fine this morning. Now he's all alone in there, hurting. No. I can't stand this.
I don't hesitate. I drop low and drive my knee straight into Jake's groin.
He makes a choked, strangled noise, his eyes bulging. Then he doubles over, his hands flying to protect himself. But it's too late.
I shove past him, slamming the door open with my shoulder.
"Noelle—!" Blue starts, but I'm already inside.
The room is dark except for the faint city glow coming through the curtains. The bed is a mess, the sheets crumpled, pillows shoved aside.
Azren is curled on his side in the middle of it, his knees drawn to his chest. His arms are wrapped tight around his head. He's in black sweatpants and a black t-shirt, his whole body trembling. More tears slide down my face before I even reach him.
"Azren..."
He goes still, lifting his head slightly. But his gaze isn't focusing on me. It's almost as if he can't see me.
"Noelle?" he whispers.
"It's me," I sob, holding a hand to my mouth.
He pushes himself up further, one hand cradling the side of his head.
"You're not supposed to be here. Where is Jake?" His voice trembles, his hands unsteady.
"You need me. Why are you—"
Suddenly he growls, his nostrils flaring. His voice drops even lower when he speaks, sending chills down my spine. "There's a different scent on you."
I take a step backwards, my throat dry. It must be Cooper's scent. How do I explain what happened without pissing him off?
"Why do I smell someone else on you, Noelle?!" He demands, and I flinch.
I've never seen him like this before. He grunts again, veins protruding on his neck.
"I—"
"Get out," he growls, and my eyes go wide.
"Azren..."
He clutches his head with both hands, panting, his eyes squeezing shut.
"I said, get out!" He roars, and blood drains from my face.
Pure, instinctive revulsion flashes across his face.
"Get—out—" he hisses. "I can't—your scent—it's wrong—it's wrong—"
Those words sting, but I cling to the thought that he’s not trying to hurt me. I know he’s suffering. He can’t help but lash out.
I reach for him, aching to take his pain away. Even if it's for a few seconds.
"Azren, it's me. It's just—"
He twists away, trying to put as much distance as possible between us.
Another wave of pain crashes through him. This one rips a full-throated scream from his lungs. He curls harder, his knees slamming into his ribs, his hands clawing at his own scalp like he's trying to dig the pain out.
He's shaking so hard, the whole bedframe rattles against the wall.
I reach for him again on instinct. His head whips toward me, his eyes wild. "Don't touch me!"
The command hits me like a whip. It's not anger. It's terror.
I freeze.
Blue is suddenly there, her strong hands clamping around my upper arms from behind.
"Noelle—out. Now."
I twist against her grip. "He needs—"
"He's rejecting that scent!" Blue's voice is low and pleading. "The scent's making it worse. You're making it worse. Come on."
Every few seconds his body jerks, his spine bowing as the next surge hits. He bites down on his own forearm to muffle the cries, his fangs sinking deep.
Blue hauls me backward, and I fight her uselessly. My heels drag across the rug. Tears blur everything.
"No—let go—he's alone—he's—"
She doesn't loosen her hold. Instead she spins me around and pulls me against her chest, one arm wrapping across my shoulders, the other cradling the back of my head.
"Shh," she murmurs into my hair. "I know. I know."
Behind us, the sounds of Azren's torment fill the room again. The bed creaks as he vibrates from the agony. He's begging now.
"Please... make it stop... please..."
I sob against Blue's shoulder. "He's hurting so much—"
"I know, sweetheart." Her voice cracks just a little. She rocks us both slightly. "He's fighting it. He's still fighting. But right now that scent is like gasoline on the fire. We have to let him ride this out."
Jake is still in the doorway, frozen. His face is ashen, his eyes glassy. He looks like he's been stabbed in the chest.
Blue doesn't look at him. She just keeps holding me, one hand stroking slow circles over my back while the other stays firm at the nape of my neck, keeping my face tucked against her.
I'm crying so hard I can barely breathe. Blue's shirt is soaked under my cheek.
“Come on, let’s go outside,” she tells me, steering me towards the door.
I shake my head, trying to keep my feet rooted in place. But she’s too strong. Once we’re outside again, my knees give out and I crumple to the floor, heartbroken.
“Why? Why is he hurting so much?” I croak, and Jake sighs.
“He’s experiencing withdrawal from Sabrina’s cocktails.”
My heart sinks as I recall her dreadful words. This was what she meant when she’d claimed that Azren would come back to her when the pain became too much to bear.
“How long has he been like this?” I ask, my voice cracking.
“I suspect he was feeling unwell even last night. But it got worse before noon. He couldn’t walk without help earlier. He had to cancel an important meeting and come home,” Jake replies.
“Isn’t there something we can do? Anything at all?” I sob, my shoulders trembling.
Jake exchanges glances with Blue. Then he lowers his gaze.
“Blood,” he says.
My eyes go wide. “W-what?”
“Your blood specifically. It’s the only thing that can help with the pain. But, you know him. He’d rather die than drink from you.”