Chapter 192 My Angel | 085

Chapter 192 My Angel | 085
AZREN

The pain has returned with a vengeance. It is well past midnight, and I have not used my abilities tonight. Yet my body is betraying me again. Every joint aches. My ribs feel like they are filled with nails. The runes on my chest throb with a dull, relentless fire that no amount of whiskey can melt away.

I am too weak to even walk properly.

My legs tremble when I try to stand from the chair in my office. I grip the desk hard, my teeth clenched, refusing to call for help. I do not want anyone to see me like this, reduced to a shaking, pathetic wreck.

I drag myself across my office, one hand braced against the wall. Sweat slides down my temples. My vision blurs at the edges. The balcony door feels like it’s miles away, but I force myself towards it.

When I finally push it open, the cold night wind hits me.

I grip the railing and haul myself up. My legs swing over the edge until I am sitting on the thin metal rail, high above the city. The wind ruffles my hair mercilessly.

My body sways.

For a moment, I let myself imagine it. The fall. The impact. Bones shattering on the pavement far below. Everything finally going quiet.

The voices return, louder than ever. They are incoherent now. Some sort of unending white noise.

I close my eyes and breathe in the cold air.

The door behind me suddenly opens.

"Azren? You out here, man? I brought those files you asked for—"

Jake's voice cuts off right away.

I don't turn around. I stay perched on the rail, staring down at the glittering city.

"Az..." His voice drops, all mischief gone. It is tight with fear now. "Get down from there. Right now."

I let out a weak, bitter laugh that the wind nearly steals.

"Relax," I rasp, my voice hoarse. "I can fly."

Jake takes one careful step forward, his hands raised like I am something fragile that might shatter.

"If you fall right now, you won't die," he says, his voice cracking. "You'll just break everything. And then you'll lie there in agony for hours while we try to put you back together. Is that what you want? For Noelle to find you like that?"

I finally turn my head to look at him.

Tears blur my vision. I don't bother hiding them. Jake's face pales when he sees my eyes. For a long, heavy moment, neither of us speaks. The wind just keeps howling between us.

I sway again on the rail, just slightly.

"Azren... please. Come down. I can't lose you, man. Not like this," Jake croaks.

I look at him. My beta, my brother, the one who has dragged me back from the edge more times than I can count, and my heart hurts.

A tear rolls down my cheek as I stare at him with raw, exhausted eyes.

"I'm so tired, Jake," I whisper, my voice shaking. "I really don't feel well."

Jake comes closer, his hand outstretched, his eyes shining with his own tears.

"I know," he says thickly. "I know you are. But you're not alone. Not anymore. Just... come down. Let me help you tonight."

I look back at the drop one last time.

Then I reach out with a trembling hand and take his.

Jake's hand grips mine right away.

For a second, I just stare at it. Then I swing my legs back over the rail with what little strength I have left. The moment my feet touch the balcony floor, everything spins.

A guttural grunt rips out of me as pain shoots through my body. It feels like fire licking up my spine, my ribs cracking open again. I sway hard, my knees buckling.

"Easy—" Jake says, stepping in quickly.

But I collapse forward before he can fully catch me. My full weight slams into his chest. He staggers back a step but holds me up, his arms wrapping tightly around my back.

"Fuck—Azren!" he curses, his voice strained under my weight.

I pant harshly against his shoulder, squeezing my eyes shut as another wave of feverish heat crashes through me. My skin feels like it's boiling. Sweat pours down my face. Every breath burns.

Jake's voice cracks with panic. "Shit, you're burning up. What the hell is happening?"

I can't answer. I just cling to him, my fingers digging into his shirt as my body trembles. The runes on my chest light up without warning, glowing angry red beneath my half-open shirt.

Jake curses again, louder this time. "Fuck! Why are they still activating the runes? You didn't do anything! You were just sitting there!"

His voice is shaky, thick with the tears he's trying desperately to hold back. I can feel his heart hammering against my chest.

"I've got you, brother," he whispers, his voice trembling as he lowers us both to the cold balcony floor. "I've got you. Please, just breathe through it."

I writhe against him, a low, pained groan tearing from my throat as the runes sear deeper into my skin. It feels like they're trying to rip me apart from the inside. My back arches involuntarily, my muscles locking up.

Jake drops to his knees with me, one arm still wrapped around my back to keep me from slamming into the ground. His other hand grabs mine, squeezing tight, anchoring me.

"I'm here," he says, his voice unsteady. "I'm right here. You're not alone."

Tears slip from the corners of my eyes as I squeeze his hand back, hard enough to bruise. The pain is unbearable, but Jake's grip keeps me from slipping completely into the dark.

"Make it stop..." I rasp, my voice barely audible. "Please... just make it stop..."

Jake's forehead presses against mine, his own tears falling onto my cheek.

"I wish I could," he chokes out. "God, I wish I could."

"Do you think I'm going to survive this?" I gasp.

"Don't say that, Alpha. You have to," he whispers.

"I was supposed...to go for the meeting...tonight, but they haven't sent me the...address. I can't go like this," I tell him, and he shakes his head.

"Those bastards will have to reschedule."

I grin at him, trying to ignore the agony in my body.

"You were there when I killed Trent. Why...why don't you hate me?" I ask, and he tightens his hold on my hand.

"How can I hate you? I can't begin to wrap my head around that concept. You didn't kill Trent. The spirits did," he replies.

I part my lips to respond only for my eyes to roll back. Jake cries out in panic.

The pain is unbearable now.

It feels like my bones are being ground into dust while my skin is on fire. The runes pulse with vicious red light, searing deeper with every heartbeat. I writhe against Jake on the cold balcony floor, my fingers twisting against his shirt as another brutal wave rips through me.

"Jake—" I gasp, my voice hoarse. "Please... knock me out."

Jake's face pales. His arms tighten around me, but I feel him stiffen.

"No," he says immediately, his voice shaking. "Azren, I'm not going to hit you. I'm not—"

I cry out as another spike of agony tears through my chest. My back arches painfully, a guttural groan slipping out of me.

"Jake... please," I beg. "I can't—I can't take it anymore. Just knock me out. One hit. Please. I'm begging you."

Jake's eyes are wide with horror and tears. His hand trembles as he cups the back of my head.

"Az... I can't hurt you, man. You're my Alpha. My brother. I've dragged you out of hell, but I'm not going to punch you while you're already breaking—"

Another wave hits. I scream through clenched teeth, my body convulsing in his arms. The runes feel like they're melting into my bones.

"JAKE!" I sob. "Please... just do it. I'm begging you. Knock me out. I can't—I can't do this anymore. Please. Please."

Jake's breath hitches. Tears slip down his face as he stares at me, torn apart.

"Fuck... fuck," he whispers, his voice shattered.

He shifts me carefully, supporting my head with one hand. His other hand curls into a fist. I can see how much it kills him.

"I'm so sorry," he chokes out.

Then he swings.

The punch lands clean against the side of my jaw, hard enough to send stars exploding across my vision.

Then everything goes blissfully, mercifully dark.