Chapter 197 My Angel | 090

Chapter 197 My Angel | 090
NOELLE

The small café is quiet this time of day, tucked away in a corner street. I sit in the corner booth, my fingers wrapped tightly around a cup of untouched coffee that's gone cold. In my bag, hidden like a bomb, is the small obsidian vessel containing ‘Haden's essence.’

It feels heavier than it should.

Finn slides into the seat across from me, dressed in civilian clothes again. His face is serious, his eyes scanning the room once before settling on me.

"You have it?" he asks in a low voice.

I nod, keeping my expression blank. The last thing I want him to see is how desperate I am.

"Before I give you anything," I whisper, "I need to know the truth. Will Haden's essence really fix the veil? Or is this just another way for the Corps to sacrifice Azren?"

Finn leans forward, his elbows on the table.

"I swear to you, Noelle. It can work. The essence is powerful enough to seal the fractures if used correctly. But I'm not going to lie to you. My superiors... they don't care about doing it cleanly. They just want results."

I stare at him, searching his face.

"Why are you helping me?" I ask. "What's in it for you?"

Finn exhales slowly, rubbing a hand over his jaw.

"To be honest... I was demoted. Someone else is commander now. A man named Vesper. He's cruel, ambitious, and beyond greedy. He sees Azren as nothing more than fuel for his own selfish desires. If I can bring the essence and prove we can do this without killing your husband, I might be able to stop what they're planning."

Before I can respond, the café door opens with a loud chime.

A tall man with a large, jagged scar running from his left temple down across his cheek walks in. His presence sucks the air out of the room. He's dressed in a crisp black suit, moving with the confidence of someone who knows he owns everything he sees. His cold grey eyes land on our table.

Finn tenses instantly.

The stranger approaches with a smug, lazy smile.

"Well, well," he drawls, his voice dripping with mockery. "If it isn't the disgraced Commander Finn, still trying to cut corners and play hero."

Finn doesn't stand. "Vesper."

The scarred man stops beside our table, looking down at me like I'm an interesting insect.

"And you must be the golden wolf everyone's whispering about." His smile widens. "Noelle, right? Such a pretty little thing. Tell me, are you here to hand over the essence like a good girl, or are you going to make this difficult?"

I clench my jaw, fury rising hot in my chest.

Vesper chuckles, clearly enjoying my reaction.

"Stay out of the way, Finn," he says without looking at him. "This is bigger than your little redemption arc." Then his eyes slide back to me, cold and cruel. "As for you... I suggest you prepare your funeral clothes, darling.”

Rage detonates through me so fast I see red.

I stand up slowly, staring him dead in the eyes.

"You touch my husband," I say, my voice trembling with fury, "and I will burn everything you treasure to the ground. That's a promise."

Vesper's smirk falters for half a second. Then it returns, looking meaner.

"Feisty. I like that." He leans in slightly. "We'll see how long that fire lasts when we carve the Light out of you."

He turns and walks out without another word, the bell chiming mockingly behind him.

I sink back into my seat, my heart pounding while my hands shake with anger.

Finn looks at me, his eyes wide.

"Noelle... you just threatened the new commander of the Werewolf Corps."

I look at him, my voice cold and steady.

"Good. Let him know I'm coming for him if he tries to take Azren from me."

I reach into my bag, pull out the obsidian vessel, and set it on the table between us.

"Use this to stop them," I say. "Because if you don't... I will."

Finn stares at the vessel, then at me.

For the first time, I see real fear in his eyes.

He can clearly see what I'm willing to become to save my husband. Heaven help anyone who tries to take man from me. 

Azren might be obsessed with me. But he might not know that I’m twice as obsessed with him. I’ve got nothing else to lose. Only him. My life would have ended if he wasn’t there, and if I have to lose him, I’ll make sure I’ll go with him. There’s no in between.

…

I sneak back into the penthouse as quietly as I can, my heart still racing from the café meeting with Finn and Vesper. The moment I step inside, the warm, earthy smell of herbs hits me. It's comforting and medicinal at the same time.

My steps slow as I enter the bedroom. The sight that greets me makes me freeze in the doorway.

Danika is sitting on the edge of the bed, gently feeding Azren soup from a bowl. He's propped up against a mountain of pillows, looking pale and exhausted but letting her take care of him without complaint. Kaziel sits in the armchair nearby, watching them with a soft, tired smile on his face.

Guilt crashes over me right away.

My first instinct is to panic and apologize ‘I'm sorry, I wasn't here, I should have been taking care of him,' but before I can say a word, Azren looks up and sees me.

His tired face lights up with the cutest pout I've ever seen. He lifts one hand weakly toward me, his fingers opening and closing like a demanding baby.

I rush over immediately, dropping to my knees beside the bed. His hand finds mine and squeezes gently.

"Tell Mum the soup is too bitter," he mumbles, his voice hoarse but playful. "She's trying to poison me."

Danika gasps in mock offence. "Azren Lakewood!"

Kaziel bursts out laughing, the warm, genuine sound filling the room and making my chest feel lighter.

I smile despite everything, squeezing Azren's hand.

"I'm so sorry," I say, looking between Danika and Kaziel. "I wasn't here when you came. I had to step out for a bit and—"

Danika waves her hand gently, smiling at me with so much warmth it makes my eyes sting.

"You don't have to apologize, sweetheart. We know you're doing everything you can. Sit. Please."

Azren tugs my hand, still pouting. "Stay with me."

I laugh softly and lean in, pressing a quick kiss to his lips. He hums happily against my mouth, clearly milking the attention.

"I can make breakfast," I offer, standing up. "Something better than bitter soup."

Azren immediately whines, reaching for me again like a clingy child. "Nooo... don't leave. Stay."

I can't help laughing as I kiss him once more, longer this time. When I pull back, I take the spoon from Danika and taste the soup myself.

"Oh... yeah, that's really bitter," I say, wrinkling my nose.

Azren gives his mother a triumphant "See?" look while Kaziel laughs again, shaking his head.

Blood rushes to my cheeks as I realize how domestic and ridiculous this all feels, especially with me tasting soup while my husband pouts like a spoiled prince, his parents watching us with fond amusement.

Danika smiles softly at me, her eyes warm.

"You two are adorable," she says. "Now sit down, Noelle. Let me finish feeding this big baby before he starts complaining again."

Azren leans his head against my shoulder with a contented sigh as I settle beside him.

For a moment, everything feels almost normal.

But deep down, the weight of what Finn told me and what I still haven't told Azren sits heavy in my chest like a stone.

I press another kiss to the top of his head and try to push the fear away.

Right now, I just want to take care of my husband.

Azren’s phone rings out, and I reach for it, my eyes widening when I see the bloodstains on it.

Tears well up in my eyes. Did he have another coughing fit while I was out?

Oh no…

“Who is it?” Azren rasps, and I gulp.

“C-Cameron.”

“Answer the call for me, Angel.”

I nod, desperately blinking back my tears as I answer the call and set it on speaker.

“Alpha?” Cameron sounds shaken.

Azren stiffens, a frown creasing his brows. I move the phone closer to him.

“Cam? What is it?” Az asks, his voice so badly wrecked, he can’t speak loudly.

“It’s Jake. He was…kidnapped.”

The little colour on Azren’s face drains.

“What? When?”

“He’s here…he managed to escape, but he discovered something new,” Cam says, and Azren exhales shakily, leaning against me.

His mother holds his hand, squeezing gently as she exchanges a worried glance at her husband.

“What is it?” My husband croaks. “What did he find out?”