CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER 38: DROP DEAD.

Azrael was halfway to dragging a hand through his hair when Eryx finally spoke, his voice even and calm, but sharp enough to slice through the leftover tension.

"Does a normal wolf attack someone out of the blue?" Eryx asked, his dark eyes steady on Azrael. "Because last I checked, wolves don’t just... snap like that without reason except if it’s a mad one."

That earned silence. Even Theo, who usually had a snark cocked and ready, tilted his head, actually listening.

Azrael’s jaw tightened. "What are you implying?"

"That it wasn’t just some random drunk who wandered into our street races," Eryx replied smoothly. "Because according to Theo, the way he moved. The way he fought. That wasn’t sloppy. That was... deliberate."

Rhydric grunted in agreement. "He wasn’t trying to scare you off. He was testing you."

Theo whistled low, then leaned back against the wall with his hands behind his head. "So what you’re saying is, we didn’t just beat up some drunken idiot with bad aim. We beat up someone with a death wish and probably a plan."

Eryx didn’t smile. "Exactly."

Azrael’s eyes flickered, red bleeding faintly into blue before he forced it down. "Then what the hell was he after?"

"Maybe you," Rhydric said bluntly. "Or maybe all of us."

Theo smirked, though there was an edge beneath it. "Wow. Love being a target. Really gives my mornings a little spice."

Azrael finally dragged that hand through his hair, teeth gritting. "You’re all overthinking it. He was reckless. I dealt with it."

"No," Eryx corrected, calm but firm. "You nearly lost yourself in it. That’s not ’dealt with,’ Azrael. That’s playing with fire."

Theo couldn’t resist. "Yeah, except in your case, it’s more like drowning in your own personal water hell. Fire would be less dramatic."

"Shut up, Theo," Azrael growled, but againthe bite was weaker, the venom already worn thin. He ran a frustrating hand through his hair.

Rhydric leaned forward slightly, tone heavy. "You can’t brush this off. Wolves don’t just show up like that. If one did last night, others might follow."

"And next time," Eryx added, "you might not be able to hold your beast back."

Azrael’s eyes cut to him, sharp and cold. But instead of firing back, he just exhaled harshly through his nose, muttering, "Fuck."

Theo grinned, arms wide. "And there it is. Our fearless brooder admitting it’s bad. You heard it here first, boys."

Eryx actually smirked a little this time. "He’ll never admit it twice."

"Which is why I’m savoring this moment," Theo declared dramatically. "Let me frame it. Put it on the wall. ’Azrael said fuck’, like the actual fuck that meant ’fear’ Iconic."

Azrael groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose again. "I hate you."

Theo’s grin widened. "Nah. You’d be dead without me."

The hallway buzzed with chatter, lockers slamming, sneakers squeaking on the polished floor. Felicia hooked her arm through Athena’s, practically bouncing at her side as if the gossip in her chest was too explosive to keep in.

"You are not ready for what I’m about to tell you," Felicia announced dramatically, lowering her voice even though her eyes glittered with mischief.

Athena shot her a flat look. "You always say that. Half the time it’s just about who bought what brand of perfume."

Felicia gasped. "Excuse me? This is next-level, Athena. We’re talking scandal." She leaned closer, eyes darting left and right like the walls had ears. "Rumor is... Mr. Meadow is fucking students."

Athena stopped walking. "What?" Her brows shot up, her voice dripping with disbelief.

Felicia nodded hard, curls bouncing with the movement. "Yep. And I don’t mean like, maybe. I saw him once, kissing a girl in his office. Tongue and everything."

Athena narrowed her eyes. "Wait. Are you talking about the chemistry teacher?"

Felicia pointed at her with a triumphant finger. "Bingo. Mr. ’I’m so professional, tuck in your shirts, don’t run in the lab’ yeah, that one." She said all in on breath, dramatic as ever.

Athena’s lips parted in shock, then curved into the faintest smirk. "Wow. The man who lectures us on safety goggles can’t keep it in his pants."

Felicia clutched her chest dramatically. "Right?! And here I thought he only got hard for the periodic table."

Athena choked on a laugh, biting her lip to keep her composure. "You’re insane."

Felicia grinned wickedly. "No, no, listen. You should’ve seen it. I was walking past, minding my own business, well, actually, I was sneaking cookies from the cafeteria but that’s not the point and his office door wasn’t locked. I peeked in, and boom! Lips locked, hands everywhere. I almost dropped my cookie, but guess what? I love it too much to drop it"

Athena raised a brow, folding her arms. "So you’re sure you weren’t hallucinating from too much sugar?"

Felicia swatted her arm. "Don’t play me, Athena. I know what I saw. And I’m telling you, if word gets out? This school is going to combust."

Athena tilted her head, considering. "Or maybe it’ll get swept under the rug like everything else."

Felicia groaned, tossing her head back dramatically. "Ugh, why do you have to be so realistic? Can’t you just enjoy the gossip like a normal teenager?"

Athena smirked again. "Because one of us has to keep you from starting a riot."

Felicia grinned, eyes sparkling. "Fine. But admit it, you’re a little curious which student it was."

Athena’s silence said enough.

Felicia gasped and leaned closer, whispering like she was telling state secrets. "What if it was someone in our year? What if it’s someone in our class? Imagine the drama. Imagine the blackmail opportunities."

Athena rolled her eyes, but her lips twitched upward. "You’re dangerous."

"And you love me for it," Felicia sang, skipping a little as they continued down the corridor.

The hallway was still alive with noise laughter bouncing off the lockers, sneakers squeaking against the floor, gossip weaving between conversations.

Then the atmosphere shifted.

It was subtle at first, like someone dimmed the volume knob on life itself. Laughter thinned. Footsteps slowed. Heads turned. The noise didn’t vanish, but it warped, dropping to whispers, then to murmurs, until the sound of lockers clicking shut echoed too loudly.

The students began to move as they began clearing way until the once-crowded hallway stretched wider, emptier. A hush followed, heavy and anticipatory.

Felicia froze mid-sentence, her voice dying in her throat. Athena felt her friend’s grip tighten around her arm. "Oh no," Felicia muttered, eyes wide as she glanced toward the far end of the corridor. "They’re coming."

Athena frowned. "Who?"

She didn’t need the answer.

The Phantom Four stepped into view.

They didn’t storm the hallway. They didn’t smile, smirk, or even look at anyone. They simply walked, yet it was enough to rearrange the air itself.

Azrael led the way. His presence was suffocating, shoulders squared, his gaze set forward as though nothing, not the crowd, not the whispers existed in his line of vision. His aura rolled ahead of him like a silent wave, and it made the fluorescent lights overhead seem too bright, too sharp.

Beside him strode Rhydric, sharp-featured, expression cold enough to freeze every stare that dared linger too long. His brows arched faintly, his posture perfect he didn’t need to command space. Space bent for him.

A step behind came Eryx, his red hair catching the dull light, hands shoved into his pockets like he hadn’t a care in the world. His stride was easy, lazy almost, but every move carried the sharpness of someone who knew eyes were locked on him.

And Theodore, he walked like the hallway was his stage, his cold nature was back and right now he looked the coldest among all.

Together, they moved like four shadows cut from a different world, stepping into this one as if it were theirs by birthright.

The air thickened. Students barely dared to breathe. Not a giggle slipped now only hushed murmurs, the kind that spread like static.

Athena’s feet slowed without permission. Her throat tightened. Her pulse stumbled.

Shameful, shameless memories flooded back, Azrael’s lips dragging fire down her neck. Rhydric’s cold mouth on her thighs. Eryx’s red hair brushing her skin as he touched, teased. Theodore’s weight at her back. She’d imagined it all, too vividly, too wildly. She’d let herself drown in it, and she’d loved every desperate second.

Her chest ached with guilt. She had Oliver. His hands. His warmth. His steady presence. And yet, here she was, heart skipping at the sight of them, body betraying her with the memory of desires she never should’ve indulged.

She clenched her fists. Her jaw tightened. Stop it, Athena.

Felicia’s nails dug into her sleeve. "What are you doing?" she hissed, panic slipping into her tone.

Athena blinked, brows knitting. "What?"

Felicia’s head whipped toward her, face pale. "Move. We have to step aside."

Athena scoffed, sharp and loud enough that a few nearby students flinched. "Step aside? For who? They’re students. Just like us."

Felicia’s expression crumpled. "Athena, you don’t..."

But Athena was already walking forward.

The corridor seemed to shrink around her as whispers sharpened, eyes widening, bodies pressing even harder against the lockers to watch. Her pulse raced, but her chin stayed high, her pace steady.

Every step she took toward them screamed defiance. Toward the untouchable. Toward the silent storm that everyone else bowed to.

The looks students were throwing at her could kill. It was a miracle she hadn’t drop dead.

Athena didn’t stop. Didn’t slow. She cut straight through the thickened air as if it didn’t matter who they were or what they made her feel.