CHAPTER 78: CHAPTER 77: WOULD YOU RATHER I SHUT YOU UP WITH IT.

Azrael was the only thing that made sense right now. His voice, his composure, his quiet presence, it grounded her when everything else felt like a nightmare.

Still, something deep inside whispered that he wasn’t safe either.

That under that gentle face and smooth tone was the same darkness she saw in Rhydric.

The same beast.

Azrael made her sit down on the edge of the bed, the mattress dipping under her weight. Then, to her surprise, he crouched down one knee on the floor, the other bent so he could look up at her properly.

The gesture made her chest tighten. He smiled faintly, though she could tell something was off. "You’re trembling," he murmured. "Take a breath."

Athena exhaled shakily, her eyes flicking over his features. "Why are you smiling?" she asked under her breath, almost accusing.

"Because," he said with a soft chuckle that could make a woman wet. "you look too cute when you’re trying to act brave."

For a brief second, she almost smiled back but then she caught herself. There was nothing cute about this. Nothing about tonight made sense. And she was going crazy already.

Across the room, Eryx rolled his eyes so hard it almost made a sound. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, trying not to look in their direction. The sight of Azrael kneeling before her, their faces close, was enough to make his jaw tick.

Theo stood nearby, silent, but his sharp eyes missed nothing. Rhydric, however, hadn’t moved since she woke. He stood behind them, his hands clenched at his sides, his jaw tight. His gaze never left her and that alone made her pulse quicken.

Azrael cleared his throat, dragging her attention back to him. "Athena," he began carefully, "I don’t want you to take what we’re about to tell you to heart, alright?"

Her brows drew together. "What do you mean?"

He hesitated for a moment, glancing over his shoulder at Rhydric. Then he sighed, returning his focus to her. "You’ve seen him," he said, pointing subtly toward Rhydric.

Athena’s chest tightened. Her eyes darted to Rhydric instinctively, and the memory hit her all over again the claws, the gold eyes, the blood. The monster.

Her breath caught, and she looked away immediately.

Azrael’s voice softened. "What you saw few hours ago wasn’t an illusion," he said. "It wasn’t a dream or a trick."

Athena blinked at him, the words barely sinking in.

"That’s the truth," he continued quietly. "Rhydric is what you saw. We all are."

She stared at him, her expression blank as if her mind refused to process it. "what?"

Azrael hesitated only a moment before saying it. "Werewolves."

The word seemed to hang in the air, heavy and unreal.

Athena just stared at him, her lips slightly parted, her breathing shallow. She didn’t even know how to react laugh? scream? run? Her mind couldn’t decide.

She blinked a few times, her throat tight. Then, almost in a whisper, she asked, "You too?"

Azrael’s eyes softened, and he looked away briefly before nodding. He reached for her hand resting on her lap and placed his over it, his touch gentle. "Yes," he said quietly.

Athena nodded slowly, eyes darting sideways as if trying to piece together the impossible. Then she looked back at him, meeting his calm, blue gaze.

Her voice was quiet, trembling. "Now that I know about you guys... are you going to kill me?"

The question hung in the air like smoke.

No one spoke for a second.

Then Theo answered, his tone dry, calm almost unbothered."More like wipe your memory."

Athena’s head snapped toward him, eyes wide. "What?"

Theo lifted a shoulder as if it was nothing. "It’s not as bad as it sounds.."

"Theo," Azrael cut in sharply, his voice low with warning.

Theo lifted his hands in surrender, muttering something under his breath.

Azrael threw him a sharp glance before returning his attention to Athena, his expression apologetic.

Meanwhile, Eryx didn’t say a word. He just watched the two of them, Azrael and Athena so close, their hands touching, her gaze fixed only on him.

His blood simmered.

He didn’t know why it bothered him so much, but it did.

He looked away, jaw clenched, and ran a hand through his hair as if trying to shake off the heat rising in his chest.

Across from him, Rhydric’s grey eyes flickered briefly to Eryx.

Meanwhile, nobody noticed the anger in Athena’s eyes. Her chest rose and fell sharply, her pulse racing in her ears. Her eyes locked on Theo.

"What do you mean by wipe my memory out?" she asked, her voice calm but dangerously thin. She couldn’t keep it in any longer.

Theo didn’t even flinch. He leaned back slightly, his arms still crossed, eyes dark and unreadable. "Exactly what it means," he said flatly.

Athena scoffed, a disbelieving laugh escaping her lips. She stood up so fast Azrael’s hand slipped from hers. He stayed kneeling, watching her with quiet concern as she marched toward Theo. She better not piss Frost off.

She stopped right in front of him, her chin raised high. "What did you just say?" she demanded again, her voice trembling now not from fear, but from anger burning through her veins.

Theo’s eyes flickered with something close to amusement, but he didn’t move. "I said what I said."

Athena clenched her fists. "You think because you’re what? A werewolf or whatever you are, that I’m supposed to fear you?" She tilted her chin higher, her green eyes sparking with challenge. "Then you’re delusional."

The air seemed to shift. Eryx’s eyes narrowed slightly, Azrael rose slowly to his feet behind her, but Theo... Theo only smiled faintly.

He leaned forward just a little, enough for his voice to drop lower, colder. "Do you know what happens to humans who find out about us?"

Athena’s heartbeat stuttered, but she didn’t look away.

"They die," Theo said simply, his tone disturbingly calm. "And if we like them enough..." he paused, his gaze sweeping over her face, "...then we wipe out their memories."

Her breath caught.

"You should be glad we haven’t killed you yet," he finished, straightening.

For a moment, silence filled the room thick and sharp, like a knife’s edge.

Athena stared at him, her chest rising and falling rapidly. And then, she laughed not out of humor, but disbelief. It was shaky, almost broken, but there was fire behind it.

"Glad?" she repeated, her voice cutting. "You think I should be grateful that you haven’t decided to kill me like some kind of sick charity?"

Theo’s jaw tightened slightly, but he said nothing.

Athena took a step closer, her voice rising. "You think your secret makes you some kind of god? That you can decide who lives, who dies, who forgets? What gives you that right?"

Eryx shifted his weight beside the wall, watching her with dark, unreadable eyes. Azrael frowned, a hand half-raised as if to calm her down, but Athena wasn’t done yet.

"You talk about killing and wiping memories like it’s nothing," she hissed. "But I saw that thing tear a man apart right in front of me. I saw the blood, the heart." she faltered, her voice cracking, "and now you’re telling me I’m the problem?"

Theo’s expression hardened, but there was a flicker in his gaze not guilt, not pity, just that quiet predator stillness. You’re the unfortunate one here." he said. "You were never supposed to see what you saw."

Athena stepped even closer until they were almost chest to chest, her voice barely a whisper but sharper than a blade. "And you were never supposed to exist."

The words hit like a slap even Eryx’s brows twitched in surprise.

Theo’s jaw locked. "Careful," he said lowly, almost a growl.

But Athena didn’t back down. "Or what?" she threw back. "You’ll kill me?"

The air grew tense so heavy even the sound of breathing felt loud.

"Don’t push me." Theo growl.

"Then do it...you think I give a fuck?"

The words slipped from Athena’s lips like a dare...reckless.

For a moment, no one moved. The room went still, the silence heavy enough to crack. Then Theo’s jaw twitched. Something dark flared in his eyes.

Before she could blink, he reached out and grabbed her arms, pulling her flush against him.

"Do you really want to see?" he muttered, voice low and dangerous. His breath brushed her cheek, rough, shaking and sharp. "Or would you rather I shut you up with it?"

The last word came out in a growl. His claws slid out with a soft metallic sound, glinting under the dim light. Slowly almost tauntingly, he dragged one claw along the side of her face, down to the curve of her neck.

Athena froze. Her breath hitched, her pulse stumbling violently against her ribs. God why was he touching her with that thing. She refused to move, refused to give him that satisfaction but her eyes screamed terror.

The room went silent again. The air itself seemed to hold its breath.

And that was when Eryx lost it.

For fuck’s sake, first Azrael, now Theo? His jaw clenched, anger flaring through his chest. Do they all think they can just touch her like that? Whatever point they’re trying to prove, they can damn well do it without being all over her.