Chapter 9: I Hate You

Azerbel’s Point of View

I couldn't move.

Not after what I had just done.

My eyes stayed on him.

On the blood.

On his face.

On his shirt.

It was real.

Too real.

I bit my lip.

My chest rose too fast as I watched the wounds close.

Slowly.

Then completely.

Like they had never been there.

But the blood remained.

And so did the truth.

I hurt him.

My fingers trembled.

The tips of my nails were still stained red.

Anyone could see it.

Anyone could say I attacked him.

And if that happened...

everything would fall apart.

This party.

The treaty.

The fragile peace everyone was trying so hard to protect.

It would all break.

Because of me.

My breathing grew uneven.

Too fast.

Too shallow.

The thought alone made my stomach twist.

What if this led to another war?

What if more people died...

because of what I just did?

"Azerbel?"

Genaro's voice cut through my thoughts.

Closer now.

"Are you okay?"

I didn't answer.

I couldn't.

My vision blurred.

Tears filled my eyes.

Then they fell.

One after another.

I didn't even try to stop them.

It felt wrong.

I should have been the one apologizing.

The one asking if he was okay.

He was the one I hurt.

But here I was...

falling apart in front of him.

"Hey... what happened?"

He crouched down in front of me.

His voice changed.

Softer.

Confused.

Like he had no idea what to do with this.

"What's wrong with you?" he asked.

A small frown appeared on his face.

"I'm the one who got hurt, remember?"

I shook my head.

But no words came out.

Everything inside me was tangled.

Fear.

Guilt.

Anger.

Pain.

All crashing into each other.

Too much.

I had been holding it in for days.

Pretending I was okay.

For Skylar.

For Luna Lorraine.

Because I didn't want them to worry.

Because if I broke...

they would hurt too.

But seeing their worried faces these past few days...

hearing their careful voices...

trying so hard to be strong...

it only made things harder.

I couldn't carry it anymore.

Everything I had been holding back...

broke at once.

A sob slipped out before I could stop it.

Then another.

My shoulders shook.

I hated this.

Hated crying.

Hated feeling weak.

Hated that I couldn't stop.

"Gosh..." Genaro muttered.

He ran a hand through his hair.

Looking completely out of place.

Like he would rather fight a hundred enemies...

than deal with one crying girl.

Like this was the last thing he expected.

"I don't know what to do with you," he said under his breath.

Then he went quiet.

Thinking.

Like he suddenly remembered something.

Before I could react...

he pulled me into him.

A hug.

Sudden.

Awkward.

But firm.

I froze.

For a second, I didn't move at all.

No one had ever done this before.

Not like this.

Not without hesitation.

Not without asking.

Only Guerero...

He was the only one.

But this...

this felt different.

Genaro's arm stayed around me.

Steady.

Warm.

Strong.

His hand rested against my back.

Grounding me.

And somehow...

it quieted the noise in my head.

Just a little.

I didn't want to feel it.

Didn't want to admit it.

But for that brief moment...

standing in his arms...

I felt safe.

Guerero had always been lean.

Strong in his own way.

But Genaro...

he was different.

Bigger.

Broader.

When he held me, it felt like I was completely surrounded.

Like nothing could reach me.

It should have felt wrong.

But it didn't.

And that unsettled me the most.

For a moment...

it felt real.

And that thought brought Guerero back.

Sharp.

Painful.

He used to hold me like that.

Used to make me feel safe.

And now...

he was giving that same comfort to someone else.

The thought twisted inside me.

Tight.

Unforgiving.

While I stood here...

lost.

Confused.

Alone.

"There, there..." Genaro said quietly.

His hand moved against my back.

Slow, awkward pats.

Like he wasn't used to comforting people.

When my crying finally stopped, he seemed relieved.

Like he thought he had fixed the problem.

But the truth was...

I had simply run out of tears.

The night outside was still alive.

Music.

Laughter.

Voices.

But here...

in this narrow alley...

everything felt still.

Too still.

All I could hear was my breathing.

And his.

And how close we still were.

He hadn't let go.

Not even now.

"You can let go," I said at last.

My voice came out rough.

Unsteady.

I tried to pull away.

This time...

he let me.

Slowly.

I stepped back.

My dress brushed against the ground.

Dirty now.

Ruined.

But I didn't care.

Not tonight.

"Where are you going?"

His voice followed me.

Low.

Watchful.

I didn't answer.

I just turned and started walking.

Fast.

Toward the end of the alley.

Away from him.

Away from everything.

But I didn't get far.

He caught up easily.

Of course he did.

His steps were longer.

Stronger.

"Don't follow me," I said quietly.

I kept walking.

But he stayed beside me.

Like a shadow I couldn't shake.

"If I don't follow you," Genaro said,

"then you'll come with me."

Before I could react...

his hand closed around mine again.

Firm.

Unavoidable.

And just like that, he pulled me out of the alley.

Back into the light.

Back into the noise.

The crowd closed around us again.

People talking.

Laughing.

Watching.

Too many eyes.

Too much attention.

My chest tightened.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked.

This time, I couldn't hide it.

The panic in my voice.

I could already feel it.

People were starting to look.

Genaro alone drew attention.

And now I was beside him.

This was the last thing I needed.

"It depends," he said.

He glanced at me.

A small smile played on his lips.

Too calm.

Too confident.

"We can go to the party."

He paused.

Then added,

"Or you can come with me to the council and explain what you did."

My breath caught.

His tone didn't change.

Still relaxed.

Almost lazy.

"Choose carefully, Azerbel," he said.

"I know you're smart."

My heart started racing again.

Fast.

Uneven.

I stopped walking.

"Are you threatening me?" I asked.

My voice came out sharper than I expected.

Fear and anger tangled together.

Genaro didn't hesitate.

"Yes."

Simple.

Direct.

No hesitation.

I stared at him.

Certain he was joking.

He wasn't.

"You attacked the Lycan Alpha," he said.

Still calm.

Still holding my hand.

"If I wanted to make trouble, I could."

The words hit me hard.

Because he was right.

He could.

And he knew it.

I clenched my jaw.

"I hate you."

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

For the first time that night...

Genaro laughed.

Low.

Soft.

Almost surprised.

Then he looked at me.

Really looked at me.

And smiled.

"Good," he said.

"That means you'll keep thinking about me."

My heart skipped.

Not because of his words.

But because I suddenly realized something terrifying.

The Lycan Alpha wasn't angry that I hurt him.

He was enjoying himself.