MasukNOELLE I figured I'd ease Azren's mind by helping his father recover. So here I am, back in the Lakewood mansion, making my way to my father-in-law's room. Danika keeps smiling at me. I think she's the cutest."Come in," she says as she opens the door.I hesitate at the door, feeling awkward. I mean...it's their bedroom. Probably the place where Azren was conceived. The thought makes my cheeks heat up.The room is dimly lit, curtains drawn to keep it peaceful. Kaziel lies propped up against a mountain of pillows, looking pale but alert. Danika moves over to sit beside him on the edge of the bed, one hand gently resting on his arm."Noelle," Kaziel says, his voice still strained but carrying that familiar strength. "I'm surprised you decided to visit so suddenly."I offer a small, nervous smile and move closer to the bed."I wanted to help," I say softly. "If I can. I... I think I might be able to speed up your recovery. Fully."Danika's eyes widen slightly, but she doesn't in
NOELLE I know exactly what he means. The veil. The ultimatum. The two-week countdown hanging over his head like a blade.My chest caves in, but I refuse to let it show on my face. He needs me to be steady for him.So, I wipe my tears quickly with the back of my hand, forcing out a soft smile even though my heart is splintering."You're not going to lose me," I whisper, leaning down to press my lips to his knuckles, one by one. His skin is still too hot, but I hold his hand tight. "And I'm not going to lose you either, Azren. We're going to fight this. Together. I won't let them take you from me."He watches me with those glassy, exhausted eyes, something raw and desperate flashing there.I keep smiling, even as everything inside me screams."We have assignments to work on," I say, brushing his damp hair back from his forehead. "You promised to help your wife, remember? No backing out now, Mr. Lakewood."A tired, crooked smile tugs at his lips. "A deal is a deal."I beam, settin
NOELLE I watch Azren's face carefully after I tell him everything that happened with Cooper yesterday.For a long second, Azren's expression stays completely blank. But I can feel it.His skin which is already too hot against mine, grows even warmer. The fever is rising again, fast. The runes on his chest pulse brighter under the robe, angry and red.My heart slams against my ribs.I throw my arms around him tightly, burying my face in his neck before he can lose his shit."Azren, please," I whisper desperately, my voice shaking. "Don't get angry. Not right now. You're still burning up. I can't watch you hurt again. Please."He stays rigid for another second. Then a long, exhausted sigh leaves him. His arms slowly come around my waist, holding me close even though his body is trembling with the effort."I'm not angry at you, Angel," he murmurs against my hair. "I think... the voice you heard was your wolf. She's waking up. She doesn't like him near you. That's why she reacted."
AZREN The pain hits me the moment I regain consciousness. It's a deep, skull-splitting throb that makes my head spin even before I open my eyes. My throat is raw, burning with thirst. My body feels heavy, like it's been dragged through hell and back."Noelle..." I rasp, my voice barely audible.I try to sit up, but the room sways dangerously. A strong hand immediately presses against my back, steadying me."Easy, Alpha."Jake.I blink slowly, trying to focus. He's sitting on the edge of the bed, one arm wrapped around my back, supporting my weight. A glass of water appears in front of my lips."Drink," he urges.I gulp it down greedily, water spilling down my chin. It soothes the fire in my throat but does nothing for the pounding in my head."What the hell are you doing here?" I mutter, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. I can barely recognize my voice.Jake snorts softly. "Your wife refused to leave your side. She looked ready to fight me when I suggested she let you have
NOELLE I stiffen in Azren's arms, not pulling away. "What did she say?"He exhales shakily, his burning forehead resting against my temple."Haden... he's an anomaly. Just like me. Except, his blood carries the kind of ancient potency that can seal the veil. It's strong enough to fix the fractures permanently."Hope rears up weakly in my chest, but something in his tone kills it before it can grow."But he's missing," I whisper. “Isn’t he?”Azren's grip on me tightens."No," he says, his voice unsteady. "Scratch that. He's not missing. He has the ability to switch bodies. Just like Nyxara."I pull back enough to look at him, blood draining from my face. "He can... what?"Azren's eyes are glassy with pain, the runes on his chest still glowing under the cold spray."He's been jumping from body to body. That's why we can't track him. We don't even know who he is right now."My mind spins. "Then how are we supposed to find him? How are we supposed to get his blood if he can just—"
NOELLE The rest of the day drags by in a haze. I sit through the final lectures in a fog, nodding at Blue when she whispers something about the hunters on campus and nodding at Blair when she chatters about the pool party. I keep glancing at my phone. I turned it back on after the fight, but the screen stays blank. No messages. No calls. Nothing from Azren.Every time I close my eyes, I see his face in that corridor. And the hurt in his eyes… I can’t get it off my mind.By the time the last class ends, I'm practically vibrating with the need to fix this.I grab my bag, mutter a quick goodbye to Blair, and hurry towards the exit. All I can think about is getting home, apologizing, crawling into his arms and telling him I didn't mean to hurt him.The penthouse is too quiet when I burst through the door."Azren?" My voice echoes off the marble. But I get no answer whatsoever.I check the kitchen, the living room, and our bedroom. The bed is still made from this morning. His coat is
NOELLE "Let me try," I utter softly, my heart pounding.The blond looks up at me. He searches my face for a moment, then he nods slowly."He needs to keep it down for at least ten minutes," he says. "If he vomits—""I know." I swallow hard. "Can I have a moment alone with him? Please."Jake
NOELLE There's blood on his face. That's the first thought that hits me. My gaze travels down to his chest. He's wearing a white button-down. Therefore, the red stains are unmistakable. My heart is still hammering in my chest from the nightmare I just had. Waking up to Azren's side of the bed be
NOELLE Azren leans in and rests his head on my shoulder, his dark hair tickling the side of my neck. He's not asleep yet, but he's close. I can tell. I lift my hand without thinking and thread my fingers through his hair, stroking gently behind his ear. He lets out a low, contented sound tha
NOELLE Hours later, the door shuts behind Azalea and their mother, Danika. Apparently, they had somewhere important to go and couldn't wait to hang out with me soon. She had insisted that I call her, like we were already family. And now, the penthouse suddenly feels too small. Too full of him. A







