Page 98 of Body and Soul

My heart pounded as I stared into those cold, pitiless eyes. This wasn’t Shepherd or Dex, but someone new—someone dangerous.

I swallowed and took a wild guess. “Azreal?”

“So you know who I am. Good. Then you know what I'm capable of.” His arm pressed harder against my windpipe, threatening to cut off my air supply completely.

Black spots danced at the edges of my vision as I clawed at his arm, desperate for breath. “Please,” I choked, “I would never hurt Dex... We’re friends!”

“Lies,” Azreal hissed, his face a mask of fury. “You touched him. I saw.”

“I was... tucking him in,” I gasped, my lungs burning. “Like you... would tuck in... a little brother...”

Azreal’s lip curled in disgust. “You’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a viper waiting to strike. I see you lurking in the shadows, biding your time to sink your fangs into an unsuspecting child. I won’t allow that. Ever.”

“I’m not like that,” I gasped out. “I’m not one of them. I’m like Dex. They hurt me too.”

One of them. The words tasted bitter, dredging up memories I’d rather forget—of the cult, the things they made me do, the lies they forced me to swallow. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the images.

Azreal's grip on my throat loosened slightly. “Then what are you? Why are you here where you don’t belong?”

I drew in a ragged breath, my vision clearing as Azreal's arm eased back enough to let me speak. “I’m with Shepherd. His…his submissive.”

Something flickered in Azreal’s expression, gone too fast to read. “So you think that gives you the right to get close to Dex?”

“What? No! It’s not like that!” I was seriously pissed off. Who did this asshole think he was? “I’m not some creep trying to hurt Dex. I swear, I would never hurt him or any of you!”

Azreal's eyes narrowed, searching for any hint of deception. His grip on my throat loosened slightly, letting me suck in a breath. “You claim to mean no harm, yet you presume familiarity with Dex and us. Why should I believe you?”

I met his gaze. “Because it’s the truth, dickhead. I care about Shepherd and all of you, even if you’re being a complete asshat.”

Something almost like amusement flickered across Azreal's face before his expression hardened again. “Caring is a weakness. It leaves you vulnerable.”

“Yeah, maybe that's a risk I'm willing to take.” I jutted my chin defiantly. "I've been through serious shit, and I learned that having people who care is what gets you through. So excuse me for trying to be that person for Shepherd and Dex.”

Azreal was silent for a long moment, his dark eyes boring into mine. I maintained eye contact, refusing to look away. Finally, he released me and stepped back.

“Get out,” he said, his voice low and even.

I blinked in surprise. “What?”

“You heard me. Leave. Now.” Azreal's tone left no room for argument.

I rubbed my sore throat, eyeing him warily. Part of me wanted to tell him to fuck off, that I wouldn’t leave until I knew Dex was okay. But the cold look in Azreal's eyes warned against it.

Slowly, I edged toward the door, keeping my eyes on him. “This isn’t over,” I said stepping into the hallway. “You can throw me out tonight, but I’m not leaving Shepherd.”

Azreal's lip curled in a humorless smile. “Do what you want. It changes nothing.”

With that, he slammed the door in my face. I stood there for a moment, my heart pounding, trying to process what the fuck had just happened.

Azreal. Jesus Christ. If that’s how he protected Dex, I’d hate to see what he did to actual threats. My hand drifted to my neck, still feeling the imprint of his arm.

I needed to clear my head. I hurried to my room and changed clothes, not bothering with my shirt buttons. Grabbing my keys and phone, I stalked out, slamming the door behind me.

I stumbled out into the cool night air, taking deep breaths to calm my racing heart. My mind reeled, replaying the confrontation with Azreal. The cold fury in his eyes, the certainty I was a threat... It chilled me.

I didn’t have a destination; I just needed to move, to distance myself from the suffocating tension of Shepherd's apartment. My feet carried me down the dimly lit street, past darkened storefronts and flickering streetlights. The city was eerily quiet, the usual bustle replaced by unsettling stillness.

I shoved my hands in my pockets, hunching against the crisp breeze tugging at my hastily buttoned shirt. In my rush, I hadn’t even grabbed a jacket. Stupid. But I hadn’t been thinking straight.

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