AT THE SAME TIME
MICHAEL
The room tilted. Not literally, but it felt like it. Charlie's soft little laugh hung in the air like bells, and suddenly Adrian, Terrence, and Xavier were… circling. That was the only word for it. Circling like predators around fresh prey. Adrian moved first, of course. Always the golden one, always the charming one. He stepped close to Charlie, voice honeyed, smile too polished.
"Well, aren't you…" Charlie's eyes gleamed as though the words themselves would crown him king. "…a vision. No wonder the Goddess speaks your name."
Charlie tilted his head, cheeks pink, giggling softly. Adrian leaned in a fraction too close, golden hair falling perfectly like it had been planned that way. My stomach churned. Then Terrence cut in with his storm-grey intensity, tossing Adrian a glare sharp enough to draw blood.
"Pretty words won't protect him." Terrence growled. "He needs someone strong. Someone who can stand when everything else falls." His hand brushed Charlie's shoulder, deliberate.
Charlie blinked at him, wide eyed and… gods, smiling. Smiling like he didn't notice the storm brewing around him. And then, of course, Xavier. Silent, calculating Xavier, who never wasted a move. He stepped closer with that smooth, predator grace, dark eyes narrowing like he was already building futures in his head.
"Strength is nothing without wisdom." Xavier murmured, low and silken, his fingers brushing
Charlie's wrist as if sealing a bargain.
"And the Goddess would never waste her true chosen on brutish carelessness." He said.
The three of them stood around him like vultures dressed as princes, and Charlie just smiled at each one of them like sunshine poured directly into a body. And me? I was two steps away, Zavier's hand still locked around mine, heart pounding loud enough to drown out the room.
Rose noticed. Oh, she noticed. Her emerald eyes snapped to me, lips curving into a sharp, knowing smile. She didn't look at Charlie once during it, her gaze stayed on me, green fire cutting through the air like she knew exactly what game I was about to play.
"You're quiet, Michael." She said sweetly, almost mocking. "Isn't this what you wanted? The return of the saint omega?"
My chest tightened. My wolf stirred. Heat rose sharp and furious in my veins. I thought I'd fold, thought I'd sink into myself, let them circle their precious star while I hid. But the second Adrian leaned too close, the second Terrence's fingers lingered, the second Xavier tilted his head like he owned the damn boy, something inside me snapped. A growl ripped out of my chest. Low. Dangerous. Omega deep. The kind that made even Selene's head whip toward me in shock. The kind that made Adrian freeze mid charm, Terrence's storm falter, Xavier's fingers jerk back. Even Charlie's bright eyes went wide. I stepped forward, pulling Zavier with me like my anchor, my claim. My wolf burned hot, mark throbbing, voice sharper than claws.
"Don't touch him."I snarled.
Silence. Thick and crushing. Charlie blinked, confusion flickering across his soft features. Rose's smile widened, sharp as a blade, like she'd been waiting for this exact spark. Selene… she looked furious, of course, her lips parting like she'd scold me for daring to interfere with destiny itself. But Zavier, Zavier leaned closer, silver eyes glowing, a low rumble in his chest as he pressed his hand firmer into mine. His wolf sang back to mine, a storm answering fire.
"They don't listen, little wolf." He murmured in my ear, soft enough that only I heard. "So show them."
And I did. My wolf surged, heat spilling into the hall like lightning cracking stone.
"He's not mine." I snapped, glaring at Charlie even as his golden eyes softened. "But I'm not about to let you-" I swung my gaze to Adrian, to Terrence, to Xavier, one by one. "-turn him into your toy while pretending I don't exist."
The Goddess's laugh rang in my head, bright, delighted, echoing through my bones.
"Ohhh, Michael." Her voice purred, dripping amusement. "Silver fire indeed. This is far more fun than I imagined."
Zavier's arm slipped fully around my waist now, dragging me against him, bold, protective, a claim so obvious it silenced even Adrian's perfect tongue. Charlie tilted his head slowly, then smiled at me, sweet, soft, like he wasn't offended at all.
"You're funny." He whispered, and for a terrifying second, I thought he'd lean in too.
But instead, he pressed a hand to his chest and laughed, soft and bright.
And Rose? Rose clapped once, emerald eyes glinting with wicked delight.
"Well." She said, smirking at Selene. "This just got interesting."
I'd barely finished growling when Charlie slipped free of the three idiots circling him and made a straight line toward me. Toward me and Zavier. His silver hair caught the torchlight like threads of moonlight, and his golden eyes were so open, so stupidly bright I almost had to look away. He stopped just a breath in front of me, hands clasped behind his back, rocking on his heels like we were childhood friends and not strangers tangled in prophecy.
"You're Michael, right?" His voice was soft, bell like. Too sweet. Too innocent.
My jaw tightened.
"…Unfortunately."I said.
He gasped, like I'd given him a gift.
"I knew it! The Moon told me about you." His smile stretched, eyes glittering. "She said you were fiery. And perfect."
"Perfect?" I blinked, thrown off balance.
"Yes!" He beamed like it was obvious, bouncing slightly on his toes. "Absolutely perfect."
I stared. Zavier growled low in his chest, silver eyes narrowing like he was debating ripping the words straight out of Charlie's mouth. Adrian shifted uncomfortably. Terrence's jaw clicked. Xavier looked like he was calculating a hundred ways to strangle someone quietly.
"Perfect." I repeated, flatly, because maybe if I said it like that the universe would stop spinning.
Charlie turned his head toward Rose, practically glowing. "He is, isn't he? Absolutely perfect."Charlie asked.
Rose's emerald eyes slid lazily to me, then to Zavier's hand around my waist. Her lips curved into a smug little smile, sharp and knowing. And then she nodded. Slowly. Deliberately. Like the saintess herself had just stamped her approval on my forehead. I nearly choked.
"What, what does that even mean?"I asked.
Charlie giggled, actually giggled, like a child told a funny secret.
"Exactly what I said. You're perfect."Charlie said.
My wolf huffed, half flattered, half irritated, and I knew the heat in my cheeks betrayed me. Zavier's grip on me tightened like he'd strangle the word 'perfect' if it dared repeat itself. The others, well, Adrian looked ready to argue, Terrence looked ready to break a chair, and Xavier's stare could have sliced steel. But Rose? Rose just kept nodding, eyes glittering like she was enjoying the show more than any throne she'd ever sit on. And I, I was stuck in the middle, blushing, glaring, and deeply, deeply confused.