Chapter 80 Embracing danger.

Chapter 80: Chapter 80 Embracing danger.

Tension brewed inside the hall as the Alphas sat on the couches, waiting for Harold to arrive and examine Eugene.

Noah remained standing near the window, buried deep in thought as everything he had learned in such a short period continued to replay inside his head. He still couldn’t fathom just how dangerous this journey was going to become now that he knew what being a Pureblood truly meant.

It was almost laughable.

All his life, he had dreamed of experiencing a supernatural world like the ones he had read about in novels. He had envied protagonists who wielded unbelievable powers and fought impossible enemies.

But now that he was living inside one...

He realized none of it was fun.

Every single day felt like another step closer to death.

He could feel their gazes resting on him.

They wanted to talk.

They wanted answers.

And strangely enough...

He wanted them too.

At least they had given him space instead of surrounding him with endless questions. Noah appreciated that because he desperately needed time to think. If he didn’t organize his thoughts now, he knew he would only end up drowning in misery.

Seriously...

Why couldn’t the male leads in these novels simply leave the protagonist alone?

He still couldn’t understand why everything had changed so drastically.

Was it fate?

The gods?

Some unknown force manipulating the story?

If it truly was the gods...

He couldn’t wait to punch every single one of them in the face before shoving them straight into the deepest pit imaginable because whoever thought placing him inside this chaotic mess deserved absolutely no mercy.

What kind of sick joke was this?

Obsessive men who had practically sworn never to leave his side.

Hidden enemies.

Life-threatening conspiracies.

A cursed body.

Maybe...

Maybe entering an asylum wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all.

At least there he might finally have some peace.

...

Actually...

No.

Knowing these people, Killian would probably check himself in too just to keep staring at him every day.

Nothing seemed impossible anymore.

As Noah remained trapped inside his thoughts, harsh breathing gradually filled the room.

The scent of overwhelming pheromones spread through the air.

His chest tightened.

He instinctively pressed a hand against it while keeping his eyes fixed outside the enormous glass window.

He desperately wanted a bath.

A long one.

For a brief second, he wondered why none of the Alphas had spoken yet.

Were they still giving him time?

He had appreciated it earlier...

But now the silence had become strangely irritating.

Say something already.

It was almost as though they had read his thoughts.

Damian slowly rose to his feet before pacing around the room, rubbing his sweaty palms together.

"The things that happened back there weren’t your fault. If you’re traumatized... come talk to us. We’ll listen."

Noah nearly scoffed aloud.

Traumatized?

Did he honestly look like a walking bottle of trauma?

If anything, after learning what Eugene had done...

He felt disturbed.

Not broken.

The fact that Eugene had fabricated an assault and nearly ruined Ashton’s life with such a disgusting accusation wasn’t something anyone should casually brush aside.

Yet everyone acted as though it was merely another unfortunate incident.

Like it wasn’t capable of destroying someone’s entire life.

At this point Noah was beginning to think almost nobody inside this academy was innocent.

Except...

His friends.

And perhaps...

The Alphas constantly hovering around him.

Even then, he wasn’t completely sure anymore.

Honestly, if this entire academy collapsed one day and burned to ashes with everyone still trapped inside...

Sorry.

Not sorry.

He doubted he would shed many tears.

"Let’s just treat his wounds and leave. I don’t really want to talk."

His voice remained quiet as he continued staring outside, focusing on something only he could see.

Damian hesitated.

He didn’t want to leave.

Not without finally speaking his heart.

Ever since what happened inside Marcus’ lodge, he had spent countless nights replaying every moment between them.

Eventually...

He reached a conclusion.

He wanted Noah.

Not because he pitied him.

Not because of gratitude.

But because somewhere along the way...

His heart had already made its decision.

"I just want to tell you something... and hear your answer."

His voice was unusually steady.

"After everything that happened at Marcus’ lodge... after your confession... something changed inside me."

He took another slow step forward.

"I kept thinking about it over and over."

His blue eyes never left Noah’s face.

"I want us."

The confession echoed softly throughout the hall.

"You make me feel things I never thought I could feel. I never believed I’d share this kind of connection with anyone."

His hand slowly curled into a fist.

"Even my curse reacts whenever you’re around."

A bitter smile appeared.

"It stirs my emotions... my darkness... everything."

He inhaled deeply.

"I want you, Ashton."

"And I won’t leave this place until you finally see me as someone worthy of standing beside you."

The moment Damian bent his knees, preparing for another dramatic proposal...

Noah immediately stopped him.

"Wait."

Damian froze.

Noah looked straight into his eyes.

"Are you really sure you like me?"

His voice wasn’t mocking.

It sounded genuinely confused.

"Or is this because I helped you with your curse?"

He searched Damian’s expression.

"Gratitude and dependency aren’t the same as love."

"It doesn’t feel... real."

Damian answered almost immediately.

"They’re completely different."

His voice carried absolute certainty.

"I’m changing because of you."

"I want to be part of your journey."

"I can’t speak for the others..."

"But include me."

"I’ll walk through the deepest hell if that’s what it takes to protect you."

"I truly don’t mind."

He gently reached forward before taking both of Noah’s hands.

His fingers tightened ever so slightly.

"I’ll stay."

No matter what.

Noah lowered his eyes.

He wanted to reject him.

Maybe...

He should.

Because everything waiting ahead was terrifying.

There was no guarantee any of them would survive.

The happy ending he once expected no longer seemed possible.

Instead...

Darkness continued stretching further and further ahead.

What if accepting them only dragged them deeper into danger?

What if they died because of him?

What if every person standing here eventually regretted ever meeting him?

A bitter voice whispered inside his head.

Face it, Noah.

You were never meant to have a happy ending.

Slowly...

He slipped his hands away from Damian’s grasp.

"If you walk this path with me..."

His voice became softer.

"You might lose every chance at happiness."

"What if I’m destined to spend the rest of my life surrounded by danger?"

"What if everything around me only gets worse?"

He forced out a weak smile.

"You should leave."

"Go live happily."

"You deserve that."

Damian immediately shook his head.

"And who said I wasn’t already doomed?"

He smiled.

A genuine one.

"If you’re danger..."

"I’ll embrace it."

"With everything I have."

"If walking beside you means I can keep feeling the warmth you’ve brought into my life..."

"Then take me with you."

"I’ll never regret it."

Silence settled over the room.

Noah stared at him for several long seconds before releasing a helpless sigh.

He finally stepped forward.

Without another word...

He wrapped Damian inside a quiet embrace.

The Alpha stiffened in surprise before slowly relaxing against him.

Noah gently guided him toward the couch where the others were seated.

The moment he sat down...

Killian effortlessly pulled Noah sideways until he landed across his lap as though it was the most natural thing in the world.

Noah didn’t even have the energy to protest anymore.

Beside them, Eugene quietly leaned over before resting his head against Noah’s chest.

His voice was barely above a whisper.

"We’re all going to be okay."

"I’ll go farther than anyone if that’s what it takes to protect you."

"I think letting you go before..."

He smiled weakly.

"That was just me being a coward."

"I don’t want to repeat that mistake."

"I want to protect you."

"No matter what it costs."

"Even if I have to go beyond the limits of my magic..."

"I don’t care."

"Nothing will happen to you."

"I’ll never allow it."

His eyes slowly drifted shut as he settled comfortably against Noah’s chest.

It had somehow become everyone’s favorite place whenever they gathered like this.

For the first time since everything began...

The hall fell into a peaceful silence.

A fragile one.

But perhaps...

That was enough for now.