Deadly Nightshade MXMXM

XXVII

Azrael sat rigidly at the table, his emotions simmering just beneath the surface.
The Alpha's earlier words still echoed in his mind, each one a barb that deepened the wound inside him. He struggled to maintain his composure, but the anger was like a fire, smoldering and threatening to blaze out of control.

The tension in the room was palpable, and the presence of the twins at either side of him did nothing to soothe his frayed nerves. If anything, their silence only made him feel more isolated, more adrift in this strange and hostile environment.

As the meal progressed, the two omegas Aiden and Lyle began to whisper among themselves.

Their voices were soft, just loud enough for Azrael to catch snippets of their conversation. Every word dripped with condescension and malice, their eyes flicking toward him with thinly veiled amusement.

"Look at him," Aiden murmured to Lyle, his voice low but carrying enough for Azrael to hear. " sitting there like he belongs. Does he even know where he is?"

Lyle chuckled softly. "I doubt it. Poor thing probably thinks he's special just because the twins brought him here."

Aiden leaned closer, his tone sweet but sharp. "It's almost sad, really. He doesn't even realize how out of his league he is."

Azrael's hands clenched into fists beneath the table, his nails digging into his palms. He could feel the anger rising within him, hot and fierce. But he forced himself to stay calm, to keep his expression neutral even as their taunts cut deep.

"What do you think, rogue?" Lyle asked suddenly, his voice loud enough to draw the attention of a few nearby pack members. "Do you think you have a chance with them?"

Aiden snickered, leaning in with a smirk. "Or maybe you think you can take our place? Sorry, darling, but we're already promised. There's no room for someone like you."

Azrael's breath came faster, his heart pounding in his chest as the rage built up inside him. The twins remained silent, their eyes forward, as if the conversation didn't concern them at all. This only made Azrael feel more alone, more vulnerable. The anger and hurt twisted together into something dark and uncontrollable.

Lyle tilted his head, his smile widening. "You should just leave, you know. Go back to wherever you came from before you get hurt."

The final straw came when Aiden leaned toward Azrael, his eyes gleaming with cruel delight. "Or maybe you should just crawl back into whatever hole you came from. It's clear you're not wanted here."

Something inside Azrael snapped. The anger, the pain, the feeling of being unwanted—it all collided into a single, blinding moment of rage. Before he knew what he was doing, his hand shot out, grabbing the table knife beside his plate.

With a swift, almost effortless motion, Azrael hurled the knife across the table.
It sliced through the air with a deadly whistle, embedding itself in the wooden chair just inches from Aiden's head. The omega's smug expression vanished, replaced by a look of shock and fear.

Azrael leaned forward, his voice cold and sharp as a blade. "You see how I purposely missed? Very demure, Very mindful.

Next time, I won't miss " he hissed, his eyes locked onto Aiden's. "And it will be your pretty face that gets to decorate my blade."

Aiden paled, his breath hitching as the reality of Azrael's threat sank in. For the first time, the omega looked genuinely afraid, his earlier bravado crumbling in the face of Azrael's fury.

Lyle shifted uncomfortably beside him, his confidence faltering as he realized just how serious the situation had become. The tension in the room was thick, the silence heavy and oppressive as everyone held their breath, waiting to see what would happen next.

The Alpha's chair scraped against the floor as he stood abruptly, his eyes flashing with anger. He glared at Azrael, his voice cold and commanding as he spoke. "Enough!"

The room seemed to hold its breath as the Alpha's gaze bore into Azrael, his displeasure evident in every line of his face. "I don't care who you think you are, or why my sons brought you here," the Alpha continued, his voice low and dangerous. "But you will not bring violence into my home."

Azrael's heart pounded in his chest, but he met the Alpha's gaze with a defiant glare of his own. He didn't back down, didn't apologize. The anger still simmered within him, too raw and too powerful to be easily quelled.

The Luna, sensing the growing tension, quickly intervened. "Aiden, Lyle," she called out, her voice warm and welcoming as she turned her attention to the omegas. "Why don't you come sit closer? It's been too long since we last saw you."

The omegas, clearly eager to escape the situation, quickly moved to the seats she indicated, away from Azrael. The Luna smiled at them, her eyes kind as she greeted them by name, as if nothing had happened. "It's so good to see you both again," she said, her tone genuinely warm. "I've missed having you here."

The tension in the room eased slightly at her words, the pack members slowly returning to their meals. But the Alpha's eyes remained fixed on Azrael, his displeasure still palpable. "Keep your temper in check, boy," the Alpha warned, his voice barely above a growl.

Azrael didn't respond, his jaw clenched tight as he forced himself to stay silent. The anger still burned inside him, but he knew better than to push the Alpha any further. He was already skating on thin ice, and the last thing he needed was to be cast out entirely.

The meal continued, the atmosphere strained and uncomfortable. The omegas, now safely seated beside the Luna, whispered and giggled among themselves, occasionally casting smug glances in Azrael's direction. The twins remained silent, their faces unreadable as they ate, offering no comfort or support.

Azrael's mind raced, a whirlwind of emotions as he struggled to keep his anger in check. He felt out of place, unwelcome, and every glance from the other pack members only reinforced that feeling. But beneath the anger was something else—something more painful. The realization that no matter how close he thought he had gotten to the twins, he was still an outsider in their world.

And as the Alpha's words echoed in his mind, Azrael couldn't shake the nagging fear that maybe, just maybe, they were right.

The meal dragged on, each minute feeling like an eternity. Finally, when it was over, the pack members began to disperse, the tension in the room slowly dissipating as they left. But Azrael's anger remained, simmering just beneath the surface as he stood to leave the table.

Before he could make his exit, the Alpha spoke again, his voice cold and dismissive. "Keep this thing under control " he said, not even bothering to look at Azrael as he spoke. "And stop parading them around for everyone to see. You've been betrothed to the omegas for a reason, to strengthen our alliance. Don't forget that."

Azrael's blood boiled at the Alpha's words, but he forced himself to stay silent. The last thing he needed was to make things worse.