I sag into one of the seats at the back of the stage with a sigh as Mom, Uncle Alex, Ryna, Gino, Tony, and the Crescent warriors come up to the stage.“Cassia is still being guarded?” I ask Uncle Alex.“Yes, they’re taking her back to the house,” he says.I stretch as I try to fight exhaustion. “I need to go and organize the conference room, then I’m going to talk to Catherine,” I tell them as I stand, a yawn escaping me.“Athena, no. You’re exhausted. It’s been a long 24 hours, and you need rest,” Mom pleads with me, trying to get me to sit back down.“I need to do this, Mom. I need to know how she got here and if she’s working with anyone,” I tell her as I start to walk to the side door.“Don’t worry, Mrs Argos. We won’t leave her side,” Leah says, as the Crescent warriors follow me.“Alpha Athena!” someone calls out, and I turn to find Alpha Pollux walking over.“You don’t have to call me Alpha yet, Alpha Pollux. But I appreciate what you said today,” I say as I bow my head with re
‘Alpha, can you please meet us in the conference room?’ Leah mind-links.‘I’ll be right there,’ I respond, leaving the bunker with Uncle Alex, Ryna, and Tony.As we get outside, most of the crowd has dispersed, and things seem to have calmed down. At least I thought it had until we reach the conference room and hear arguing inside.“Tony, take Leah and update the Luna Guard and Crescent Warriors on what’s happening. We will meet shortly to go over the plan for tonight,” I tell him.“Yes, Alpha,” he says, and he and Leah leave.I open the door and find Beta Castor yelling at the Elders.“How do we know that you’re not one of the Elders involved in this? You’re probably just covering your ass!”Before Elder Laskaris can respond, I answer for him. “I can assure you, Beta, that Elder Laskaris is on our side. He was the one that told me there was a prophecy.”“We vouch for him too,” Luna Rachel says.“With all due respect. Luna, but I don’t know you,” Beta Castor says, earning him a growl
‘We’re almost to the river. Felix should be here somewhere,’ Dad mind-links.I slow down as we come to the river, and I see Felix step out from behind a tree and bow his head to me. “Everything is clear. The pack house is two miles northeast from here,” he says, then shifts.I nod my head and motion for everyone to follow.‘Is Catherine behaving?’ I ask Harry, who is guarding her in case she tries anything.‘She seems nervous.’‘Keep her close.’‘Yes, Alpha.’Felix slows down, and we take position behind trees and bushes as the secret pack house comes into view. There are men patrolling outside, and I can see they’re carrying guns.I shift back and turn to the group, who all shift back as well. “They’re carrying rifles,” I whisper. “We all need to be extremely careful. Those bullets are probably laced with wolfsbane that can stop us from shifting and healing.” I explain. “Felix, were they carrying weapons last night?”“No, they were unarmed.”“Something doesn’t feel right,” I say. “I
“Alpha! We have to go!” someone yells as they grab my arms and pull me to my feet. “They’re coming back!” They yell, and I look around absently as my body shuts down from the shock.“Athena!” someone else yells and then slaps me across the face.I shake my head, and my eyes focus on Ryna as he shakes my shoulders. “He’s gone,” I croak out.“I know, honey,” he says softly. “But we have to go. We have to get everybody to safety,” he says, and I look back at our group as they help the chosen into the woods.I see Andreas unconscious on the ground, and I’m brought back to reality. “Let’s go,” I say, taking one last look at the blazing fire.As I turn to run to Andreas, I see movement in the tree line behind the barn, making me stop. “Enyo, is that…?”She stops howling and focuses on what I’m looking at and then growls. ‘DEREK!’“RYNA!” I yell, and he runs back to my side, and I point to Derek in the distance. “IT’S FUCKING DEREK!”“THAT FUCKER!” He yells and shifts.“TONY! GET EVERYBODY T
I push Andreas through the front doors, and we find the Crescent Warriors waiting for us. They all kneel before me, and then Mitch and Noah stand.“Alpha, we’re here to escort you and your mate to the ceremony,” Mitch says.Noah comes and stands beside me, and says, “Let me, Alpha.” And takes the handles of the wheelchair.I nod and stand next to Andreas and hold his hand as we all walk towards the pack hall.When I try to go towards the pack hall doors, Tony says, “We’re not going to the pack hall,” and they lead us past it, to the field behind it.I gasp as I look around. There are fairy lights everywhere, providing a peaceful glow over the field, with the pack surrounding a makeshift stage in the middle of the field. The warriors lead us toward the pack, and everyone moves to the side, making a pathway and kneeling as we pass. When we get closer, the warriors stand to the side and surround the stage as Mitch and Noah lead us up a ramp, where Elder Laskaris and the remaining Elders
“Let me help you get him up the stairs,” Tony says when we get to Mom’s house.“Thanks, Tony, I appreciate it,” I tell him.We both help Andreas out of the wheelchair and slowly help him up the stairs to my room. We help him sit on my bed, and Tony walks out of the room without saying anything.“I’ll be back in a minute,” I tell Andreas, and he gives me a smile and nods.“Tony, wait up,” I call out as I get to the hallway.“What’s up, Alpha?” He says shortly.“Are you okay?” I ask, placing my hand on his arm.“It’s been a long week,” he sighs. He then looks past me at Andreas and asks, “Will you be okay?”“I’ll be fine.” I smile. But Tony just nods, looking extremely unhappy. “Are you sure you’re okay?”He looks at me and gives me a weak smile as he places his hand on my cheek and caresses it with his thumb. “As long as you’re happy, then I’m happy,” he whispers, then walks downstairs and outside.I sigh and go back into the room, closing the door behind me.“He cares for you,” Andrea
I sit up with a start when I roll over and realize the bed is empty. “Andreas?” I call out.“I’m here, Athena,” he says, and I look over to find him standing in the bathroom doorway.“Are you okay?” I ask as I push the blankets off and rush over to him.“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you. I needed the bathroom, but I didn’t have the energy to get back to bed.”“You should have woken me,” I say, worried, as I take his hand and help him back to bed.“I should be taking care of you, not the other way around,” he says as he lies back down in bed.“That’s so last century,” I say, rolling my eyes as I climb back into bed as well.“I didn’t mean it like that. I mean, I know you’re hurting, and I wish I could do something to take your pain away,” he says as I snuggle into his chest again. “You were calling out for Alex in your sleep,” he says sadly.“Oh,” I whisper.“You started calling him dad?”“Yeah, just yesterday,” I say sadly. “I wish I’d started calling him dad sooner.”“You had a speci
Once everyone who can be is seated around the conference room table, I start the meeting.“Thank you all for coming. Is there anything anyone wishes to bring up before we discuss things?”Alpha Pollux clears his throat. “Beta Castor and I will be leaving soon, but I just wanted to thank you, Alpha Athena. We wouldn’t have gotten out last night if it wasn’t for your mind-link.”“What do you mean?” I ask.“We all got out in time because you mind-linked us to get out of the pack house,” he explains.“I’m sorry, I’m confused. Are you talking about the mind-link I sent out to the warriors?” I ask.“Alpha, we heard it too. You mind-linked everyone in the house,” Beta Castor says.“That’s not possible,” I say. “We can only mind-link with our own pack.”“I heard it too, Alpha,” Lauren says.I look at Andreas with a shocked expression. “Maybe you can mind-link the chosen,” he says.“I heard it too,” Noah says, and everyone in the room gasps.“Try me, Alpha,” Elder Laskaris says.I close my eye
The early morning sun peaks over the surrounding mountains, spreading its warmth over our territory, but I don’t feel it. My breath is ragged as I run hard through the forest. Low-lying branches smack my face as I go past them, but I feel nothing. My only focus is to get to the lake. The lake will calm me before this rage swallows me whole.I finally see it in the distance, the lake that Enyo and I used to soak in after practice. Back when everything was right in the world. Before Daddy was murdered. Before I knew anything about the chosen.I don’t slow as I get closer. Instead, I brace for impact as I dive towards the ice covering the body of water. Enyo’s large, heavy body breaks through, and the iced water takes my breath away as I slowly sink to the bottom. I let the freezing water cool my heated body; the rage releasing from my body and my mind slowly clearing.I can hear shouts from above the water, but I ignore them. As the rage fuelled fogginess leaves my mind, I’m hit with a
“Alpha! Alpha, can you hear me?”I groggily open my eyes and see Leah hovering over me.“Alpha, thank the Goddess,” Leah says with a heavy sigh. “Don’t move, Doc Apollo is on his way.”I grab the back of my head, and I feel that my hair is wet. I look at my hand, and it’s covered in blood.“What happened?” I ask, lifting my head slightly and looking around.“You fell down the cliff side after the rogue charged you,” she explains.I look to my left and up the cliff side. “I’ve been saying for years there needs to be a railing put up there,” I say with a groan and try to sit up.“Please don’t move, Alpha. You fell a long way.”“I see that. But I’ll be okay,” I tell her, sitting up. Then I remember the reason I was in the forest. “Where’s Catherine?” I ask, panicked.“Gamma Michael and Gamma Cole have her in custody,” she explains.“And the other rogue?”She says nothing but looks behind me. I turn and see a young boy, his neck clearly broken from the fall. “Shit,” I grumble. “How did you
“Everything looks wonderful, Melanie,” I compliment her as I look over all the decorated tables outside of the pack hall.“Thank you, Alpha,” she says happily. “I hope you like everything inside, as well.”“I know I will,” I tell her with a big smile.She smiles back and bows before heading off to attend to her duties. Andreas comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist, nestling his nose into the crook of my neck. “I can’t believe we pulled this off.”“The pack has worked hard. I’m so proud of everyone.”I see Rich and Noah in the distance, with the Cresent Warriors, and Michael and Beta Castor behind them. I take Andreas’s hand and walk over to them, wanting to keep the conversation away from others. “Still nothing?” I ask, disappointed.“I lost their scent on the other side of the mountain,” Beta Castor says with a frown.“Leah stayed at the Cabin in case she’s stupid enough to go back there,” Tony says.I nod. “We’ll pick up the search again in the morning,” I tell them.
“How is the feast coming along?” I ask Melanie, the pack’s head cook.“Everything is coming along nicely, Alpha. I’ve ensured there’s plenty of food for both packs, with extras.” She says with a proud smile.“You’ve done amazingly, Melanie. If there’s anything you need help with, please speak with Gino,” I tell her.“The Omegas are all taking care of everything, Alpha. They’ve been very helpful, as always.”“I’m proud of all of you,” I tell the rest of the Omegas and they all smile and bow their heads.“Alpha, I need a word with you,” Leah says from the kitchen door.“Of course,” I tell Leah. “Please excuse me, Melanie,” I smile at her.She bows her head and returns to her work, and I follow Leah into the dining room, where I find Rich and Noah waiting.“What can I do for our Epsilons today?” I ask with a smile.“We have a report from our border patrol, Alpha,” Rich says.“There’s been a sighting of a couple of rogues hanging around our borders,” Noah explains.I stiffen. “From the pa
Three hours laterWe watch as fight after fight ends, and the defeated warriors fill the sidelines of the training field, joining the rest of the pack in cheering and enjoying the spectacle.We watch Michael closely as he defeats opponent after opponent.“He hasn’t lost any of his strength,” Cassia says, and I think I see something flash in her eyes, but whatever she was feeling quickly disappears when she notices me staring at her.“Or his viciousness,” Ryna adds.“Nothing wrong with some viscousness in your Gamma, Beta,” Harry says.“As long as it’s towards our enemies...” Gino mumbles.I focus back on Michael as he defeats another warrior, trying to ignore the guilt I feel from Gino’s comment.“Maybe you should have just named him Gamma, Alpha,” Tony says. “He has the advantage of being a born Beta. I don’t think anyone will beat him.”“It is looking that way. But maybe that will earn him back some of the respect he lost.”“Doubtful. But we’ll see,” Ryna says.“Cole could give him
As I walk towards Ryna’s house with Andreas, I can’t help the pounding of my heart as I think of my best friend never forgiving me.I feel Andreas squeeze my hand tightly, and I give him a small smile as we climb the steps of Ryna’s small cottage. I take a breath as we approach the door and knock.Gino answers the door a few moments later, and I’m engulfed with the anger he feels as it radiates from his body.“He needs time, Alpha.” He says shortly.“I understand, Gino. But there are pack matters that need to be attended to,” Andreas says when I don’t say anything.“I will make sure that all pack matters are dealt with,” Gino responds, his glaring eyes never leaving mine.I swallow the lump in my throat and finally find the words I want to say. “I’m not here about pack business,” I say, my voice coming out as a squeak. “I came to apologize for everything that happened yesterday.”“It’s going to take more than apologies, Alpha,” Gino says angrily.“I know, but I can only start there.”
The Next DayAthena P.O.VI try to roll over, but I’m being held in place by Andreas. I kiss his arm and say, “Time to wake up, my love.”He groans and hugs me tighter. “No, thanks.”I laugh and try to roll over again. “If you squeeze me any harder, Andreas, I’m going to pee.”“Fiiiiiine.” He releases me with another groan before rolling onto his back and rubbing his eyes. “We can’t stay in bed,” I say as I get up and go into the bathroom. “We have way too much to do in the next few days. We still haven’t questioned the others we captured with Leon the other night. We have to get the pack house sorted out…”“I knooooow,” he says with another groan, cutting me off before I repeat the seemingly never-ending list of things we need to do.I giggle as I finish up and wash my hands before turning the shower on. I hear Andreas come up behind me, so I turn around and wrap my arms around his neck with a kiss.He smiles into my lips before kissing down my neck to my mark. He leaves a chaste kis
Somewhere nearby…I’m flung across the room as my connection to the Alpha is broken.“Master! Are you okay?” Alyria asks, running over and taking my arm.I look down at her bony hand on my arm, then at her. I glare at her and slap her hard across the face.“HOW DARE YOU TOUCH ME!” I bellow at her.“I’m sorry, Master.” She whimpers, holding her cheek.“GET ME THE WITCH! NOW!” I yell at her, and she gets up from the ground and scurries from the room.“What happened, Master?” Wren asks from the corner of the room.“Her wolf broke the connection,” I explain angrily, standing and brushing off my clothes.“How? I thought the witch said she’d be locked away in the Alpha’s mind?”“I don’t know!” I yell at him, and he shrinks back in fear.“You called for me, Sir?” the witch, Elizabeth asks as she enters my office.I stalk toward her angrily. “You told me the wolf would be locked away in the Alpha’s mind. So would you care to explain to me how the wolf was able to break my connection to the Al
“MURDERER!” someone screams, and everyone falls silent, turning to where the scream came from. “Karla,” I whisper, my body suddenly shaking. She looks weak and sickly, her eyes red from crying. “WHY DID YOU KILL HIM?” she screams again, and I see Cassia running towards her. “Karla, why don’t we go back inside?” Cassia says softly, taking her arm. “DON’T TOUCH ME!” Karla shouts, pulling her arm out of Cassia’s grasp. “I WANT TO KNOW WHY SHE KILLED MY MATE!” The pack members begin whispering and pulling their kids behind them. “Karla, please, why don’t we go inside so we can discuss this,” Andreas says, taking a step towards her. He takes my hand to walk with him, but my feet won’t move. I’m frozen in place. No words are forming in my mind as I stare at the woman whose mate I killed with my bare hands. “Athena?” He says, looking back at me. “I… I…” I stutter out, but nothing else comes. “ANSWER ME, YOU FILTH!” Karla spits out, and Enyo growls. There are gasps and more whispers