ATHENA'S POVMy body convulses, and a guttural scream tears through the air. Unbearable heat seared through my veins, as if a thousand fiery needles puncture my skin simultaneously as his nails dug in my arms to hold me still.Nate's grasp tightens, restraining my thrashing form. In this agony-fueled haze, I glimpse his elongated canines, ominous in the dim light. A primal instinct warns me of the impending bite. Panic grips me, but I can't break free from his vice-like hold.As his teeth sink into my neck, a searing wave of pain radiates from the point of contact. It's an unrelenting torrent, consuming my senses and drowning me in torment. The world blurs as my vision flickers with flashes of anguish.“No!” I screamed, trashing in his hold, but all my attempts were futile. The drug was in its complete effect and I could hardly move my limbs, let alone fight him. The only thing that I could do was scream. Which I doubted could reach anyone because all the walls of Moon Stone pack were
XAVIER'S POV"Damn it, Cameron! Two days and still no sign of Athena. You claim you have searched every corner of our territories, questioned every wolf, and followed every lead. Where the hell is she?" I slammed my fist on the desk, frustration and worry knotting my insides.Cameron shifted uncomfortably, his eyes avoiding mine. "Alpha, I've scoured the entire area, questioned neighboring packs, and even checked with the supernatural community. There's no trace of her. It's like she vanished."I shot up from my chair, pacing the room. "Vanished? She wouldn't just disappear. Someone took her, and I'll rip them apart when I find out who."Cameron sighed. "We're doing everything we can. The pack is on high alert, patrols are increased, and we're gathering information. We won't rest until Athena is back with us."I glared at him, the anger boiling within me. "Doing everything? It's not enough. I can't stand not knowing where she is, not being able to protect her. She's my mate, damn it!"
ATHENA'S POVMy eyes fluttered open, and an immediate surge of pain shot through every fiber of my being. The world around me spun in a disorienting blur. Attempting to move, I found my body resisting, muscles protesting with a fiery ache that reverberated through me. I fought against the urge to groan.The creak of a door broke through the haze, drawing my attention. Nate entered with relief marking his face."You're awake," he breathed, a mix of exhaustion and concern coloring his voice. Instinctively, I flinched away, unable to reconcile his familiarity with my fractured memories.He approached cautiously, worry in his eyes. "Easy, Athena. You've been out for over 48 hours. I was starting to think..." He trailed off, leaving the unspoken fear lingering in the air."48 hours?" I croaked, the effort to speak sending a shiver of pain down my spine. Confusion clouded my mind as I struggled to grasp the gravity of his words. "What happened?"Nate's gaze softened as he took another step
AUTHOR'S POVThe dense forest loomed around Nate, Ned, and Athena as they ventured deeper into the mystical realm where the enigmatic witch resided. The air crackled with an otherworldly energy, setting an ominous tone. The trio approached a clearing, and stepped into a coven where a cloaked figure awaited them – Althea, an old friend of Ned.“Finally here I see. I thought you guys wouldn't show up.” Athena's eyes narrowed on the witch's figure before her eyes traveled back and forth between her tied hands and Nate. “Why have you brought me here?” She panicked knowing something was off. Things weren't right. Especially the way she was backed by Nate and Ned like she would try to escape the place any moment. There was no doubt the thought did cross her mind. But being so weak and carried by Nate for most of the way, it was impossible she could run her way back. It was like the forceful marking had drained the life out of her. “Relax girl. I don't do well with high pitch voices!” The
AUTHOR'S POV Xavier, accompanied by Cameron, Colby, Devon, and his fierce warriors in their wolf forms, tore through the underbrush with a singular purpose – to reach the Moonstone pack and find Athena. The urgency in Xavier's steps mirrored the rage that fueled his every move. It was Nate who had taken Athena, and Xavier's determination to rescue her burned like a wildfire within him.As they neared the outskirts of the Moonstone pack territory, the guards emerged from the shadows, forming a human barricade before the intruders. “Stop right there. You cannot enter without permission by the Alpha. Xavier's wolf’s eyes blazed with a lethal intensity. He didn't have time for this bullshit. Without a moment's hesitation, he launched into a merciless assault, taking down one of them guards. It was a signal for the rest of them to attack after their Alpha. Bones snapped beneath his powerful claws as he plowed through the guards, a silent promise echoing in the air that Nate would pay fo
AUTHOR'S POVXavier took Athena to the pack doctor immediately with concern etched across his face as he witnessed the witch’s ordeal. The pack doctor efficiently examined her, tending to the scratches on her skin. The air in the room held a mixture of relief and tension. As the doctor finished her examination, she turned to Xavier with a stern expression."You should have taken better care of her, Aloha," the she scolded, her tone laced with authority. "Especially considering she's pregnant."Xavier's eyes widened in shock, breath catching in his throat. He couldn't believe what he just heard. Pregnant? The revelation left him breathless, and he struggled to comprehend the magnitude of the news. The doctor continued explaining, “Luna is four weeks along. Otherwise she wouldn't have been so weak to even stay conscious for a little while, especially after the mysterious magic the witch had cast on her. She's showing signs of recovery, but she needs more time and extra care."“Is the p
XAVIER'S POV “She ran away.” “What?” I bolted up from my position as Athena continued to give me a confused look. She didn't know that Scarlet was in the dungeons. “How the fuck did she get out?” “I have no idea, Alpha. As per your orders, Colby and I were dragging the witch to the dungeons when we saw the two guards dead on the ground, with their neck cut open and blood oozing out of it. The doors to the dungeons were open and there was no sign of Scarlet. Anywhere,” Cameron finished, looking at his feet. My pulse quickened as I bolted out of my room, the door slamming shut behind me. Anger surged through my veins, a fiery torrent fueled by Scarlet's audacity. I stormed through the dimly lit corridors, my heavy boots echoing off the stone walls.Cameron's warning resonated in my mind, and as I neared the dungeons, a foreboding tension gripped my chest. The stench of dampness and mildew filled the air, but beneath it lingered the unmistakable metallic scent of blood. My pace intens
XAVIER'S POV “Scarlet never was your real mate.” my eyes narrowed at the old man in front of me.“What the hell do you mean?” My voice came out heavier than I intended. Panton sighed before speaking. “Scarlet was never your mate to begin with. Well, not at least the real one. She used a potion by a strong witch, covering her scent and changing it to make you feel drawn to her.” “But how is that even possible?” I frowned, not believing what he was saying. “In the world of witches and wizards, everything is possible. She was given a task by her lovely brother. To get close to you. To find out all the ins and outs of the pack. Every strength and every weakness that you possess. And that could have been only possible if she stuck to you like a mate would. I never got good vibes from her. But once during a trip, I saw her heading towards a coven hidden in the woods. She was trying to be discreet obviously. But not that successful in it.” What the hell was even happening here? Magic cou
ATHENA'S POV“Is everything ready?” I asked Oneka as I fixed my hair. Honestly, I curse the day I decided to take the matters of planning this whole event myself. Xavier was right, I should have just hired an event planner. “Relax, Athena. You seriously worry too much. Everything is under control.” “I hope so,” I sighed, giving a little twist to the lock of my hair that was framing my forehead before finally giving myself an overview in the mirror. “Here, fix your lipstick a bit.” Oneka handed me the shade I was wearing and I blushed remembering why it needed to be fixed. Of course, Xavier barged in a few minutes ago, as soon as I got my makeup done and kissed the living shit out of me because he said, and I quote ‘You don't expect me to behave when you deprive me of yourself for too long.’ I didn't even take that long to get ready, to be honest. But who can get anything into the thick head of the big bad Alpha. “Are the kids ready?” I sat on the bed to put on my heels. “Yeah. I
ATHENA'S POV“Are you sure you want to do this?” I held Oneka's hand into mine, giving it a gentle squeeze. She had gone through a lot. Suffered a lot. Cameron betrayed each and everyone of us in the worst way. But the impact it left on Oneka, was compared to no one else. The heartbreak, the pain she felt was unlike any other person who was connected to him from the pack. She sighed, her hands shaking ever so slightly that if I wasn't holding them, I would have missed the action. “I'll…” her voice cracked before taking a deep breath. “I'll be fine, Athena. I've known Pi for way longer than I've known Cameron. I think with Cameron, it was just never meant to be. Being with Pi, I think, just comes naturally. It's like I'd never had to try to be myself with him. Looks like I was just in denial or a fool to realize it, when everyone around us literally teased us about being a couple.” She smiled sadly, her eyes holding gratitude for the guy who supported her throughout her life, nonethe
ATHENA'S POV The rain drummed relentlessly against the window pane, each droplet echoing the emptiness within me. I sat perched on the edge of my bed, my gaze fixed on the somber scene outside, where the world seemed to blur into shades of gray under the heavy downpour. It was as if the heavens themselves were mourning alongside me, shedding tears that mirrored the desolation in my heart."Athena?"Oneka's voice pierced through the silence, pulling me back from the abyss of my thoughts. I turned my head slightly, acknowledging her presence without uttering a word. She entered my room with a tenderness that only she possessed, wrapping her arms around me in a sideways embrace."It's time," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the sound of the rain. I felt the weight of her words, the gravity of the moment pressing down on me like an anchor dragging me beneath the surface of an unfathomable sea.Tears traced silent paths down my cheeks, betraying the numbness that had engulfed
AUTHOR'S POVThe witch's heart raced as she sprinted and burst into the clearing where Alpha Xavier stood, a primal fear gripped her soul, her words stumbling over the weight of their significance.Behind her, the haunting echoes of the coven's chants faded, drowned out by the urgency of her mission."Alpha Xavier! Athena. She..." The witch faltered, her voice trembling with the weight of unspoken dread.Xavier's eyes narrowed, his posture tense with a primal instinct to protect his mate at all costs. "What? What happened to Athena?" His voice crackled with raw emotion, the air thick with the palpable fear of impending loss.Her voice of reason, interjected, words laced with desperation. "Your pup is giving Athena a hard time. We need to operate... like right now."Xavier's mind raced with the cruel reality of the situation, his thoughts a whirlwind of despair and determination. "But that's not possible. We don't have any doctors with us, and she is in no condition to be moved. It wil
XAVIER'S POVMy hurt twisted, not being able to fathom the fact that I was so close to losing everything in my life. Let me rephrase that. I was close to losing my life. That's what I felt currently knowing that my mate and my pup were fighting for their damn lives in that closed coven. And all I could do was wait. And stand like a fool, be of absolute no help. “She'll be alright,” A voice broke me out of my thoughts. I turned around to see it was Maggie. “She’s a fighter. I know she will get through this.” I felt a pang in my heart seeing her like this. In one flesh. Unlike my mother. “No one gave you the right to speak to me. Just because you are not dead right now, doesn't mean you can talk to me. I'm the Alpha of my pack.” Instead of getting scared like she was earlier in my choke hold, she had the audacity to smile. It was a sad one. But nonetheless. It was a smile. A one I hated seeing. She doesn't deserve to smile after putting my mother in misery. “You're just like him. You
Author's PovIn a dimly lit chamber illuminated by flickering candlelight, the witch stood over her cauldron, the air heavy with the scent of herbs and incense. The atmosphere was tense, fraught with the weight of impending fate. The witch's gnarled fingers danced with precision as she added ingredients to the bubbling liquid, her movements both fluid and deliberate.Glancing towards the couch where Athena lay, pallid and still, the witch's heart clenched with sympathy and regret. The last Arctic Wolf on earth lay motionless, her breath shallow and pulse weakening with each passing moment. The witch knew the gravity of the situation; if the potion failed, there would be no hope left to preserve this majestic creature, nor to propagate her species for generations to come.With a resolve born of desperation, the witch quickened her pace, the liquid in the cauldron simmering with an otherworldly intensity. Each ingredient added was a whispered plea to the forces of nature, a plea for Ath
XAVIER'S POVShe did it again. The light blinded us all as the wind gushed past our figures, slicing the silence with a heavy rustle forcing us to close our eyes to prevent them from catching dust that was suspended around us. It took a few seconds, maybe even minutes for everything to settle down and return back to normal when I was finally able to see again. My warriors who were not killed by the beasts, stood alive with some scratches and gashes. Oneka was held by the vampire guy who intervened. Scarlet stood out of the picture, sheltering Maggie behind a cover of bushes. She was here all this time? Why didn't she take part in the fight alongside her brother? Cameron lay dead on the ground. Cameron….My heart ached at the thought that he out of all people went against my back.My eyes fell on Cyrus, his body split into two like his other beast army. And then my heart technically bursted out of its ribcage when I saw Athena's wolf passed out on the ground. Not moving an inch. “Fuck
AUTHOR’S POVAs the dust settled and the echoes of Athena's radiant display faded into the ether, Cyrus rose from the ground, his form shrouded in a veil of malevolent fury. Dusting himself off with a disdainful flick of his hand, he surveyed the battlefield with a cold, calculating gaze. Anger churned within him at the sight of his decimated beast army, their once formidable ranks now reduced to a pitiful few, whimpering on the ground in the throes of death. The rest of them, already split into two.The remnants of Xavier's werewolf army, though shaken by the onslaught, stood resolute, their spirits undaunted by the chaos that surrounded them. With steely determination, they rallied to their leader's side, their resolve unbroken by the specter of defeat.Everyone was shaken by the recent events but none had the idea of what it was. Or how it happened. "Enough!" Cyrus's voice thundered across the battlefield, a declaration of defiance amidst the chaos of war. With a swift motion, he
Author's PovThe battlefield seethed with chaos, a maelstrom of clashing, roars of defiance, and the acrid scent of blood and sweat. Athena and Nate surged into the heart of the conflict. Nate, his primal instincts awakening, transformed into his lup wolf, a magnificent and formidable wolf, his muscles rippling with the promise of ferocity.As they charged forward, the clash of armies reached its crescendo. Cyrus directed his gaze toward Athena. With a swift motion, he unleashed a bunch of silver bullets aiming to blind the very hope that rallied her allies. Not before putting a few into Xavier's wolf which lay limp before his feet. He immobilized him, each silver bullet piercing through flesh and bone, shackling Xavier in a web of agony. With a final shot, Cyrus aimed directly at Athena, his malevolent intent a venomous whisper in the tumult of battle. “Let's get this over with.”Time slowed to a languid crawl as Nate, attuned to the impending danger, watched with a primal urgency. W