ATHENA’S POV I woke up alone and covered in dried blood and dirt. Every muscle on my body ached and I felt like I had been run over by a truck, not to mention the headache that seemed to grow as the thought of me getting up from the position I was laying on. I was going to kill myself, to end it all and I wondered what it would have felt like if I did.. Would Nero feel guilty for pushing me to die like he wanted? Or would he celebrate? I tried to turn my body to the other side because the side I was on was killing but the move alone shot waves of pain through my body. I groaned in pain, noticing that the training ground was not only empty but dark as well. When I managed to pull myself to sit, I was already breathing hard. It was that much work. It was even worse when I had to stand on my feet. What should have taken me minutes, took me close to an hour of dragging myself to my room. I pushed the door open, and dragged myself in. Once the door was shut I walked to my wardrobe,
NERO’S POVMy heart tugged in my chest painfully as I watched Zavier have his feast of punches on Athena. As always, I had to pin whatever was making me feel that way for her down. I didn’t want to care and I hated that a part of me did.When he was done, he and I left her on the floor unconscious. It took everything in me not to run up to her and check if she was alive.But I had to remind myself that she deserved every bit of what she was getting. I was going to allow Zavier do anything he wished with her except take her.During dinner when she didn’t show, my parents questioned me on her whereabouts where I had to pretend that I didn’t know where she was. I didn’t know if they were just respecting my wishes or they just stopped caring about her, either way I was glad she wasn’t getting pampered by them anymore nor did they pester me about where she could be.Things were back to the way they were supposed to be before she came into our lives and I was enjoying it.Once dinner ended
ATHENA’S POVEveryday I woke up, there was always something I hoped would happen. It varied from time to time but there was always something.Sometimes it was that I wished I’d just die and finally be free. Other times it was me wanting to give life hell and show it just how much I could survive regardless of the shit I get thrown at me.A cry escaped my lips when Nero stepped on my fingers without a care in the world. He kept on walking even when he knew what he did but it wasn’t like I had expected any ounce of kindness from him.I wiped my tears as I stared at my hand. It was badly bruised but at least it wasn’t broken.Each time Nero did something to hurt me, my heart broke. And each time I could feel my resentment for him build up to a point where I didn’t want to be anywhere near him. I wanted to allow my hate knit my broken heart. And I did, I stopped questioning why he wouldn’t love me like I loved him.Loved, I reminded myself.I had stopped loving him, instead I was question
CHANGE OF POV PLEASE NOTE News spread across the palace walls about what Prince Nero did to his wife Athena. It wasn’t something new they had noticed but this seemed to be the peak of it all. He had pulled her from the high ranking princess she was to the position of a mere slave. For the most part, the maids pitied the young wife of the Prince. Like everyone else she fought for a mate yet he didn’t want her. Like everyone else they watched how even after she won his beloved still attacked her which resulted in her own death. And now they were watching him take out his anger on his wife, a mate he should have seen the bravery she put up defending herself. From one maid to another, down to the guards patrolling around the palace walls and its grounds words spread and soon it got to the ears of the Luna Queen’s personal maid. She too like everyone else felt terrible towards the treatment Athena was getting from Nero. Like the rest of them she wanted to keep it to herself not wanting
ATHENA’S POVI never knew that in the entirety of all the times that Nero had hated me, I would ever side with him. But here I was with tears in my eyes, nodding in agreement to what he had just said.“We all know that I would never love her. I would never get intimate with her, which means there would be no heir so why don’t you both do us a favour and end this hell hole called marriage. Because let me tell you I won’t go easy on her just because you said so. And if she dies, her blood will be on both your hands and I wouldn’t give a damn about it.”The way that he spoke and kept his eyes locked on mine, I expected to break down from it and I would have, but I didn’t. Even though every word did what they usually did best, cut through me. My broken heart was too hurt that it was numb to his words afterwards.I dropped on my knees as I continued to cry. I felt like this was my only chance to actually get them to agree to the divorce even though it was the first time in a while he was m
NERO’S POV I hadn’t felt so much anger like I felt talking to my parents in a while. The last time had been when Zara died. But even then it was more grief I felt than the anger itself. Sure my dislike for Athena sealed into hate then, it just wasn’t like this. When I walked out of the throne room, I stormed out of the property entirely. The anger that roared in my chest was like thunder that usually came with a storm and a furious lightening. That was how it felt. And I could feel it at the tip of my fingers. I didn’t have a sense of direction on where I went, but my legs led me right in front of Zavier’s house. He looked surprised to see me but still let me in, well I more like pushed past him and walked right into the house. “What the fuck happened to you? I don’t think I have ever seen you this angry in a while.” He exclaimed walking right behind me and shutting the door. “Who do you think is usually the source of my misfortune?” I snapped at him not meaning to. “Easy there
ZAVIER’S POVNero stared at me like he was reading me. But I knew he wasn’t getting anything out of me. I was a master of deception and hiding my true intentions and this one was one of those times. Yes, we were trying to get rid of Athena but I already knew that he had started to feel something for her.Did I mention I was a good people reader? No? Because I was. It didn’t take a lot for me to see the changes in expression he had whenever she got hurt. Maybe at the beginning he really truly hated her, but now, he didn’t as much.Our last time at the training grounds that I had a spar session with her, he looked like he was about to explode or kill me for touching her. It was odd to see. She was the same girl who caused his woman to die, the same he told me he wanted to kill and be done with it but I had to stop him, the same girl he resented and was punishing and yet, at that moment his expression broke.It made me wonder who the sick one between us was. I didn’t want her and still c
NERO’S POVIf anxiety was a person, then I became it fully in both mind and body. I was edgy in everything and I found myself ready to snap at anyone who as so much breathed near me. I was that irritable.Maybe it wasn’t just that but the fact that there was nothing I could do to her other than stare. I minded my business with Athena but I just couldn’t get my eyes off of her. The way that she behaved and how her mood changed whenever she sensed me in the same room as her. I would relish on this fear months ago but why didn’t I have the same feeling as I did then?Zavier told me it would only take him a few days but it was beginning to take a lot more than that. I was mostly on my toes around her, itching to get the pull from her gone.How could I hate a person so much yet want every part of them? What does that make me?Athena was not making it easy for me to channel my hate at her and Zavier wasn’t making it easy either. If he took any more day, I could loose my mind and actually ha
NERO’S POVBreath-taking, the only word I could describe the woman my eyes were glued on. The same word had a lot of meanings that were now dear to my heart like she was.It meant her personality, the one that was brave enough to love for as long as she did, holding on to her feelings hoping I would understand the truth and fall for her. And now I did. I fucking loved her more than anything in the world.It also meant her beauty, one that took my breath away each time I looked into her eyes whether she had makeup on or not, close to her or far at a distance. It hooked me, every single time.And if I was being truthful to myself, I could say that I was attracted to her when we first got married, I was just too bitter to believe or admit it.Athena walked into the room and I couldn’t help but feel jealous and proud at the same time. Jealous because every man and woman stared at my wife, but proud because they too could see what I saw in her and what I was seeing on her appearance.This
ATHENA’S POVI was startled awake by the noise around. It wasn’t that kind of noise – one with the screams and death, but it was one that was loud enough to have me wondering what was going on.After my work out session at the training field and my conversation with Nero’s Mother – more like she spoke and I listened – I spent the entire night barely able to sleep.I had never felt disappointed at the people who raised me but I couldn’t also deny that I was. Their act reminded me that I was not their child and for that I missed my parents dearly.I slipped out of my covers and swung over my legs till they touched the floor. I stood up and made my way out of my room, rubbing my eyes from the sleep I barely got.As soon as I opened the door, I met with the corridors being decorated. It was pretty but it confused me. “There’s going to be a ball and you’re attending.” The Queen’s words rang in my ear and I groaned.But maybe I could escape during that time. Maybe I could find a corner to h
CHANGE OF POVAlpha King Leon sat on his bed unable to sleep. He was filled with worry he couldn’t help but feel. Not to mention the guilt that was eating away at his soul.Its all my fault. He had said to himself severally as he felt that it truly was.Beside him in bed was his mate, his Luna Queen. She too was quite with her own thoughts, ones that drifted to her daughter now daughter in law.“It’s not your fault Leon.” She voiced out of nowhere, having heard his thoughts, the ones she had noticed had bothered him for a few days. “You couldn’t have known she was going to jump in and save us.”He sat upright from the position he was leaning into the bed on. “But it is Olivia, can’t you see. All I had to do was grant them the divorce like they both wanted.” He rubbed his temple, feeling a wave of dullness rub through him. “If we had gotten them divorced, they both would be living their lives separately. Athena wouldn’t be in so much pain because of us.”The Queen nodded, agreeing with
ZAVIER’S POV My house was a wreck at this point but I didn’t care. I didn’t now, I wouldn’t later. “That son of a bitch ratted me out. Now I’m a fugitive!” I growled feeling the heavy weight of betrayal press me down. How could Nero stand there and watch his parents declare that I be arrested? What sort of friend was he? He hadn’t shown up at the house in a few and after our last conversation, I grew worried that he meant what he said about me letting my hate for Athena go. And how I was supposed to stay away from her. Somehow, he forgot what she had done and the promise that he made to both Zara and I. Somehow, he wanted me to just trust that he was now a changed person and I was supposed to believe him. It was hypocritical what he was doing. And I resented him for it. “What am I supposed to do now?” I groaned to myself, wanting nothing but to finish what we started. Or what I thought I wanted us to finish. I hated how I was jealous of him. I truly was. He was my friend and I
NERO’S POVIf I had felt a tug in my chest when Athena told me she hated me in the past and I didn’t care about it, it meant a great deal to me this time.She hated me, but why wouldn’t she after all hell was the only thing I made her go through, in the one year we had been married?She wanted me to stay away from her and that’s what I did or I tried to do. The last thing I wanted was to annoy her more than I already was so for the first time I listened to what she wanted, but only for some time.The night passed on, and a new day came. I wasn’t excited for it except that it was new and I could spend it finding ways to fix my mistakes.I concluded my morning routine in a hurry dashing out like a man late for an appointment. I made it to the breakfast table before everyone and seeing that, I waited for her to show up.Half an hour later, my father and mother showed up, hand in hand whispering to each other like they hadn’t literally woken up in each other’s arms.They were mates in lov
ATHENA’S POVI took deep breaths as I stood in the garden. The fresh air made me happy and I was grateful to be alive. Somehow, the garden had new additions to it and it made it even more beautiful than I remembered it.While I enjoyed the view, I couldn’t help but feel sad that I wasn’t around to help with the change.I loved gardening, but no one knew that. The one time I had come down to it, Nero saw me and ordered that I never step foot in it ever again.What would he say if he saw me right now? Would he think I was tainting the beauty of the scene here?I took in another breath, releasing it about the same time my mind drifted to when he hugged me upon knowing that I was awake.That action of his was strange to say the least. I wanted answers and the Queen didn’t seem ready to answer my questions and I didn’t know why.Maybe if insisted she would have told me. Maybe that’s what I needed to do.I walked around the garden some more, letting my hands touch the flowers that bloomed a
PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF POV The Queen kept her eyes glued on Athena even as the doctor was checking and making sure she was completely fine like the girl was about to disappear. She had been worried about losing Athena from the moment she went unconscious during her beating down to when she was shot with the silver bullet. Her worry only grew after that but now it was such a relief to see the girl awake and kicking again. While she stared at her she couldn’t help but think about the guilt that overwhelmed her during those times and even now. She blamed herself for Athena’s misfortune, thereby promising she was going to make sure that she got her out of her marriage with Nero no matter what, especially now that she was sure he wasn’t the right man for Athena. She may have arranged for Athena to train in hopes of getting married to Nero, but now, she was going to make sure Athena got the happy ending she craved and deserved, especially with the Alpha King giving his word. While she wa
NERO’S POVI waited a moment for the doctor to be done, and I pushed myself to sit without letting the bed touch my stained back.“Would you believe me if I told you that I was a horrible person to her but that I have changed?”I looked my father in the eyes, seeing his brows crease further with confusion. There were so many questions I knew that he wanted answers to and for the first time in a long time, my father and I were finally having a heart to heart conversation.Zavier should have been the one I should have spoken to about this, maybe even include my father but he was such a messed up fucker to even listen to a word I would say to him about my feelings changing for Athena.Well he knew, that I understood but not my father. And I knew he was going to give me the best advice if I needed him to.“I’m sorry but you’re going to have to talk plainly son. What have you changed into?”I puckered my lips, then moved them into a thin line. My jaws clenched tightly against each other as
ATHENA’S POVI became conscious of my surrounding, despite my eyes disagreeing with me. I was unable to open them or move a muscle in my body.All that I could do was strain my ears and I heard chatters around me, some audible and the others muffled. It made me wonder what was going on. For some reason my heart started to race and I didn’t know why. Something about the noise felt oddly familiar and not in the good way.When I managed to force the eyes open, my fingers and toes twitched at well. I saw that I was back in Nero’s room. The smell was somewhat the same only that it didn’t have much of his scent left in it. It was even as if he had not been in the room in a long time.While I was still trying to gather my thoughts to what was happening around me, someone gasped in the room gasp from seeing me awake and it startled. That should have explained why some of the voices were clear enough to make out. “You’re awake, thank the goddess. She’s awake!” The Maid yelled out making me win