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
ATHENA’S POVI wanted to believe that things were better for me. I could sense a shift in the air and I loved it. Nero hasn’t said a word to me other than stare holes at the back of my head.I didn’t have my walls down to believe that he was done hating or trying to get me killed. I sure minded my business in all that I could.And because of that, my life revolved around a routine where I did my work like I was required to, spend time with the maids who liked me enough to want to hang out with me around the kitchen area and also sleeping out on the balcony with hopes that rain didn’t pour down on my while I slept.I had also been given the task of making sure that the Alpha’s chambers were clean and so was the safe room.The first day I was to clean, I heard the maids talk about the room being the one to hold the most fragile and important object that the royal family owned. I always wondered what was kept in the room as no one was allowed inside it except the maid who was to ensure i
ATHENA’S POVTo say I was shocked would be an understatement. I had no clue how the heirloom got into my things yet there it was staring at me with the same accusatory expression as everyone else.My eyes darted towards Nero for some reason and as expected his eyes held the look that meant he knew this would happen. He did this didn’t he?“What do you now have to say for yourself Athena?” The Alpha questioned in a hard tone. I could sense his disappointment and anger all at once.I whipped my head to the side to face him. “I swear to the goddess that I didn’t take this Alpha. I don’t know how it got into my things, I swear it.” my voice was already breaking at this point as desperation laced itself with it.How could they think that I would ever do such a thing?“You have raised me all these years, why would I steal from you my King; you’re a father to me.”“Do you then care to explain how it found its way into your things? Cause it would be ridiculous to think that it suddenly develo
ATHENA’S POVThe guards approached me and I heard Nero let out a mocking laugh. I didn’t know why he was finding this funny but since he was a sick headed man, I could understand why. He didn’t have to do a lot to remind me that he hated me because I had come to my senses that he and I would never be together a long time ago.“Nero, please. I know you did this. Tell your father the truth. I’m not a thief and you know it.” I cried running to him only to step on my dress causing me to fall. I grabbed his leg not ready to let him go nor for me to be taken away.The dungeon they were to take me to was no place for a woman let alone an innocent one. Only the worst of the worst were locked up in there and I couldn’t even imagine that I would have to be locked in the same cage with a man that hadn’t seen any woman in years.I needed desperate intervention from him but all his did was look down at me while I was still holding onto his leg. The expression on his face seemed irritated and he no
ATHENA’S POVI had told myself that I wasn’t afraid to die a few times ago. I had reminded myself that I would be much at peace dead than alive.With Nero gone having told me what the verdict could turn out as, I stared at the space in front of me. My mind didn’t even register that my eyes should keep at alert.I was gone in my mind, to a much quieter place that held the peace my soul needed.“Well lookie here boys. Told you she’s a fresh one, bet even the Prince hasn’t had a taste of her cunt yet.”I jolted awake from my day dream. I turned my head to the side and then lifted it to find three guards staring hungrily at me.I didn’t know if it was just the sound from the one I had heard, or the fact that they had come in and I wasn’t paying attention or the look on their eyes that caused my heart to set in a panicked state.“Been a while I had a cunt. Wouldn’t mind me having this royal one boys. I’ll take her first.”I stared at him with eyes filled with confusion and fear.I didn’t w
NERO’S POVI couldn’t contain my excitement knowing this was it. Freedom stood by my side, waiting to be granted.A part of me wanted Zavier around to bear witness to Athena’s demise and the fulfilment of my promise, where he could watch with satisfaction the justice Zara should have gotten a long time ago. But since he wasn’t, I took it as a responsibility to watch, taking in the details of today’s events so that I could tell him word for word how it happened.But to my greatest disappointed, my father chose to give her the easy way out. Something about us married being the reason she would not be banished nor killed.Why the fuck did he care about it? A man of his calibre should have keep to his word, to the laws of the pack irrespective of who broke them.What would whipping do to her? It surely wouldn’t take her life nor get us divorced for fucks sake!I had stayed in a corner ready to growl at my father and the fucking council. They had one fucking job today and they ruined it.“
ATHENA’S POV There was no difference to what death held and the pain I had to feel. Maybe then it could be said that death sometimes allows for one to transition without pain. “I hate him,” became a chant that echoed freely in my mind. Before everyone I had to go through being whipped with the very thing meant to kill a werewolf. Because of him. He wanted me to hate him right? Silver burned the skin like acid. It was painful to the bones yet it grazed my skin when it wanted to and plucked at it like it was a ripe fruit ready for harvesting. If I thought I was used to the degree in which the pain was, the next stroke turned out worse. At first I screamed, when it landed on my body but soon my mind drifted to a place that took the pain away from me for the time being. While in that state, my eyes somehow on their own found Nero. I shouldn’t have let them find him. Because then I saw an emotion so foreign in his eyes I hated it for him and me both. And even without realising it, I
NERO POVHearing my mother’s voice was like a wakeup call. I knew I had said something. I had called out to Athena before she fell on the floor, I just didn’t realise that I wasn’t moving.Running faster than my legs could carry me; I rushed over to her and scooped her in my hands. I didn’t care that the crowd stared at me with confused expressions; I just needed my wife safe. I needed her to be okay so that I could make things right between us.I had done too many wrong things that needed to be fixed and I wasn’t going to waste any time before making sure that happened. I should have known and recognised my feelings for her. I should have known that I had somehow fallen for her in the midst of my misplaced hate for her. When I thought that all I wanted was her body, I should have known that her heart was what I craved more.She never did anything wrong and I could see that now.With her in my arms, I hurried as fast as I could towards my room. I carefully placed her down on the bed,
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