Chapter 4

After Athena woke up, she instructed the others to leave the room, except the pack doctor. Over the past few weeks, she had been feeling off about her body, and her period was a week late. If her suspicions were correct, she needed to hear it from him first.

“What's wrong with me, Doctor?” she asked.

“On the contrary, you're in good health, Luna,” he said, beaming with excitement. “Congratulations, you're pr—”

“Stop!” she held up her hand. Her voice lowered, becoming serious. “Have you told anyone else?”

His expression shifted from excited to horrified. “No, Luna...Not even the nurses.” He whispered back,

“Good, then keep it that way.” She firmly told him.

He hesitated, his eyes searching hers. “But Luna Athena, it's my duty to inform the Alpha about any health concerns you may have," he said. “Surely he has a right to know about the child you're carrying—”

“I understand your duty,”  she said, her eyes pleading. “Come up with something else, but you cannot reveal this to anyone, especially the Alpha, do you understand me?”

Before the doctor had a chance to speak, Aria burst into the room, her expression laced with rage. “I she you’re finally awake, attention seeker.” She sneered, “You finally got what you wanted did you? How did it feel being held in his arms?!” She shouted. But before Athena could even reply, Travon entered the room.

“What’s going on, I thought I heard someone scream?”

“You probably misheard, Trav.” She tossed him a sweet smile. “I just came to see if she was alright. I’ll take my leave now.” She said as she walked out the room.

Athena noticed that Travon was now wearing a black suit and serious expression on his face. Behind him were two of her staff dressed in black and holding a black dress. Athena’s heart sank as a million thoughts ran through her head.

“Alpha Travon, w-what’s going on?” Her voice trembled. She watched as he took a deep breath before spilling the beans.

“Unfortunately, I have some bad news to share with you, Athena…Your father was found in a pool of his own blood. We believe a new rebel group was responsible for this—they didn't take the news of the surrender too well. We couldn't tell you before because we didn't want to upset you during your honeymoon season.” He said like he was doing a recital, no warmth, no emotions.

As the words sank in, a wave of nausea hit Athena. She felt like the world was spinning. Her hands trembled, her breath coming in short gasps. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes, threatening to spill over. She tried to take a deep breath, to steady herself, but it was no use. The room blurred, and she felt like she might collapse again.

“No.”  she whispered, the breath leaving her lungs. “No, that can't be true.”

“What is wrong with her?” Travon turned to the doctor, like he had no business dealing with Athena’s breakdown. The man quickly bowed to him, cleared his throat and  improvised.

 “Uh..I suspect she collapsed from stress.” he said, stalling for time. “I…But just to be on the safe side, I’ll need to run some tests and do some research before I can tell you more—”

“How long will it take to get the results of the tests?” He questioned. 

The doctor hesitated, his eyes darting between everywhere and Travon “It could take a few weeks,” he said. “I'm sorry, Alpha, but I can't give you more information until I have all the results.”

“I see,” Travon murmured. “That will be all, doctor. Everyone, leave us.” The doctor bowed slightly and left the room, the staff placed the dress on a table and closed the doors behind them.

Travon turned to face Athena, his eyes hard and unreadable. “Stress? You look fine to me.” he said, his voice low and intense, all the tears didn’t affect him this whole time.  “You’re clearly doing this for attention, aren’t you?!” He snapped.

“Answer me when I'm talking to you, Athena!” He roared, his voice booming through the room. He reached out and grasped her face in his hands, shaking her roughly. His eyes were filled with rage, his brows furrowed as his mouth twisted in a snarl.

Athena's teary eyes widened with fear, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. The room was filled with the tension coming from both of them.

“I-I didn't faint to get your attention!” Tears streamed down her cheeks. Suddenly, she had the courage to respond to his harsh treatment.

“You rejected me, yet you kept me here to suffer! You mated with me but you keep ignoring me!” She said, her voice raising. “Why do you hate me so much?!” She shouted at him, her eyes filling with rage and hate. something had shifted in her, and Travon could feel it too.

His expression softened and he lowered his hand, he could feel the pull of the mate bond as Athena looked up at him, tears in her eyes. Quickly, he pulled back and without a word, he walked out of the room.

---

“I have checked all there is to be checked and just like I said earlier on, the Luna was just stressed and needed rest…Although it seems as if the news of her father’s death has aggravated her situation.”

Travon's eyes flashed with anger, but he remained silent. Ever since that day, whatever anger he had harbored towards her had suddenly disappeared, but he couldn’t bring himself to admit it to anyone, not even to himself. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and annoyed.

“Are you indirectly trying to say, I caused this? That I’m the reason for her situation?”

“N-No, no.” The doctor began to protest, but he choked on his words.“My deepest apologies, Alpha.” He finally said with a bow, “it was a slip of the tongue and it will never happen again!” He assured.

“You will answer for this, I promise you that. But for now, leave and never set foot in my presence again!”

“Yes, Alpha.” The doctor bowed his head and backed away, cowering in fear. Once he was alone, the room was filled with an uneasy silence. Gamma Kaius’ sudden entrance broke the silence and Travon immediately turned to him.

“Alpha,” he began. “I have just come from the Luna's quarters. She has once again refused to eat dinner, and the staff is worried for her health.”

Travon let out a small sigh, “Isn’t the Beta supposed to be reporting these things?”

Kaius relaxed a little,stifling a small laugh. “Apparently, William doesn’t think the Luna’s business is worth his time…You on the other hand, my friend, should be concerned about the Luna.” He frankly told him.

Gamma Kaius was a close friend to Travon, just like Aria, they had basically grown up together. Everyone thought that Kaius would be the next Beta, but when William Steele refused to give up his position after the previous Alpha’s death, Kaius demoted to the Gamma. Since then, he had to be formal to Travon, but behind closed doors, they were still brothers.

“I know she’s your mate, I see you resist the mate bond everyday, how long do you think that’s going to last?--”

“Fuck off, Kaius!” Travon snapped as he got on feet and stormed out of the room.

He was right, but he wasn’t willing to admit it, his mind was reeling, and he didn’t realize until he found himself in front of Athena’s room. There was no going back now, so he took a deep breath, knocked and entered.

He found Athena sitting in a chair by the window. She was pale and drawn, her eyes red from crying. When she saw him, she rose to her feet, her eyes blazing with anger.

“What? Are you here to scream at me to make sure I give you an heir? Why are you here? After what you did?!” she spat, her voice filled with annoyance.

“I understand your anger,” he said, his voice calm and steady. “But—”

“But what?! Huh?” She paced back and forth. “I didn't deserve to know that my father was murdered! How dare you keep a thing like from me! You people are the reason he's dead! I could have done something, I could have saved him!” She shouted, her voice echoing off the walls of the room.

Travon looked at her, his expression unreadable. “I know I should have told you,” his voice quiet but firm. “But I did not want to worry you...I know that was wrong, and I—”

“Stop!” she ordered, her voice shaking with anger. “I don't want your sympathy. You can go on and snap at me and then leave. I just want to be alone, so just leave!” She screamed.

But Travon stood frozen, staring at her, his eyes unyielding. “Didn't you hear me?!” Athena yelled again, her face red with rage. “I said leave! Get out of my sight!”

Suddenly, Travon's expression changed, and he took a step closer to her. “Athena, listen—”

But she cut him off, her voice piercing the room. “No! I won't listen! Just get out!”