Chapter Five

Athena’s POV 

My stomach was in knots, I felt like an imposter. Standing in front of the mirror I just stared at my reflection, I didn’t look like me in fact no, this isn’t me. Mum had arranged for stylists to do mine and Vanessa’s makeup, I didn’t wear it normally for I felt more comfortable in my natural state, that way I didn’t stand out and could remain invisible. I had dark smokey eyeshadow, eyeliner, blusher and bright pink lipstick, though why my makeup was this bright was beyond me. The stylist was given instructions to not leave until I had been ‘dolled up’. To please my mum, I kept my mouth shut and just let her get on with it, I wouldn’t be at the ball for long anyway.

Taking a quick glance at the time I knew if I didn’t head down soon then my mum would physically come and get me. I stood in front of the door my hand trembling as it gripped onto the brass doorknob. Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath to calm my nerves as best I could, I opened it and headed to the masquerade ball.

“Beautiful isn’t it. Figured I’d mix it up a bit and change the theme colour’s” Rita had me jumping out of my skin as she stepped beside me linking her arm with my own.

“It looks magical. You’ve out done yourself” Rita smiles at me before moving to mingle with her guests as she joined my grandfather at his side.

She really had done a fantastic job. Over the period of twenty-four hours Rita had transformed the entire banquet hall. Instead of seeing its usual magnolia walls, they were draped with white voile and magenta fairy light nets hanging behind them. The high white ceilings had been covered with black fabric which had a swagging effect. This room was once light and bright now with its transformation, looked dark with the slightest amount of light. It was basically me in decoration the irony had me giggling to myself.

As I walked around the room sticking to the shadows I was stopped in my tracks when I smelt something lush, my mouth flowing with saliva at the scent. I whipped my head around to find where and what it was, though when I found it, my heart sunk. I knew finding out before turning eighteen was a possibility because of the goddess blood that ran in our veins but what I didn’t expect was this. Across the room was a tall dark-haired man, his bright green eyes glowing in the dark as they fixated on me. A young woman was talking to him, yet he completely ignored her as he looked me up and down causing the hairs on the back of my neck to stand. I watched as he excused himself before making his way towards me, his eyes not once leaving mine. Turning to leave before he could reach me seemed like a good idea though a decision, I made a minute to late. The man gently grabbed my hand turning me to face him, the sparks that signified he was my mate were strong enough that they tickled my skin beneath my silk gloves.

The man’s mouth began to move yet I couldn’t hear any words. All I could think about was what Vanessa and her friends had always told me. How without a wolf my mate wouldn’t want me, that as a human all I would be good for was a punching bag or just away to relieve their stresses. That my mate wouldn’t even want me to bare them a pup at the risk of it being like me, a complete and utter disgrace upon our kind. Fear rattled through me at the thought of these things becoming true, so I did want I did best. I pulled my arm from his grip and ran.

“Athena what’s wrong” My mum walked from behind me pulling my face up to look at her, tears streaming down my face most certainly smearing my makeup.

“Hector isn’t my… my mate” I sobbed.

“Oh, baby it will be ok. I’m going to take a guess and say you know this because you have found your mate here. Am I right?” I didn’t answer just nodded my head. “Meeting your mate Athena is a good thing, have you spoken to him?”

“He won’t want me, I’m human mum he’s going to reject me” my mum just pulled me closer to her hugging me tightly as if there was no tomorrow, by the strength she used to keep me in place had me wondering if a small piece of here had deep down thought the same thing.

“Baby listen to me. This is just your fear talking. Take a deep breath and calm down. You don’t know the guy I get it, but for all you know he could be lovely. You know how rare it is for wolves to reject their mate, no matter whether they are a wolf or not. Besides, you should have faith in the moon goddess. Your great-grandmother would have fated you to him for a reason. Look Athena, it’s up to you whether or not you face him, but all I’m saying is give this guy a chance and hey if all else fails then we will tell your father and he can beat his sorry arse to kingdom come” I let out a small chuckle knowing my dad really would do just that.

My mum sat and cuddled me for a little while until my heart rate had evened itself out again and I had calmed down. After being assured by mum that I didn’t look like a panda I decided I would at least try and get to know my mate. Though I felt sick at the thought of having to end things with Hector, I found my mate which meant he had one out there somewhere and she wasn’t me. He deserved better than me anyway.

After leaving the security of my mums embrace, I headed back to the banquet hall intending on speaking with the mystery man until I was stopped dead in my tracks. My mate was no longer in the hall but on the balcony his lips smashing against my sisters. I felt a sharp pain shoot through my heart at the sight before me, I didn’t know the man, but he knew I was his mate just as I did, yet he still kissed my sister. My eyes began to burn from the tears that threatened to fall, I stumbled back before ripping my mask off and dropping it on the floor as I ran out the door that led into the palace gardens. Running through the maze I refused to stop until I hit the centre, taking a seat on the bench beside the rose covered fountain. My tears fell hard onto my lap as my heart shattered, my worst fears becoming reality.

As the clock stroke midnight, I fell off the bench and onto the ground clutching my head. A pressure I had never felt before had me shaking like a leaf drawing a scream from my lips. As quick as the pain came it had gone though in its place my mind felt full.

“Happy Birthday Athena” A strong soft voice spoke in my mind I wasn’t sure who it was until realisation sank in.

“Erm thank you” my voice small unsure if I had been imagining it.

“You’re welcome, I’m Venus by the way your wolf. Now what do you say we get out of here”

Axel’s POV

Having been forced into going to this masquerade ball by my mother I was well and truly pissed. Knowing what I was like she had sent my father’s beta with me to ensure I actually turned up. I’m twenty and felt like a kid being babysat. I was here for one task, to seduce the granddaughter of the Alpha King for she was next in line to be alpha. What I wanted was as usual of no concern to her, all I wanted was to leave and search for that beautiful dark-haired girl, my mate. My mother was power mad, you’d think that being the high priestess of witches she would have had enough but no. She wanted me to get the eldest daughter to fall for me only to convince her to take me as a chosen mate. No matter how much I protested, my mother would always win. She wanted our bloodline and that of theirs to entwine becoming stronger and more powerful than the moon goddess herself.

I was stuck talking with the most boring woman imaginable a real plain Jane, she was just another that knew who I was as they hoped to be my mate. I was going to give up and leave when I saw her. Her scent making every nerve in my body tingle with excitement. She was wearing her purple mask but there was no mistaking that scent anywhere. Her scent alone sent the images of that night from two years ago racing into my head, the beautiful young girl terrified and beaten by filthy rouges. It was enough to make my wolf Thor stir who until now had been peacefully quiet.

“Go to her, claim her she is ours” I could feel my grip on him straining as my eyes began to burn telling me they were now glowing the bright green as he fought me for control.

Looking around for my father’s Beta and becoming satisfied when I couldn’t spot him, I turned away from the bore in front of me and headed to my mate. The sparks as I touched her gloved hand gave me head rush, I had never experienced a feeling like it. When I left her that night two years ago it was a struggle to stay away but now that she’s here I felt my restraint snap like a brittle elastic band. If we had been alone, I would have cut all ties to my family’s pack and completed the marking and mating process right here and now. She looked at me with such big blue eyes, the way they glowed as she too felt the sparks sent my wolf into a purring frenzy. Had she looked down she would have noticed how badly I wanted her, thank the goddess for the dark themed room. I held her hand as I introduced myself but was confused when she ripped her arm from me and ran off. I wanted to chase after her to apologise if I had in some way scared or upset her but was stopped when my fucking babysitter stood blocking my way.

“She is not who you are here to see. She is” his voice blunt as he pointed over my shoulder towards a young blonde headed woman. 

Standing there on the balcony was my mates’ sister. My father’s beta led me to the doors stopping as he introduced us.

“Evening Princess Vanessa, this here is Axel Gemstone. He is the son of the Alpha to the Gemstone pack.”

“Oh, it’s you” she looked surprised as she recognised me. “Sir if you would give us some privacy...” Beta nodded before walking away.

“Princess aye didn’t see that one coming” I chuckled trying to make this situation less awkward. She knew I was her sister’s mate which now made my task that much more difficult.

“Does it matter my title; you have one yourself. I hope you don’t mind me saying but you look rather dashing in a blue suit. We look good, like a match made in heaven wouldn’t you say” I raised my eyebrow as she openly began to flirt with me. She knew who I was to her sister, yet it didn’t seem to faze her.

“Titles don’t make us who we are, I think what we do defies that”

“Then I would wonder what you think of me, I know what I think of you” before I could respond she had moved incredibly close, she placed one hand on my chest the other on top of my hand that sat on the rail.

“If I had to guess I’d say that you see what you want and aren’t afraid to take the risk, no matter who or what gets in your way”

“Spot on” Vanessa didn’t say anything else instead she stood on her tiptoes pulling my head down to her level. I stared into her blue eyes noticing how they matched her sisters as she pulled me in for a kiss whilst the hand that she placed on my chest began to slowly move lower only stopping once it sat on top of my concealed cock.

As our lips locked, I felt her tongue brush against my lower lip as if asking permission to enter. My body responded by itself as my lips parted allowing her tongue to roam the corners of my mouth. My cock began to twitch under her touch as she deepened the kiss until a familiar scent caught my attention. Opening one eye I spotted my mate watching the altercation between me and her sister. The look of betrayal written clearly on her face; my heart ached at the pain I must have caused her as she turned tears running down her face before she disappeared outside.