Chapter 3

Athena Blackstone pov

Hearing a stern knock on my door I hissed and growled, “I'm in the bathroom, give me a sec!”

Rummaging through my medicine cabinet I grabbed a handful of bandaids and started covering my mark.

“Well, that looks ridiculous,” I muttered sourly, then went to my door.

I wasn't expecting Veronica to be standing there scowling at me so I pinched my lips together as she shoved her way inside with one of the younger guards.

“You're being sent to kitchen duty since you failed to do your assignment,” she said firmly.

My mouth fell open in shock.

“But I'm a guard! A warrior prodigy, and only missed this one time, I should be let off with just a warning,” I stammered.

Narrowing her eyes at me she asked me what was so important that I neglected my duties.

My thoughts drifted off to the sensation of Gavin’s lips moving against my own until Bria warned me that I was in the presence of the current pack Luna.

Clearing my throat I said, “I went on a run as my wolf to clear my head.”

Eyeing me with disdain she snapped, “What is wrong with your neck?”

Thinking quickly I said, “It was injured when you pulled off my necklace.”

Exhaling sharply she waved her hand around the meager belongings I had in the small bedroom.

“Gather your belongings and go with Jacob to your new living quarters with the other kitchen help,” Veronica ordered dismissively and left me standing there in disbelief.

Oh, how I wanted to lash out at the smug bitch, but instead, I went to my tiny closet and started packing up my clothes.

“I know nothing about kitchen duties,” I growled sourly.

“Brave of her to assign you to an area where you could poison her,” my wolf chuckled, causing me to snicker as I sighed.

Finished with my meager belongings I gestured for the guard Jacob to lead me away.

Going toward the pack house I grew saddened.

“My mom would be so disappointed in me. She's probably rolling in her grave,” I thought as I entered after Jacob.

Going down past the large kitchen, I was led to a small, narrow hallway lined with doors.

Jacob stopped at number thirteen and said, “This is your new room. Report to Margaret, the head of the kitchen staff, for your duties at six in the morning.”

“Gee, thanks, bud,” I muttered and entered my assigned room.

Glancing over it quickly I shouted out to the guard.

“Where's the bathroom?”

Grinning cruelly he pointed further down the hall and said, “There is a communal restroom at the end of the hall.”

Rolling my eyes I entered the tiny room and huffed at the cot with no pillow and a worn blanket.

“Oh how far the great have fallen,” I groaned.

“Kitchen staff are the lowest members of the pack. You were better off being a warrior prodigy,” Bria whined.

“Thanks for reminding me, wolf,” I huffed and dropped my duffle bag onto the bare wooden floor.

Seeing the single hook on the back of the door with a stained apron I frowned.

“I feel like I am constantly getting screwed and not in a good way,” I grunted.

“Veronica is out to break you. It's not good with her being your Luna,” Bria warned.

Rubbing my eyes I told her that I was very aware of how messed up my position was.

“Why did I mate with that stranger who was so gorgeous and sexy…”

Chortling in my mind Bria said, “Gavin gave a moment of tranquility and peace to you.”

“Yeah, but he left me, and I don't even know who he was or where he came from,” I pouted.

“True, and now you're stuck with kitchen duty…at least Luna will be clear of this area,” Bria offered, and I rolled my eyes because, at this point, it didn't even matter.

My door opened suddenly, and a small, familiar female peeked inside.

“Hazel?” I questioned her in disbelief.

She was as shocked as I was.

“I haven't seen you since pack school, Athena! Oh my, I thought you were going to become a high-ranking guard,” she stated, and I shook my head.

“I messed up, obviously,” I mumbled, gesturing to my dreary room.

Nodding she sighed.

“Well, I was instructed to get the new worker and bring you to the kitchen for meal prep, so put on the apron, and let's go,” she said softly.

Defeated, I grabbed the apron and put it on.

“Alright I'm ready to be a kitchen worker,” I groaned and followed after Hazel.

Glancing over at me with sympathy, Hazel smiled slightly and said, “Be sure to follow Margaret’s strict orders, or you will be punished.”

Pinching my lips, I nodded as we headed into the back of the kitchen, where several others were rushing around preparing items for the scheduled meals.

“There's a chart on the freezer indicating what your duties are for the day. Today is your time to familiarize yourself with the area. You also will have to clean up the mess hall after the pack gets finished with their meals,” she explained and I nodded.

Kitchen duty was hard labor, but it was something I was used to.

The days were flying by as I continued to slave away in the kitchen.

Still, my mind would drift off to the mysterious man I had spent one night with.

After a week and another horrible night of sleep on my uncomfortable cot, I woke up in the early morning nauseous.

I hurried to the shared bathroom, rushed in, and vomited into the toilet.

“Why am I getting sick?” I complained out loud in the vacant space.

Concerned about waking up the others in the hallway I quickly washed my face as I stared at my reflection in the mottled mirror.

“I believe that your mystery man has left you with more of a surprise,” my wolf whimpered in my head.

Furrowing my brow I asked her what she was talking about.

“You're pregnant,” she stated and I gasped.

“But that means that he is my real mate,” I stammered and she sighed.

“You must discover who Gavin is and find him before you start to show,” she asserted and I nodded.

“I will ask Hazel if she knows him,” I sighed and returned to my room feeling devastated.

“I'm so screwed; what if he's already married,” I murmured and laid back down on my cot, feeling lost.

“No time to wallow in your what-ifs. You need to remain strong for your pups,” Bria growled, and I swallowed uncomfortably.

“Pups?” I stammered.

“Yes, there are two identical twins,” she replied, and I cursed colorfully and squeezed my eyes shut.

The following morning I was chopping onions and waved Hazel over to my side.

“Do you know about a good-looking guy who attended the wedding named Gavin by chance?”

She rubbed her chin in thought and shook her head.

“There were guests from several packs and I'm not sure who was who,” she answered.

“Gavin marked me that night during our mating,” I admitted and turned to hear the shriek coming from the mess hall’s open door.

Luna was standing there with hatefulness in her eyes and her face reddened in anger.

“Oh fuck,” I muttered knowing that she had heard everything that I had said.