I spoke to my editor who revealed she had been dealing with some personal stuff. we had a really good conversation and I feel a lot better regarding everything. I hope you're still enjoying the story. I really like writing for it. But it's not always easy to find the time.
Atalanta’s povAlthough I don’t consider myself smart and I don’t know much about the world, there are things I’ve heard and seen growing up.Seeing my brother getting ready to go swimming. Him talking to our parents about learning to swim and seeing pictures of people swimming in the few text books I got when mom homeschooled me.And I also know that I have never swum.But it didn’t click until we were actually there, and I saw all the people wearing their bikinis and swimming trunks, jumping into the large pool.Swimming is a lot different than I thought it was.Mostly, the diving and jumping were different. They made themselves into a ball, splashing water everywhere.One thing I did realize soon enough was that it was better that I didn’t get into the pool. I was already ruining Zev and Raiden’s night by having them babysit me.Since I’m not good at most things, I’m pretty sure swimming won’t be any different.Thankfully, Raiden's stomach pulled him towards the barbeque, and he pul
Raiden’s povThis girl… This little mouse that suddenly grew balls and wanted to jump in the pool, say whatever she thought and straddled my lap, giving me the biggest tent in my swimming trunks I ever had.As she’s sitting underneath my arm, trying to hide her embarrassment, I’m replaying the hour or so she spent high as a kite.When Zev and the little mouse accidentally drank belladonna, I tried to act calm. Secretly, I was already plotting the death of the guy who served us the drink without a fair warning.Or maybe I wouldn’t kill him, I’d just drug him and then throw him in the pool with weights tied to his body so he could experience what Atalanta had.It was Zevm I was worried about most. If he started to hallucinate, what would he see? His mom?Or would he be reliving the worst possible night of his life, unable to stop it?While Zev didn’t voice his worries out loud, I knew what he was thinking.My loyalties had always been with Zev, but tonight I had to choose. And for some r
Zev’s povDid I kiss her? I knew I wanted to at the time.I had claimed it was like a truth serum, but this was one truth I didn’t want to admit to anyone. Especially myself.Of course, I could just have Atalanta for a brief moment. And then once I met my mate, I’d reject my mate, and what? Live happily ever after with Lana?No, she had her own mate out there.And what if she was mine? Would I be able to reject her?I would have to. For her and my sake.And then there was Raiden.My best friend. The person I cared for the most, beside my mother. The one person who had seen me at my lowest and never held it against me. Who helped me….And who clearly wanted Atalanta.Maybe it was a crush. But what if it was more?What if he was in love with his little mouse and I ruined things for him? What if she had to choose?No.All these questions didn’t matter anyway, because it was clear that Lana needed friends. Not boyfriends, and I almost ruined that.“Wake up!” Raiden knocked on my door.I ha
AtalantaThe memories of that weekend replayed in my mind long after we went home.I had never felt stronger than I did when I finished the obstacle course. Not just, because I finished a really difficult task, but because Zev only helped me when I really needed it.They both said I was fragile and needed help, but Raiden and Zev hadn’t treated me as fragile then.They had let me try, even if they might have thought I wouldn’t make it.It didn’t seem like they did, because they were both rooting for me, as was Suzie.To them, I had just finished an obstacle course, but to me, it was so much more. It was the first time I felt proud of myself and the first time others showed they were proud of me, besides the few praises from General Sweets.But I had done something that’s hard for werewolves, even. Me, a weak human. A nobody.My feelings of pride lessened when people started to comment on my relationship with Raiden and Zev, reminding me that while everyone might think they want me, the
Raiden’s povHow do I keep messing up? How do I keep hurting her?I chased behind Atalanta, wanting to explain myself, but she had already bumped into Zev.“What happened, are you okay?” He asked our little mouse.Could he smell me on her? Could he smell how our kiss had made her feel? I sure could.That kiss… My goddess, it was something else.It was supposed to be one-time. Just once to get her out of my system. It usually works. I kiss or fuck someone and then lose interest. But I wanted more. So much more that it wasn’t healthy.It was a mistake to kiss her, because now that I had a taste, I would never be able to forget her.I wanted to taste every part of her body to see if it had the same taste as that beautiful mouth of hers. Those lips. The way she shyly tried to follow my lead. She did so very well. Goddess, she was so responsive.“I’m okay,” Atalanta said.Zev growled, seeing me running towards them. “What did you do?”“I, -“ How could I explain what I had done wrong? Even i
Zev’s povPerhaps my concern for Lana stemmed from the recent letters I received from my penpal. Or, as she called herself, shy girl. SG. She started calling me KS, kind stranger.There wasn’t really a point to knowing her name. I would never meet her. There wasn’t a need to know her name or see her face. Yet when I did try to picture what she looked like, Atalanta’s face kept popping up.Maybe because they were similar in a way.Like Atalanta, SG had gone through so much. But she was actually brave enough to tell me.After I shared about my dad, SG wrote about her home life.The part that hurt the most was when she spoke about the neglect.“When I was young, I did anything I could to gain their attention. Being ignored was so painful, especially when I saw how they loved my brother. I didn’t exist to them unless I misbehaved.So whatever task they gave me, I would do it wrong on purpose. I knew they'd yell at me or punish me. Isn’t that pathetic?I wish I could say I’ve gotten used to
Atalanta’s povIt felt like there was a large rock in my stomach and a smaller one in my throat. All I wanted to do was cry. I felt so guilty about what I had done.Not just because of the way Zev reacted, but because it was wrong to kiss a werewolf in the first place.It went against everything my parents taught me.“Little Mouse, you did nothing wrong.” Raiden told me during breakfast. “We did nothing wrong.”But it didn’t feel like it. I had enjoyed kissing Raiden, so that must make me evil, right? Doing something so wrong, so dirty? Like kissing an animal, my parents would say.There was almost nobody here at school. There were maybe ten students total, and it felt very strange—almost forbidden to stay here.Suzie had suggested I come with her, and I wish I could have said yes. General Sweets had asked if I could look around and see what I could find. But Raiden was practically glued to me. It was sweet that he cared, but it made me feel even more guilty.He cared, but he didn’t re
Atalanta's pov“Is this some competition? Let’s see who Lana likes better. Let’s see if the guy who has kissed more girls than he can count can compete with the virgin best friend.” Zev scoffed, but he didn’t let go of my hand.“No, Zev.” Raiden said. “Just admit it, it feels right, the three of us. Doesn’t it?”Zev looked at me and grabbed a lock of my hair, twirling it around his finger while he thought about what Raiden just said.Raiden put me on his lap, facing Zev.“Take her face in your hands,” Raiden said to Zev. It didn’t feel like an order, but like he was trying to help Zev.“Are you sure?” Zev whispered, looking into my eyes for any signs, as he slowly did what Raiden had instructed him.“Yes.” I said. If Archer was going to tell everyone what I did, my life was already over anyway. It didn’t matter anymore what I did. And I wanted this. I wanted both of them.Before Zev could make the first move, I had already placed my lips on his. His hands were on my face, pulling me cl