Raiden’s povThe anger I felt toward Zev did not go away, even after speaking to Atalanta. Although I was relieved she had a good night's sleep, I still felt anxious and pissed off that I wasn't there for her right now.It probably didn't help that everyone here, including the alphas, was out to get me.‘They’re not,’ Atlas tried to reassure me.Sure, a few seemed to be fine with the idea of Atalanta as my mate, but they were still too curious for my liking. Even if they weren’t arguing for her imprisonment or to be questioned like the rest were, they still wanted to know more about her.My dad had been right to hide her identity, because most of the morning Alphas had been asking me questions about my mate. How fast could she heal, could she use the mindlink, how could she handle poison, could she fight better or run faster than humans? What would it take for her to be able to shift?And those were the “nice’” questions! Then there were the weird questions about our mate-bond and the
Zev’s pov “Go see Grace, because I am losing my patience with you, Zev!” Alpha Ethan barked at me. I had shown him considerable disrespect, but I could only tolerate so much. Why, in Goddess name, did they think this was a good idea? Just a few minutes ago, I had asked my former mate to accept my rejection. And now they wanted me to spend the entire day protecting her. It felt like an insult, especially since both of them knew how much I was already dealing with. ‘She can’t accept the rejection; her wolf is already weak,’ Rishi whined. She said she could, so why did it hurt to think about it? Wouldn't Atalanta accepting my rejection solve everything? It would severe the remainder of the bond between us, finally giving me a chance to move on. It wasn’t like Atalanta felt the bond anyway. She has a wolf now; shouldn't she at least feel something? I stomped over to Luna’s office, which was next door to her mates. “Zev… So, Ethan says you have issues with our request?” “He didn’t
Atalanta’s pov“You’re here…”He was stroking my hair, holding me in his arms. Gone was my nightmare; now all I felt was shock and confusion.“You had another nightmare,” Zev admitted, looking awkward as he moved back from me.Another? So he was here yesterday? Artemis had been right.I looked down at him, “and you’re naked...”He quickly grabbed one of Raiden’s pillows and placed it over himself, which I would need to change before Raiden came back tomorrow. I don’t think Raiden would like to sleep with Zev’s dick smell near his head.“It’s Rishi; he shifted and came here when he heard you cry. He feels weirdly attached to you still.”His wolf. Of course. It was his wolf who had forced him to be here. That’s why he’s naked. He shifted back.Zev had been pretty nice to me today. But maybe he just felt bad for me.I wanted to tell Raiden over the phone, but I didn’t think telling him about everything that happened today was a conversation you should have over the phone.Especially not s
Raiden’s pov“Half of my heart is hurting, and the other half is in love. What if it will always be like that? I deserve to be in pain, but Raiden’s doesn’t.”“Did you ever love me? Really?”“I did. I do.”Those words keep repeating in my mind. She said she deserves to be in pain, which she doesn’t. She’s dealt with enough pain. A mate should not cause pain. Yet she loves him. After everything he did, she still loves him.But what stung the most is that she confided in him and not me.‘Not to mention the fact they were both naked.’ Atlas growled.It had never bothered me before—quite the opposite. I had found it hot seeing Zev with our mouse. But things are different now. He didn’t want her; he rejected her.But I want her. I love Atalanta. I have never wanted someone before as badly as I crave her.It's become an obsession. She’s all I think about, all I care for.And it fucking sucks to know she will never feel the same.I don’t doubt her love for me, but I am not enough.‘Stop that.
Zev’s pov“Talk me through what happened.”“I don’t want to.” I replied. Rishi had been busy healing me, but it would take another day or two for me to be back to normal.“So... um, you two fought? Was it about Lana? Of course it was…” Suzie asked again.I scoffed, looking at Stephen, who just got home a few hours ago. “Why did you have to tell her?”“I am glad at least someone is telling me anything! It was always the four of us, and now I feel left out,” Suzie pouted on the other side of the screen. “Stupid Alpha won’t let me leave just yet. I am dying to visit you and see all the drama up close.”Stephen was holding his phone up so she could see me, since I couldn’t, because my arm was still healing from being broken in several places.Being thrown out of a glass window kind of does that...Stephen laughed awkwardly. I knew he only told Suzie because he knew she’d answer if it was about any of us. She had been ignoring his advances, telling him to just go find his mate.I also knew
Suzie’s povNobody probably wants to hear from me. I mean, who would want to hear my thoughts or hear about the stuff I’m going through?I’m meant to be the fun friend, the one that provides some needed advice and sees things others don’t.Like how I knew they were mates before they did.But right now, I don’t want to be just the person they can count on. Or the person who gives them the kick they need.As much as it pains me to admit it, I think I need a kick in the ass right now.From a very young age, I wanted to follow in my dad’s footsteps. Not just because I’m a daddy’s girl, which I am. But also because it seemed like the perfect job to me.Although you don’t get all the glory that comes with being the Alpha, you also don’t get all the pressure. But you do have an extremely important job and are able to fill it in when Alpha is away.Which means you’re basically like an alpha, without all the stress and fame.But what made me want to do the job the most is that I think I would b
Atalanta’s pov“I’m back, bitches!” Suzie yelled out.Raiden rolled his eyes, and Zev just stood there, while I couldn’t contain my smile.“Too much? Sorry, you try sitting alone with this man on a plane for hours and see how chippy you come out of it! I think he tried to bore me to death with meaningless facts about your pack or something. After that didn’t work, he just talked about you three…” She said, winking at us. “I should have come here sooner, because you clearly need me.”“Whatever,” Raiden said, his hand on my butt. He loves touching my butt whenever he can.Artemis teased me, causing me to blush, "Just one of the many things he likes to do to your behind."Because of the fight between Zev and Raiden, Alpha Ethan had given them both some time off work to calm down. Which meant Raiden and I had barely left out room.I wasn’t sure it was because Raiden was avoiding Zev or because of all the sex…‘Probably the second one.’We didn’t just have sex. We talked a lot. We ate; we t
Atalanta’s pov“Um, so, I’m not sure how to explain this, but Artemis and I have been talking and...”Suzie smiled at me, “it’s fine; just give it a go.”“Growing up, I wasn’t allowed to talk much. I am not used to hearing my own voice, and I am not sure what to say very often. I don’t know if what I’ll say will be the right thing or if it’s appropriate or annoying, because whatever I said at home would be seen as too much or stupid.” I explained. “But now that I am here, I am trying to say more. Say what I am thinking. Artemis said it’s fine to say what I think, as long as it’s not hurtful or insulting.”Suzie nodded, and I loved how she let me speak without interrupting me.I giggled awkwardly. I wanted to ask if you are okay. And why do you smell like Stephen?”Suzie blushed before laughing. “Well, those two questions have really different answers. I’ll tell you the easy one first. So, um, me and Ven, that’s what I call Stephen in my head, had a fight in the airplane, and it turned