"Go say hi!" Helen urged Venusa and she shook her head. Atlas's friend is with him. Venusa knows better than anyone how well she can make a fool of herself in front of people. She'd dip herself in a pool of hot soup if she ever embarrasses herself in front of Atlas. "Six cups of beer, my good man!" Atlas friend yelled to the bartender. "Six cups? Are they going to finish it?" Helen gasped but Venusa was long gone. She was busy admiring the side view of her 'soulmate'. She wishes he would just turn to her direction and make eye contact with her. "Do you think he likes me too?" Venusa asked Helen, while she kept her eyes on Atlas. "Who wouldn't like you? You're the chief's daughter! The next great mother of our clan. The descendant of the most powerful priestess. The..." "Don't flatter me." Venusa said bashfully. "Realistically speaking. Do you think he likes me? Or he can like me?" Helen hummed. "To be honest, you're beautiful. The most beautiful maiden in Yok. Any man would
Atlas's eyeballs almost popped out of their sockets. Vanusa broke the kiss and smiled intoxicatingly. "P... princess..." Venusa hummed and collapsed in his arms. Atlas stared down at the weird woman he was holding. "What just happened?" Atlas wondered, unable to believe what Venusa just did. He adjusted and carried her in bridal style. "You're one hell of a princess, Venusa." Venusa murmured something and snuggled against his chest. Atlas held her tighter and proceeded to take her to her house. She met the Chief and Great mother pacing impatiently. Atlas guessed they are waiting for their daughter. "Venusa!" Great mother yelled as soon as she saw Atlas approach with her daughter. "This girl!" Umbria scolded as she took Venusa from Atlas. Venusa gasped and hugged her mother. "it's my mama!" She slurred. "Venusa, are you drunk?" Her father questioned angrily. "Hey, father." She spread her arms open and pouted. "Come on, father, hug me." "Umbria, get hold of that girl." Hank,
Alexa's Point Of View"Your story is like one out of a romance book." I said and she laughed. "Honestly, I still can't believe it to this day. The man I admired from an oak tree turned out to be my mate. Crazy, but it was the best news I've ever received." Venusa had a bright smile on her face as she told me the story of how she met her mate and how they got to get together. From her story, she seemed like a silly and bubbly girl who has no worries. I wonder what changed her. "So did you have a wedding ceremony after that?" I asked and she shook her head smilingly. "Atlas proved stubborn." "Huh?" She heaved a sigh and leaned back in her seat. "The next day after that, Atlas..." ***"I can see that you and my daughter already have a connection so we should not delay the mating ceremony any longer and..." "No." Atlas interjected and Umbria raised her brow. "no?" She sounded offended. "I mean...I have to think this through. This is on such a short notice. And honestly, you don't
Venusa and Atlas's mating ceremony was the talk of the village. As much as the villagers were in disbelief that Atlas turned out to be the chosen one, happiness still flowed around for their loving princess, who everyone took care of as grew up, was getting married to the love of her life. Venusa was definitely the happiest. She kept grinning and squealing like a little child as the village priest joined them together as husband and wife. Venusa promised Atlas not to tell her parents about his secret. Atlas wanted to know why Venusa didn't want to tell her parents. It wouldn't be good if they kept this from them but Venusa insisted. Saying it would be worse if they knew now. Atlas let her have her way. Seeing the love Atlas had for his daughter, Hank knew he was leaving the village in the hands of a competent chief. After their marriage, Venusa resumed her spiritual training. Atlas always watches her from a distance whenever she practiced the spiritual dance. Watching Umbria teach V
"Daddy, daddy, see! I caught it! I caught it!" Five years old Riaz beamed as he ran to his father with a butterfly in his hands. "Goodness, Riaz, where have you been? I've been looking for you." Atlas said in frustration as he picked up Riaz. "I followed this pretty butterfly. Isn't it pretty, daddy?" Atlas shook his head. Riaz is fond of wandering around and making him worry. He's just like his mother. He doesn't like staying in one place. The moment he woke up, he rushed out of the house to play with his friends. He comes back home hours later, dirty from his hair to his toes. He's about to drive his mother crazy with worry. "Riaz, I told you to stay where I left you." Riaz pouted, "but butterfly..." Atlas couldn't resist his son's glimmering blue eyes. He sighed and nodded. "Yes, it's beautiful. Very beautiful." Riaz grinned in satisfaction and let the butterfly go. Atlas put Riaz down and brushed his hair with his fingers. "Your mother has been worried about you." "Riaz!
"Riaz!" Venusa exclaimed when She saw Atlas approach with him. He rushed to them and gasped when she saw the state in which her son was. "My love," she cried. "Let's get him to lay somewhere," Atlas said and they both rushed inside the house. Atlas put him lying on the bed and Venusa sat beside him. She placed her palms on his chest and closed her eyes. She chanted some spiritual incantations and Riaz's wounds got healed. "Baby. My love. Riaz, can you hear me?" Riaz groaned as he opened his eyes. "Mummy?" "Ah," Venusa breathed in relief, her eyes stained with tears. "Thank goodness you're okay." She said as she hugged him. "What happened out there, baby?" She asked. "Huh?" "You came home unconscious with wounds all over your body. Did you get attacked?"Riaz tilted his head sideways, thinking. "Did something happen to me, mummy?" Atlas and Riaz exchanged confused gazes. "you can't remember?" Riaz shook his head. "No, mummy. I went to the woods to feed the birdies I saved yes
On reaching home, Atlas found Venusa waiting for him in front of the house. Atlas rushed to her worriedly. "My love, what are you doing out here? Aren't you cold?" Atlas asked worriedly as he quickly took off the coat he was wearing and wore it on her. "Where did you go?" She asked, her voice breaking. Atlas cupped his wife's face. Her face held sadness and worry. Atlas sighed and embraced Venusa warmly. Venusa held Atlas tightly. Atlas could feel her vulnerability. "I'm fine, love." "Atlas..." Venusa choked on her tears. "I feel tragedy coming." Atlas withdrew. "Tragedy?" Venusa nodded. "I can feel it. It's near. It's only an amount of time before it strikes our clan. I... I've never told you this but I've been having some dreams lately." Atlas frowned. "Dreams?" She nodded. "I see our clan on fire. Today makes it the third time I dreamt about it. At first, it seemed like a silly dream but not anymore. Not after what happened to our son." Atlas's heart picked up its pace. H
Venusa stood up. Her lower belly was in pain but she had to be strong. Her people and family are in danger. She can't just lie around. Even if her limbs are cut off, she must find a way to protect them. Venusa faced Atlas. "Atlas. Can you fight them?" She asked him and he nodded. He's done it before and he'll do it again. Venusa smiled and gave him and kiss on his lips. "Fight them, protect the pack." She said with her eyes swelled with tears. "I gotta go." "My love..." Atlas couldn't complete his statement. His tears were already falling. Venusa embraced him and wept on his shoulder. "I'll be fine. I promise." Venusa said and Atlas nodded. With one final smile, Venusa turned around and disappeared. Atlas cleaned his tears and faced the approaching enemies. One turned and his eyes blazed with rage when he saw Atlas raging toward him. On getting to the wolf, Atlas grabbed him by his tail and swung him out of the way. Atlas recognized the wolf. He was Northwolf, the beta of Redmo