Kyra-Hunter was the first to rush out, but I was quick to follow. I wasn’t sure why she came, but I had a feeling it was because she figured out Hunter had returned to Purgatory. Standing a few yards from the porch, she was alone, with her arms crossed over her breast.“Give it back.” Artemis demanded, her eyes practically burning with rage as she glared at Hunter.“Give what back?” Hunter asked as he extended his arm to prevent me from moving past him.“You know damn well what I am talking about.” Artemis’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t think I didn’t sense you when I returned. I thought you had come to your senses and returned to me until I heard from one of my pets that you hold the Scepter.”“What Scepter?” Hunter feigned ignorance.“Don’t play games with me. We both know what I am talking about. Give me the Scepter or else.” Artemis stepped forward but froze when Xureus walked past us and toward her. “What are you doing here?” She seemed startled by Xureus’s presence.“I should be askin
Kyra-I wanted him to tell me what he meant by his words, but he wouldn’t wake up no matter how much I tried to wake him. At a loss for what to do, I looked up at our mother standing nearby with tears in her eyes. I was about to ask her to do something, but a man suddenly appeared beside her.I didn’t know who he was, but he seemed oddly familiar. He almost looked like an older version of Xureus. Without saying a word, the man knelt beside Xureus, placing a hand on his shoulder. Blinking away the tears in my eyes, I looked at the man and realized he was a God.I remember seeing paintings of him in the books I studied, as well as a picture of him where my mother lived. I didn’t know his name, but I had a suspicion that he was Xureus’s father. Pain etched on his face as he looked at Xureus, along with a hint of guilt.“After I am done, help them forget.” The man spoke.“Done with what?” My mother asked.“Although I couldn’t be there for him while he grew up, I should at least do somethi
Kyra-“Have patience.” Caleb said for the millionth time since Hunter left with my father almost six months ago.“We haven’t heard anything since they left. What if something has happened?” I paced Caleb’s office, wringing my hands together.“If something happened, I am sure we would have received word.” Caleb stood and walked around his desk, stopping me in my tracks. “Right now, you need to calm down. It isn’t good for either baby.”My shoulders slumped as my hands moved to my stomach. It was almost twice the size it had been when I carried the twins, Kalen and Ryleigh. I still couldn’t believe I was carrying a both Hunter and Caleb’s child. I also can’t believe that it hasn’t even been a year since I lost Hunter.Now that he was back, I wished I had been able to spend more time with him. Not even three days after his return, he left again. Any day I would be giving birth, and my only wish was he could be here.In the days after the attack, Artemis was behind, I barely had a chance
Kyra-“No, and I don’t plan to. With everyone busy right now, I figured I would wait to set something up after they are born. I can’t ask everyone to drop what they are doing and come home and wait for me to give birth. It might be safer to wait until after they are born and call everyone. We can do something before my mother takes them to live with her.” My voice dropped at the mention of my children leaving me at such a young age.I wanted to be able to take care of them, hold them, and show them how much I love them. The idea of them not being here as infants broke my heart. I also knew the best thing was to send them to the only place that could guarantee their safety.After they were safe, I hoped that I could ensure their safety and deal with the looming threats. Even if I couldn’t prevent every threat, Artemis was the most pressing. Talon was too. I heard Zac say he had someone on Talon’s trail as Talon was searching for Hunter.Because of Talon, it helps ease my troubles regar
Kyra-Looking over Rex’s shoulder, my eyes widened when they landed on Hunter. A massive grin broke across my face as I couldn’t believe Hunter was back. Just in time, too. He couldn’t have come at a better time.“Hunter!” I screamed as I hit Rex repeatedly on the shoulder until he let me down.When my feet touched the floor, I shoved Rex out of the way and walked toward Hunter. I wanted to throw my arms around him, but I didn’t have that much courage. Even if I loved him and he said he loved me, it wasn’t the same. His love was likely his subconscious.He said he felt the urge to protect me, but he didn’t know why. If I had to guess, I would say that the lingering remnants of who he used to be gravitated him toward me. I wanted to think it was more than that, but he didn’t know me other than what he observed and what he was told.“Sorry, I am late. Ace told me I needed to return but didn’t tell me why. Now I understand.” Hunter’s gaze fell on my stomach, with a look in his eyes that
Kyra-“What name did you pick out?” Hunter asked.“Theron or Theo for short.” My palms felt damp as I told him nervously.For what felt like an eternity, Hunter didn’t say anything. His eyes fell to his hands, which were folded on his lap. I wouldn't say I liked this situation regarding Hunter. I remembered everything, while he didn’t remember anything about me.We loved each other, but our relationship was now complicated. It was as if we were both treading on thin ice around each other. It didn’t help that we didn’t have any contact for six months. If I could connect with Ace again, maybe I could figure out what was happening inside Hunter’s head.Since Hunter returned, Ace was no longer connected to me. I was beginning to feel lost without Ace. At least with him, I felt as if Hunter was still with me. As I looked at Hunter, I felt as if he was slowly slipping through my fingers, and I was going to lose him forever.I don’t know what happened to him during the six months he was away
Kyra-“I just know he left with Zues and they mentioned Purgatory. Whether that is where he went, I don’t have the slightest clue.” Hunter shrugged.“Maybe they went to the Lethe River to reclaim your memories?” The possibility made me smile, but I dropped my smile when Hunter groaned.“I think you need to accept the fact that I may never get my memories back. I know I have.”“But if they went to the River, maybe there is a way.”“They mentioned Purgatory. They didn’t mention anything about a river.” Hunter sounded as if he were getting annoyed. “I shall remind you that we were told that once someone loses their memory in the river, they can’t be returned.”“I still think there might be a way.” I argued, unwilling to give up.Hunter let out a long sigh, as he removed his hands from his pockets and leaned forward. With his elbows on his knees, he looked at me with eyes that I barely recognized. It was like looking into the eyes of a someone I was barely acquainted with.“Is it too much
Caleb- My hands balled into fists as I watched Hunter and Kyra’s exchange. I had eagerly waited for Hunter to return for the last six months, thinking we could all get along. I wasn’t entirely interested in sharing my mate with another man, but Hunter wasn’t just anyone. Hunter was like a brother to me, and we have gone through a lot in the past. Yet, as I listened to his reasoning, I knew that the man who held my mate’s hand wasn’t my brother. He was a stranger. Considering he didn’t have his memories, how could I be sure that his motive for returning was pure? I don’t know what changed these last six months, but the moment he returned, I instantly put my guard up around him. Perhaps it was jealousy, or maybe it was something else. I would give Kyra whatever she wanted, but at the same time, I was afraid she would be blind. What if there was a chance that Hunter was still being influenced by Artemis? He could be playing us like a fiddle for all we knew. After he returned from th
Kyra-I wanted him to tell me what he meant by his words, but he wouldn’t wake up no matter how much I tried to wake him. At a loss for what to do, I looked up at our mother standing nearby with tears in her eyes. I was about to ask her to do something, but a man suddenly appeared beside her.I didn’t know who he was, but he seemed oddly familiar. He almost looked like an older version of Xureus. Without saying a word, the man knelt beside Xureus, placing a hand on his shoulder. Blinking away the tears in my eyes, I looked at the man and realized he was a God.I remember seeing paintings of him in the books I studied, as well as a picture of him where my mother lived. I didn’t know his name, but I had a suspicion that he was Xureus’s father. Pain etched on his face as he looked at Xureus, along with a hint of guilt.“After I am done, help them forget.” The man spoke.“Done with what?” My mother asked.“Although I couldn’t be there for him while he grew up, I should at least do somethi
Kyra-Hunter was the first to rush out, but I was quick to follow. I wasn’t sure why she came, but I had a feeling it was because she figured out Hunter had returned to Purgatory. Standing a few yards from the porch, she was alone, with her arms crossed over her breast.“Give it back.” Artemis demanded, her eyes practically burning with rage as she glared at Hunter.“Give what back?” Hunter asked as he extended his arm to prevent me from moving past him.“You know damn well what I am talking about.” Artemis’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t think I didn’t sense you when I returned. I thought you had come to your senses and returned to me until I heard from one of my pets that you hold the Scepter.”“What Scepter?” Hunter feigned ignorance.“Don’t play games with me. We both know what I am talking about. Give me the Scepter or else.” Artemis stepped forward but froze when Xureus walked past us and toward her. “What are you doing here?” She seemed startled by Xureus’s presence.“I should be askin
Kyra-Instead of returning home to tell everyone about what I learned, I stayed with my mother and the children for a few more days. Until Hunter returned, there wasn’t much that could be done. I also thought I could get more answers from my mother than from the library.After two days, though, I didn’t get any helpful information. On a side note, I was able to relax and bond with my children. I learned that Ryleigh and Cosmo were very much in love and had significantly progressed in their relationship. After everything was over, they wanted to get married, which had been the highlight of my visit.I was also able to let go of the self-doubt crawling through my mind. After everything I had encountered, I realized I needed to trust myself and those around me more. If we can overcome everything we have, dealing with the rest shouldn’t be impossible. There was no need to keep myself locked in the library all the time to find answers.I’ve come to understand that I wasn’t doing anyone any
Kyra-I watched as Hades and Persephone’s eyes slowly widened. “It might work.” They muttered as their gaze turned to me.“If Hunter can deal with her, the contract will be settled once the curse is broken. However, if the curse isn’t broken, I keep the contract.” Hades spoke.“I don’t agree. If the curse isn’t broken, I still want you to end the contract.” Persephone told Hades.“That won’t happen.” Hades shook his head. “If Caleb dies, he will come to Tartarus until the curse is lifted.” His eyes focused on me. “The only way I will agree to release him is if the curse is broken. I won’t watch my brother go through the same pain any longer. Considering your life cycle this time, you can figure out how to break the curse and keep yourself alive in the meantime. Only your death will restart the cycle.”I thought about it for a while and wondered what the chances were that killing the Goddess who created the curse would break it. I understood where Hades was coming from, but the idea of
Kyra-“First, let me explain that Caleb’s name is originally Zatyx. He was one of Cronus’s children and had the closest relationship with Hades. When…” Persephone began, but I held up my hand and cut her off.“If he was Cronus’s child, why haven’t I heard of him?”“You’ll know when I get to that part.” Persephone pulled my hand back into hers. “When Cronus was overthrown, Zatyx decided he wanted nothing to do with the issues in the family. He decided to live an ordinary life and become a farmer and trained warriors.”My eyes drifted as I tried to imagine the life Persephone talked about.“He lived many years living a peaceful life. Many people admired him, and instead of keeping the crops for himself, he offered them to others who were struggling. One day, while delivering goods to help a family, he came across a female who was running away from home. Her family was trying to sell her to someone twice her age so their son could buy a house for his new family. That woman was you.”My e
Kyra-“Then you know why I am here.” I slowly turned to face Hades.“I do, but I won't give you what you want.” Hades’s jaw twitched, but his features weren’t expressive of emotion.“Why can you all leave us alone? We haven’t done anything to anyone. All we want is to live a peaceful life or at least as close as we can get.” My voice rose slightly, but I remained calm.I was starting to regret learning who I was. If I could go back and start over, even if I had to give up the family I currently had, I don’t think I would want anything to do with Gods. If anything, I wish I could go back in time and stop my father from making a deal with Artemis.It seems like it has been one disaster after another since then, and I wasn’t going against other werewolves or even Lycans. I was going against the Greek Gods. I might be part God, but this was going above and beyond my abilities.“I am doing this for your own good, as well as Caleb’s. If you knew the truth, you would understand.”“I don’t kn
Kyra-The first three days after Hunter left went by rather quickly as I was able to keep myself busy. Since there wasn’t much I could do other than wait, I spent much of my time helping Caleb with issues that had come up in other Packs. When I wasn’t assisting Caleb, I was in my art studio.Although I was worried about Hunter, my father, and my brothers, I had plenty to keep busy. Mostly, I was concerned about Caleb. He wasn’t gone like the others but had acted weird since Hades allowed me to return.In my state of absentmindedness, as I tried to analyze what happened to Caleb, I reached out to dip my paintbrush in more paint. Instead of dipping the brush, I accidentally knocked over the tray and barely managed to catch it before a paint disaster ruined the floor. The paintbrush fell, but I managed not to spill all the paint.Shaking my head, I picked up the brush and arranged the tray so it didn’t tip over again. My attention adjusted to the canvas I had painted on. To my surprise,
Hunter-Caleb and I returned home a few minutes later, but Zeus didn’t follow. As soon as we arrived, we explained that Kyra would return before midnight. We didn’t tell them about the deal Caleb made, but thankfully, they didn’t ask too many questions.Instead of sitting around and waiting, we all started working on trying to discover how the Scepter worked. I didn’t pull it out again since Hades warned me it was dangerous around the others. I did take out the book, which I had tucked inside my coat, but we didn’t find anything useful inside. It seemed that I would need to figure out the Scepter on my own.Before we knew it, midnight was upon us. “Where is she?” I asked when I checked the time.“We still have a few minutes before midnight. Maybe he is waiting until the last minute before returning her.” Xureus said as he propped his feet on the coffee table.Instead of gathering in the library, we stayed in the living room to discuss the only book we had regarding the Scepter. As exp
Hunter-“What are you doing?” I demanded shortly after I took Caleb to meet Hades.“Doing what I need to.” Caleb’s tone was flat, and his eyes looked as if he was utterly defeated.“I told you what was going on, but I thought we were going to discuss things. I didn’t expect you to agree as soon as we arrived.” I grabbed his shoulder and tried to pull him away from Hades.Hades was holding a scroll that had been unraveled and had to be at least ten meters long. I knew Caleb would willingly sign the contract and give up his soul, but this wasn’t what I had in mind. As soon as we arrived, Caleb demanded that Hades produce the contract and they make the deal.Hades didn’t waste any time. A scroll suddenly appeared in his hand, and when he opened it, it dropped to the ground and scattered. The text on the scroll was in a language I couldn’t read, but I would need a magnifying glass even if I could.Without asking what the contract would entail, Caleb had stepped forward and reached for the