Kyra-Hunter didn’t speak, but he shook his head as he stepped back. His expression was blank, but I could feel a sense of fear rolling off him. It wasn’t strong, but I could notice it.“It is okay. You won’t hurt him.” I said as I picked up Theron and cradled him in my arms.Hunter still didn’t speak, but he continued to shake his head. Instead of pressuring him to talk to me, I closed the distance between us and attempted to hand Theron to him. He once again stepped back, but he couldn’t get far. His back was now pressed against the wall behind him.His gaze remained on Theron, but I could see he wanted to flee. Before he could get the chance, I stepped forward and blocked his escape. This time, when I extended my arms to Hunter, he continued to shake his head, but his hands came out of his pockets.Taking the opportunity, I pressed Theron against Hunter’s chest. Hunter took Theron, but I could see he wasn’t sure what to do with a small baby. Smiling, I helped him adjust his arms so
Kyra-“It will be okay. We will be able to bring them home as soon as we resolve everything.” Caleb’s calming voice helped ease my aching heart.“I know.” I sniffled.“If you want, you can go stay with them for a while. The rest of us can handle things around here for now.” Hunter suggested.Lifting my head, I settled down. Hunter held no emotions in his eyes, but I noticed the way his jaw flexed. It was subtle, but it was all I needed to remember that despite everything, he did care, even if he didn’t show it. Shaking my head, I slowly stood and wiped my wrists against my face to brush away the remnants of my tears.“I will be okay.” I sniffled one more time. “I just needed a moment. The main thing I need to worry about now is dealing with Artemis.”I didn’t add that we also needed to deal with his situation. I already had an idea brewing regarding him. First, I needed to see what everyone else was up to. Turning around, I looked for Alec, but he was nowhere to be seen.“Where is Ale
Artemis-“What is wrong with you?” I asked Apollo as he entered my bed chambers.“I was told to release you, but I don’t want you to leave.” Apollo sighed as he sauntered toward me.I have been looking forward to this day for six months. I had a more profound hatred for my brother than I thought possible. Every day since I have been held captive, he has found ways to torment me. Some things were downright disgusting, while many I hoped I could soon forget.“Father said I was only being punished for six months, so let me go.” The chains around my ankles and wrists rattled as I yanked on them.“But I was having fun with you. There are still so many things I haven’t had a chance to try.” Apollo stopped in front of me as he reached behind my head and grabbed a handful of hair. “I do hope you misbehave again so I can continue spending quality time with my beloved sister.”Apollo leaned forward and pressed his face against mine as he yanked my hair back. Bile rose to my throat as he sniffed
Kyra-I thought that my idea would be good, but it turned out to be a failure. Hunter sat beside me but only ate one pizza slice and barely watched the movie. He seemed more interested in playing with his phone.I wanted to say something but didn’t know what to say. Yes, I wanted to stir a memory, but I also wanted him to relax. If he was more interested in playing a matching game on his phone, then so be it. I guess I wasn’t very interested in the movie either. I spent most of my time watching Hunter.Before I knew it, the movie had ended, and he had gotten off the blanket that was spread on the floor. Without saying anything, he cleaned up the pizza and put the pillows on the couch. Sighing, I got off the floor and started folding the blanket.I wanted to ask him to do something else with me, but he was difficult to approach. Even if I gave up the idea of trying to get him to remember the past, I didn’t know how I could get to know his current self. Small talk was out of the questio
Hunter-“What is wrong with her?” Selene asked.Instead of answering Selene, since I didn’t have an answer, I lifted Kyra in my arms and carried her to the couch. Laying Kyra on the sofa, my heart squeezed as fear consumed me. I didn’t know why Kyra suddenly fainted, but I had a bad feeling that whatever the reason was, it wasn’t good.“Do you think it is because of everything that has happened? Not only has she given birth, but she had to separate from her children. Now, there is a problem with Zeke, and Artemis is no longer detained by her father.” Caleb said as he crouched beside the couch and took Kyra’s hand.I didn’t move too far as I knelt on the ground and slowly stroked Kyra’s head. I didn’t care if I was showing my emotions now. Kyra was my bottom line.“I don’t think so.” I frowned, and my brows folded as I looked at Kyra. “With what I know about Kyra, I don’t think she is the kind of person who would cave under pressure.”“But she isn’t invincible either.” Caleb argued. “F
Hunter-I didn’t know where her room was, but I walked out of the room and up the stairs. Kicking in each door until I found Kyra’s room, I went inside and placed her on the bed. As everyone else entered the room, I climbed on the bed and kicked my shoes off.“What are you doing?” Caleb demanded and it looked as if he was on the verge of attacking me.I knew that revealing I still had access to my power could be a mistake, but I couldn’t avoid it. Right now, Kyra was in a state of sleep, which meant I had the ability to help her. Lifting my hands, I wrapped them around the cuff on my left wrist. Without much effort, I broke the cuff off and then repeated my actions with the other cuff.“How is that possible? The cuffs were infused with magic, so you shouldn’t be able to break them.” Zac rushed forward and grabbed the broken cuffs off the bed.“Sorry, but they don’t work, at least not on me.” I sighed as I lay beside Kyra, taking her hand and linking my fingers through hers.“That can’t
Kyra-“What do you want to talk about?” I asked Artemis as I searched the darkness for an aura I felt.I didn’t see anything, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that Hunter was somewhere around me. Well, it was more Ace, I sensed. I considered asking if Artemis also brought Hunter, but she seemed oblivious to another presence. Her focus was solely on me, and she seemed eerily calm.“It is simple. I just need you to make a choice.” Artemis hummed as she lifted one hand, palm up, and waved her other hand over it.When a glowing object formed in her hand, I stopped looking around and focused on the orb. “What is that?”“This is Hunter’s life force.” Artemis picked up the light blue orb shrouded in light, pinching it between her thumb and index finger.“What do you mean?” I stepped forward and instinctively reached for the orb, but she pulled it away from me.“When I made a deal with your father, I tied Hunter’s soul to an object to be able to keep him alive. This is the object I used.” Art
Hunter-When I woke up, I noticed Kyra was still asleep. Her body wasn’t seizing, which was a good sign that whatever Artemis had done to her was over. Looking at the others, I saw they were all glaring at me, other than Tristan and Selene.Tristan was looking at me with a curious expression, tilting his head to the side. I remembered he had the ability to read minds. I was able to block him when I first learned of it, but that didn’t mean I could while I was inside Kyra’s mind. With the way he was looking at me, I felt as if he knew more than what I had revealed to anyone.“Are you going to put out this fire or what?” Zac demanded.“You really should work on your people skills.” I groaned as I let the flames dissipate.As soon as the fire was gone, Caleb and Zac rushed to Kyra, crowding her and checking her body over. Rolling off the bed, I debated how much I should reveal to them. If I told them that Kyra was given a choice between Caleb and me, they would likely choose Caleb for he
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