AthenaSebastian's relentless pursuit of alternative options continued, with each phone call to a different doctor, his hope diminishing and frustration mounting. The hours ticked by, and I could no longer contain my growing impatience."Sebastian, we were supposed to talk," I finally spoke up, my voice carrying a tinge of exasperation. “And from the past hour, all you are doing is dialling different numbers on that phone of yours and talking to different doctors. One after another.” I had been observing his frantic attempts to find a solution, but it was clear that his efforts were leading nowhere."Because that's the only way we can find a solution to this problem," He spoke, stealing a brief glance in my direction before resuming his pacing. I watched as he dialled yet another number, desperate for a different outcome. The cycle of disappointment seemed unending, as one after another, the doctors he contacted declined to take on our complex case. And what worsened Sebastian's pati
SebastianThe winds blew cold, mirroring the icy void that consumed my heart after her departure. Standing before her grave, my hands trembled and my breath quivered. The lingering warmth of her scent clung to my senses, blurring the lines between reality and nightmare. The boundaries of time and space faded, leaving me stranded in a collision of heaven and hell. Darkness permeated everything, blacker than coal.Her name etched on the tombstone intensified the rapid thumping of my heart.No, she couldn't be gone. We had vowed to fight through it together.I did not know where I was. The surroundings, though unfamiliar, held a tangible weight, leaving me unsure of where I truly stood. In this uncertain realm, everything felt strangely real. In the midst of the suffocating silence, a cry shattered the darkness—the cry of an innocent newborn. Startled, I frantically searched for the source, my eyes darting through the enveloping blackness. And then, her voice pierced the air, a haunti
AthenaHearing the sound of my voice, he froze in place, his movements suspended in time.Neither he nor I made a single motion, locked in an eerie tableau of vulnerability. The belt remained clutched tightly in his hand, a lingering symbol of his self-inflicted agony. To me, It seemed as if he staggered on the ridge of a decision, torn between turning towards me and stepping aside the instrument of pain, or retreating into the solace of avoidance. I couldn't help but sense a profound vulnerability in him, as if he lacked the strength to confront me directly.If only he knew how much it hurt to see him like this.Knowing that he was a great distance away from mustering the strength to face me, I steeled myself and closed the gap between us. Gathering every ounce of courage I possessed, I positioned myself directly before him, refusing to wait for him to turn back. Yet, his gaze remained averted, his head bowed low, fixated on the shadow cast by my form. A solitary teardrop traced a p
Athena"When will Tristan arrive?" I asked, "Are you certain he's going to show up?"So far, things seemed normal. Sebastian had shaken off that distant demeanour and was behaving as he usually did. The hesitancy in his steps, the unwavering gaze, and every subtle movement I had noticed upon my return had faded away. To be honest, it eased my concerns.I didn't want him to dwell on the past. I wanted him here, with me, in the present, fighting alongside me instead of fighting against himself. He had his reasons for feeling guilty, but it didn't mean he should spend the rest of his life burdened by that guilt and regret.He deserved happiness, and I wanted to bring him joy. I wanted to witness him living the life he had been deprived of. Despite the impending war that awaited us, I still held onto hope that amidst the chaos, a glimmer of hope would emerge and we would overcome this havoc.And if not, at least between me and our baby, our baby would survive."Yes, love. I'm certain. I'
Athena "I apologise for the other day, Tristan," Sebastian uttered, "Thank you so much for coming here today. It means a lot."Tristan offered us a smile infused with understanding. "There's no need for apologies, Sebastian. I can understand what you both are going through," His voice, gentle and calm, "These are tough times, both for you and your partner. Please believe me when I say that I am here to offer my assistance in every possible way.""Thank you, Tristan," I managed to muster a smile, although turmoil consumed me from within.Selecting this path had been an arduous decision for Sebastian and me. But we had to save our little one—this battle for survival had become inescapable."Don't express gratitude for what should be my duty. It's my job," Tristan's smile waned slightly. "However, there is something I want both of you to understand. I will invest my utmost effort, fighting tooth and nail against the complexities to ensure safe delivery and prevent any unforeseen complic
Athena "Sebastian, I..." I hesitated, searching for the right words, acutely aware of my mistake.I shouldn't have mentioned his name in front of my mate. Aaron had gone above and beyond for me, demonstrating both loyalty and thoughtfulness. But to do that, he had to compromise his loyalty and disregard Sebastian's feelings. I genuinely cared for Aaron and missed his presence. Our bond had grown remarkably strong in such a short time."Well," he sighed, mustering a smile as he sat up, a hint of melancholy shimmered in his eye as he gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "It's actually Sarah and Shelly. I thought it would be a pleasant surprise for you, a chance to catch up. I didn't realise you were expecting someone else. My mistake.""Sebastian, please don't say that," I whispered, my voice laced with guilt. "I'm sorry. I never intended to...""Hey, love," he tenderly hushed me, placing a finger on my lips. "It's okay. No need to apologise. I understand how you're feel
AaronI tapped the cigarette's ash onto the tray—a steady rhythm of addiction. My lungs ablaze, bitterness swirled on my tongue, yet the weight on my chest remained unyielding. This was the tenth one till now.Fucking hell! Of all the choices, she once again fell for that monster, disregarding everything I had done to reach a point where I could at least hope to hear a yes from her. She stuffed a friendship tag in my mouth, silencing my desires.Was it so difficult for her to let go of a monster like Sebastian Valdez? Or was it her struggle to accept me? The question gnawed at me relentlessly. It had been over a week, yet thoughts of her consumed my mind, as if her scent ran through my veins instead of blood, her voice echoed in place of my heartbeat, and her image tainted every corner of my memory.God, if only she knew the depths of my obsession and the lengths I went to claim her as my own.A frustrated sigh escaped my lips. "Fuck. I'm going insane."Just as I teetered on the edge
Aaron"Who are you?" I asked, my voice trembling with a mix of confusion and fear."Ah, it seems your memory fails you, I understand facing a loss in love does that to everyone,” he chuckled over the phone, a sinister undertone colouring his laughter. "I am…Celine's mate."What the fuck!"What?!" I blurted out, unable to process this unexpected revelation."Yes, shocking indeed," he continued with a sly tone. "Celine didn't mention me to anyone. It adds a certain element of surprise, don't you think?"There's no way this motherfucker could be Celine's mate. I never thought much of that bitch after all the despicable things she did to seek revenge on Sebastian. She sold her dignity and soul in the process."Stop bluffing and tell me who the fuck are you?!"He sighed, his weariness apparent even through the phone. "I don't like repeating myself, but it seems you're too shocked to comprehend. I am Celine's mate, and I'm well aware of the actions you've taken, including being their compan
Sebastian"Sebastian, you have to talk to Vincent. Enough is enough; I can't handle him anymore," Athena walked into the room, her hair cascading down her waist, her skin flushed with frustration, "Moreover, we don't even have enough room for toys and dresses now. There are still hundreds of things that Asher hasn't even tried yet, but he just dropped off more than ten bags full of outfits, just now! Asher's growing so fast; he won't even get to try all of it. It's all going to be a waste. God, I can't take it!"She threw her hands over her head. In her flowy white maxi dress, with no bra on, she did indeed look tempting. It might make me seem like a complete jerk, but I wasn't paying the least amount of attention to her words compared to what I was paying to her body now.Oh, how I would love to tear that dress off of her and have her on the bed, clutching onto the sheets with her silky hair sprawled all over the pillow while with each thrust, I'd drive deeper into her—it'd be a deli
Athena"Luna, there's someone who wants to meet both of you," the maid informed us."Who is it, sweetie?" I asked as I gently placed Asher in his crib. This was his second nap of the day, and in his soft snores, there was a hint of Sebastian. He had definitely taken after his father in terms of looks and a few habits."He says his name is Tristan Perez.""What, Tristan?" I asked, my brows rising in surprise, and Sebastian's reaction mirrored mine as he immediately closed his laptop."Bring him in," he said, “Right now."The maid promptly left the room.It had been four months since that fateful day when Sebastian, after apologizing to Tristan, me (even though I was unconscious at the time), and our newborn baby, disappeared. He had promised to return the following day, but Tristan had vanished without a trace. No phone calls, no visits, no messages, and no news. Cora had been devastated, but she eventually found the strength to move on, accepting the possibility that he might never re
AthenaFour Months Later"Sebastian, Vincent, I need to feed Asher. You two need to give him to me, right now!" I yelled for the second time, standing at the doorway with my arms crossed over my chest."Do you want to go to Mama?" Sebastian asked, planting soft kisses on Asher's cheeks, eliciting a chorus of giggles, "We don't think so. He's happier with Daddy and Uncle Vince.""Yeah, our little fighter is happier with us than with you, Athena. You seem to bore him all the time," Vincent chuckled, gently taking Asher in his arms and playfully nibbling on his ear, "What a big boy you are, huh?!" He planted a loving kiss atop Asher's head."Yeah, Mama's boring," Sebastian joked, pretending to lie down across Asher's lap. Asher, ever the daddy's boy, leaned in and gave Sebastian a kiss of his own, complete with a cute but slobbery open-mouthed smooch. That was his way of kissing."See, even Asher agrees with us," Vincent said with a proud grin.Goodness! When I had Asher, who could have
AthenaEverything around me felt too light, and my body felt burdened by an inexplicable weight. I was acutely aware of my own breath, the gentle touch of someone's fingers caressing my cheeks, and the faint, delicate movements of a small figure nestled in my arms.Do the departed continue to breathe? Perhaps in their consciousness, or maybe in a manner imperceptible to the living. Do the dead really breathe?Am I among the dead now? If I am, then why do I still sense that touch, one that seemed to coax my soul to the surface with every stroke? Why do I feel the presence of someone incredibly dear to me, as though a part of my essence had drawn near?Thoughts raced through my mind, clamouring for attention, until one realisation surfaced — my baby.My eyes slowly fluttered open, adjusting to the soft, ambient light. The surroundings were unmistakably familiar — our very own home, and our shared place—Our room.So....we made it?"Love," Sebastian's voice whispered beside me, and I turn
TristanI had made a mistake. A great one. One that I couldn’t undo no matter how much I wished.Cora handed me the diary as we all stood outside the hospital. The morning winds were bitterly cold or maybe, it was just the cold within me."This is Celine's diary," she said, her demeanour different today, unlike the times when she used to follow me around in an attempt to make me acknowledge the mate bond I had been denying until now. Of course, I knew the reason—she had seen the kind of person I had become.And who would ever want to be with a man like me? Worthless.I hadn't done this right. I made Athena pay a price she wasn't supposed to pay—all that pain and suffering just to see her child's face once. She had endured too much for my revenge, a revenge I shouldn't have sought in the first place. But what else could I do? I wanted to hurt Sebastian, and she was the only one who truly mattered to him in this entire world.Celine died to save Athena. Had I made her sacrifice go in va
Athena"What kind of sick joke is this?" Sebastian growled. "She can't even breathe, and you're asking her to push? Is this another one of your schemes to put her through even more suffering? Listen, Tristan, why don't you just leave? You've already succeeded, then just go.""Look, I'm not lying. I know I should be the last person you'd trust, but if you want to save her, this is the only way. It had always been this way.""Do you expect me to believe that? You're the one who brought my mate and child to this condition. And now, you suddenly change your mind and say you're willing to show a sick way to save her?""I don't know why I'm doing this, okay?" Tristan shouted. "I still don't know if I'm supposed to save your mate and child and give you a happily ever after when you've ruined hundreds of lives, including the one I loved. I'm not even sure if I won't regret my decision if I save her... but," his voice dropped low, "I don't know if I'll be able to forgive myself if she dies bec
Vincent"Where could it be?!" I scoured every corner of the room that my sister had once lived in. Each belonging I touched, felt like a piece of my soul leaving my body. She had degraded herself into being someone's... object, all to avenge a duty that was never meant to be hers in the first place.I had failed as a brother. First, I couldn't save my wife and child, and then my sister— I had failed as a brother, a husband, and a father. Perhaps, at some point, even as a son, the day I emptied all the bullets in my gun into my mother's body.What else could I have done? She wasn't the mother I once knew, or maybe she never was. She’d become just a wife, a woman consumed by revenge for her husband's death, stooping to any level she could."Fuck, I need to find it!""Do you really think she wrote about it in her diary?" Cora's voice was laced with frustration, mirroring my own. Despite her wound, she'd insisted on coming with me. Seeing her struggle and fight through the pain just to be
AthenaIn just a matter of minutes, perhaps five at most, another howl echoed from the same direction I had just fled. The urgency to rescue my child and escape intensified. The deeper I ventured, the jungle's darkness engulfed me, beyond the approaching dusk, as if the very terrain absorbed my every pawfall.Adjusting to my newfound lupine form proved challenging, despite the profound potential it held. Joy should have welled within me, had circumstances been different. Amid this life-and-death urgency for my child and me, my half-life of hell ended. The ash-hued fur now enveloping me marked my shift – bones realigning, former doubts erased. A single question remained, paramount: Can I save my baby?I did not know but I knew, I had to. No matter what, I had to.Irrespective, I surged forward with unrelenting speed, and the strength in my body grew. But the abdominal ache deepened, sapping my strides. My efforts persisted, each second ticking toward an impending reckoning. My deliver
SebastianThere was no trace of her anywhere. Every search and every query yielded negative results.Fuck this!A bead of sweat trickled down my forehead. My heart's rhythm grew louder, each passing second eroding my grasp on composure—I can't forgive myself if anything happens to her or our child. Past mistakes already burdened me, and failing them now would be unbearable."Any leads?"."No, Alpha. No sign of her," came the reply."Then search around! Why the fuck are you calling me without anything to report? Damn it!”"Apologies, Alpha. We'll expand the search."I disconnected and flung the phone away. This situation was maddening. Worry consumed me, and Aaron's tactics, unexpected. I had misjudged his feelings for Athena, forgetting the twisted core that might lead him to harm her for his ego's sake.Damn it! I should've seen this coming. Accompanied her instead of letting her go with Cora.How could I act fucking careless?!I sped up the car, the dark night heightening my fears.