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
AthenaWhen I woke up, I found the side of my bed empty. A frown settled on my face—I had hoped to cuddle with him a little longer. A single night of being entwined with each other didn't seem like enough when all I craved was his closeness. It hadn't been more than two seconds since I opened my eyes, and already I longed for the warmth of his heavenly scent.I got out of bed and made my way downstairs. There was a chance he might be in the living room or tending to the garden he had promised to take care of after getting an earful from Shelly.As I entered the living room, the frown returned to my face as I failed to spot any sign of him. Letting out a sigh, I considered heading to the garden, but for some reason, my gaze fell upon the path to the kitchen. A fresh aroma wafted through the air, drifting directly in my direction.It smelled like pancakes.Without a doubt, I knew it was Sebastian. He had a talent for one thing—cooking pancakes.I made my way to the kitchen, and as soon
AthenaDuring the hectic lunchtime preparations, as maids bustled around adorning the dining table and Sebastian engrossed himself in a conversation with his business associates over the phone, the face I had longed for appeared, finally answering my anticipation.Aaron stood at the doorway, out of everyone in the room, his eyes locked onto mine as if we shared a secret understanding.A soft gasp escaped my lips, barely audible amidst the chaos, and I instinctively sprinted toward him, enveloping him in a tight embrace. While Sebastian’s arms felt like love and a feeling of home, his arms offered a warmth, they exuded an inexplicable bond that transcended friendship, defying definition."You're here..." I whispered, my voice choked with emotion, "I've missed you! How have you been?"He slowly wrapped his arms around me, embracing me in return. "I've been surviving," he sighed wearily, reminiscent of a weary traveller returning home after a long journey. "And you? How's your health?" H
AthenaI gazed at Sebastian, his peaceful form nestled beside me, lost in slumber. His body lay turned over, gentle snores escaping his lips like a baby. It amazed me how something as simple as watching him sleep could evoke such indescribable emotions within me. It was oddly satisfying to watch him sleep this peacefully. A profound warmth surged through my being, embracing me like a cherished secret.My fingertips itched with a longing to trace the contours of his muscular frame, to caress the curves of his spine and the soft strands of his hair. Yet, I resisted, not wanting to disturb his well-deserved rest. He had stayed up late, providing unwavering support and solace, understanding the significance of my friendship with Aaron.The incident with Aaron still haunted my thoughts, its bitter aftermath lingering in the depths of my mind. Never did I anticipate our parting to be so acrimonious, yet fate had played its hand, and it had ended in turmoilA soft, wistful sigh escaped my li
AthenaSebastian's weight pressed me onto the bed, his lips assaulting my neck, then moving to my chest. His fingers laid a gentle caress trailed along my waist before he swiftly pulled off my tank top. Our mouths collided in a heated, passionate kiss, igniting an undeniable and irresistible desire that consumed us both. The enigmatic power of our connection left us breathless, trapped in the throes of an electrifying longing.Breaking the kiss, he looked me in the eye, "Are you sure you want to do this?"Even if my answer had been "no" all along, the tender tone of his voice and the love brimming in his eyes would have erased all doubts. The sheer depth of his care for me, the significance I held in his heart, made it impossible to resist."I am more certain than ever," I whispered, my voice barely audible, before drawing him into another scorching kiss. This time, the intensity was heightened, a fierce passion coursing through his lips. Helpless under the spell of his touch, I melt
AthenaMy hands moved to his trousers, sliding them off of him before using my feet to push the rest off as we both dove deeper into the heated kiss we had started moments ago. He bit down my lips, kissing and sucking as he continued the sweet torture with his tongue. With every passing second, a fiery inferno consumed my body, the searing heat intensifying. His hands glided across my skin in a mesmerising dance, providing a fleeting anchor amidst the overwhelming surge of insatiable longing."You're fucking beautiful, Athena," Sebastian murmured, his words brushing against my lips, “I hate it that the time we have is so short— One night will never be enough. Oh, how I wish we had a thousand lifetimes to explore your beauty! Because, damn, there's always more to uncover." His every word ignited a fiery storm of sensations within me, threatening to unravel my very core.And damn it, I knew he'd break me apart, piece by piece.Yet, in the same breath, I knew he'd be the one to put me ba
AthenaThe first rays of morning sunlight fought their way through the dense veil of clouds, casting a soft, ethereal glow upon our entangled bodies. Gentle breezes danced through the open windows, carrying with them a whisper of freshness that mingled with the warmth enveloping us. In this intimate space, time seemed to lose its meaning as we surrendered ourselves to unbridled passion.I had long lost track of the countless times I had come apart beneath him, while he, relentless in his pursuit of pleasure, had reached the pinnacle of release only three times. He was reckless and I loved it.Intense waves of pleasure coursed through my body. I clung to Sebastian, holding onto him as if he were my lifeline. Overwhelmed by the intensity of the moment, my teeth sank into his shoulder, "Sebastian..." I rode my high once again.His voice, raw with desire, filled the space between us, "God, I love you." His raspy breath caressed my face, his lips inches apart from mine. With each powerful
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.