SebastianI stared at her in disbelief, unable to believe what I was hearing. For those first few seconds, I couldn't trust my own ears.She was asking me to...mark her.Damn it all. That was the very fantasy that had consumed my thoughts since the moment I laid eyes on her. To bury my fangs in her tender neck and leave my indelible mark, forever declaring her as mine."What did you say?" I managed to ask, needing confirmation that this wasn't some figment of my imagination but a genuine request in the real world.A smile teased her lips as if she understood the perplexity I felt. She turned toward me, her hand reaching out to graze my cheek, leaving a trail of tingling sparks in its wake. "I'm asking you to mark me."Holy shit! I had never not believed in heavens and angels, but today, all my convictions were shattered. There existed no realm or inhabitants within it, apart from the one I beheld with my own eyes—Athena. She was my heaven. If I were to worship her until my dying breat
Athena"So what does this actually symbolise?" I asked, tracing the mark on my skin as I stared at myself in the mirror. His mark was quite different from the ones I had seen before. Each wolf's mark was meant to be unique, carrying their claim and personality. However, I couldn't quite figure out the meaning behind the half-dark moon on my skin, slowly fading into black fragments and then disappearing altogether.It was beautiful but mysterious."It symbolises..." His tone remained serious as he came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his hands on my belly. A gentle smile played on his lips as his eyes met mine, and a small chuckle escaped from him. "Me.""Of course, I know that!" I wanted to scold him, but seeing the childlike grin on his face made it difficult to maintain a serious expression. "What I'm asking is, what does that black fading moon really mean?"I watched as he gazed at my mark, his right hand lifting to gently stroke the spot with his index
Athena"Aaron," his name slipped from my lips, confusion shrouding my mind. "What are you doing he—"I never got the chance to speak as I noticed Aaron's gaze snap towards Tristan before even acknowledging Sebastian or me. "So you're that motherfucker."And then, in the blink of an eye, it all happened. Aaron stormed towards Tristan, grabbed him by the collar, and hurled him against the wall. My eyes flew open wide with horror as Tristan's body collided with the wall, causing paintings to crash to the ground and glass to shatter.Tristan groaned in pain, blood seeping from his mouth as he struggled to regain his composure. Despite being in a state of overwhelming shock, I ran toward him. "Tristan...""You're the one who called me, aren't you?!" Aaron shouted, attempting to lunge at him once again, but this time Sebastian intervened, pushing him away forcefully."Stop it, Aaron! What the fuck do you think you're doing?!"Confusion was etched all over Tristan's face as he asked me, "Who
Tristan"Are you sure you're okay, doc?" Sebastian asked, concern flashing in his eyes—a rare sight and gesture from someone like him. Perhaps the removal of the curse had truly brought out the best in him or maybe it was just Athena. "Yes, I'm sure," I reassured him. "I've been in plenty of accidents, and this is the least of the worst that could happen. Although, I must admit, your beta has quite a temper.""I thought you didn't know who he was." Sebastian's feet halted, worry now replaced with curiosity and a hint of suspicion he tried hard to conceal. Knowing his observant nature, I was aware that he had caught on.Damn it!"I'm good at reading people, Sebastian," I brushed it off with a chuckle. "The way you were commanding him, it seemed like you're very used to it. And certainly, if he were someone ordinary, you wouldn't tolerate so much. I know you."The suspicion didn't vanish immediately, but after a few seconds, he too brushed it off with a laugh. "Okay, that's impressive.
Aaron"In that case, you're going to die too, doctor," I seethed, my rage crawling up my skin like venomous spiders. I was ready to explode at any moment; the thought of anyone harming her made me want to destroy everything. "She is mine, and anyone who dares to hurt her shall die.""My life's not so dear to me anyway, Aaron," he had the audacity to laugh. His calmness and casual tone made me wish I could tear his throat out and pull every last strand of veins from his body. "But her life is dear to you, isn't it? I know it is.""You fucking—""Shouting and cursing won't get you anything. In fact, everything you do will be futile because I have already seen how Athena kicked you out of her mate's house today," he continued, his tone mocking. "She chose to trust an unknown doctor over you. That's how little importance you hold in her life. You are useless to her, just like you were to everyone else.""Cut the crap. I know what you're trying to do, but it's not going to work," I retorte
Sebastian"You okay?" I asked her, my concern overflowing as I repeated the question for what felt like the tenth time, unsure of the credibility of her previous replies."Yes, Sebastian," she sighed, snuggling closer to me. Her actions were a silent reassurance, telling me not to worry, "I am okay." She buried her head in the crook of my neck, her hands finding their place on my chest, undoubtedly feeling the rapid thumping of my troubled heart."Should we find another doctor?" "No, Sebastian," she shook her head,"Don't take Aaron's words seriously. I don't think Tristan has anything to do with Celine, and even if he did, why would Aaron receive the call? Shouldn't it have been you receiving a call from Celine's mate?"Well...there could be something more to this situation."Yeah, you're right," I nodded, attempting to hide my doubts and put on a smile on my face, "Let's move past this, okay?"It was a challenging task to conceal my worry when it consumed my every thought. The fear
Athena"Is it necessary for you to go today?" I asked, gazing at Sebastian as he prepared for some mundane task he seemed indifferent to sharing with me. "Can't you stay?" I remained seated in the middle of the bed, wrapped in the cosy embrace of the blanket, probably looking like a burrito, longing for the warmth of his arms.God, it would be so much better if he agreed that we should cuddle rather he was getting ready for an unknown agenda. I was pretty sure it had to be some stupid work in his office. It was evident that he had become a workaholic, often toiling away late into the night. "I'll be back before you know it, Love," he chuckled, stealing a glance at me through the mirror. "In the meantime, you could read a book or call Sarah or Shelly. I'm confident I'll find the information I need within an hour.""What is it, huh? What could possibly be more important than me right now?" I snapped, my frustration seeping into my voice, almost glaring at him, "I wanna know."A throat
Athena"Sebastian..." My voice trembled as I looked into his eyes, desperation and fear etched on my face. "The baby...""I know, my love," he whispered, his voice filled with understanding, his hand soothingly rubbing my back. "I have already noticed.""We won't have much time this way," I said, my voice choking with tears as I buried my face into his chest, trying to suppress my sob, "I thought I could be strong in this battle. I thought I could face the challenges with courage. But losing three, or maybe even more, months... It's breaking me. How can I stay strong? How can I protect our baby? If they enter this world prematurely, as we fear, they will face so many difficulties. They will be an outcast and have to rely on their own."I could not stay strong this way....The worry gnawed at me from within."Nothing will happen, my love. Even if time is against us, I will do everything to protect you," he said, cupping my face in his hands. "I won't let anyone take you or our baby awa