Athena's POV "Is there a problem?" he asked as I turned around."Of course not. My wolf needs a little stretch, nothing more," I responded, while hiding my nervousness.If Tyler knew what I was about to do, he was sure to stop me."Alright, My Queen. I'll be here if you need anything," he replied while I continued down the hall. "So you think he's watching us?" I asked Sue as I left the first turning to my right."Very possible. Abort this mission, Athena. I see no point in going ahead. He killed your mother but he's apologized," Sue scolded."But I'm not doing this to avenge mother's death. I'm doing it for them.""Have you thought about what would happen to them if they're left to wonder alone in the forest. They could get killed by some rogues or even the Vampire Lord.""At least I gave them the chance to choose a better life. They would have to fight just like I did," I replied as I turned around to confirm I wasn't being followed by Tyler."You and I know your survival was out
Athena's POV"No you didn't, Athena. You're just saying that to get me angry and it's working!" Dante roared as he walked up to me and held my shoulders.My eyes began to water as I saw his tears,"Did you let them go?" he asked, forcing each words out of his mouth with gritting teeth as his eyes penetrated me.I affirmed by nodding my head, holding back the tear that was begging to drop. "Why did you do it without my permission?" he asked as I felt his grip tighten on my shoulders."Because I had to. They deserve a better life as much as I do," I replied as my voice began to break."You know what I think. I think you're sick, Athena. You have no idea of what you've done. I should never have marked you as mate from the very beginning," he spat while he turned to the guards,"Tyler! Send every troop you can get and make sure you bring them back to me alive. Get out," he yelled at them as they stormed out of the hall.I didn't understand why he reacted with so much intensity as he kept
Athena's POV We rode for what seemed like two hours as the sun became more scorching. Finally, the chariot halted in front of a modest bungalow with blue-painted walls and a white roof. A beautiful garden surrounded the house. I exhaled aloud and shut my eyes for a few seconds, wondering what next was coming my way."We've arrived, My Queen," Tyler bowed beside me as he waited for me to make the first move.An old woman stood outside the front door with wrinkles all over her face that intensified with the broad smile on her lips. "That's my mother. You'll like it here," Tyler added as I finally got down from the coach."Oh Tyler, I'm so happy to see you. I knew you would come," the old woman said as she hugged Tyler and stretched to place a kiss on his two cheeks."Mother, It was the king who sent me," Tyler Whispered as I stood there watching a family reunion under the terrible heat. I tried to lighten my expression as I managed a smile while she walked up to me. I reached for a
Athena’s POV"Athena... it's you," he whispered. I reached out for a tighter hug. His beards were all gone but there was no way I could mistake those eyes for another."You know each other?" Tyler's mother asked as she watched us exchange pleasantries.The Shaman chuckled as I guided him toward a double-sitter sofa in the living room. "It's a long story, Becca. She was one of my students in my old pack," the shaman explained as I sat beside him.I couldn't keep my jaws together as I was both delighted and shocked to see him. "How did you get here?" I asked. It suddenly felt like a family reunion."Is the king aware of your previous status in our old pack?" I added.It didn't look like he was ready to answer any question."You need to go easy on those questions," Tyler's mother, Becca, added as she held on to her husband.I stared at both of them, wondering how much Dante knew about me."King Dante knew I was the Shaman of Lion's Mane pack. I was among the few he spared the day of the
Athena's POV"What?" I exclaimed. An intense shock ran through my spine, making me stare vaguely at his bald head. My mind couldn’t digest what I just heard.Mr. Styles was my father. Not that I regarded him as one.He kept wailing and holding on to my arms when all I expected of him was to clarify the bomb of a news he threw at me without caution.“Your mother died the night she had you. I was left alone with a kingdom to rule and a child to look after.” He was finally talking, although with a broken voice.Most of his words were slathered with persistent sniffing and coughing, but not enough to miss any detail.My mother died? Who then was Olivia Styles? What nonsense was the Shaman speaking? My mind raced, an obvious confusion written all over me.“Then there was a war after I announced the death of your mother. I was drunk that night. Our pack was still a budding pack and there were just a few warriors. We couldn’t win the battle.” he paused and resumed his incessant sob. I stood
Athena's POV A strange heat piled up within, slowly I gained back consciousness. With a throbbing head and a weak body that couldn't hold me up for long, a smiling face was the last thing I expected to find on my mate's face."From now on, you order me around until my new love comes home," Dante remarked casually.My brows were furrowed, listening to him, with pounding heart. Was this a rejection? But, his expression didn't complement his words."Our child is growing right here," he said, placing his hands on my belly.My eyes were wide open, joyful tears streaming down my face. I was becoming a mother. I've been given a chance to correct the mistakes my parents made.I caressed my belly, smiling sheepishly. "That explains why I've been feeling sick," I said. I managed to get out of bed, with Dante's help. It felt like a lump was fighting to come out of my throat. I held on to the bathtub, greenish liquid pouring out of my mouth. and splashing all over the white ceramic."What ca
Athena's POVDante's voice grew louder as I climbed down the flight of stairs, heading toward the direction of the sound."You don't give them a chance and come here to complain about it. Strengthen the borders and go after them!"My heart began thumping, his temper grew wild.Something must be terribly wrong for my mate to react with such intensity, and it only made me more frightened."I paddled slowly to the last staircase. I gasped, Dante bumped into me in his rage."I gave you a simple instruction. I said stay put in bed. Didn't you see the maid I hired for you?" he rose his voice at me.I stood there in shock, with my jaws dropped."I was worried that something might be wrong. I heard..." He interrupted me before I could complete my words that came out broken."And what if something's wrong? Can you help with that growing in you?" he roared, eying my belly like I was wearing filth."I'm the Queen and this is your child. You inducted me, so I deserve to know what happens in the
Athena's POV It was a matter of life and death. There was no one around to save me, I had to help myself out of the situation or get killed. He made no attempt of getting off me soon. I played the only trick I knew might work, one I learnt from training in my old pack-- play dead. It was a risky venture if the attacker continued exacting pressure, but I tried it regardless as I was losing my strength drastically. I stayed still, I released my grip on his thick arm and acted dead. He got up from me instantly, a drop of his beading sweat fell on my face as he turned to face the door. I reached for the lamp on the drawer and aimed at his head. It hit him on the side of his face as he wailed in pain, glass shattering on the floor as I crawled out of the room hurriedly...panting. "Dante! Somebody help!" I screamed out and in the mindlink. I was approaching the study when I saw Dante rushing towards me. I pointed at the door from which I came as he squatted beside me, "what happene