Chapter 4

After hitting Darius where it hurts the most and satisfying my personal resentment, I returned back to the castle.

It felt light, seeing him miserable was only pleasuring me for now. It was not hurting me in the slightest, it only revived old scars.

And the urge to make him feel the same as I did burned.

As I was walking down the corridor, humming to myself, Jax called me from behind.

“Where were you?” 

He was not pleased with my disappearance, knowing where I must have gone.

Stopping in my tracks, I sighed to regain my cold posture.

“Nowhere. Just some errands.” I responded coldly, glancing over my shoulder. 

Coming closer, his voice went lower, narrowing his eyes in ire.

“You went to see him, didn’t you?” He hissed in a whisper, looking here and there if someone was listening or not. 

“So what? I got permission from My Lord.” 

Shrugging my shoulders, I moved back, grimace affixed on my face, not liking his interference in my matter. 

“Why don’t you understand, Athena? Alpha Darius is devastated at this point, he could do anything to you and your life is important.” He scolded, curling his hand in a fist.

I frustrated him with my actions already and it was his duty too to ensure I live, he was going to be held questionable if I die. 

And My Lord Hadrian won’t let me die. 

“I know. And I can protect myself, Jax. Stopping worrying needlessly. I can handle myself.” I tried to speak softly, putting my hand in the air to help him relax and calm down. 

“Ah you don’t say. I am well aware of how greatly you are capable of handling yourself.” He scoffed, taunting me which made me growl. 

“Those times are gone, I couldn’t allow myself to become vulnerable now.” I reminded him seriously, hating his mock.

“We will see.” He challenged, curling his lips from one side.

"Tsk. Don’t bother me, I don’t need you now. I am fine on my own.” 

Scoffing, I turned to leave, pressing my teeth together to control myself and not take his words to my heart. 

I began to walk away, followed by the sound of his loud exhale, filled with worry for me for the path no return I had chosen.

“Whatever you do, don’t die.” He said worriedly.

I chuckled dryly, raising my hand to wave it in the air for reassurance. 

“I won’t. Not this easily at least.” 

With an empty smile I walked going and left for my room and relaxed for the rest of the day and not take whatever happened to my day or allow it to shatter my heart. 

But, I had questions…

Where were these tears for me? 

Where was this love for me?

Where was this dedication for me?

Were we truly nothing in his perception?

But, there was no point in asking- If it held any meaning, we wouldn’t be here today.  

And with those thoughts filling me with agony, I spent the next week. 

Following everyone's words, I didn’t take a step out of the castle, I remained inside, giving him time to register Blue’s death and think what he would do to break me.

“Is he going to come today?” 

I asked My Lord who was on the patio staring into nothing, lost in deep pondering no one was unable to encrypt.

He sure was mysterious.

“I was looking around for him but I guess he didn’t come back to hear the decision. He knew it wouldn’t be in his favor.” I mumbled, shrugging my shoulders.

“How’s Darius doing?” He asked, taking a sip of his tea, exhaling. 

“How would I know?” Mumbling, I frowned. 

“Did you check on him?” He asked again, turning his attention towards me. 

“I was busy. Didn’t have the time nor I wanted to at the moment.” I replied coldly.

“Or no one let you?” A teasing smirk came to the corner of his lips.

“Both.” I hummed, turning my head away to ponder what I should do or how long I had to wait.

“I see. Okay. Be careful.” He sighed, gesturing to me with his hand to leave him alone in his thoughts and go back.

“I will be, My Lord.” 

With a bow, I left, wondering where he might be. 

Lost in my thoughts, wanting to see how he must be dealing with his depression which brought a smirk on my face.

Ah, how desirable it would be.

As I was leaving to meet another hunter for a weekly report, a large pair of hands appeared before me, covering my mouth and throat and pushing me towards the empty corridor.

“What the- mhm!”

Before I could react, I was pressed harshly against the cold wall followed by a familiar strong body behind me.

Hovering over me with my breaths and voice captured in his hands.  

“Daring me to touch you huh?” 

Growling, his low, husky tone came, pressing himself harder against me which suddenly made my heart race.

His touch made my heart skip a beat. I hated it but his closeness rushed an unwanted sensation which I resisted. 

“How does it feel now-” 

Leaning down to my ears, his lips brushed against my skin, forming goosebumps over my skin as I was unable to move or deny him.

“When I am breathing in your ears?” He whispered seductively, biting my earlobe, sending a shiver down my spine.

Unable to breathe, my senses were falling into a blur. 

Narrowing my eyes at him when his burning body compressed me, releasing low but heavy breaths in my ears. 

“Oh? Can’t breathe now? Feeling powerless? Tch, tch, tch.”

Shutting my eyes to find a way to catch my breaths but he decided to sprinkle some so-called mercy and let go of me.

“Here. I will let you breathe.” 

Gasping, I coughed for air, my face was red from the lack of air, my senses were blurry while he took a step back.

Pressing my hands on the table, I took rapid breaths to fill my lungs and realize that I provoked him to go wild and display his damn authority.

“Can’t let you die after all, hmm?”

Folding his arms at his chest, he smirked sinfully but the second I was back to my strength, I sent a glare at him. 

“Fucking asshole.” 

Growling, I turned to him but my truthful comment hurt his ego, causing him to slam his one hand on the wall to trap me.

“Shh.” 

Pressing his index finger deeper on my lips, his tall and large form hovered over me, returning the same glare.

“Don’t curse at me. You started this. You were indulging in playing with fire, didn’t you?” 

Losing his breaths, I could see his fiery fire clearly and as far as I knew him; he was not the man of hasty actions. 

He hadn’t recovered yet from the trauma.

Leaning lethally closer to my face, he stared dead into my eyes. But I refused to back down or be startled too but never thought I would see a day where we would be like this.

 “How was that now? You escaped once, not again. I look forward to the day you will break. We both know your heart is weak, Athena.” 

Curling his lips from one side wickedly, he challenged me, almost out of breath. 

“I will look forward to it too because at this moment-” I began to speak.

Staring back dead into his eyes, I grabbed his collar, bringing his face closer to mine, whispering seductively in his ears.

“I see the reason why I am what I am today.”

“Don’t make me open my mouth, Athena. I certainly don’t want to remind you how you begged me, do I?” He scowled, taunting me which hitched my breath.

Turning my head to the side in disgust, I burned those memories.

Smirking at my repulsion, he whispered back seductively in my ears.

“Please, Darius, accept me, I need you, I love you, I want you. Fuck Blue and become mine, hmm?”

Curling my hands in a fist, my heart skipped a beat. The last thing I wanted to remember but I won’t allow those memories to ravage me.

“I was naïve. I was unaware of your reality, Darius. Call that moment the worst moment of my existence.” I growled, lifting my heavy orbs.

I won’t look away, not anymore. 

“Not so amusing now, is it?” He taunted, snickering to see how I was trying to stay strong.

“It would be a matter of time.” I smirked, holding my head high in pride.

I was not the woman he could crush anymore. I won’t fucking let him break me.  

“Do you think that just because you have his protection you can escape me?” 

Mocking, he raised an eyebrow in amusement.

A few centimeters apart, glaring down at my soul to reflect what he intended to do with me without mercy. 

“Not this easily, Athena. I will make sure to steal you right from his grasp. No one- I repeat, ‘no one’ can stop me.” 

Enunciating furiously, he pulled away abruptly, running his hand in his hair, making them messy.

He pointed his finger in contempt at me, declaring his intentions before walking away. 

“I swear I will make you pay for killing my Blue.”