Asteria POV.I wake up groaning. I open my eyes and take in the unfamiliar surroundings. This isn’t the institute or any pack. Where am I?I try to move and wince as I clutch my side. I look down and see I’m in a long white shirt and some shorts. I lift the hem of the shirt and see a covering over my side. I poke it and boy, was that a bad idea and gasp at the pain. Fuck!The room is white with one wall that is dark grey. The cover on the bed is white with a black trim. It is so soft and cool. I lean back down as I look around. I can smell something in the air. Something sweet and spicy at the same time. I look towards the window and hear the water. My eyes widen as I rip the covers away and scoot towards the end of the bed and I pull myself up to stand. I stagger and fall to my knees and I scream, clutching my side. I move my hand and see blood. Great, just great.I lean my head back against the bed. When the door opens and I turn my head and sneer at the intruder, when I see it’s Ca
Asteria POV.It has been a few weeks since I handed the title to Artemis. I have been getting stronger. Carter has been taking care of me and I appreciate his efforts. I have discovered something called daytime television.It is strange to be mortal again and even though I have walked amongst the humans for centuries; it is still going to be hard to get used to the fact that I have no powers, nor can I shift. I am a human, the same species I hate and despise the most.I press the button on the remote control and find a steaming service and snuggle down on the sofa as I watch the opening credits of a film. Is this what humans do all day? As much as I want to leave here and find something to do. I have had to get used to my new reality.“What you watching?” I look over at the back of the sofa. I thought being here in Carter’s home would be torture, but I was wrong. He is a good person, and I judged him harshly at first and I shouldn’t have.“Erm, I think it’s called Predator.” I say as
Asteria POV.I’m currently sitting in Carter’s home office as he shows me the statistics of his hauls and I feel myself growl at the numbers in front of me.“You said these lanes are sustainable?” I ask as I look from the high numbers on the paper to his face and he nods his head and I scoff.“They aren’t. The lane you are saying is sustainable isn’t. If I’m being honest with you, none of the lanes that surround Moonlight Cove are sustainable. Who told you they were?” I ask as I look into his eyes and see his eyes flash with his Lycan. Lykos, he isn’t angry with me for severing the bond with them. He understands. I wake some morning in the furry arms of him. At first I screamed and tried to fight, but I am a weak human with no fangs or talons, so I let him hold me and nothing more.“The game and fishing made sure they are sustainable.” He replies and I chuckle, shaking my head at his naivety.“They lied to you. I have been swimming these waters for a very long time and I can tell you
Asteria POV.I leave the car with Carter at my side as we walk towards his company, Montgomery Fishing Corp. the last time I was here. Well, let’s say it was a bloody encounter. I take a few breaths as I walk in behind Carter.I walk with my head held high and my shoulders relaxed. I’m wearing the pencil skirt and blouse Carter brought for me, as well as the black high heels. My hair in is a messy bun on the top of my head and I’m wearing glasses to finish the look. According to Carter, it will divert the attention from my violet eyes. I didn’t argue; I know I will be shown hostility because it’s not everyday you see someone with violet eyes.I walk side by side with him as the workers in the office stop and look at us; I don’t even glance at them as we walk past them. Carter says his hellos and I just look around, taking in my new surroundings.Ok Asteria, you can do this! I say as Carter senses my unease. He steps in front of me, blocking me from the others in the room.“You will be
Carter POV.It has been a few weeks now since Asteria has begun working at the company. She thinks I don’t see the hostility she has been shown by my staff; she is wrong.Jerome has helped where he can. She showed us what we missed and how we can all benefit from what she had suggested. It is safe to say that Jerome has seen her in a different light.I enter the office and hear her giggling at something Jerome has said, and she is explaining something. I stand and listen to her.“No, we sometimes use spears, not nets.” She says as she shows him something. I watch as he looks at her like she is crazy.“But the blood, doesn’t that attract sharks and other predators?” I move further into the room and listen. Asteria laughs, holding her belly.“Sharks and other predators. Gods above, the sirens are an apex predator. In both the water and on land. Animals on land and in the sea know this. The sirens create balance. We only hunt what we need. The sirens don’t need to use nets to catch the f
Asteria POV.I’m standing on top of a hill looking over the glistening blue waters. I hear laughter coming from behind me. I turn and see a black-haired little girl running with a boy. I smile at the image.“Janny, stop! I can’t run that fast!” the little girl laughs as she pushes faster away from the boy. They both run past me and I follow behind them down the hill towards the village. I stop in my tracks when I see her. My mother.She catches the girl who I know is my much younger self as I try to run past her. With a squeal, she sweeps me up into the air, away from my brother.“There you are, my little sea flower. Where have you been?” she coos and kisses my cheek before she sets me on my feet.“Janny was chasing me. We were racing. I won, mamma. I did it.” I laugh as Janis picks me up and hugs me. Before they take off again. I walk closer to my mother and look at her.She is beautiful, brown eyes and olive skin, long deep brown hair that is nearly black, the sun catching red under
Carter POV.Watching Asteria fight and argue with her father was something else. I knew she needed to get this off her chest, so I wasn’t going to intervene. I know Asteria can handle herself. Even so, I will be there for her.“Asteria is going to leave.” Lykos says in my head with a whimper when I see her turn to walk back to the steps.“We will be there no matter what she needs, but she isn’t leaving.” I say to him as he hums. Asteria moves closer to me, and I wrap a blanket around her shoulders. Her full lips are slightly blue, and her legs are shaking. I move aside for her, and she follows me in. I move towards the kitchen and make us both a drink.She is sitting on the sofa. Her elbows were on her knees with her face in her hands.“Asteria, I got you this.” I hand her the mug, and she smiles at me and takes it. And visibly shivers with the heat of the mug and sits, bringing her legs up onto the sofa. I sit beside her but give her some space. She blows the steam from the mug and t
Asteria POV.Horror and shame wash over me as Carter places me in the shower. The slight cramping in my stomach makes me groan out as I clutch my stomach.“It’s ok Asteria. This is normal for human women.” I snap my head to him as he enters the shower behind me. I try to scramble away, but he stops me.“Look at me, Asteria, you have nothing to be ashamed about. This is called a period. It is your monthly cycle.” I blink rapidly at his words as I tilt my head to the side.“Period, what is its purpose? Why does it hurt?” I ask him as I whimper. I move to the floor and curl up in a ball as the hot water beats down on me, offering me very little relief.“Every month, human women go through this cycle. It is completely normal. The purpose is to shed the old lining.” I look up at him.“What old lining?” I ask through gritted teeth as the dull ache continues. Whatever this period thing is, I feel like I’m dying and I’m sure I will with the amount of blood that I am losing.“Your womb, when y