Atlas’s POVI couldn’t believe what I was hearing. How could Simon be mated to Athena? It didn’t seem possible. After all, he was gay. He had been married to a man.A man that he met at my ball! Ryan mutters. He sounded almost annoyed. “I can’t help it, Simon. The Moon Goddess obviously paired us together for a reason. It's not my fault.""There could have been a chance, but I can't protect you now!""You're not even going to try?"“Shut up. Just shut up you stupid woman!” Simon growls at her, obviously having enough of her shit.“I’m sorry that I am not what you wanted. Let me guess, you wanted someone with a dick!” Athena snaps back. "Well, I'm sorry about that, so suck it up!"“Whatever is going to happen between us doesn’t matter if Atlas kills you.”The sentence was perfect timing. Stepping into the small room. I see Athena sitting on the edge of a sofa. Her face in her hands. Her chocolate brown hair draped down over her. Simon had his back to me. His hands on his hips. A red t
“You won’t, you will never do it!” Athena screams as I drag her across the ground. “Shut your fucking mouth.” I yell over her whimperings.“Then just kill me. I can't bare to see you fuck us over.”“No Athena. You will see what happens. You will watch as I take over the entire world and you will hear all of it.”“Please, just let me die.”“No fucking chance.” I threw her body into the dungeon where Aria had been locked away. Athena’s body hits the stone floor as she rolls across the ground.“Please, Atlas, please just let me…”“Alpha Atlas.” I mutter. She was a traitor, she wasn’t anything other than that.“Alpha Atlas, please just let me die.” She continues to beg.“No chance.”I slam the door of the dungeons shut. Slipping the key into the lock. She would never get to see any of the pack again. All she would ever get is the information of how the world was changing. How I was becoming the King that no one could stop. How I would be unstoppable,I walk down to the gates, waiting for
No one saw the war coming, least of all me. There were no warnings, no clues. It all happened suddenly in the middle of the night. I fell out of bed, landing on my back sending pain and panic running through me. Ourpack is being attacked! Jumping to my feet, I knew I had to move quickly. Glancing at the clock I see that it is barely one in the morning. Shaking my head, I hastily pull a jumper on. I was a wolf, well an unshifted one, but it was still cold outside. Pulling my trusty running trainers on, I grab the emergency backpack out the bottom of my cupboard. Searching the packhouse, I find it empty. My father, mother and my siblings were already gone, why hadn’t they woken me?? The noises of the attack outside were deafening. The screams and the cries of women and children echoed across the grounds and throughout the packhouse, the smell of blood already filling the air and invading my senses. Peering through a small window, I was shocked by the scene unfolding in front of m
Aria's POV “LET ME GO YOU ASSHOLE” Seren was screaming at the man while trying to swipe at him with her half shifted claws. It wasn’t making the slightest bit of difference. The guy was just too far out of reach and I tell her to be quiet as we were both dragged towards the dungeons, at least we were not dead! “At least I am fighting them” she retorts back. “There is no point Seren, we are well and truly outnumbered, we have lost!” I mutter back at her. Seren had always been so quick to judge my lack of urgency, but the truth was, I liked to think things through, I liked puzzles, I Iiked to solve them logically. Being held hostage was no different. The man throws me into the dungeon after my sister, sending me rolling across the stone floor. I collide into Seren who quickly helps me up and wraps her arms around me, pulling me in tight against her large chest. We didn’t have the best relationship, but having just watched our parents being murdered, it was like she knew she had to
Aria's POV The man that I had been deeply in love with was not the man standing in front of me. He was cruel, he was evil and he was still refusing to look directly at me. “It’s time to make a decision Aria,” I could tell he was losing his patience with me as I refused to answer, his hands raking through his hair as I keep my mouth clamped shut. Death was staring me in the face but I no longer cared. I knew that I would never see my parents again, chances of me seeing my brother and sister alive were long gone. At this point, it would be better if he just killed me. “ARIA, answer me!”, The commanding voice runs through me, and in that moment I realise that Ryan isn’t just anyone, he was the Alpha of Crimson Pack. My jaw drops as his eyes bore into mine, fighting back the tears as he rips me up to my feet, he pulls me across the grounds but we were not heading back towards the dungeon. My feet move quickly as I try to keep up with Ryan, but because of his height, I end up bei
Aria's POV Flashback - Three months ago. Charlotte White, the Beta’s daughter, appeared after chemistry class. Rounding the corner, I walk straight into her. It wasn’t intentional and honestly, I would give anything not to be near Charlotte. Even though I was the daughter of the Alpha, it didn’t stop her harassing me. Today, Charlotte had her ash blonde hair slicked back and pulled up in a high ponytail. She had been busy talking on the phone when I walked into her. The moment she sees that it is me, an evil grin appears. The phone slips from her hand, the screen shattering as it hits the floor. “You bitch, do you know how much that costs?” her arms fold over her chest as she scowls at me. “Of course you wouldn’t, you don’t even have a phone, wait until my father hears about this!” Anyone would think that Charlotte was the Alpha’s child by the way she acted. Charlotte’s father was my father’s Beta. I knew I would get into trouble. Charlotte would spin some lie about me, and I wou
Aria's POV Flashback- three months ago Gasps rattle through the silence at my announcement. “The Blood Oath?” my father questions. The Blood Oath was not to be taken lightly. An ancient and sacred oath. Known by very few, the Alpha was surprised I knew about it. He pulls his me aside, away from the pack. “How do you know about the Blood oath?” he whispers under his breath, trying to stop the pack from overhearing them. Folding my arms across my chest, I heave a sigh, “Father, you know that I like to research our history,” I glance over at Ryan who is sitting with his face in his hands. I knew the Blood Oath was the only way to protect him. To stop the pack ganging up on him. At the same time, he had to be willing to hold up his end of the oath. Breaking the oath would mean he would suffer. No one knew how because it was different for everyone. My father turns to Ryan, pressing his lips into a thin line. “Ryan Conri, do you consent to taking the Blood Oath, to forever link yo
Aria's POV Flash back- three months ago Racing to Ryan’s side, I drop to my knees and lean over him. Tears stream down my face as I try to shake him. He wasn’t breathing, his chest still in the moonlit grounds. “Aria” my father rests his hands on my shoulders. “Aria, he will be fine, it’s just what happens” The Alpha summons Kyle and his Beta to help move Ryan back inside. He tries to reassure me that by morning Ryan will be his normal self, but I didn’t believe him. Refusing to listen to my father, I follow Kyle and my fathers Beta. Both men were huge and they were struggling to carry Ryan. A complete change to the day I had brought Ryan home. The men carry Ryan to his room. A room on the opposite side of the house to my bedroom. It didn’t stop me from following my brother in. As they lay Ryan down, I sit by his side, holding on to his hand. Kyle hovers for a moment, like he wanted to say something, his eyes darting about. “You think it failed?” I ask Kyle, hoping that it was
“You won’t, you will never do it!” Athena screams as I drag her across the ground. “Shut your fucking mouth.” I yell over her whimperings.“Then just kill me. I can't bare to see you fuck us over.”“No Athena. You will see what happens. You will watch as I take over the entire world and you will hear all of it.”“Please, just let me die.”“No fucking chance.” I threw her body into the dungeon where Aria had been locked away. Athena’s body hits the stone floor as she rolls across the ground.“Please, Atlas, please just let me…”“Alpha Atlas.” I mutter. She was a traitor, she wasn’t anything other than that.“Alpha Atlas, please just let me die.” She continues to beg.“No chance.”I slam the door of the dungeons shut. Slipping the key into the lock. She would never get to see any of the pack again. All she would ever get is the information of how the world was changing. How I was becoming the King that no one could stop. How I would be unstoppable,I walk down to the gates, waiting for
Atlas’s POVI couldn’t believe what I was hearing. How could Simon be mated to Athena? It didn’t seem possible. After all, he was gay. He had been married to a man.A man that he met at my ball! Ryan mutters. He sounded almost annoyed. “I can’t help it, Simon. The Moon Goddess obviously paired us together for a reason. It's not my fault.""There could have been a chance, but I can't protect you now!""You're not even going to try?"“Shut up. Just shut up you stupid woman!” Simon growls at her, obviously having enough of her shit.“I’m sorry that I am not what you wanted. Let me guess, you wanted someone with a dick!” Athena snaps back. "Well, I'm sorry about that, so suck it up!"“Whatever is going to happen between us doesn’t matter if Atlas kills you.”The sentence was perfect timing. Stepping into the small room. I see Athena sitting on the edge of a sofa. Her face in her hands. Her chocolate brown hair draped down over her. Simon had his back to me. His hands on his hips. A red t
Atlas’s POVSimon bursts into the room. I hadn’t even realised he had followed me. He stops in front of the empty crib. “Where is he, Atlas?” I couldn’t speak. I was in shock. How had I not felt it? How had I not known that he was in trouble?“ATLAS? Where the hell is he?”“She has him. She has taken my son.” I growl“FIND ATHENA!” I yell through a link to every single wolf and Lycan in the pack. “DO NOT LET HER OUT OF YOUR SIGHT. SHE HAS MY SON!”“I can help.” Simon offers.“How? How can someone like you help.”“He is okay. Hunter is okay. That’s why you couldn’t sense him being taken. His Aunty has him. If he feels danger. You will know. You will feel it”“How can you be certain? He is the first Lycan child.”“Because you feel it when he cries. You feel it in your heart when he is upset. Whatever Athena has done. She is keeping him safe and he trusts her. The question is, what does she want in return.”“I know what she wants. She wants Bethany dead.”“Me?” A small voice cries behin
Atlas’s POVAesha drops her head, keeping herself from looking at me. I wasn’t mad at her. I already had my suspicions. The way Athena looked at Bethany. The spite in her words. I had never known someone so jealous over a child.“Thank you, Aesha.”“You’re not mad at me?”“I’m not mad with you, no! You did the right thing.” I mull over her words. Frustrated that I couldn't get a break.“I told you Aesha. It was better to tell him than not.” Simon mumbles and nods at her, giving her a smile. I wondered how long this had been bugging her. Not once had we been alone today for her to tell me. Athena was always there, hovering or Bethany was at my side. Had Athena known Aesha had overheard her?“Did she know, Aesha? Did she know that you were listening in?”“I don’t… I don’t think so.”That sounds like a yes. If Athena had picked up her scent, then it would be obvious. It’s why Athena probably hovered at the funeral.“Things are getting more and more fucked up!” Simon mutters“Why are you
Atlas’s POVGetting Aria ready for her funeral hit me hard. It made me realise just how much I missed her. She had put me through my paces, testing my patience but at the end of the day, she was mine.I'm not ready.'I know, but it is time.'Just like Bethany had said, Aria looked as though she was sleeping. Her fresh clothes hid her fatal wound. Aesha was busy putting some sort of make up on Aria, giving her a bit of colour. She keeps her mouth shut, knowing that it was best not to speak.It had been a long time since I had sent someone back to the Moon Goddess and I wasn’t ready for this. I reach out to touch her cold skin. Hoping that by some miracle, she would wake up. That this was all just some nightmare.“Everyone’s ready.” Athena mutters. I see how she glances at Bethany, but she doesn’t say anything and Bethany is oblivious to it.I nod and she leaves, taking Aesha with her. Bethany remains behind with me. She had stayed with me ever since we went to the orphanage earlier. Sh
Atlas’s POVOver the course of the next few days, it was almost impossible to get anymore information out of Bethany. The moment she felt threatened, she would clam up. Hiding herself away, never leaving the house and refusing to speak to anyone. The only thing that would coax her out of her hiding spot was hot food. Today, it seemed like the smell of food wasn’t even working. I would have to go and find her when I was done.“Some great idea of yours.” I mutter as Aesha sits at the breakfast table with Athena and I.Athena cocks an eyebrow at me. She didn’t have a clue what I was talking about, but her gaze hit me hard. I had allowed Athena and Aesha to stay in the packhouse. In some ways it helped me feel close to Aria. Yet, it always seemed like they were watching my every move.“Is this about the funeral, Atlas? Because you can’t keep putting it off forever. Aria isn’t coming back.” I heard the undertone in her voice. She was trying to be assertive but she was grieving like the res
Atlas’s POVThe small girl remains asleep for hours. Whether it was shock or tiredness that was causing her to sleep so heavily, I couldn’t tell. Her blonde hair was dirty. There were blood stains around her finger nails. Her blood splattered clothes were too small for her, torn in places too. Her feet were bare and didn’t look like they had been cleaned in days, maybe weeks.Hunter stirs in my arms, making little noises and I watch as the girl's face screws up. Like my son's sounds were causing her some distress. Calling for Aesha, she comes into my office and takes Hunter from me, casting a glance over the young girl.“Still not woken?” She asks and I shake my head.“I think she might have needed it.”“Sleep? She was with humans, surely they were looking after her, she is just a kid. At least you haven't killed her. Does that mean you are going ahead with what I suggested?"I don't respond. But I had investigated the girls feet. The hardened skin, the old scars, the clothes that wer
Atlas’s POVEveryone stayed out of my way except for one. He never spoke but it wasn’t like I could get rid of him either. His constant looks of disapproval and tutting were starting to grind on me.‘Ryan, if you don’t start keeping your disapproving looks to yourself, I will take that concoction that I made for Aria and block you altogether.’You’re losing it!‘Fuck off!’You need to talk about her!‘Will you shut the fuck up!’No. I loved her too and now, now you are just shutting down. Do you even care how I feel!‘You didn't love her, not like I did.’ There, I had said it. The overwhelming ache of my heart was almost too much. ‘But you got what you wanted, didn’t you, Ryan?’He is quiet again, because he knew exactly what I was referring to. The day he attacked her family. The plan he had made with Aria's sister, Seren. He had got what he wanted all along. A child with the woman he was mated too.It’s not like that. I made a mistake. He mutters at me, but I could feel that I had h
Atlas’s POVHuman after human, I tear them apart. Promising myself that I would get my revenge for what happened to my mate.The scent of blood swirled in the air as the humans screamed begging for their lives. They should not have come to war if they were not prepared to dieYou have to stop. This isn’t going to bring her back! Ryan pleads with me.But this is what they came for. They came for us and I had no intention of letting them leave.Humans tried to run, trying to escape their deaths and yet the Lycans and wolves seemed to have a whole new reason to kill. They wanted revenge for Aria’s death as much as I did.As the remnants of the humans laid scattered across the grounds, I instructed my men to check that no one was hiding amongst them. The last thing I needed was a human that could escape to tell the tale.Shifting back to my human form, I go back to Aria’s lifeless body. Pain exploded through my chest all over again as I held her close. She had been taken away from me, fr