Chapter 4: I Will Find You

Daniel’s  POV

I exited my chamber and walked loftily to the garden behind my chambers. As I looked up at the sky, I noticed that the moon was full. Another moon to make me aware of my predicament, the curse placed upon me, and the fact that I would never be matched. I vowed to live my life as I see fit, despite not letting it stop how I felt. 

My nose was overwhelmed by the sweet aroma of the garden's flowers, and I sighed as I basked in the crisp air and felt completely at ease. I wrinkled my brows as the floral aroma abruptly changed to one of vanilla and strawberries, wondering what had caused the unexpected shift.

I felt a tingling sensation run through my body. My eyes widened in awareness as I instantly felt a mate bond, I looked at the moon, and quickly turned around to leave the garden when I noticed a servant racing towards me. 

I saw the guards running after her and they looked exhausted from trying to catch her, as soon as she got close to me, she fell into the floor immediately, she raised her eyes to see me and I could see her eyes bloodshot red from crying and tears were falling freely from her eyes, I furrowed my brows immediately confused as to what was going on. When I raised my hand, the guards backed up, preventing them from carrying her away.

I immediately recognized her; she is the servant that works in Athena's chambers. “My lord!” she exclaimed, bending her head and kneeling on the floor, her body quivering.  

“What brings you to my chamber? What prompted you to race here in such an insolent manner?" I yelled. 

“It… It's all about Lady Athena…She, she left this” she said, clutching a piece of paper, she raised the paper for me to view, and I grabbed it from her hand right away, I was going to chastise her if it was something pointless because I could finally sense a mate bond and I had no time to waste but find my mate. 

Dear Miriam,

Please stay strong and don't even bother trying to inform anyone about my disappearance because I would be long gone before you find this letter.  

Call me cruel and heartless, but I had to take the decision of running away to protect my unborn child even though I had no place to go.

I can't leave with the thought of someone who has always hated me taking my child away from me.

As I said, don't bother looking for me, and If I find out that there is a search party for me, then I will poison myself and die with my child. I can't return to the pack house and I can't risk leaving my child for someone like his majesty.

I love you Miriam and though parting with you was more painful than living with someone who doesn't love me back, my child comes first.

                        Athena

I was shocked as I read the letter; I couldn't believe the paper in my palm; Athena had been my mate all along, and I had no idea?! And when the moon goddess finally chose to break the curse, it was on the night she decided to flee with my unborn child, something I was completely oblivious of.

“How long has she been expecting?" I yelled. 

“For…for…a few weeks now” The servant stated, she was unable to form a good phrase.

“And you didn't even bother to tell me about it?”Bending down, I asked, raising her head with my fingers and seeing dread in her eyes as her life flashed before her eyes, I put my hands around her neck and she smiled.

I stood up with my hands around her neck and her legs were in the air while she struggled to breathe, the color in her face drained, and I could see a faint of purple because of lack of oxygen, I pushed her against the wall, and she coughed, spitting blood on the floor before I let her go, her body slumped on the floor, and she went on her knees immediately. 

“She wanted to tell you…I assumed she was seeking the perfect opportunity. “I didn't know she was going to flee,” she begged as I walked away from her, leaving her in the garden and returning to my quarters. 

The fact that I could detect her fragrance indicates that she hasn't run far enough. I grinned smugly at myself, knowing that I would be able to reclaim both my mate and my unborn child. I had no idea I had my perfect life in front of me until I recklessly threw it away.

“Call the guards!”I yelled, and the guards on standby began to move to gather the men. I noticed my beta approaching me with a puzzled expression on his face.

“What exactly is going on?”Carl, the beta, inquired. 

“We need to go out and find Athena, she ran away from the pack with my unborn child and I discovered in the cruelest way she's my mate,” I said, handing over the letter to Carl, who skimmed through it and his eyes widened in amazement as he read each word. 

“How sure are you that this is true?”Carl inquired.

“I sensed the mate bond,” I said.

“Has the curse been lifted?” he inquired, perplexed 

“Yes,” I said, nodding and licking my lips, “that's why we're leaving the pack this night to look for her; I'm sure she didn't run too far, so we need to catch up with her before it's too late.”

“I will gather the men,” Beta Carl said and bowed his head before walking away. 

I came outside and found the men all assembled and standing at attention; I looked at each one of them. 

“Lady Athena has escaped from the pack while we were supposed to watch her; I am sending each of you out there to find her and bring her back with no scratches on her body, not even a loss of a strand of hair from her body; you will bring her back safe and sound.” “Did you get that?”I inquired. 

“Yes, Alpha!” they exclaimed, and I nodded in agreement. I watch them match out of the pack house going into the woods to find her. 

“I will find you, Athena!”