AthenaAfter hearing Selena's words, I decided enough was enough. If Cameron wouldn’t take this seriously, then I’d make sure he did. He brushed off my concerns with that signature smirk, acting like it was no big deal, but I dragged him to Selena’s temple anyway. He might laugh it off, but this was his life on the line, and I wasn’t playing games.Selena mixed a thick, dark ink to paint the protective mark, and I busied myself filling incense burners and setting them ablaze, letting the scent wrap around us. She took a small pot of clay, rubbing it across Cameron’s skin with a focused touch, murmuring blessings as she worked, then handed him a newly blessed amulet.“Drink this,” she ordered, holding out a golden chalice filled with some dark, sludgy concoction that made Cameron scrunch his face in disgust. He stood there draped in a simple white shawl, looking completely out of place, while Selena rang a brass bell around him. I closed my eyes, silently praying this would shield hi
CameronFatherhood hit me like a rogue wave—sudden, powerful, and honestly, a little strange. Me, Cameron, with a son? It felt surreal, like I was living in someone else’s life.No one warned me how heavy fatherhood actually felt. This tiny, fragile human, only days old, had somehow shoved all my own worries into the background.I loved him fiercely, more than I thought possible. And while I trusted Barbara, I still went through with a DNA test—just in case. I wasn’t about to let history pull the same tricks twice.Every day, I stopped by my dad’s house, where Barbara was staying with the baby, keeping close to her mom. Athena tried to support me in every way she could, but she respected my space too.“You know, you’re going to be his stepmom,” I told her one day. “Barbara should feel damn lucky you’re willing to be part of his life.”Athena gave me a shrug and nodded. “In time, your son and I will have our bond. For now, he’s just a baby. He doesn’t need any added drama.”True to he
Athena Two big things were happening, and for once, I felt like I could finally catch my breath. Today, I launched my NGO, Rainbow Heaven, cutting the ribbon on a little stand that marked its official opening.Applause echoed around me, and I blinked back tears, moved by the outpouring of support from my family and friends. They’d donated generously, and the tables overflowed with small tokens for the kids. Every family member was hands-on, including my dad, who was over at the kids' painting station, helping them pick designs and encouraging them to splash colours everywhere.This was the start of something huge: an NGO dedicated to empowering special kids, especially those society had labeled as "odd." I felt a deep pride swell in me, knowing exactly how it felt to stand out, to feel misunderstood. Today was even more special because it was Stella’s birthday—my adopted daughter, now ten. The launch became a double celebration in her honour.“You’re such an angel,” Mia said, wrapp
AthenaSeeing Cameron lying unconscious in that hospital bed felt like someone had yanked the ground from beneath me, ripping my world apart piece by piece. I burst through those cold double doors, screaming his name, "Cameron!"My voice echoed, raw and desperate, down the sterile, quiet hallways. Two stout nurses hurried over, both with annoyed expressions, trying to hold me back. “Ma’am, you need to calm down; this is an emergency ward,” one snapped. I didn’t care. I shrugged them off and rushed to Cameron’s motionless figure.“Please, Cameron, open your eyes.”My voice cracked, and tears spilled down my face, unstoppable, like a dam breaking. Just this morning, he was laughing, alive, and so full of life. Now, he lay there like a stranger—pale, weak, swallowed by a mess of wires and tubes.My legs buckled beneath me as the reality of the scene hit. Doctors and nurses worked tirelessly around him, their movements a blur as they fought to keep him here, keep him with me.“Ma’am, pl
Athena With nothing else left to try, I swallowed my pride and dragged myself to the coven I had sworn never to approach. If the goddess insisted on punishing me, then I’d find a solution from any source willing to help.Fuck her a million times.I burst through the doors at midnight, and my heart pounded, causing my breaths to be short and sharp. The coven members sat in a circle. Their faces were carved from shadows and candlelight. Each gaze turned on me, dripping with irritation and barely concealed spite.The High Priestess, who was the queen's assistant, locked her eyes on mine.. "Athena, Athena, Athena," she chanted, my name rolling off her tongue like a slow, deliberate insult. "Is this truly a habit of yours—to burst in and throw our rituals into chaos?"My entire body shook and my throat closed up. "Priestess, I need your help. I know I’ve ignored your calls and kept my distance, but my mate is dying. Every second he slips further away.” I felt the words catch in my throat
AthenaThe next morning, every inch of my body begged for rest, muscles throbbing and bones aching, but I refused to leave Cameron’s side. No amount of pain could pull me away. And King Marcus lack of trust was as thick as fog, hanging over us all. He didn’t bother hiding his disgust at being here, surrounded by witches, as if the very air offended him.I had gone out of my way to make things as comfortable as possible, setting him up in one of the best cabins, making sure he had everything he needed. I’d practically begged him to get some sleep, to let go of his stubborn pride for even a second. But his scowl told me everything. He’d rather be anywhere else. He looked at the room like it was cursed, muttering under his breath about “evil forces” and “witchcraft.”Honestly, I wanted to tell him to fuck off but I bit my tongue."I don’t want them putting any dark stuff into him,” he muttered, his tone dripping with distrust. The sting of his words hit hard, and I swear he noticed becau
Athena I could hardly call my first attempt a victory. Yes, I’d ripped the snake’s fang free, and Cameron’s eyes had opened. His chest rose and fell as he breathed, bringing me a rush of relief so intense it nearly erased my exhaustion. I darted to his bedside, my heart pounding, ready to pull him back into the world.But just as quickly as hope flared, it burned out. His eyelids fluttered, but instead of finding calm, his body jerked violently, as if he was still fighting some unseen demons. Words tumbled from his lips, slurred and frantic, fragments of terror that didn’t make sense.“No… no, leave me alone!” he shouted, thrashing against the sheets.His face twisted in a fear that cut deeper than any wound. The joy I’d felt twisted into dread, eating at my chest. I reached out and gripped his shoulder. “Cameron, baby, it’s me. You’re safe.”But he looked past me as though I were a stranger. My so-called victory had a bitter edge, leaving him trapped somewhere far away, unreachable.
Athena I sprinted through the forest. Its twisted shadows closed in, each one feeling like it had a pulse of its own, hungry for terror. The night here was different—dense, suffocating, and as alive as anything I’d ever faced. The first horror to confront me was a banshee. Her ghostly figure rose from the mist, and her shriek pierced the silence like a blade, chilling me to the core. But that was all it did—wail and hover, as if mocking my fear. I clenched my jaw and pushed forward, refusing to let it distract me. I had one mission: to find the hidden power source that might save Cameron. There was no room for fear.The forest seemed determined to test me. The branches snagged at my clothes as if trying to pull me back. Shadows flickered in the corners of my vision, mocking me, but I kept moving and the urgency pushed me past exhaustion. The air grew colder and heavier with each step, and every breath felt like I was swallowing the darkness itself. It was as if the forest was dar