Chapter FiftyAthenaFour months had passed, and the academy graduation day had finally arrived. It was a bright and beautiful morning, and students, parents, and teachers gathered to celebrate this milestone. My dad and mom were there with my sister. Uncle Zika and their wives were also present. I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my dress. I had settled for a simple blue gown that had a long slit. Mia helped me with my hair and makeup, ensuring perfect detail. Oh, and did I mention that Cameron was still alive, and Mia was engaged to her boyfriend Sean? She wore an off-the-shoulder dress to flaunt her mark with pride. I tried not to look at it because I always became jealous whenever I did. Mom and Dad beamed with pride, taking photos of me and Caleb. Cameron's dad, King Marcos, had also arrived, and when I curtsied respectfully, he smiled warmly at me and hugged me. His mom still had not been found, and some people speculated that she might have killed herself. Cameron ofte
CameronIt was no secret that I was a great soccer player, but no matter how many games I played, nerves always crept in just before kick-off. The feeling was uncontrollable, and a knot in my stomach tightened every time. At the locker room, I took in several gulps of air to stop my brain from overheating. The space was massive compared to the cramped high school and academy locker rooms. I grabbed my orange jersey from the hook, admiring the number “10” inscribed. Coach Nate was leagues ahead of my previous ones. He had that professional edge that made you want to push harder, run faster, and play smarter. I didn’t want to label myself the star, though some might. There was Justin, who was just as good, maybe even better on certain days. He was left-footed, shorter than most, but relentless.Today wasn’t just another game for us. This was our first major college match. Scouts from some of the biggest football clubs in the world were here to watch, looking for talent to sign.“This
AthenaMia stood beside me outside the movie theater, listening to me pour my heart out to her. I was venting about how Cameron had been transferring his frustration onto me. Even his apology felt half-hearted. I needed to get away for a bit, and that’s why Mia had dragged me to this movie—to take my mind off things. She listened quietly, but I could tell from her expression that she didn’t want to get too involved. I snapped at her, frustrated. "Seriously, are you going to say something, or will you just keep standing there, staring at me?"She sighed and pulled me into a gentle hug. "Come on, Thena. It’s Cameron. We're talking about your love here. What do you want me to say?"My glare made her laugh and raise her hands in mock surrender. "Just because he’s my boyfriend doesn’t mean he can’t mess up, Mia. Am I not allowed to be upset? This morning, he didn’t even tell me he was going out. I woke up to an empty bed."We headed toward the parking lot where my new car—a gift from my d
AthenaThe queen and I sat beside the supermarket in a rustic little restaurant. She remained mute while I waited patiently for her to speak. She looked so beaten and defeated, like someone carrying the world's weight on her shoulders. "Would you like anything to eat?" I asked gently.“I'm not hungry." After a brief pause, I added, "We need to buy something, or they won’t let us sit here. “A soda will do."I signaled the waiter and ordered orange juice for myself and soda for the queen. She folded her arms and stared into the distance. After a few moments, she broke the silence.“You must see me as some evil, cheating, irredeemable person,” she said, taking a slow sip of her drink.I didn’t respond immediately, so I'm unsure how to navigate this. She wasn’t entirely wrong in her assessment, but I wasn’t here to condemn her. “I’m not here to judge you,” I said softly. “I care about your family—about Cameron—and I’ve seen how much they’ve suffered from all of this. I know you’re suf
Cameron Raw fury burned in my chest like a burning coal that refused to be extinguished. The nerve of my mother to come here and act all innocent. She even fell to her knees, begging for forgiveness. Tears streamed down her face, and her voice cracked with every word. I’d never seen her so broken. A part of me almost felt something for her—sympathy maybe—but then I remembered what she had done, and the anger surged back.Damn her a million times for taking advantage of my father's trust.She had lied for years and pinned another man's child on my father. And to make it worse, she opened her legs for a fucking monster. It sickened me to think Thor was my biological father. More disgusting was the evil that would have occurred when I unknowingly built a relationship with Jennifer, his daughter. What if things had gone further between us? What if Jennifer’s twisted plans had succeeded, and I had slept with her? The thought made me want to vomit.I'd have fucked my sister."Dad, don't f
Athena My heart was moved with sympathy for the queen. She was ostracized among her people and even Cameron had distanced himself from his mother. She was now isolated in one of the smaller buildings on the castle grounds, waiting to complete her purification rituals.I made my way to the kitchen of the castle. The castle maid on duty and I decided to prepare rice for her. I helped to arrange the rice neatly on a plate with a colorful side dish of vegetable salad and roasted chicken. Once everything was ready, I packed the food and headed towards the Queen's temporary residence.The guard stationed outside eyed the bag in my hands. “What do you have there?” he demanded gruffly.“It’s just food,” I replied, trying to keep my tone light despite my irritation at his unnecessary scrutiny. He hesitated for a moment before stepping aside, allowing me to enter.Inside, the building was more furnished than I had expected. I walked through the rooms, searching for the Queen, and finally found
Athena That night, I kept to myself, stewing in my thoughts. Cameron was treading on dangerous grounds carelessly. He hadn’t told me he’d been attacked not once but twice. I was afraid, and rightfully so. What if something worse happened? What if he got killed, and I was left to carry the guilt for the rest of my life? The following day, Cameron was trying his best to soothe me. "It's not that serious, baby," he said, sitting beside me on the bed and gently taking my hand. "I get it now. It's a pattern, but I believe there’s a solution. Stop carrying that long face."“Leave me alone.” I pulled my hand from him, crossing my arms over my chest. "Do you want to die?" "Of course not,” he chuckled sadly. "Look, you have every right to be concerned. I’m not saying I’m a hundred percent confident, but it’s not as intense as you think."My anger simmered like a pot of boiling spaghetti, but I said nothing. How else could I convince this stubborn mule that this was a sign for us to break u
CameronI was beyond sick and tired of everyone constantly telling me to leave Athena. It was aggravating and a never ending discussion. Everyone now seemed like little flies persistently annoying me. They thought it would be easy for me to just flip a switch, shut off my feelings for her, and walk away. Sure, breaking up with her seemed like the logical thing to do, especially after being attacked multiple times by some invisible force. But logic and love? They don’t always go hand in hand. I loved her, plain and simple. And the attacks, strange as they were, only happened when I was on the field. It wasn't like they were following me around in my daily life. The weight of the situation was bearing down on Athena. She was scared, and I couldn’t blame her for that. Who would want to watch someone they loved get hurt over and over? It seemed like, in her mind, breaking up was becoming the only option to keep me safe. But I couldn’t bring myself to even think about it seriously. How
Her gaze turned icy, and a dangerous silence filled the space. She raised a hand, and one of the beings beside her started to protest, “This insolent mortal—”But the goddess silenced him with a mere flick of her wrist. She looked down at me, her gaze both fierce and intrigued, as if my words had stung her pride yet piqued her interest. For a moment, I thought she might strike me down right there, but instead, she leaned back and tilted her head.Then, to my utter shock, she softened her tone, almost mockingly, and said, “Come.”I blinked, barely able to believe what I was hearing. But I moved closer, though not daring to get too close to her throne. She extended a pale hand toward the water in front of her, and I felt my chest tighten as an image began to form within its depths. As I peered closer, my breath caught. There, in the water, was Cameron. He was awake, sitting up, though his body looked weak. I watched him clench his fists as if searching, hoping for something. For me.
AthenaFear gripped me as I took in the surroundings. Asking to see the goddess felt like signing up for a death sentence. No matter how dazzling this place looked, I wasn’t prepared to die.Not yet. I couldn't stand the thought of staying here without saying a proper goodbye to everyone who mattered to me. My mom, who had always loved me unconditionally, who did everything to keep me happy and supported me even when my choices went against the grain. If it weren't for my dad, she might have even encouraged me to stay with Cameron, consequences be damned. And then my dad, the fierce protector, who never once made me feel less than for being a hybrid daughter to an alpha. He kept my secret, shielded me, loved me as I was. I couldn’t leave without seeing him one last time.And Caleb, my brother, who I’d grown up with, spending days running wild on wings and horseback. I'd promised I’d be godmother to his future children. Leaving him felt like betraying that vow. But most of all, I
CameronI woke to the scratchy roughness of an old quilt draped over me and confusion clouded my mind. The fabric felt worn against my skin, and when I opened my eyes, I struggled to understand where the hell I was. This place made no sense. It was different from the world I was used to. it was dark, cramped, and unfamiliar, with a ceiling so low it felt like it was closing in on me. Claustrophobia clawed at my chest, and when I tried to sit up, dizziness washed over me. My body screamed in raw, unfiltered pain. Cuts and bruises marked every inch of my arms and hands. How did I end up here? And where exactly was "here"?There was an armless cot pressing uncomfortably against my chest, and my lips tasted like they’d been coated in bitter herbs. The scent of burning sage lingered thick in the air. Just then, the door creaked open, and my dad walked in. At first, he didn’t notice I was awake, but when he saw my eyes open, he let out a startled yelp and rushed over, his look was a mixt
93AthenaWhen I opened my eyes, grogginess clung to me. I couldn't move, but my silence was soon replaced by utter confusion. I couldn’t make sense of where I was. This place was beyond anything words could capture. Unnatural and unsettling silence wrapped around me like a thick blanket, pressing in from all sides. The earth I knew never held silence like this, never without the hum of life, the rustle of leaves, or distant calls of creatures.Here, there wasn’t a trace of an animal or human. Every object around me pulsed, as though it had a soul, especially the light that seemed soft but somehow divine, illuminating without blinding. Colors blazed from every direction, vibrant beyond any spectrum I’d ever seen, and far surpassing the limits of human sight.“What the hell?” I muttered, barely recognizing my own voice.The stillness was overwhelming. My eyes scanned the endless expanse until they landed on a huge mountain ahead that reached toward the sky. Its slopes gleamed with p
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
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.
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 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
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