Athena Caleb snatched his wrist away from my grip and stood up. He was too startled as the shock hit him full force.“What the fuck, Athena?”Now that the truth was out, my body and mind were restless, and time felt like it was slowing down. I crossed and uncrossed my arms, reminding myself that Caleb was my brother and he was never going to expose my secrets. If he could protect me and love me for being a witch, this was nothing, but I couldn’t help but fear because Caleb genuinely liked Cameron.He remained silent, and time felt like it was slowing down. Then he scratched his head.“Aren’t you supposed to never have a mate?” He asked, his voice fading to a hushed stillness. “Having one could endanger his life, you know.”Captain Obvious.“Caleb, you must never tell anyone, not even Mia and Alex.”Caleb was surprised that Mia had no idea. Then he looked past me.“She’s not going to forgive you for saying anything, and you must tell Mom and Dad. Something must be done as soon as pos
AthenaMy head pounded so hard that I felt dizzy, and fear was getting out of control. I felt too numb to move as I stood outside the principal’s office.This was all the Moon Goddess’s fault, and I was angry at her. Why couldn’t I just be normal like everyone else?Cameron wasn’t coming with me, which was a good thing because I didn’t know the outcome of this meeting. I took a few deep breaths and tried to calm my heart, but doubts swirled in my mind.This meeting was surely going to end on a bad note. I tried to put on a brave face, wondering what lie I was going to cook up, but the lie about not feeling my wolf was strong enough, and I was going to run with it.It was now or never.I pushed open the door to the principal’s office, and warm light spilled out. Cameron’s father was indeed the definition of royalty. He sat behind the desk, looking older—perhaps in his early 60s—much older than my parents.His hair was styled in a top knot with shaved sides, and a golden scepter rested
CameronI watched as Athena’s face went slack and soft. My hands caressed her chin.“What are you doing?” she asked with an unsteady voice.“You heard me the first time.”She released a sigh and looked away, then touched her neck. I noticed she liked to either fiddle with her hair or touch her neck whenever she was disturbed about something.She didn’t look angry, which was a good sign, so I became bolder.“I feel so breathless when I’m around you,” I said to her, my voice cracking with emotion. “We belong together, Athena. It’s written in the stars. The bond between us is enthralling and binding. We can’t keep denying this.”Her eyes grew glossy, and she parted her lips, holding me with her gaze. I felt a strong awareness of my heartbeat as I began stroking her arm. I was so full of pent-up desire that it caused an embarrassing bulge.“Cameron,” she whispered, her fingers tunneling into my hair. “We can’t.”“Yes, we can, and we will. I know it, but I don’t know what’s stopping you. I
AthenaMy heart sank with dread as I contemplated speaking with my dad. He had been calling me all morning, and I had been dodging his calls, using classes as an excuse. But I knew he was aware of our break period, and I couldn't avoid this conversation forever.With a grimace, I stood up from my seat in the crowded student lounge, grabbed my backpack, and sought out an empty classroom. I settled into room 214, a quiet space. Pacing back and forth between the rows of desks, I pressed the phone to my ear, listening intently to my dad's voice.He attempted to sound brave, but I imagined him sitting in his favorite leather armchair, gulping down his fear, his face pale and clammy with cold sweat."Honey, I need you to remain calm," he said, his voice trembling with worry. "I know you never envisioned this happening, but it has, and I'm sure there will be a solution.""I don't know,
AthenaJennifer was mad with hate, and it came off her in waves. Her eyes were cold and sharp, like a scalpel. Even though I knew I would never let her physically harm me, I couldn't help the shivers that ran down my spine, slowly eating away at me.If I had no powers, I would have been reduced to a gibbering wreck. Cameron remained nonchalant, regarding her with an emotionless stare. His expression seemed to say, "I couldn't care less about her."Jennifer stormed forward, and her shrill voice cut through the silence. I didn't want any trouble, knowing how aggressive she could be. "You little slut! How dare you think you can come to this school and steal my man from me? Who the hell are you?"She tried to jab her manicured finger at me, but I swatted it away from my face."Can you stop this, Jennifer?" Cameron said, sounding very calm, almost lethargic."Stay
CameronI slid into the seat beside Athena in class, feeling thrilled and satisfied, like a cat drunk on milk. Everything about her made me so happy, from her face to her scent, to her closeness, to the bond.It gave me a pleasurable satisfaction that I had never experienced before. A relaxed smile crossed my face, and my head tilted slightly to the side. I noticed that my enthusiasm was met with a cold response. She edged away and distanced herself from me.My heart sank like the Titanic, and I felt mocked so badly that my chest seized up. As I wondered when this would end, I chuckled to cover my annoyance, and I could tell that she sensed it."You need to stop sitting near me. I don't want any trouble.""What is wrong with you?" I said back, keeping my voice level. "Why are you so against us? Nothing is stopping us from being together."Her gaze darte
AthenaI gazed dreamily out of the airplane window, watching the vast clouds stretch towards the horizon. Seeing the clouds was both soothing and exhilarating. I always found myself amused by the idea of levitating up to the clouds from an airplane.The thought of the fear that would be registered on the pilot's face was enough to send the plane crashing.My smile disappeared when I noticed two friends speed-talking with each other like they were sharing exciting gossip.One of them burst into a throaty laugh, reminding me of Mia. She still wasn't talking to me, and even when I said goodbye to her, her response was nothing more than a non-committal hug.Alex tried to intervene, but Mia shut him out, and it grew exhausting to watch her ignore me.Dad's worry drove us to spend the midterm at home. Well, it wasn't officially midterm, but the pa
AthenaI hadn't visited the sacred temple of the goddess in over a year because I had understanding parents who didn’t want me to become bound to the goddess. Dad wanted me to explore, and even though Mom was afraid of the consequences of staying away from my purpose in life, she didn’t push it.For that, I would be forever grateful.The structure was white and the largest building in the pack. One of the servants rang a large bronze bell, calling devotees to worship. My eyes traced the crescent motifs decorating the temple's exterior, symbols of the goddess's powers. I walked past two huge pillars that flanked the main entrance, guarded by wolf statues that stared out at the heavens.No matter how many times I had come here, the design always took my breath away. The ceiling was about twenty feet above me, and the altar had a massive marble statue of the Moon Goddess. They made her
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