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
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.
AthenaMidnight was my favorite time of the clock. The darkness empowered me. Unlike me, my brother Caleb was pure Lycan, yet he enjoyed watching me spin magic. My dad was alpha and was expected to banish me for having witch blood, yet he kept this secret within our home."They're here," I whispered to Caleb, wrapping myself in a purple cloak. "Hold my hand and run like your life depends on it. Don't shift into your wolf. They'll recognize us."Our pursuers closed in, but we didn't stop. Caleb wasn't afraid. He trusted in my powers to keep us safe. Just as they were about to grab us, we levitated onto a rooftop and began hopping from building to building. Caleb found this amusing and whistled with glee as we landed on our roof and slipped down the secret staircase into the house.Just as we entered, we heard the buzzer. I hated that these nosy hunters wouldn't leave. The sound woke my dad. Caleb and I rushed to our rooms, pretending to be asleep. Upon confirming it was the witch hunte
AthenaWhat. The. Fuck???My legs trembled like soggy noodles, and I couldn't believe my eyes—my mate was standing right across me. Every other person faded into the background, and I was frozen in place, unable to speak or move. I'd always been told that, as a chosen wolf and an eclectic witch, having a mate was forbidden. The moon goddess wasn't even supposed to grant me one.All my life, Mom had trained me to believe that being single wasn't a death sentence and she always said I could be single and fulfilled. So why was I feeling a strong, undeniable connection which was anything I had ever experienced?While asking myself questions about what this meant, I took in my mate's appearance. He was over six foot tall, no surprise there as most Lycans were, had olive skin, tethering towards brown, and dark curly hair. He looked super rich judging from his outfit and happened to be president of the student body."Athena, do you have all your documents in your folder?" Dad's question b
CameronMy mate's confession sent my pulse racing, and I stood there tormented by confusing emotions. One emotion was deep fear, and the other was my wounded pride. No one had ever spoken to me like that in my life; everyone had always wanted to associate with me, even people I didn't want. Ever since I knew what was at stake and that the success of my pack and the continuity of my alpha bloodline depended on finding my fated mate, I had desperately longed for one and prayed that I would find her. Every joy I felt had dissolved into this growing fear. As she left, she turned around and stared at me. Her eyes were the color of ice gray, and although her face looked calm and aloof, she seemed like the kind of person who was comfortable with both good and evil. Beneath her innocent persona, she was a bundle of contradictions. She rocked an ash-blonde bob with bangs so thick that her eyes would have been invisible if not for their striking color. I had never felt so infuriated and yet
AthenaAfter a very erratic sleep that was clouded with dreams of a certain eye-catching, curly-headed boy with amber eyes and a dignified face, I woke up to the harsh sound of the morning bell. I got up with a sigh and thought of confiding in my mom, but it was hard. I hadn't even told Mia yet, and I feared that the longer I kept this to myself, the more complicated everything would become.Minutes later, the cobblestone path had students pouring out of their dorms wearing color-coded running wear. I ditched my school sneakers for my old ones because I felt more comfortable running in them. The boys, as usual, tried to outrun the girls, and it was always amusing to watch them try to assert their dominance.We jogged at first, then increased our pace to a run. The tulips, hibiscus, and roses, plus the early morning dew, gave the earth a beautiful scent. My stomach dropped with fear as I realized that Caleb wasn't in our midst, and I figured he must have excused himself from the run
Athena I jumped straight into action, rushing towards Caleb and wondering what he'd done to deserve such bullying. We were just new students for fucks sake. Caleb wasn't as strong as his attackers, even though one of them looked thin. He was the first one I faced. "What did he do to you?" I yelled at the top of my lungs, hoping my magic wouldn't flare up. As much as I wanted to use it to show them what I was made of, I couldn't - I'd only get in trouble. I didn't want to become the school clown or an exhibit everyone, especially Cameron would gawk at. The thin boy mocked me, and my anger hit the boiling point. I underestimated him, thinking I could take him down just because he was skinny. His grip was surprisingly strong, and I had to wriggle my hand free. "Why does your brother look like a girl? Didn't your dad train him? Didn't he go through the induction process? And he's supposed to be alpha, right?"How did they know so much about us? "Mind your fucking business and leave h
CameronAt first, I tried to deny what had happened to me, but I just couldn't. It was real, right before my eyes. Voices whispered around me, and curious eyes peeked from around the corners.My friends gathered around, trying to make sure I was okay. To them, I was the MVP on the field, and we were preparing for an inter-school match. But I couldn't explain what had happened. How could I be drinking water, and then the container would choke me? It was some high-level sorcery.When I heard Athena's brother blame her, my stomach hardened, and I struggled to breathe. Was she behind this? What powers did she have? I was itching to know. I saw remorse in her eyes, but I had pushed her to the wall. I was behind her brother's bullying, and I should have done better. "Take that phone off my face," I snapped at a boy with acne as big as bean seeds. He apologized and tucked his phone away.The coach called for order, but I was ready to confront Athena. She took a step back as I approached, sw