Athena
Midnight 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 hunters, Dad's footsteps rushed upstairs, and he opened my door.
"You're going to be the death of me, Athena," I heard him mutter to himself before heading back downstairs.
I rushed out to observe things and recognized the items they were showing my dad: a scroll, the red and pink candles, and my small pouch of herbs that must have dropped in my haste to flee.
"Alpha, we have enough evidence that the witch has been visiting the grove."
"Shit," Caleb whispered.
"Relax. Dad is the Alpha; surely he won't expose his witch daughter."
There was a slight bitterness in my tone. Caleb didn't have to worry about inheriting witch blood as he only had Lycan and human blood, even though my parents were already beginning to fear that he hadn't met his wolf yet at eighteen.
But not meeting one's wolf was a better curse than being a hybrid Lycan and witch. I was an outcast in both worlds, and they claimed that my power could ruin the world. My secret was only within the walls of our home.
Dad succeeded in convincing the witch hunter to leave.
"I had a rough day at the council, and as long as you didn't catch this witch, perhaps you might be overthinking," he said, downplaying the situation as always.
Dad successfully dismissed the witch hunter. It was crazy how the pack alpha, who should be banishing witches, had one as his daughter.
Mom was scared for me. She was human and didn't want to offend any faction. I inherited her mother's blood; sadly, my powers grew more powerful and harder to suppress.
Caleb grabbed my hand as a cue to run back into our rooms. He was nine months younger than me but was my biggest fan and loved seeing me levitate and spin magic. He always said he would go down with me if I went down.
"Wake up. I know you're not asleep," Mom, who sounded annoyed, said, yanking off my duvet. "You promised you'd stay in bed tonight."
"I did," I said, pretending to be sleepy. She gave me the "don't lie to me" look, and my three-year-old sister, a very light sleeper, was awake from all the commotion.
Stella's birth made me cringe to imagine my parents at their age still having sex. Like Caleb, she didn't get the witch's blood. She wrapped her small hands around me.
"I swear, darling, they're going to give me a heart attack," my mom complained to my dad. "The house is big enough for her to levitate. Did she have to go out, and of all places, to the heart of the witch hunt? What was she trying to prove?"
"I couldn't control myself. What part of that didn't you understand?"
"Honey, I just want you to be safe," she said after her face softened. "Let's not play the blame game."
"Let's go to bed," Dad said, touching his wife's back. “Your admission letters to Silverwood came in last night, but I was too exhausted to inform you," he said. "You leave on Sunday."
"On Sunday?!" I cried out. "Are you so eager to get rid of me?"
Dad shot me an annoyed look. "Your brother is changing schools because of you; your cousins too. You have a community already. Just try to keep the secret to yourself."
A look of guilt crossed Dad's face, and he exchanged glances with Mom. I turned away. My parents knew better than to apologize when I was in my feelings. I'm sure they will do that tomorrow at breakfast.
I woke up later than usual to refuel my energy. At breakfast, I was surprised to see my cousins Mia and Alex.
Mia doubled as my best friend and knew about my freakiness. Like Caleb, she applied to Silverwood because of me. Her older brother Alex was only applying because he was done banging our pack girls and wanted more spice. I hoped to find a community of hybrids.
Uncle Ziah and his family were no strangers to our house. We had four days to prepare because the travel date was brought forward. Mom and my uncle's wife accompanied us to the airport, and I left behind my little sister, who was bawling her eyes out.
"I'll be back before you know it, I promise," I said while kissing her. I couldn't imagine being in her shoes.
"Please, honey, it's hard, but try to suppress your powers until you are in a safe space. You don't want to draw unnecessary attention to yourself," Mom whispered at the boarding pass.
I could only manage a nod. After a three-hour flight, we arrived in the Western tropics. It was hotter than the weather I was used to, but it felt like I had stepped into the future. Everything was impressive; everyone had tanned olive skin.
We rented a car that drove us to the academy, and I gasped when Uncle Ziah tossed a pack of condoms to his son Alex.
"Remember to strap," he said, which prompted Alex, Mia, and Caleb to burst into loud laughter while my dad called my uncle shameless.
I had a very unconventional family because it turned out that my mom was the soulmate of my dad and his two brothers until she eventually settled for my dad. Thinking about it always made me cringe, knowing that she had sex with my uncles.
We drove into the fabulous academy, where my dad had to take a huge chunk of his savings. I got out of the car, staring around.
Everywhere about the academy was impressive, just like the brochure and online reviews. We would dress according to color-coded themes, which would be determined by the dormitories we got.
Since today was the official welcome date for both new and returning students, the student governing council was outside to welcome us. They all looked very fab, with one even rocking an original Chanel bag. Judging by the average standard, my dad was wealthy enough but not wealthy enough to afford such an expensive bag for a student.
I was about to take a step forward when my nose was hit by the sweetest, indescribable scent I had ever smelled. At first, I thought it was a strong perfume, but it was all over the air, permeating the skies and filtering into my brain. Then, when my wolf stirred, and my hands began to tremble, I knew.
This was no ordinary scent.
This was a mate bond.
This was a pathway to destruction because it was forbidden for me to have a mate, and accepting this bond would cause the unfortunate soul to die.
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
AthenaI somehow managed to avoid Cameron, which sounded absurd since he was everywhere. It seemed like he'd tailored his movements to match mine. Being in the same class didn't help. I was relieved he was super popular, the student body president, and the football team captain - his hands were full.But my luck was running out. Despite his busy schedule, he still made time to make his presence known like he was saying, "You can't run away from me. You're stuck with me forever."Like in the gym, where I was lifting a dumbbell which glistened with my fresh sweat, I was grunting, and watching my reflection in the mirrored wall when I saw Cameron walk in.My body tensed up. I quickly moved to the other side of the room, jumped on the treadmill, and turned my back to him, cranking up my headset to the loudest volume.He approached me, but his friends cornered him, and I snuck glances over my shoulder. I had to give it to him - he was purposeful, and his pursuit was steady like he had a d
Athena Alex, Caleb, and I sat together in the dining hall, listening to Mia rant about how they didn't cut the music group, which I found very absurd. We sat around a circular wooden table with attached benches, and the hall was streaming with hungry students and impatient servers at the counter. "Mia, please try to eat something. We'll figure this out after lunch," I said, gently pushing Mia's abandoned food tray closer to her, knowing that she had an ulcer, which was aggravated by not eating."I'm not fucking hungry," she fired off, pouring out her frustrations on me. I didn't want to provoke her, so I let it go and listened to her go on and on in her rants, her hands occasionally pounding the table in frustration.“I'm so frustrated with this school. It's unbelievable that teachers and so-called adults are allowing students to dictate what happens. Who could have possibly removed my name and Alex's name from the list? I tried to discuss this with the teacher, but she just provide
NineCameronThe plan to frustrate Athena worked, and I was glad I wasn’t the only one who was offended. She had no idea what she was doing to me and how I couldn’t focus anymore because I kept thinking of a thousand reasons why she wouldn’t want the bond, and why her damn wolf couldn’t connect with her.Even though I didn’t mean to cause her stress, I just had to do things the tough way. Every time we met in class, she'd act like I was poisonous and would stay very far away from me.We didn’t have many classes in common, which kind of sucked because I'd been looking for opportunities to be by her side.The days passed, and from the bits of information I gathered from my cronies, they didn’t seem to know much about her. She had a mysterious vibe that drew me in. She never tried to fit in or suck up to the queen bees like many wannabes did. It seemed like she enjoyed her own company, which was quite admirable because she didn’t seem like a pushover.I was heading upstairs from the prin
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