AthenaIt's been seven days. Seven fucking days of being here and shutting myself off from Cameron's life. I missed him like crazy; every moment reminded me of what I'd left behind. I was not hearing his voice or seeing his face—just existing without him. My eyes grew hot, and I felt a heavy, dull pain throughout my body as loneliness crept up on me every morning.Today, it hit me hard when I gasped awake; then I realized I had left the candle burning.“Fuck!”I rushed to blow it out, scolding myself for being careless. I loved the soothing scent it gave off, but the last thing I needed was to burn this place down. I lowered myself to the reading nook and shut my eyes.Memories of Cameron wouldn't stop flooding my mind. His kisses, his warmth, and the way he made love to me felt like a treasure now buried too deep for me to reach again. This was all it would be. Memories. I’d have to carry memories with me for the rest of my life. An overwhelming sadness had become my constant compa
AthenaI genuinely enjoyed T’s company. Her full name was Titan, but she preferred the shorter, sharper nickname. She had another friend, Celia, who was the complete opposite of her—tall like a giant, quiet, and not one to make much noise. They were the only two people I spent time with in this new place, and for the most part, they kept me distracted. Today, we were sitting outside, eating homemade ice cream. Well, they were eating. Mine was melting in my hand as I stared into space, lost in thought again.T waved her hand in front of my face; the metal rings on her fingers catching the light. "Why are you always lost in thought, honey?" she asked, snapping me back to the present. "Every time I look at you, your hand’s on your chin, thinking about God knows what. Look at your ice cream—a fucking puddle. And after I begged you to give it to me!"I blinked, realizing how much it had melted. “Oh, you can have it,” I said, handing it to her.“Hell no!” T scoffed, sucking her teeth. “It’s
Cameron My dad and his new bride were walking down the aisle today. It was a small wedding, really small, with just me, the couple, and my soon-to-be stepsister, Barbara. Despite her obvious crush on me—which I’d been ignoring like the plague, Barbara genuinely liked me. We had a lot in common, especially when it came to sports. She was not only great at soccer but also a terrific gymnast. Even though my life had been moving forward on autopilot, every time I thought of Athena, it felt like a dagger piercing my chest. It hurt me that she kept to her word by staying away from me. It made me feel worthless. I wasn't interested in romance with anyone else for now; how could I when she had stolen my heart and was punishing me, whether intentionally or not? By leaving, she had taken a piece of me with her. I couldn’t stop thinking about her—her scent, her laughter, her presence, her body, the way her eyes rolled back whenever she was having an orgasm…Every action was so vivid in my m
AthenaMy days started like any other; I attended classes, signed up at the orphanage, and went straight to work and care for the children. Most of my day was spent monitoring them, helping with breakfast, and ensuring they were all okay. If I ever wrote a book about moving on after a heartbreak, my first advice would be to stay busy. Keeping yourself occupied didn’t remove the pain but helped dull it. Being around these kids and caring for them made me feel like I had a purpose and I wasn’t just floating through the days.It’s hard to believe it’s been three whole months without Cameron. Three months without seeing Caleb, Mia, and the rest of my family, except for my father, mother, and Stella. This place was far from everyone, so I couldn’t blame them for not visiting, but the loneliness sometimes hit harder than I expected. They planned to see me during Christmas, but that still felt like forever away.In the playroom, one of the little girls was bawling her eyes out. She was abou
Athena It’s been five years. Five years of trying to move on. Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, because in some ways, I had moved on. Men tried their best to catch my attention, and it seemed like I was at a point in my life where they came in droves. Maybe it was my new edge—more tattoos, the biker shorts—but I still maintained a touch of the old me, especially with my hair. The tattoos were minimalist, just enough to remind me of the journey I’ve been on.I was doing better than I ever thought I would. My powers had grown, and I had learned to harness them. Everyone wanted me to step fully into my role as a powerful hybrid, but I wasn’t cut out for that kind of attention. I used my powers when needed, especially on bastards who thought they could get away with evil. I was their karma. I didn’t hesitate to end them when the situation called for it.While sitting at my laptop, a notification popped up. It was a message from Caleb, reminding me not to miss my flight. He warned me t
CameronIt was a no-brainer that no matter the corner of the world where Athena had gone to hide, she would be at her brother's engagement party. Why wouldn’t she be? She loved the dude like an overprotective mother hen.Her family was here, and I knew it was just a matter of time before she returned.Seeing her again caused a rush of emotions to flood my brain. Even though it had been five long years—five years of success, fame, and smashing every goal I set—there was still this void in my heart. It felt like a gaping hole that no amount of achievements could fill. So, I used this opportunity, Caleb’s engagement, to finally see her face to face.The primary emotion was anger. Not the normal type of anger where I wanted a vendetta against her. I was angry that she couldn't have a little faith in us, angry that she thought she could just run away and that would somehow solve everything. She acted like a fucking coward, and I was going to tell her that to her face. For years, I’d rehear
AthenaSeeing Cameron after so many years made me feel something I hadn’t experienced in what felt like an eternity. Raw lust and desire. My Hitachi wand and dildos never did it for me. Whenever I tried to put myself in a situation where Cameron was present, I never had an orgasm. It was infuriating.And the fact that I was embarrassingly damp at his presence made me feel so foolish. My body was reacting to him, and my hormones went wild.I forced myself to breathe deeply.All the walls I had so carefully built around my heart came crashing when I saw him. His presence in the room overwhelmed me. He looked even better than the pictures—stronger, more filled out, but not too bulky like those obsessed gym guys. His muscles fit him perfectly, complementing the calm intensity he always carried. And that scent, the sweet smell of our mating bond, hit me like a wave. Oh, how I had missed it. If I could, I’d bottle that scent and carry it everywhere.But I couldn’t let him know how much I
AthenaCameron began to cough. His body jerked slightly as he tried to catch his breath. At first, it was just a rough clearing of his throat, but within seconds, it turned into deep, chesty coughs that racked his body. Confusion danced in his eyes like he didn’t quite understand what was happening to him. His nose wrinkled in disgust, and his lips curled as if the air around us suddenly turned foul.“What…the…fuck…is going on?” he asked between coughs. I held fake concern, knowing full well what I had done. “Are you alright?”He didn’t respond. Instead, he stood there, still coughing and gripping his stomach with his hand. His face began to pale, taking on a sickly, greenish hue.He stepped away from me as though my very presence was poisoning him. The space between us felt wider and colder.“Cameron, what's going on?” I cried out. His eyes met mine, wide with alarm, before he turned suddenly, gagging and retching. He staggered to the shrubs nearby, doubled over, and began to vomit
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