ATHENA'S POV.“Sera!” I called again, trying to stop her from pulling me, but she didn't. She pulled harder, and it seemed like the mirror began to suck me in. I screamed, but no sound came out of me. It was a silent scream. Being pulled through the mirror felt like what being pulled through jelly would feel like. I felt fear rub through my body as I fell onto the floor. The breeze ruffled my hair, wrapping it around my face. The breeze was chilly, and made goosebumps line my skin immediately.I looked up and saw Sera looking down at me. She was so real. She could touch me. If she wanted to kill me, she could.I gasped, and scrambled away from her, but she didn't move. “Please… please don't do this to me. Please take me back. I'm begging you, Sera. I'm begging you. Please, I read your letter for you, didn't I? I found the letter you'd have never found without me.” I pleaded, rubbing my palms together. Sera didn't say a word. She simply stared at me blankly. The breeze blew my hair
ATHENA'S POV.The living Sera bounced down the stairs, and went to plop down on the sofa, next to her friend.“You came so late. Why?” She asked, in a sweet voice, as she combed her wavy black hair with her hands. “I'm late? Didn't you just take your bath? I smell roses on you.” Her friend said, leaning towards her, and sniffing her skin.“Rudolph gave it to me like a month ago, but I didn't use it.”“Yes, Alpha Rudolph. Aren't you going to speak to him? I hear these days he looks like a ghost haunting the Palace.” Her friend said, placing her legs on the sofa, and handing Living Sera the sapphire bracelet. “I'm planning to leave. I'll leave with you, Matilda.” Living Sera replied, slipping the bracelet on.“But I'll return.” The friend replied, immediately.Matilda? Could she be??? Lady Matilda? My eyes widened, as I began to see the striking resemblance. The hair, the eyes. The smile. Wow… she was so beautiful when she was younger. “Yes, but I won't be returning with you.”“Why?”
ATHENA'S POV.“What?” I asked. Sera didn't reply. She simply began to walk away. I looked at the dead Alphas sprawled on the floor, and went after Sera immediately.“I thought you'd plead with them to stop, not tell them to ask what they want from me. What if I can't do it?” She pulled open the door, and left, leaving me baffled, as to why she wasn't replying. That wasn't what I had expected. She ought to plead with them to stop all they were doing, not ask they what they wanted. What if what they wanted wasn't something I could give?I followed Sera out on the streets, where she continued to walk, without stopping. “Sera. There ought to be something more you can do for me. This won't end well. Is there a way you can just beg them to stop? I thought you said your voice soothes them?” I asked, but realized she really wasn't going to say more. Since she wasn't ready to say more to me, I decided to face my fate. She looked like she was done talking.We kept on walking across the str
ATHENA'S POV.I didn't have the strength in me to fight anymore, so I went with the calm water. The three Alphas had dropped their tasks, and they all were life-threatening. My head still bled furiously, but I couldn't even raise a hand to try to wipe out the ones that found their way into my eye.I was pushed to dry ground when the water had become as small as a stream, and Iay there resting, until I saw Sera standing there, staring at me. Despite how weak I felt, I found the strength to stand, and walked to her, holding my belly. My body ached with pain, and it felt like a mine in my head. There was a lot of pounding, and hacking in it. I felt like fainting, and forgetting everything that was happening at the moment. "Did I pass?" I asked, even though I knew I did, and she nodded with a little smile.Sera turned, and began to leave, while I struggled to catch up, with my hands still over my belly protectively, like something else was going to happen. Sera and I walked through th
ATHENA'S POV."Tristan. The baby…""The baby what?" He asked, flatly at first, then his eyes widened. "What's wrong? Do you feel pain, do you...?""The baby kicked!" I squealed, and his eyes widened even more. "You're sure the baby really kicked?" He asked, moving from his spot on the bed to kneel next to me. "Yeah, twice. I'm sure it's a kick.""It's not just something else?" He asked again, bending to place his head gently, over my protruding belly. "I'm approaching my sixth month. What do you expect?" I chuckled."So soon?""The fifth month is almost over.""Wow, but I don't hear it kick anymore.""Maybe he's done kicking for the day." I replied, and he burst into laughter."Must be a girl then. How can two kicks be it for the day?" He asked, lifting his head, and I laughed."There you go. Men always have the impression they're stronger. You're attributing the qualities of a man into a baby, who's yet to be called a boy, without the word baby behind it? Who says girls can't be s
ATHENA'S POV."Thank you, Tristan." I said, to him, and I could tell he liked being appreciated. "What's there to thank? You should also be independent. I wouldn't want you waiting all day for me because I'm busy at work. You should also have something doing. Also, you can make new friends that way." He replied, and I nodded. "Well, thanks for… you know, just thanks. For everything.""I can't begin to imagine how many times you've thanked me for everything. Maybe I should start thanking you, too, for everything. Eating, drinking, being here, carrying a baby, taking me on a vacation…" He started to list out pointless things to thank me for, and I laughed out loud. We got to our destination, and I was surprised to see we were going to be boarding a cruise ship."Woah!" I exclaimed, and tried hastily to get out of the car, but he stopped me. "You should be a lot more careful. Consider going out gently, will you?" He said; I inhaled, and exhaled, before pushing the door open, and ste
ATHENA'S POV.Everything seemed to get better, the moment I slept with Tristan. It seemed like we finally became lovers, like we finally knew each other. It had been moments of passion, all joined together to form a beautiful experience. As the rain fell, drowning all sounds out, Tristan and I tangled in the sheets over, and over, and spent hours with each other just like the rain spent hours, raining all it had. When the rain stopped, the sky was clear and beautiful, and it seemed to me like the sky was a newly-washed cloth, ready to be worn again.The cruise went completely fine. I took basic business lectures online, sitting in the relaxing sun daily, and had three tutors, along with a woman, who was going to be my personal assistant when I took over one of Tristan's companies. "Good day, ma'am. I am Lilac, and I'll be more than happy to be at your service." She said, with a confident smile.I studied Lilac. She had short shoulder-length black hair, which followed the direction
ATHENA'S POV."In exactly two weeks, you will get what you need, ma'am." Lilac said, and I felt even more reassured, having someone capable, who could do all the things I couldn't. "Sit with me awhile." I said, stretching out my legs on the grass, and she sat next to me, although with some distance between us."How does it feel?" She asked, after some minutes."How does what feel?" I asked."Being pregnant."I chuckled. "Why?" I asked. "I always think about my future… when I get married, but I'm too scared to think of getting pregnant. I guess I'm more of a coward, but thinking of the pain I'll have to face to bring the baby out, I'm like… what if I can't do it? "What if it's too painful to go on? Every woman speak of it being painful, and the pain leaving immediately they see the child, but I don't believe it. Maybe they're really happy, but the pain would surely be there." She said, slowly, staring off into the distance and I smiled."I want to hold him, I want to see him, I wan
ATHENA'S POV.I picked him up, and turned him around, giggling with him.“What did you just call me? What did you?” I asked in a funny voice, rubbing noses with him.He giggled.“MaMa.” He called again, and I squealed.When I opened my door widely for the first time in months, the maids seemed shocked. I had only always opened it halfway to take food, so they wouldn't be worried I wasn't eating.“Miss!” They said, with tears in their eyes, as they smiled, and I opened one arm. They came to me, and I hugged them as well as I could.Aiden and I went to Alpha Ragas' grave, waiting for Tristan, who would return that night.“Hi.” I said sweetly to Alpha Ragas, and dusted the pictures of him, and us, before placing them gently on the grave. “Say hi Aiden. Say hi.”“Ay.” He said, and I laughed. “It's been like… over two months since you left, and we all miss you, although, I'm still going to tell Aiden you're a coward because you didn't stay.” I said, smiling. “By the way, you haven't come
ATHENA'S POV.I shuddered, and heaved heavily, feeling like all breath had been stolen from me. He was gone! He would never speak, never smile, never see me. “Alpha Ragas?” I suddenly wished to hear his voice, craved to hear him call my name. Knowing I could never satisfy that craving, made me want to go mad. “Alpha Ragas?” I called, but he didn't reply. I screamed, and screamed again, holding him to my chest. It felt like I would die. My mate had died, and I and my wolf were feeling immense pain.Our goodbye was so painful, and I wished he never came to save me. “Alpha Ragas.” I cried. Crying seemed like it wouldn't be enough. I wanted to cry my soul out. I wanted to scream until there was nothing left to scream.“Help me! I'm dying!” I screamed, hugging his body to me, trying to keep him warm. It didn't help that the atmosphere was cold. It was cooling his warm body faster than food. Alpha Ragas eyes stared lifelessly at the sky, and it tore my heart apart. The palace behind me
ATHENA'S POV.We stopped running at the same time. His face contorted in pain, and while I remained standing, he fell. My mouth was open, and my breathing began to come out faster. I screamed. I screamed again. My screams seemed to be in distant echoes. I screamed again and again, and fell to my knees. I raised his head on my laps, and tried to stop the blood gushing out of his heart. Why his chest? Why!? Couldn't they have shot his leg? The blood poured out through the space in my fingers, and soaked his clothes terribly. It seemed like everything around me had stopped. I couldn't hear the men any more even though I knew they were coming from us. It felt like my heart was bleeding. Blood gushed out in the form of pain. My chest hurt so much! Words were unable to explain my pain. “Alpha Ragas!” I screamed. Not like that. He wasn't to die like that. I was yet to thank him, and make him feel happy for saving me. Even if I couldn't be with him, I wanted to make it up to him.He cou
ATHENA'S POV.Alpha Ragas immediately got to his feet, and raced towards the closet as silently as he could. I hid my almost loosened wrists properly behind me, and tried to look hopeless, and scared. The door opened almost immediately, and a maid came in. Without intending to, my head darted towards the closet where Alpha Ragas was. She looked at the closet closely, and I coughed.“I need some water, please. I've been really thirsty. There's no water anywhere.” I said, trying to look really thirsty. “Do I look as if I came here to attend to you? I came here because there is something I have to tell you. Something you might not find exactly pleasing.” She said, haughtily, and I swallowed. “Something I might not find exactly pleasing?” I repeated, and she smiled. “I know the man who came into the castle, following you, or should I say the man who sneaked in after you. He's Alpha Ragas.” She said, taking out a thin knife from her pocket. My eyes trailed the wicked curve of its blade
ATHENA'S POV. No one would ever understand the feeling of gratitude I felt at that moment. Despite being very horrible to me, he jumped headfirst into trouble to save me. That touched me greatly. I was only scared for him. The men around were a lot and they seemed trained to be brutal, merciless, and unforgiving. If they happened to see him, they would take him down, and we'd both get our hearts eaten together because I could tell he was alone and didn't bring anyone along.Alpha Daven walked away, then turned back to me. “Do you want to say something or…?” He asked, and I blinked, trying to push my guilt, and relief out of my face.“You're forgetting that all creatures will eventually die. Everything you're doing right now is in vain.” I spat at him, and he laughed, clapping his hands in amusement.“Isn't it funny how you should be the one telling those words to yourself? All creatures will die someday. You're going to die in two days, there's nothing different in that. Also, whate
ATHENA'S POV.When I opened my eyes, I was on a cold floor, and all around me was tons of space. My hands were tied behind my back, and there was a gag in my mouth. It hurt the corners of my lips, and my sounds were all muffled, as I tried to call for anyone who was behind me. No one answered, so I tried to recall what had happened. There had been the guy with the phone. Yes, he was the one who had abducted me. But wait? Why would anyone want to capture the Luna of the pack? Did they want to make Tristan mad? Why would they do something as stupid as that?I suddenly felt large and strong hands grip my shoulder, and I made a loud muffled sound, as I was made to sit. It turned out I wasn't alone afterall. I was in a large warehouse, and there were men in dark suits lined in two different columns with a lot of space between them. They looked like body guards, but on second thought, they looked like assassins with black glasses on their faces.It meant there was someone else—the boss. T
ALPHA RAGAS’ POVFor the first time in years, I had cried. I couldn't stop the tears. They kept on flowing like rivers, and my heart was broken anew. Why was I crying? Tears and men didn't go along, but it seemed like I had transformed into a woman that night. I barely made it into my motel room before the tears began to crash like the waves of the sea. I sat in front of the little bed, and my tears ceased to stop. As usual, I drank myself to stupor, and passed out drunk. The next morning, I had a hangover that threatened to end me, but even with that terrible hangover, I still found myself asking the female receptionist if Tristan brought ladies in.I needed something on him.Subconsciously, my steps retraced their way to Athena's Palace, and I watched the guards do their jobs. I stayed there for a long time, and it was late in the afternoon when Athena came out. She took her hair out of the ponytail it was in, and it tumbled down around her shoulders in waves. She wasn't with A
ATHENA'S POV“Yeah, why don't we fight to the death, and Athena will have no choice, but to go with me at the end.” Alpha Ragas said, and my heart began to beat faster. They weren't really going to fight, were they?“If you can survive.” Tristan replied.“Where do we have the fight?” Alpha Ragas asked, and that was when I realized I had to step in because they were indeed intending to fight to the death. “Stop! There will be no such thing as a fight. Not when I'm here.” I said.“Athena, stay out of this. I'm trying to end all this once and for all.” Tristan replied, still staring at Alpha Ragas. “Maids are watching, we are having dinner. Do you want to shed blood here? I'm not pleased with this, Tristan, and if both of you think a fight will solve this, I'm just going to walk right out those double doors with Aiden. I mean it.” I said, in my strongest voice. “We are mates, Athena. Shouldn't you side with me?”“Alpha Ragas, I will be the one to choose the man I will stay with. Not y
ATHENA'S POV. Immediately Alpha Jeremy had broken the mate bond, it had felt like my heart had been crushed. I fell on all fours, with my mouth open in pain. It was beyond painful, and I thought if I just stayed there without doing a thing, then the pain would be bearable, but no, it wasn't. It forced a scream out of my throat, and I held onto my heart. It felt like my heart was really breaking apart. This wasn't just an emotional pain. It felt physical, like someone was truly trying to split apart my heart. Tears filled my eyes, and I began to cry out. I heard Alpha Jeremy groan, but was too focused on my pain to think of whatever was going on with him.The grass was cold, and the wind below began to blow harder. My hair was all over my face, and my dress threatened to rise above my legs. None of them were helping matters.I lay on the floor after some minutes with an intense throbbing pain in my heart. After a while, it began to recede, and the throbbing reduced. I was breathing