ATHENA'S POV."They're bankrupt?" I asked, with a slow smile forming on my face. "Yes, they are. Alpha Jeremy has a number of employees he hasn't paid yet, and has a penalty to pay for being unable to fulfill the terms of a contract. He signed a contract that stated he would buy a company, but he had to go back on his word, earning him more debt on his neck." Lilac explained, and my smile turned into a smirk. "It's only a matter of time before they're completely wrecked." I said, and she smiled. "I'm afraid wives should be chosen just as carefully as business partners are chosen." She commented, and I laughed. "But I thought Alpha Jeremy was very rich. Did he really get bankrupt?" I asked."Indeed, he is, but his wife went ahead and spent millions on a daily basis, buying luxury things that she didn't need. Also, he had been pouring most of his revenue into a project that needs more money to bloom. Without more money, it'll all be futile. He relied greatly on the card, so he coul
ATHENA'S POV.Hearing about Lorrie made me laugh. Lorrie was worse. So, Lilac meant after all that fussing that Lorrie did over Alpha Ragas, she ended up cheating? A younger guy at that?"You do know we have to be very sure, don't you? Are you sure he's not just some relative or guy she's trying to help?" I asked, and Lilac shook her head slowly. "This is why it took me so much time to bring this news to you. We couldn't comfirm things immediately, so the man who works for me when I can't, just called me now. He says he saw the both of them kissing. He also said he'll send a picture." She informed me, and my eyes went wide."A younger guy? How young?""Apparently he's yet to finish high school, and is Nineteen." Lilac replied, and my jaw dropped."What? Nine…nineteen? Jeez! Why is Lorrie so shameless?" I asked, and she took in a deep breath. "She doesn't hesitate to give him money, and is seen coming out of his place almost every night.""He lives alone?" I asked."No, his parents
ATHENA'S POV.I suddenly felt nervous as I watched the water trickle down my leg. It was finally time. The time for my long-awaited day. What did I feel? Fear? Excitement?"Ahh." I let out softly, as I tried to breathe out, and determine what emotion was taking over me."Okay, okay, let's take it easy. Can you walk?" Lilac asked, and I began to take in deep, noisy breaths through my mouth. I could feel that my time was near. It was a kind of automatic feeling, or maybe it was just the contractions. Lilac continued, "Don't panic." She placed my arm around her shoulders, and together, we walked slowly out of the kitchen, abandoning everything, and began to make our way down the long halls."Where's Tristan?" I asked."The timing cannot be more worse. It'll take a while for him to return." She replied honestly."That's fine. I wouldn't want him worrying much." I said to her.As we walked past, the maids who saw what was happening, and registered it in their minds, as the minutes before
ATHENA'S POV.When I opened my eyes, the room was dark. After labor, I had slept, awoken, stared at sleeping Aiden, and had slept again.I smiled. It had been a long ordeal. Nine months with Aiden in me had countless events. Unfortunately, Gary, Earnshaw and Bronch would be unable to see him, but I was sure they would have loved him. I looked over to Aiden's crib, and spotted Tristan looking at him, with a kind of awed look, like he'd never seen a baby up close.“How many months of vacation did we agree on?” I asked, as I tried to sit up gently, and he jumped slightly.Then he turned to me and smiled. “Two.”“Two? Wow…. So you're trying to wiggle your way out of this, uh? You clearly said a three-month vacation on the phone.” I retorted, and he chuckled. “You know, I rushed into my car immediately after the call, but was stuck in the traffic for hours. It was no joke. By the way, do babies sleep like this?” He asked, and I peered into Aiden's crib.“How?” I asked, since he wasn't s
ATHENA'S POV.My heart jolted, and I realized I wasn't ready to see him. Watching him alone made me feel like thrusting a dagger into him, and asking why he was there. I had felt the same feeling when I had searched him up to see his face. It had been such an uncontrollable urge that made me feel like I'd go mad. How dare he walk into the party of a woman he left to die. It had been ruthless of him. I was blind, yet he had pushed me out to the woods. That memory would never leave me until I took my revenge. What would happen when he discovered the woman he had mistreated had actually been the daughter of the former Alpha of his friend's pack?Unfortunately, my father wasn't alive. If he had, he'd have been the one to carry out my revenge. Tristan got to them, and Alpha Jeremy smiled, shaking hands with him. They began to converse, but just as Tristan was about to show them their way to me, Alpha Jeremy lagged behind, and placed his phone to his ear.Then his expression changed dras
ALPHA JEREMY'S POV.A YEAR AGO.I straightened my tie in the mirror, and gave a sigh. We were having a huge Alpha meeting, where Ruling Alphas who controlled regions, came together with the town Alphas. We had a lot to discuss on how we handled our politics, and issues. A maid knocked on my door, reporting that Octavia wanted to see me, but of course, I declined. I didn't want to talk to her unless she repaid everything she had taken. The main reason I was so resentful was because I knew she couldn't provide the money in the short time I'd need it, and it meant I had to walk around to get the money for us to use. The month was ending rapidly, and I needed to pay for some workers' salaries. Also, I had debts to settle for breaking the contract. I was going through a tough time thanks to her carelessness, and stupidity. None of the friends she helped reached out to her, or maybe she just didn't call them.She was such a vain woman, but I had to take the blame because I should never h
ATHENA'S POV.BACK TO PRESENT.“That is Li…Lac.” I said to Aiden; sitting on a stool in front of the bed where he was, as the sound of Lilac's clacking heels approached the bedroom door, pronouncing Lilac's name slowly even though I knew it would be tough for him to repeat.“Iiiiiii!” He screeched, and I laughed.“Li…lac… Lilac…”“Iiiiiii!” He screeched again, and the door was pushed open gently.“Hey, Aiden.” She greeted, and he began to bounce, raising his hands upwards for her to carry him. “Woah. He wants me to carry him?” She asked, incredulously.“That's new. Try it.” I said, urging her, and she dropped some papers she had been holding, and lifted Aiden into her arms, only for him to frown at her, and struggle to be dropped.“Then what do you want? You clearly asked me to lift you.” She said in frustration, and Aiden began to cry.She dropped him gently on the bed, and he rolled over, trying to suck his feet, which he eventually did and grinned.Lilac stared at him, and smiled.
ATHENA'S POV.We both stared into each other's eyes, and a lot of emotions flitted through her green ones. She looked like she couldn't believe she was seeing me. Like I said earlier, she really seemed like she was seeing a ghost.Maybe she was expecting to see a ghost. Apart from the shocked look on her face, she looked depressed, and utterly lost. Taking little uncertain steps, she approached me.“You… why, why do you look like this, and… and why are you alive?” She asked, like my being alive was the beginning of her destruction.“Can… Can you see me?” She asked, looking at me to be certain I could really see, and she wasn't the one imagining things.I didn't say a word. I just kept on staring at her. Then her eyes fell to Aiden, who was craning his neck to look at her. She couldn't stop staring at him. It was like she was torn between confronting me further, and staring, mesmerized by Aiden's sheer beauty, and loveliness.“I… Can, can we talk?” She asked, still looking at Aiden, an
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