ATHENA'S POV.It felt like I wasn't hearing him correctly. Earnshaw was dead? Maybe I didn't know Gary, but I knew Earnshaw. He was a kind old man. What could have happened to such a healthy man? It looked so absurd.“H…how?” I asked.“He passed in his sleep… just like Gary.”“What?” I asked in shock. Gary died a month ago, and now Earnshaw? Something didn't sound right, but I knew it could easily be a coincidence, so I didn't think too much of it.“Uh… where are you?”“You don't need to worry about me. I…”“Where are you, Tristan?” I insisted, with more force. “I'm at his house.” He replied, and I turned off the socket, tore off the apron I was wearing, and left the kitchen. “I'll be right there, okay.” I said, leaving the Palace. I knew Tristan couldn't be okay. First, there was Gary dying. Not Earnshaw too. He was one of the old men Tristan was really close with, and I knew it would be difficult to let him go. I called for one of the men assigned as my driver, and he drove me s
ATHENA'S POV.I woke up a second later, and could hear the low pitter-patter of the rain on the windows. It was raining. When was the last time I heard the sound of rain? Or maybe I should say, when was the last time I saw rain?I didn't even remember what the atmosphere of rain looked and felt like. Next to me, Tristan slept, although I could tell he wasn't having the best of dreams at the moment. I swung my feet off the bed, and went to the window. Upon pushing it open, a breeze blew in, and it had the soft rain smell with it. The smell of packed earth, and cold.A few drops landed on my skin, and I looked up at the sky. It was a dull gray, and the clouds moved around slowly, and heavily. Were they also mourning for Earnshaw?Could they be whispering their words of condolence?It was in the morning, but it could easily be mistaken for late evening. As I kept on watching, I felt the sky was remarkably beautiful with its hues of gray. Yes. My favorite weather is the fall. I was s
ATHENA'S POV.Yes, it was them. Our car was parked on a narrow road, and there was a large wall blocking the girls, who were definitely directly in front of our car. “You should keep quiet. Do you know how hard I saved, before I could get it? Did you save anything?” The first one asked.“Well, you shouldn't talk to G that way. She would buy it back for you in the blink of an eye, she's just in a financial fix right now.” The second voice snapped.G? Since when did one of them go by G?“Of course. You know I would pay it back if not for the problems I have to solve right now. Mum and dad will kill me if I bring in a problem as measly as your broken camera.” The third voice said, and I recognized that as the voice of the meanest of them.“What? As measly as my broken camera? Well, you should have considered that before you broke it!” The first girl shouted, getting annoyed. “Ouch. I believe I already said I was sorry.” The mean girl said, although her voice was nothing sorry. My driv
ATHENA'S POV.“Y…your car? How… How can this be your car? Your car? You?” The second blonde asked.“Are you… are you playing a joke right now? You were banned from the pack. No rich pack would take you in, so how… How do you own a car and all these things?” The mean one asked. “We're doomed.” The black-haired girl whispered, looking at the car, which they had damaged. Mr. Gladys held out his phone, and I took it. “Do you want me to go on, ma'am?” He asked, and I nodded. “You smashed the window of Miss Athena's car, and broke the side mirror. Here's the cost as presented. For the cost of the window you smashed, you will need to get another one, which should be $530 as stated here. For the installation, and clean up, it's likely to cost you $400, but the price may vary depending on the installation company. “They would have to see the car first, and determine the specific price, so you have to keep, at the very least, $400 in mind. You also have to pay for a rental car, as Miss can
ATHENA'S POV.The mean girl looked like she knew she had made a mistake, as she blinked rapidly, unable to say another word. The other two girls looked at her with contempt, like they wanted to hit her mouth, and fall on their knees begging me.“Al… alright! Let's go to the cops, and see what they say!” The mean girl shouted, trying to instill confidence into her words. I gave a scoff, and got into the passenger's seat, next to the driver seat, while the three of them were forced to sit in the back of the car by Mr. Gladys. “Damn you, damn you… you just couldn't keep your mouth shut, could you?” The black-haired girl said, with gritted teeth.“I should have never come out today. This is bad.” The second blonde added, looking like she would fly out of the window if the opportunity presented itself. “Let's stop blaming me and see what the cops say first. We never know, we might be let off. After all, it's an accident.” The mean girl snapped, silencing both of them.We drove to the n
ATHENA'S POV.My head rang with pain as the noise continued, and it was so difficult to listen to what Tristan was saying. The image of the bloodied man kept on flashing in my head, getting closer and closer in my mind's eye. He was turning…. He was turning… I didn't want to see his face. No! I didn't want to. I could feel myself falling off the chair, but numerous hands caught me. My eyes opened and closed, and I saw Tristan rushing over to me. The servants lifted me, and began to take me to my room, while Tristan followed, and somewhere in that ruckus; I lost consciousness, slipping quietly into a land of dreams. I had been scared of sleeping, as I feared I would see the bloodied man in my dream, but luckily, I didn't see him.Instead, I saw Lorrie, Alpha Ragas and all the people who had made life harder for me falling at my feet, and begging for my forgiveness. It was a blissful dream, and when I woke up, it was at night. My head didn't hurt, nor did I see images of a man covere
ATHENA'S POV.I couldn't believe my eyes. His body was still warm, so why…“Bronch.” I called again, shaking his shoulder. He still didn't move. “Bronch!” I called harder, shaking him vigorously. A sleeping person should have woken up by then. I just couldn't bring myself to face the fact that he could be gone, just like Earnshaw, and Gary. Bronch, who had come to the Palace the previous day with dear Dorothy to see Tristan. He had smiled at me and joked with my baby, who probably couldn't hear a word of what he was saying.How could he suddenly be gone, just like that? No. He was probably in a deep sleep. I tried to fool myself because even if I felt bad, I didn't want to imagine how Tristan would feel. No, he couldn't lose someone else again. He couldn't. How was he going to cope with the loss? Even though I could see his chest clearly stiff and not rising, even though I could easily put my finger to his nose to check if he was breathing, I didn't. It was only after two minut
ATHENA'S POV.It was so difficult to believe. All this had happened because of something casual me and Tristan had done four months ago. It had been the room I had stepped in. Why did I have to step in that room? Why did I have to look in the mirror?It was then I recalled the beautiful woman I had seen in the mirror briefly. It all came back to me in a flash. Back then, I had said to myself that I was seeing things, but looking back at it, I had really seen a woman in the mirror. “You mean the story's true? The story of three Alphas who fought each other over a woman and successfully killed each other?” Tristan asked, looking like he couldn't believe it. “Did you think we were joking when we told you about the story?” Lady Matilda asked, looking worried. “I mean… Athena and I went there a lot of times back when we were younger, and… and nothing like this ever happened.” Tristan countered. “That was when you were kids. Now, you're a grown Alpha, and you went with a woman you fancy
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