Chapter 0010

"Dominic's wolf had a name too, right?" He muttered under his breath as he stepped into the bedroom.

"No." I frowned, confusion clouding my thoughts as I tried to understand his question. "He never mentioned it... not once."

Alpha Alexander's crimson eyes locked onto mine. He believed I was lying—I could sense it in his intense gaze. I desperately wanted to look away but found myself trapped, unable to break eye contact. It felt as if he were compelling me to hold his stare without even touching me.

Could all Alphas do that, or was this unique to him?

My voice dropped to a hushed whisper. "I swear." I didn't know what else to say. "I'm... I'm telling the truth." I stammered while he continued piercing me with his stare.

"Okay." He muttered, though his tone suggested he didn't believe me.

"And I suppose, because of your binding, you never got to meet your Wolf?"

I shook my head. "They emerge when we turn thirteen. I know that much."

He frowned but remained silent. As he finally broke his gaze and looked away, my body relaxed momentarily—only to be hit by a searing, radiating pain from my stomach.

Ignoring the agony, I stayed still, watching Alpha Alexander pace around the bedroom. He seemed to be having a silent conversation with someone. Perhaps this Titan?

So many questions flooded my mind. Did Titan reside within him? What happened when he shifted? He mentioned control. Did Titan take over completely during the shift? From what I understood, shifters simply transformed—they didn't become entirely different beings.

As Alpha Alexander continued tracing a figure-eight pattern across the room, I pressed my hand against my stomach. Even through the fabric of my top, my skin burned as if on fire.

My heart raced wildly in my chest, reminiscent of when I first left Silver Creek. My palms grew clammy, and my mouth turned dry. I reached out to grip the bedpost, steadying myself to prevent my legs from buckling.

"It hurts." I whispered as the pain intensified.

"Athena?" He spun around to face me just as my legs gave out.

He caught me before I hit the floor, concern etched across his face as he lifted my top.

"Shit!"

I had never experienced such pain. All the beatings, all the punishments—they were nothing compared to this.

Alpha Alexander lifted me from the floor, cradling me with one arm under my knees and the other supporting my back. He rushed through the house and out into the cool evening air.

His feet pounded the ground as he moved with urgency. He slammed his back against the pack hospital door, nearly tearing it from its hinges as he forced his way inside.

"It's not what we initially thought." He shouted to Isabella as he laid me on a bed. "You need to examine this!"

He tugged up my top, ignoring my writhing in pain, and held me down so Isabella could get a clearer view.

He cupped my face with one large hand. "Look at me, Athena. Look at me and breathe."

Everything burned. My entire body felt like it was tearing itself apart.

"Is this what I think it is?" Isabella questioned.

"Yes." Alpha Alexander muttered, pinning my shoulders down.

"I'm sorry, Athena. This is going to hurt." Isabella called out.

"I can help." Another man spoke as another wave of pain shot through me.

"Hold her legs." Alpha Alexander instructed.

Something hot and sharp pressed into my stomach. I screamed, thrashing against the men restraining me. They were going to kill me.

Moments before darkness consumed me from the pain, I heard Alpha Alexander say, "A fucking blood tie."

Dottie repeated her words to Dane in the kitchen while waiting for her ice cream.

She closed her eyes as her long lashes brushed her cheeks. "It's dark. He needs a light. I think... Daddy is hiding." She shook her head and pressed her hands to her temples. "It hurts."

"You sense his soul?" Dane asked, confused. "From this distance?"

She shrugged. "Just a feeling."

Dane's gaze shifted to me. I had no answers. This was new, though she'd had bad feelings about Raven before.

"Is he still with Klaus?" I asked Dane. "You said they were together. I'll link him."

He raised a hand as his crimson eyes glazed over. Concern, annoyance, and anger flashed across his face.

"He's angry," Dottie whispered to me. She ate a spoonful of ice cream while watching Dane.

"They're alive," Dane finally said. "They escaped before the fire spread. Brax, Klaus and his mate, Xavi." His eyes met mine. "Silas's mate, Indy and her friend."

"Really?" Dottie asked. "They found Silas's friend?"

Dane nodded. "They fled into the sea."

"Deepwater," Dottie murmured.

Dane smiled. "They're hiding in a cove, waiting for the sea to calm. We must prepare for what follows them."

"What about her?" I avoided saying the name in front of Dottie. As Athena requested, I hadn't told Samara about her mother. I needed more information first, and didn't want Dottie accidentally revealing it. "I don't know. Klaus mentioned an incident but shared no details."

"Daddy will be okay?" Dottie asked.

"I can't promise that, Dorothy," Dane told her gently. "He's safe for now. He'll return home when possible."

She nodded and ate more melted ice cream. "I'm sorry school ended early."

"It's fine." I kissed her head, and she smiled.

"Can I play with the boys?" she asked hopefully.

"Of course," Dane said, helping the boys down from their chairs. They followed Dottie out, giggling as they chased her.

"What aren't you telling me?" I asked when we were alone.

"Indy is a half-breed. Half Wolf, half Witch, as Silas said. But she and Brax are blood-tied."

"Blood tie? What about Maddie? You said Indy is Silas's true mate."

He frowned. "I don't know. Maddie doesn't deserve this, but there must be a reason."

"It makes no sense. Why would he blood-tie himself to a Witch? After everything with Cooper and now Thalia."

"Your guess is as good as mine. Brax always operates on his own terms."

I glanced at the door where Dottie had left with the boys. "What did she mean about Brax turning on a light? Is this woman a threat?"

"She's not like Thalia. It sounds like she's helping them." He shook his head. "Dottie said something similar to Silas. She might mean something else, but we must prepare. This could be what draws Serkan out of hiding."