Chapter 0012

“He hurt you?” I finish her thought.

She gives a slight nod, confirming it.

“Who did this?”

“Beta Marcus.” Her voice is barely a whisper.

‘But she belongs to us now, right?’ Titan panics internally.

‘Let me handle this!’ I snap back at him.

“How did you know that bastard was your mate?” I watch her expression closely.

“I’m not sure. I could smell him.” She grimaces. “He was the first person I’d scented since childhood. I don’t understand how or why. But he was furious. Disgusted.” Athena hugs herself, staring at the ceiling lights. “He despised me, and I suffered for it.”

‘She could scent him?’ Titan mutters. ‘How is that possible if she was bound?’

‘I’m getting to that if you’d just shut up for five minutes.’

“How old were you then?”

“It was my eighteenth birthday.” Her voice remains quiet, followed by a sigh.

“And he was the one who did this to you?”

She glances at her stomach and shakes her head. “Luna Victoria... I think.” She pauses, pressing her lips into a thin line. “Was it badly infected?”

“Don’t worry about that now. It’s been taken care of. It’ll heal properly this time.”

I stand up, about to tell her to rest, but curiosity gets the better of me. “Why could you scent him?”

“I don’t know. I swear.” She shakes her head. “They bound me again after that incident. I haven’t been able to heal properly since.”

I want to push for more answers, but she looks exhausted despite all the rest she’s had.

“Get some sleep. I’ll be back in the morning.”

Leaving the hospital, I find Sebastian waiting outside, just as I asked.

“Is she awake?”

I nod. “She answered some questions. But I’m letting her rest until morning. Sebastian, she’s been bound not once, but twice.”

“Twice? Are you certain?” He looks puzzled.

“She told me herself.”

“She must carry powerful Alpha blood if they bound her twice.”

“She might be even more powerful than Dominic. What other reason would they have to treat her this way besides fear? Why else would they frame her for her parents’ deaths?”

I don’t sleep. Athena had only spent one night in my bed, but it already feels strange without her here. By six in the morning, I’m back at her bedside in the hospital. Watching. Waiting for her to wake up.

She groans first, stretching slightly before opening her eyes. I see the panic flash across her face before she remembers where she is.

“Hospital?” she whispers, seeking confirmation.

“Yes.” I watch as she pushes herself up, ignoring the pain. I wonder how many times she’s had to do that while living in Silver Creek. If Dominic and the others ever gave her a break. If they ever left her alone for even a single night.

Athena lifts her top, studying her stitches with a frown. “She made the wound bigger.” She mumbles.

“Isabella had to. Sometime between Victoria injuring you and me bringing you here. Marcus blood-tied himself to you.”

“He what?” she asks, confused. She really doesn’t know much about our kind.

“Blood tie. It can be a mate thing. But it doesn’t have to be.”

“I... I accepted. H...he wanted me to accept the rejection. I did.” She stutters.

“I think because you were still bound to some degree, the rejection didn’t work properly. Or at least not how it should have.”

‘She’s our mate!’ Titan roars in my head. ‘He’s not having her. I won’t allow it. I’ll destroy the entire Silver Creek pack if it means she stays with us!’

‘Trust me, she’s not going back to them.’

Athena

"Are they back?" I ask as the boys scramble off me. "Did they arrive safely?"

Alexander nods with a brief smile that vanishes quickly. "Theodore reported an uneventful journey. No complications."

"That worries you, doesn't it?" I observe him closely.

He leans down, pressing his lips to my cheek. "After everything we've endured, simplicity feels suspicious."

"Any signs of being followed?"

He shakes his head. "Only time will reveal that. Now, are you going to share what you and Evelyn discussed, or must I delve into that mind of yours?" He pulls me up from the chair. "I'll explain later."

The boys circle us excitedly as Alexander maneuvers the pram. He keeps shooting me sideways glances, clearly struggling. "You find this amusing? They should design these for taller men."

He's hunched over, his large frame making the pram look like a child's toy.

I shake my head, smiling. "Should we have left the girls with someone? You mentioned Theodore and Luc weren't alone."

"Would Luc risk bringing anyone here if he sensed danger?"

"I suppose not..." My words trail off as van headlights approach the gates. I'd missed Theodore. Despite his frequent pack duties, his absence always felt noticeable. Besides Alexander, he was among the first to earn my trust.

The van stops abruptly. Theodore jumps out with a radiant smile. His eyes meet mine, and I immediately sense a change. His long hair is gone, but his entire presence feels... different.

Luc exits next, sliding the van door open. A white Wolf leaps out, followed by a man with intense blue eyes. Luc turns back, offering his hand to someone else. The woman—Silas's true mate—emerges with her face lowered. Her hair is whiter than paper, something I've never seen on a Wolf.

"Congratulations," Luc mutters, eyeing the girls as the boys tackle Theodore. "Those two will keep you occupied."

The three strangers hang back, watching us with visible anxiety. The white-haired woman especially can't tear her eyes from Alexander.

"Athena, this is Xavi. My mate." Theodore gestures to the white Wolf. "Thalia cursed him years ago. He's trapped in this form."

"He's also a Witch Hunter," Luc adds.

"This is Orion. He can't speak. Thalia removed his tongue." Theodore continues, ignoring Luc. "And this—"

'The half-Witch.' Nyx whispers.

"It seems Thalia has managed to anger everyone in some way." Alexander frowns.

Indy continues staring intensely at Alexander.

"He's his twin," Luc murmurs, moving toward her.

"I know." Her voice drops to a whisper. "It's startling how identical they look." She keeps staring. "I see you're not Silas." She scans the area. "Is he here?"

"Yes," Alexander confirms. "Though he's under some kind of enchantment."

"I know." She sighs heavily. "I'd hoped distance from Silver Streams might break it."

"He's trying. He knows the truth now, but he keeps forgetting."

Her golden eyes suddenly brighten as she looks past us. "Silas!" she shrieks, charging across the grounds. She hurls herself at an approaching Silas, wrapping her arms around him tightly. "Oh, I've missed you so much!"

'Alexander didn't tell her Silas doesn't remember her.' Nyx mutters.

Silas looks at us with confusion, keeping his arms wide as if afraid to touch her.

"Silas, it's me, it's Indy." She pleads with him.

"You're the half-breed from Silver Streams," he states blankly. "You're just a teenager. How did you get here?"

'That memory charm is incredibly potent.' Nyx sighs.

Like me, Nyx had hoped Indy might break through whatever hold Thalia had on him. But whatever magic she'd used, it was powerful.

"Do you see it?" Theodore whispers to his mate, Xavi.

"See what?" Alexander asks.

Theodore sighs deeply. "The curse on him is powerful. A dark cloud hovers above him."