Chapter 0013

My gaze remains fixed on Silas.

He stands motionless as Indy clings to him desperately.

But I detect no dark cloud surrounding him.

"A dark cloud? You mean like the darkness that consumes some Lycans?"

Theodore shakes his head slowly.

"This is different. It stems from dark magic. Xavi carries one." He gestures above his own head.

"Leaving helped you, didn't it?" I ask softly.

He looks toward his new mate, a smile gradually forming.

"It was the best decision I ever made." His hand strokes the white fur absently.

Xavi nudges his head against Theodore's leg.

"Now we just need to eliminate the Witch to break the curse."

"What about them?" Alexander points toward Indy and Silas.

She still hasn't released him.

"I'll handle this," Luc scowls.

He starts toward them but pauses abruptly.

"Where's Hannah?"

"Probably with Seraphina in the gardens," I inform him.

"Hannah seems to keep Seraphina out of trouble."

He nods and turns back to the pair.

"Will you remain here?" I ask Theodore.

He glances at Xavi.

"For now. This curse must be broken."

"She deserves to die," Alexander growls.

Theodore rolls his eyes.

"Xavi agrees, in the most dramatic way possible."

"That can be arranged." Alexander smiles and winks at me.

"Indy, release him." Luc commands sharply.

"If I let go, I might never hug him again." Indy sobs.

"What happens when he recognizes you? You're blood-tied to me now. Nothing can happen until we resolve that."

"What?!"

I spin around to see Hannah and Seraphina.

Pain etches across Hannah's face.

Her eyes widen.

Her bottom lip trembles.

A single tear traces down her cheek.

"You blood-tied yourself to someone else?" Her voice cracks.

Seraphina wraps a protective arm around Hannah's shoulders.

"Hannah, can we discuss this privately?"

"You won't even mark me, yet you willingly blood-tied yourself to another. Why, Luc? I thought... I thought we were rebuilding. Is it because she's a Wolf? Is she better than me?"

"I haven't slept with her." Luc snaps. "You weren't there, Hannah. It was life or death."

She opens her mouth to speak but stops.

She shakes her head slowly.

She backs away.

"Hannah!"

Seraphina leaves with her.

Luc hurries after them.

"Whenever Luc is involved, drama follows," Theodore mutters to Xavi.

"At least he's not killing anyone," Alexander mutters with a smirk.

I watch as Orion pulls Indy away from Silas.

"Twins," Theodore confirms, nodding at Xavi.

I dislike hearing only one side of their conversation.

It must be difficult for Xavi to communicate solely through Theodore.

"Lycans," I add, assuming Xavi inquired about the boys.

I glance at my sons.

They're casually attempting to reach Alexander's pockets, likely searching for snacks.

Evrin has grown significantly this past week.

He now stands several inches taller than his brother.

He's developing at an accelerated rate.

He even appears older.

His round baby face has vanished.

Yet Logan shows no signs of shifting.

It shouldn't concern me, but it does.

Especially when I watch Evrin shift almost every night.

Why can one twin shift now while the other cannot?

Must Logan wait until he turns thirteen?

"Theodore, why don't you take our guests to your place?" Alexander suggests.

Alexander waits until they depart before wrapping his arms around me.

"Stop worrying. You told me it's normal for Lycans to shift at thirteen. Look at them. Evrin is your miniature copy. He shifted early, following his mother's path."

"I know, but..."

"If Logan reaches thirteen and it doesn't happen, then we'll investigate." He presses his lips to my cheek.

Confident and unphased.

I can't pinpoint it, but something feels off regarding the boys.

Brianna calls it 'mother's intuition.'

My mind reeled from the overload of information.

First the Wolfsbane Toxin and the pack runs.

Now a blood tie and still being partially mated to Beta Marcus.

I flicked my gaze up to Alpha Alexander.

He was staring directly at me.

I immediately lowered my eyes.

“I swear,” I whispered again. “I swear I don’t understand what you mean.”

“That’s the most infuriating part, Athena. I know you have no idea what I’m talking about.”

I wanted to ask why he was so angry.

I kept the question to myself.

“I never want to be near Beta Marcus again,” I mumbled.

From my peripheral vision, I saw his expression soften.

The corners of his lips almost hinted at a smile.

“Good. I have no plans to return you to him.” He stood from his chair. “Isabella says you’re cleared to leave the hospital. Can you walk, or should I carry you?”

“I can walk,” I muttered.

I slid out of the bed and straightened up.

A sharp, searing pain instantly tore through my abdomen.

“Are you certain?” Alpha Alexander asked.

I nodded.

I had endured worse.

I had worked through worse.

But he looked almost disappointed that I was creating distance between us.

He allowed me to set the pace.

He didn’t speak even when I stopped from the intense pain.

They said healing would take time.

How much time was that?

I paused again and glanced back.

I was only fifteen meters from the hospital entrance.

The pack house still seemed miles away.

Alpha Alexander stepped in front of me. “Let me assist you.”

“It’s… I can manage.”

“Athena.” His calloused fingers gently lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. “Your pain is evident. Please, allow me to help.”

He used that tone.

The one that left no room for argument.

Reluctantly, I nodded.

He immediately swept me into his arms.

He carried me through the house and into the bedroom.

He seemed pleased with himself.

He didn’t set me on my feet.

He placed me directly into the bed.

“As I mentioned, healing will take time. Blood ties are difficult to break. The pain you feel will likely intensify.”

“Intensify?” It couldn’t possibly get worse.

He sat beside me.

His crimson eyes locked onto mine.

A shiver raced down my spine.

“Typically, yes. But given your unawareness of the tie and your ongoing connection… I’m unsure how it will impact you.”

“Why would he do this? Why would Marcus create a blood tie after forcing his rejection on me?”

“That is what I am still determining. And stop calling him Beta. He has forfeited that title. Your brother never deserved to be an Alpha either.”

I was a nobody.

Using their titles was my duty.

Addressing them by name was disrespectful.

“Tell me something. When you discovered he was your mate… did you hope it would improve your situation?”

I shook my head, vividly recalling the hatred in Marcus’s eyes. “It was a living nightmare.”

“Did your brother know?”

I shook my head again. “I don’t believe so.”

Alpha Alexander simply nodded.

He suddenly reached a hand toward me.

I flinched.

I hadn’t flinched in years.

I had learned to control it.

Flinching always resulted in a worse beating.

Alpha Alexander paused.

He slowly reached into my hair and plucked something out.

He showed me a small feather.

“Get some rest. I will check on you later.” He activated a screen on the wall opposite the bed and handed me the remote. “I’m sure you can find something to watch.”

I lacked the energy to tell him I had never watched television.

It would only make my life sound more pitiful.

Alone, I slowly got out of bed.

I moved to one of the large windows.

I sat in the big, comfortable chair, trying to ignore the pain in my stomach.

I sat there, turning over everything I had been told.

None of it made sense.

Why would Marcus continue to beat me if he knew we were still connected?

Unless that was precisely why.

Was he so revolted by our bond?

Then why force a blood tie?

What did he hope to gain from it?

I watched as Alpha Alexander appeared outside.

He walked with a sense of purpose.

Moments later, Julian and Sebastian approached from another direction.

They met Alpha Alexander almost directly in front of my window.

The three of them had a brief, intense conversation.

Then they vanished into the trees, disappearing from sight.

I wondered where they were going.

I kept watching, waiting for them to return.