Chapter 0021

Alexander

Centuries of documented research provided no answers about the creature that attacked my pack. I slammed the laptop shut just as Julian entered the office.

"Have you seen your mate?" He asked with an amused expression, dropping into a chair and propping his feet on my desk.

"Yes." Isabella had already informed me about Athena's breakdown at the front door, but I chose to keep my distance. Some things she needed to figure out alone. "Why?"

"Just surprised you're leaving her unsupervised."

"She's not unsupervised." I shoved his feet off my desk. "What do you want, Julian?"

"I thought we were going to Silver Creek tonight."

"Plans changed."

"Thanks for the update!" He rolled his eyes dramatically.

'Does everything always have to be about him?' Titan grumbled in my mind.

"I've been preoccupied. As you should be." I snapped at my brother.

"The forest is clear. No signs of anything else. What now?" He shrugged, completely unbothered. "We're trained professionals. We've handled other threats before. If more of those things show up, we'll deal with them."

His optimism was typical. That was just how he operated. Even when I'd caught him with my first contracted bride, he'd remained utterly unfazed. Strangely, that made him the perfect Gamma. He maintained clarity where others saw chaos.

"If it makes you feel better, I'll increase patrol numbers." He offered when I remained silent.

"Do you think it came for her?" The suspicion had been growing since the blood tie broke. Madame Zora's warnings, now this attack—it couldn't be coincidence. Nothing in my life ever was.

"Athena? No offense, but she's not exactly special, is she? Just another contract bride like the others."

"She is not just another contract!" Titan snarled in my head. "She's our mate. Tell him if he touches her again, I'll bite his hand off." I smiled at Titan's threat.

"Is he saying something?" Julian asked. "Is Titan talking about me?"

"He reminds you to keep your hands to yourself."

A flicker of grey appeared in my brother's dark eyes—Aspen was close to the surface.

Aspen had been desperate to challenge Titan for years, knowing he stood no chance. Yet he never stopped trying. The grey faded as Julian stared at me. "If we're not going tonight, what should I do?"

Tell him to shove his head up his own ass? Titan suggested.

"Try to locate Madame Zora."

"Seriously? That's like finding a needle in a haystack."

I rolled my eyes. "You saw her reaction. She knows something. Dig up whatever you can."

"Fine."

He left as I stood at the window, watching Isabella and Athena throwing snowballs. Their laughter echoed across the grounds as they chased each other. My heart skipped seeing my mate so happy.

Suddenly, Athena collapsed, clutching her chest.

I was through the window and sprinting toward them before conscious thought.

"Athena! What happened?!"

"You need to chill." Isabella snorted. "She's just winded. Without her wolf back, she can't keep up with us. Talk about overreacting!"

"She's right." Athena gasped breathlessly. "I'm fine."

"Enough for today." I helped her up. "You need to change. You're soaked."

Athena nodded and headed inside.

"I was trying to let her have fun." Isabella crossed her arms.

"I see that now."

"You're worried about her." My sister observed. "She won't always be injured. If she wasn't allowed activity at Silver Creek, she won't have our fitness level. It takes time."

Her dark eyes studied me. "But something else is bothering you."

She was my only sister, and the only pack member who could read me so well. "This isn't about her being winded, is it?"

"No."

"Want to talk about it?" She offered a small smile.

"Not until I know more." I returned her smile, hoping to reassure her. "Nothing to worry about."

"I may be younger, and you raised Julian and me after our parents died. But I'm not a child anymore. Maybe I can help."

"Just watch over Athena when I'm not here."

She nodded before turning toward the medical wing.

'Now you!' I snapped at Titan. 'Don't ever do that again!'

'I panicked. You'd be furious if we did nothing.' He moaned. 'I had to know she was okay.'

My control over him usually held firm, but seeing her collapse shattered my restraint.

I found Athena in the bedroom wrapped in a blanket, changed into gray joggers. The blanket concealed her top, though I assumed she'd changed that too.

"I'm okay. Really." She murmured when she saw me.

"Good."

"Are you angry?"

"No. Yes, but not at you." Her big blue eyes held mine steadily. She was growing more comfortable with direct eye contact, and I welcomed it.

She sat on the bed, the blanket slipping to reveal one of my t-shirts. "I was trying to go outside alone. I... wasn't trying to run." She stammered.

"I know. Isabella told me."

She pressed her lips together and nodded. Taking the chair, I watched her adjust the blanket. She shifted further onto the bed, crossing her legs.

I wanted to tear the clothes and blanket away and lose myself in her. These thoughts grew harder to ignore, undoubtedly influenced by Titan. Only the fear of harming her held me back.

'The sooner we kill Marcus, the better.' Titan's voice rumbled through my mind.