Chapter 0040

Alexander

Isabella had been right about the constant fear.

Now I was paying closer attention.

I could hear it in Athena's voice.

But her scent remained exactly the same.

That strange scent she carried from our first encounter until now.

The only difference was the lavender essence that accompanied her.

I could see her reflection in the window.

I watched how she used her sleeves to wipe away escaped tears.

Barely making a sound.

"For what it's worth." I muttered. "Caleb doesn't sound like a monster."

"His priority appears to be you and nothing more."

"As I said, he is very forthcoming with information."

"You mean you haven't had to torture him." She spoke the words slowly as though talking about herself.

I saw how she fidgeted on the seat.

Her head turned over her shoulder to look at the locked door.

Mentioning torture had triggered something.

"No, it wasn't necessary." I wanted to redirect her thoughts.

Turning around to look at her, I saw how tears made her blue eyes brighter.

'Just tell her.' Titan groaned.

Do you really think now is the time? She just asked me to stop looking for someone to help her.

To discover her mate is right here and she can't even sense me—what do you think that will do to her?!

He rolled his eyes at me and fell silent.

Another tear rolled down her face.

I hated seeing her like this.

Moving toward her, I crouched down in front of the chair and cupped her face.

With my thumb, I wiped away the escaped tear.

Her eyes closed and she leaned into my hand, as if seeking comfort.

The words tumbled from my mouth. "Athena, I am your true mate."

A small wrinkle appeared above her eyebrows as they knit together.

Slowly, her eyes opened.

She kept her face resting against my hand and just stared at me.

Staring properly into my eyes like she had when I landed on top of her at Silver Creek.

My heart thudded and I felt a pull toward her.

I barely held myself together, stopping from doing something reckless.

"My... my mate?" she whispered while still frowning.

"Yes, Athena."

"I was mated to Marcus."

"And yet you are mated to me too." It definitely wasn't the reaction I expected.

I thought she would be happy.

Or at least feel some relief.

She pushed herself back as far as she could in the chair, away from me.

"Mated... to you?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"Trust me. I know, and so does Titan."

"How... how long?"

"A while." Something told me that if I said from day one, she would freak out.

She pressed her pink lips into a thin line and once again looked over her shoulder at the locked door.

"No." she muttered again. "You... you made a deal with me. Why?"

"Is this what you say to all your brides?"

"Is this... supposed to make me feel better?"

The more panicked she became, the more she stuttered.

It would be cute if it were happening for any reason other than panic.

She really was nothing like any of the other brides or any woman I would typically pursue.

Moving to the door, I slid the lock back and held it open.

"If you need to leave, go."

"I know I've sprung a lot of information on you and you probably need time to think."

I watched her nod, but she didn't move from the seat.

"You... you didn't answer my questions."

I left the door open and sat on the desk directly in front of her.

"I have never said it to any of the others."

"I told you I've been searching for my mate for a long time."

"Did I expect it to be you? No."

"Am I happy it's you? Yes."

"I don't care if you're a Lycan or whatever. That isn't important to me."

She bit her nails, not quite looking at me.

"Is that why you were so angry when you found out what they were doing to me? Because of the mate bond?"

She didn't stutter this time.

"You're the only one who didn't join in."

"And you lied to Dominic too."

"You said you met me at the front door."

"You said I was the one who showed you to his office."

"If I hadn't lied to him, he would have beaten you."

"My priority was getting you out of there."

I sighed. This wasn't going at all how I wanted.

"You can't sense the bond, Athena, so I understand if you don't believe me."

"I promise you it's there."

"Think of the smaller things."

"Think of how you feel comfort when I'm holding you."

"Or how you curl up against me in your sleep."

"I know you feel safe when I'm around."

"You can't deny that."

Titan was oddly quiet too.

Because this hadn't gone the way he had hoped.