Chapter 0041

"You killed Marcus so you could claim me?" Athena's voice trembled.

"Yes."

"I'm... I'm nobody special. You're an Alpha. A powerful one. And I'm not..."

"You're an Alpha too."

She fell silent after that.

She asked to be left alone.

To think.

It frustrated me deeply.

This wasn't how it was supposed to happen.

She should have been happy.

Not fearful.

Not angry.

She should have wanted my claim.

Not tried to run and hide.

'This is your fault.' I snarled at Titan. 'You couldn't let it go. You had to push and push. Look at the mess we've made.'

'In my defense, I thought she'd be thrilled to be mated to the strongest Alpha. Maybe lead with that next time instead of the prisoner!' He shot back.

I headed to the kitchen for food.

Isabella was there, eating. Again.

"Do you ever stop eating?" I snapped.

"I was hungry." She shrugged. "And someone's clearly pissed."

I slammed a mug down.

The handle broke clean off.

Isabella stood and added 'Mugs' to the shopping list.

"We'll have none left at this rate." She muttered, sitting back down. "So. What happened?"

"I told her."

Isabella's dark eyes fixed on me. "You told Athena she's your mate?"

"What else would I be talking about?!"

"Whoa, okay. I'm guessing it didn't go well."

"Do you see her here?" I gestured angrily around the empty room.

She wiped a crumb from her lip. "I'd be mad too."

"Thanks for the support."

"I'm just saying. Not everyone is like Genevieve. Or the others."

"That's enough."

"Sometimes I wonder if you know anything about women." She shook her head, taking another bite of her sandwich.

I waited.

She said nothing.

"What?" I snapped. "You're dying to tell me. So say it. Since you think you know her so well."

"I didn't say that. I said you don't know women. And that, I understand."

She dumped her plate in the sink.

Immediately, she started searching the cupboards for more food.

"Do you think she ever expected to find a mate? For most of us, it's everything. For you, it's everything. I doubt it ever crossed her mind. And you just dropped it on her."

"She can't sense the bond. How else was I supposed to tell her?"

"Doesn't matter now. You can't change it. But you should be with her. Not down here talking to me."

"Alright, smartass. I'm going."

Athena's eyes were wide when I entered the bedroom.

That pull hit me again.

She was perched on the edge of the bed.

Legs dangling.

Like she'd been waiting.

I would never admit to Isabella that she was right. Her ego was big enough.

"It makes sense." Athena whispered. "You wanted me in here. You didn't want me alone with Julian. You said you didn't want anyone else touching me. That was never about the contract, was it?"

"No."

"Because you knew?" She didn't sound angry. Just thoughtful. Putting pieces together.

"Yes." Very few people were allowed to question me like this. To second-guess my decisions. "I thought about telling you. So many times. I thought about just claiming you. Never revealing the truth. I didn't want you to feel obligated because of the bond."

"So you used a contract instead?" She frowned slightly.

"When you say it like that, it sounds ridiculous." I muttered.

I scratched the back of my head.

Nothing I thought to say sounded right.

Nothing would make my poor choices better.

She got off the bed.

She pulled her sweatshirt off.

Underneath, a white fitted tee.

I could clearly see her erect nipples.

I watched her walk to the laundry basket.

She dumped the sweatshirt inside.

She turned back.

Hands on her hips.

"If... if you claim me, will you sense my needs? Will you know if I need help?"

"I will know everything about you. I will feel your every need. I will know all your desires. I will know when you need me."

She loosely tied her hair back.

She closed her eyes.

"Claim me then."