Chapter 0006

Alexander

She held no trust in me.

Not an ounce.

It only fueled my curiosity about her past.

I needed to know everything.

I craved to understand her completely.

I had to uncover who turned her life upside down years ago.

And why they framed a child.

While Isabella tended to her, I called my Beta, Sebastian.

He was monitoring Silver Creek pack.

I needed to know if he found anything unusual.

So far, nothing.

Which made me question how much they concealed.

How deep did their secrets go?

Until Dominic contacted me, I never heard of Silver Creek.

A pack living less than fifty miles away.

I wondered if Athena knew that.

I instructed him to return.

The pack run was tonight.

He needed to be present.

I noticed Athena hadn't smiled since we met.

Not once did her unique scent shift to indicate happiness.

Something I intended to change.

Especially if she was to be my mate.

I ran my hand across her stomach.

She held her breath.

Her eyes avoided mine, searching for anything else to focus on.

"Are you afraid of me?" I asked directly as her sweatshirt fell back down.

Of course she is. Just look at her. Titan muttered, pacing in my mind.

I watched her bite the inside of her cheek, thinking of a response. "Everyone is," she whispered breathlessly.

I raised an eyebrow.

"You lead the largest pack. You've waged wars and absorbed others. You've killed multiple Alphas. People seek your help; you never ask for theirs. It would be foolish not to fear you."

I smiled, feeling Titan's satisfaction.

We worked hard to become the Alpha we are.

Athena was smarter than her brother portrayed. "That's not what I meant. I know my standing. I'm asking about you. Are you, Athena, afraid of me?"

Her eyes quickly dropped to the floor.

I wished she wouldn't do that.

I could lose myself in them all day.

"I am not them," I declared when her silence lingered. I would never sink to their level. I would never harm a woman for my gain.

"Were there others like you?" Usually, where there was one, there were more, hidden from sight.

She shook her head. "Only me."

It made it infinitely worse knowing they solely targeted her.

That everyone else was deemed superior while she carried Alpha blood.

"You are one person who never needs to fear me. I want you to know that."

She pulled the sleeves over her hands, hiding more of herself from me.

By nightfall, she still hadn't initiated conversation.

Every exchange started with me, ending with nods or head shakes.

She was nearly impossible to read, but I loved a challenge.

"You need to sleep," I murmured, guiding her toward the stairs.

She lacked a Wolf and couldn't join the pack run.

Her blue eyes glanced at the large wall clock.

Still, she kept her mouth shut, guarding her thoughts.

She followed me through the house back to my bedroom.

She allowed me to apply the cream on her stomach again.

Like before, she held her breath.

But this time, she seemed less afraid, watching me instead of closing her eyes.

"Goodnight," I muttered.

As I leaned in to kiss her cheek, she tensed, her heart racing.

I expected her to flee, but she remained rooted, eyes squeezed shut.

She gasped softly as I stepped back toward the door. "You're leaving?" she whispered, surprised.

"It's a full moon tonight. I lead the pack run. I'll return in a few hours, but you'll likely be asleep."

"Pack run?" she mumbled, brow furrowing.

"You know, when the pack hunts together." Her eyes widened as I spoke. "Silver Creek doesn't do pack runs?" As far as I knew, everyone did.

She shook her head.

I gave her a reassuring smile. "You'll get used to them. Get some sleep. Because when you have your Wolf back, you'll join us."

As I closed the door, she stood in the same spot, staring at me, confused.

Downstairs, I found Sebastian and Julian waiting.

"How's it going with the new girl?" Julian asked, unbuttoning his shirt.

"Athena is staying, and Silver Creek doesn't do pack runs," I muttered, pondering her words.

"Are you serious?" Sebastian questioned. "I thought that was standard everywhere. All Wolves are empowered on a full moon; it's the best time to hunt."

I frowned at Sebastian. "You sure you didn't see anything unusual?"

"From my position, they acted like everyone else. Some went to work, some trained, others harvested crops." He raised a brow. "Why? What do you think they're hiding?"

"For starters, who really killed Athena's parents."

"Dominic?" Sebastian suggested.

"I don't think Dominic is smart enough for that. The idiot didn't even read the contract," Julian muttered.

"I think we should pay them a visit tomorrow," Julian suggested.

"Surprise them?" I muttered.

"Sometimes it's better when they don't know we're coming!"

"True. Dominic was furious about my arrival."

After the hunt, I confirmed with Sebastian and Julian our departure time before heading upstairs to shower.

Quietly slipping through the bedroom door, I was relieved to find Athena fast asleep.

I half expected her to have run, to have used the chance to escape.

Instead, she was curled up in a small ball, hugging a pillow, still in the sweats I gave her earlier.

She didn't wake during my shower.

She didn't stir when I turned on the light.

Almost as if she was accustomed to sleeping in confined spaces, at any time.

Drying off, I climbed into bed with her.

Pulling her tiny, weak frame against me.

She made soft noises as she began to wake but quickly fell back asleep.

Waking before her, I couldn't help but watch her sleep.

Sometime during the night, she had rolled over, facing me.

In the early morning light, a faint sprinkling of freckles across her nose was visible.

She gasped, suddenly sitting upright and rubbing her eyes. "Where am I?"

"Athena, you're in my pack, remember."

Her blue eyes locked on mine before drifting downward, to my bare chest, then to the sheet barely covering me.

"Are you... Are you naked?!" A rosiness touched her cheeks, making her look less fragile.

"I prefer it that way, especially in my own bed," I smirked.

She patted herself down, checking she was still clothed, and sighed with relief upon realizing she was fully dressed.

We could strip her. Titan muttered. We could show her what we truly want.

We need to take it slower. I replied. She isn't like the others.

Titan sulked at my comment, retreating to the back of my mind.

Thankfully, with age, I had gained better control over him.

Athena crossed the room, shutting herself in the bathroom.

I could hear her muttering about keeping it together.

"When you're done," I called out, "we need to apply your cream."

Ten minutes later, she reappeared.

She eyed me as I pulled on a black tee.

"Sebastian, Julian, and I have an errand. You'll be staying here." I grabbed the cream and gestured for her to lift her top.

"Alone?" she asked, her voice trembling as she rolled up her top.

"Alone," I confirmed. "Well, others will be here, so not completely alone." My hand lingered on her stomach a moment longer.

She's right here. Titan growled.

Dropping my hand, Titan sulked.

He wanted to make a statement.

To claim her as ours, to finally silence the rumors surrounding us.

Athena

Alexander guided me into the new office space. A second desk now stood beside his own. He maneuvered the pram through the doorway, checking on the twins before coming up behind me. His arms circled my waist. "Every Alpha requires a proper desk." He murmured the words against my skin before pressing a warm kiss to my neck. "Though you needn't use it for paperwork. I can devise far more interesting uses for it."

My gaze swept the freshly arranged room. Stark white walls were adorned with black and white portraits of our children. The furniture, crafted from black painted wood, created a sharp contrast against the bright walls. Massive windows flooded the space with natural light, making it feel both airy and inviting. If this single room was any indication, I was eager to see the remainder of the renovations.

Zachary and Evelyn's scents reached me moments before his voice called out. "Athena? Alexander?"

"Office," Alexander answered, his lips brushing the mark he had given me.

Zachary entered first, offering an approving nod at the new space. Evelyn followed silently behind him, her gaze uncertain and darting around the room.

"You asked for me," she mumbled softly.

I remained silent as Zachary settled comfortably into one of the chairs. He shot a knowing wink in my direction. He was fully aware of my reason for summoning her. Clearly, he had kept it a secret from Evelyn.

"How are you settling in?" Alexander asked Evelyn. I recognized his attempt to ease into the conversation, giving me time to find the right words.

She nodded quickly. "I'm incredibly grateful." The words tumbled out as she glanced toward Zachary, who merely shrugged. "I'll do anything you require. I want to be here. I wish to stay with Zachary. Whatever it is, I can make it right." She added the last part when Zachary offered no reassurance. "You've done nothing wrong," Alexander told her.

The twins began cooing from their pram. Evelyn straightened her posture. "Your pups are here?"

"Would you like to meet them?" I finally spoke. Why was this so difficult? I simply needed to ask her to become my Beta.

'Because nearly everyone has betrayed us in some form!' Nyx snapped internally. 'Caution is justified.'

Evelyn moved quietly to the pram and peered inside. I noticed Zachary watching her with keen interest. He adored Charlotte, but he clearly desired children of his own.

"They're beautiful, Athena." She smiled down at them. "You're truly blessed."

"We are," Alexander confirmed.

Evelyn turned to face me fully. "Was that why you called me here? To meet your daughters?"

"I want you as my Beta." I held her gaze, surprised by my own bluntness. It had come out far more aggressively than intended.

Her lips parted slightly before her jaw went slack. Her grey eyes locked with mine as she began shaking her head in disbelief. Silence enveloped the room, broken only by the soft sounds from the pram.

"But..." Evelyn closed her eyes, her forehead creasing in confusion. "You made it perfectly clear... I... Our beginning was less than ideal. You have Zachary." She gestured toward him. "And Sebastian, or your friend Brianna? She's your close friend." "Zachary and Sebastian are Alexander's Betas, not mine." I offered a small smile to Zachary. "I know he would give his life for me, but he was never chosen to be my Beta. You were."

I turned to Alexander, who smiled and nodded in support. "Perhaps there was a purpose for your arrival in my life."

"Right." She looked down at her feet. "Dakota once mentioned we were preselected. But why now? Why offer this role to me now? I appreciate the offer, but it doesn't logically follow. There are far better candidates than me." "Every Alpha requires a Beta." Alexander mused, echoing his earlier sentiment about my desk.

"What are your thoughts?" Zachary asked Evelyn as he stood.

She closed her eyes. "Dakota says yes, that this is our destined position. But what if I fail? I'm still new to having my Lycan. I haven't shifted since I tore Levi's head off. I don't know how effective I can be." "Do you believe I was born knowing?" Zachary countered.

"Evelyn, for some, the ability is innate," Alexander explained. He glanced at me with a small smile playing on his lips. "Sometimes it requires guidance to draw it out, but the capability always exists." His smile widened as he lifted a fussy Willa from the pram. I loved how he immediately attended to the children at the slightest sign of distress.

"What would you expect me to do?"

"Help me dismantle Silver Streams."

"You wish to destroy your birthright?" she scoffed.

'It ceases to be a birthright when the man wants us dead!' Nyx retorted.

"It was never truly mine." I sighed as Alexander passed Willa to me before retrieving Aderyn from the pram. "It's merely an idea perpetuated over decades, perhaps centuries. A forgotten hope. A Witch and a deranged Harrison are driving it into ruin, destroying lives, and I refuse to allow that. This is my home. This is my children's home, not some place I was never part of."

"Aldous Harrison would be horrified to learn a Witch holds power," she sighed, her shoulders slumping as her face contorted. "I wouldn't even know where to begin. I've told you Dakota confirms this is my identity, but I question my usefulness to you. What about the others? Those who cannot tolerate my presence. They won't heed me."

"I know precisely who you mean," I muttered. "But Seraphina holds no relevance here."

"She already despises me. I can do nothing right despite repeated apologies. If I accept, she'll want me dead more than ever. I'd have to sleep with one eye open. I refuse to return to that existence. You must understand that."

She was correct. I knew that life intimately. I had spent years fearing the same, and even now, I sometimes jolt awake at night expecting an attack. The fear only dissipates when Alexander sleepily pulls me against him.

"You'll possess the authority to order her silence." Zachary smirked. "What could she possibly do then?"

"May I have time to consider?" she asked quietly.

"Certainly," I replied, surprised. I had been certain Evelyn would accept immediately.

She turned on her heel and exited. Zachary shot me a puzzled look before hurrying after her.

"That was unexpected." Alexander frowned. "I anticipated she would seize the opportunity."

I nodded, staring at the empty doorway. If anything, her hesitation made her more desirable as a Beta. She wasn't rushing in blindly; she needed to contemplate, to ensure it was the correct decision.