Chapter 0008

Alexander

I saw it in her eyes.

She was just as confused as I was.

Maybe even more.

She walked beside me, nearly jogging to keep up as we headed back to the house.

Her gaze remained lowered, fixed on her feet as we moved.

"Sit down." I guided her into the office.

She didn't hesitate like she had at Silver Creek.

She took one of the empty chairs immediately.

She sat with her legs pressed tightly together.

Her sleeves were pulled down over her hands.

Her face was turned downward in submission.

"Athena?"

Her back straightened when I said her name.

Her heart began to race.

The last time it did that, she nearly passed out.

"I swear I don't know anything." The words tumbled from her mouth as if she were fighting for her life. "If I knew, I would tell you."

She spoke as though those words were her only lifeline.

Something I hadn't felt in years flooded my veins.

Guilt.

She shouldn't feel that way around me.

'You're upsetting her!' Titan growled.

"I shouldn't have shouted at you." I murmured, sitting on the edge of my desk. "You didn't deserve that." I paused, frustrated by what else she had told me. "You stole food?"

"I had to." she whispered.

The more I learned about that pack and what they did to her, the more I hated them.

When the time came, every single one of them would be eliminated.

'Finally something we agree on.' Titan murmured.

Athena's eyes flicked up to meet mine.

She bit her bottom lip.

I would erase her entire past.

Contracts were simple.

Every contract I had ever drawn up always favored me.

The other side was always too arrogant to read it or negotiate.

They always lost.

This time, it would be Dominic and his pathetic pack losing everything.

"Tell me about Victoria." I spoke softly, aware that my Alpha tone made her nervous.

A flicker of rage crossed her face.

It vanished as quickly as it appeared.

I had seen it before when that stupid bitch called my bride a rat.

"What do you want to know?"

"Everything. And no lies. How long has she been with Dominic?"

She shrugged. "She's been around as long as I can remember. Dominic is twelve years older than me. They went to school together."

"She's his true mate?"

Athena nodded. "She was nice once. Before I... before my parents died. She used to bring me presents, mostly toys. Everything changed after she became Luna and I became nothing."

"You didn't kill your parents." When would she accept it was a lie? "And you are not nothing. Not anymore."

She puffed out her cheeks.

Her brow furrowed.

"Talk to me." I muttered, ignoring Titan's rumblings.

"I will be nothing when you cast me aside for a new bride."

I rolled my eyes. "Isabella?"

She nodded.

"Isabella needs to learn to keep her mouth shut." Grinding my teeth, I stared at her. I had asked for her truth, so it was only fair I gave her mine. "Isabella isn't wrong. There have been other brides, but none that I truly wanted by my side."

"You killed them?"

Isabella really needed to learn to keep quiet.

She was the one who had terrified my other brides by telling them the same stories she told Athena.

She was the reason some of them ran.

"Some of them."

She nodded, keeping her eyes down.

"I didn't kill them because I was bored. Some were passing information back to their old packs. Others were just after money, or desperate to be on my arm at all times. If I had to go somewhere, they would whine about not getting enough attention."

"Oh."

"Isabella likes to do this. She tests my brides. But do you know what they all had in common?"

She shook her head.

"I never marked them. I could never bring myself to do it. Something always held me back." Athena was the only one I had considered marking.

I still couldn't figure out what drew me to her.

'She's perfect.' Titan sounded smitten.

She grabbed the pot of cream.

She automatically stood and lifted her top to show me her wound.

She let out a soft gasp as my fingers brushed against her skin.

Her heart skipped a beat.

She closed her eyes.

She had a habit of doing that.

Afraid to witness what was happening.

Or maybe afraid to look me in the eye.

I couldn't tell.

My fingers paused over her stomach.

She held her breath.

"Breathe, Athena." I whispered.

Her heart skipped again.

She let her lungs expand.

Tears crept from the corners of her eyes.

"I don't want to die." Her eyes flashed open, locking onto mine.

It was the first time since meeting her that she truly looked at me.

Her breathing hitched.

Her lips parted slightly.

A growing need surged inside me.

The need to make her mine.

So that no one else could claim her.

How could she make me feel this way?

'Mate!' Titan growled.

'Not possible. Her Wolf isn't present.' I told him.

'Mate!' he repeated louder, growing more agitated.

'You're wrong!'

Athena's blue eyes remained locked on mine.

The tears had stopped.

Her brow dipped slightly as she stared.

"I have to..." I muttered, turning away.

Her gaze had completely thrown me off.

I stormed out of the office.

'Go back!' Titan demanded. 'Go back, we need to mark her!'

I could feel him pushing forward.

Trying to break free from my control.

The more he pushed, the more I fought back.

Keeping him contained.

I had to get out of the house.

Striding across the grounds, I headed toward the pack hospital.

I needed to know what else Isabella had told her.

She was asleep at the desk.

She startled when I woke her.

"What the hell did you say to her?"

She rolled her eyes. "She needs to know the truth. It's not fair if she doesn't know what's coming." She rubbed her eyes and yawned. "Why? Did she run?"

"No. She's in my office."

"Then no harm done." She shrugged. "If you want my opinion, she's nice. Different from the others."

"I'm well aware. Why do you think I chose her?"

'Because she's our mate.' Titan muttered gleefully.

I tried to ignore his comment.

He had to be wrong.

Her Wolf wasn't present.

It would be impossible to know.

Isabella walked around the desk.

She leaned on it and smiled at me. "I was right. You really like this one, don't you?"

"She has a name." I snapped.

Turning on my heel, I walked away.

'Why are you fighting it?' Titan asked as I stopped in front of the house.

'How do you know?' I muttered.

'When she looked us in the eye. Her Wolf is buried deep, but it's strong. I can feel it. Maybe even stronger than us.'

Pushing open the door, I could still smell her unique scent.

I had given her another chance to run, but she was still here.

In the office, she sat in a chair, hugging her legs to her chest.

Titan practically screamed at me to claim her.

Instead, I asked her why she was still here.

"You didn't tell me to go anywhere." She kept her eyes low.

I wondered if she knew. "And I have nowhere to go."

"Have you looked through my stuff?" I muttered, glancing at the paperwork on my desk.

It didn't look disturbed, but that didn't mean it hadn't been.

She shook her head.

Her hair fell around her face.

"I don't tolerate lies." I reminded her. "I don't do scheming women."

She frowned. "I didn't look because..." She dragged her teeth across her bottom lip.

Her cheeks flushed. "I... I can't read."

It was completely unexpected.

The others would have made up some elaborate lie.

"School?"

She shook her head.

I should have guessed she never went.

Not if she had been a slave since she was six.

"Isabella tried teaching me a bit. But I didn't understand."

Why hadn't Isabella told me?

Was it because she actually liked Athena too?

She had never shown interest in any of my other brides.

In fact, she had hated every single one.

"I get it." She muttered. "You regret choosing me. But please don't kill me. I can work. I can clean. I can do anything you need. Just please don't kill me."

I pulled her from the chair.

I planted my lips on hers.

"I get it now. You want to help Athena, but you don't want a permanent position in the pack." I'd wrestled with similar doubts when Alexander offered me the Beta role, so I understood her hesitation completely. "That's part of it. I just... why now? Do you think she was planning this when she questioned me yesterday?"

"Possibly." Athena hadn't confirmed or denied anything when I asked her. "What are your thoughts on taking down Silver Streams?"

"Do you believe she truly wants that?"

"One thing I've learned about Athena is that she never speaks without purpose. You share a grandfather who attempted to have her kidnapped. How does that make you feel?"

"He was wrong to do it. Families shouldn't act that way."

"A Witch is collaborating with your grandfather. They sent Julian to retrieve her. Athena hasn't said it directly, but she clearly wants both the Witch and your grandfather eliminated. Perhaps she simply wants your assistance with that."

She sat up and frowned at me. "A temporary Beta arrangement? Do you think she'd agree to those terms?"

"I'm certain you can negotiate the conditions."

She nodded slowly. "But what if... what if I become Rogue?"

"Is that what frightens you?"

"Many things frighten me. Levi always called me a monster. Bloodthirsty and every pack's worst nightmare." "Levi enjoyed preying on people's weaknesses. That doesn't make his words true. Besides, I won't let that happen to you."

"You can't possibly..."

I pulled her onto my lap. "I returned from that darkness. Several of us prevented Athena from going down that path. I'll do everything in my power to keep you from crossing into that territory."

She wrapped her arms around my neck, pressing herself tightly against my chest. "I wish I'd met you years ago. You help me see things more clearly." Her soft lips met mine, her back arching as she pushed her breasts against me. Our kiss intensified just as the front door swung open.

"Assholes!" Julian tutted, stopping abruptly when he saw us. "My apologies. I'll leave."

"Don't bother. You've ruined the moment." Evelyn snapped as she climbed off me. She pressed her lips to my cheek. "I'm going to speak with Athena."

"Should I come with you?"

"No. I can handle this alone."

"You really should use the bedroom," Julian commented as Evelyn closed the door. "Anyone could walk in here."

I muttered under my breath, adjusting my position. "Who were you calling assholes?"

"I offered to help guard the gates."

"They refused you?" I asked, already knowing why they'd declined.

He dipped his chin at me. "From your tone, I take it this doesn't surprise you?"

"I hate to be the one to say this, but did you truly believe they'd allow that? You're still under a spell that hasn't been completely broken—one that tampered with your memory. You were sent to collect Athena and return her to Silver Streams. You're Alexander's twin. Don't call them assholes when they're protecting their pack."

He dropped into a chair with a scowl. "Is it true?"

"Is what true?"

"Athena and Alexander. They have four children? Not just the one she was carrying?"

He would have discovered the truth eventually. I was just surprised it took him this long. "Yes."

"Two sets of twins?"

"Yes. Who told you?"

"The one who dislikes Evelyn. I believe her name is Seraphina."

"Seraphina?" What an unpleasant surprise.

Julian nodded. "Athena's half-sister, correct?"

"I wouldn't call her that if I were you."

He frowned. "Why didn't you tell me? Because of Thalia?"

I nodded. "And for the same reason they won't let you help at the gates."

"It would have been nice for my boys..." His voice trailed off as he shook his head, frowning and closing his eyes. "My boys aren't real."

"And that's precisely why no one will let you help. You might believe you're ready, but you're far from it. Now, if you'll excuse me, Lottie's teacher is linking me."