Chapter 4 - Resistance
Eriks P.O.V
Adding new members to a pack is always stressful. As I sat in my office, I couldn't help but think of Athena. Everything always leads back to her crossing my mind. I told the hospital to keep me updated on any changes. I wanted her to stay in the packhouse, but she was in rough shape and would do better there until she was healed enough to be here. I didn't understand why my pull to her was so instantaneous.
There was a knock at the door that snapped me from my thoughts
"Come in," My voice sharp, revealing a hint of annoyance
My Beta entered my office with a smile on his face. "The new pack members have settled in nicely, Alpha. Doctor Turner also has some news on Athena." He spoke with a tone of pride.
"What did he say?" I asked a little too fast for my liking. I cleared my throat and leaned back in my chair, trying to through off the happiness I felt hearing her name.
Drake smirked at me. "She has finally woken up. Her wounds are healed to his liking. He said she would be able to be released tomorrow afternoon."
"Thank you, Drake. I am going to head out for a bit. Link me if you need me. "I said as I stood up from my chair, stretching out the aches from sitting for so long.
"Of course, sir" Beta Drake nodded as he left my office.
"Can we visit her again?" my wolf asked. He was also drawn to her.
"I need to clear my head, not fill it with more questions, Creed," I said sharply.
"There's something about her. Even you can't deny it. She could be our mate. We've been looking for so long." Creed
"Even if she is our mate, she isn't eighteen yet. Why would I waste my time on something that isn't ours yet? She could be someone else's, and I'm not doing that again." The words stung as I said them.
With that, Creed retreated, remembering what happened the last time I fell for someone. I would never let that happen again. If she were meant to be mine, it would happen, but I would keep my distance until then. I walked out of the packhouse and entered the training room. I looked around at the empty space. Everyone was eating dinner and getting ready for their nightly patrols. I enjoyed training in silence. It helps me think. Every time I came out here to train, it was like a new solution would appear.
I changed into my workout clothes and walked over to the punching bags. I wrapped my hands in bandages and did a few stretches before I started punching the bag. With my first punch, the bag swung up and hit the wall. I followed it with another hit throwing my weight into it.
Hours must have passed before a familiar voice spoke behind me.
"Save some for the pack Erik." They joked, their voice raised to catch my attention.
"What do you want?" I snarled as I took one last swing at the punching bag before turning around. Greeting me was my brother with a crooked grin plastered on his face.
"Who has you this pissed off?" He asked, eyeing the three destroyed punching bags thrown against the back wall.
"I'm just processing. Adding new pack members always comes with new challenges," I stated, annoyance clear in my tone. "Is there something you want, Phillip, or do you just come to irritate me?"
"That's part of the fun." He laughed.
"I hear you killed a rogue protecting a stray Mutt, one who clearly didn't want to join you. And had her placed in the hospital to be treated instead of the holding cells down in the basement." He looked at me with a smirk. "I thought I would never see the day, Alpha Erik going easy on a mutt." He laughed again.
Hearing those words come from his mouth made me see red.
"Put him in his place before I do." Creed Snarled
"Quiet Creed, he's doing it on purpose. He wants to challenge me, and I won't allow it. If I fight him, I have to, and as much as he pisses me off, I don't want to kill my brother to prove I deserve to be Alpha." While we both were irritated, Reasoning with him was enough to drive me to punch my brother in the face.
"Don't push your boundaries, Phillip. I wouldn't want to have to put you in your place." I snapped. Phillip's eyes darkened as his wolf showed through. I pushed past him as I went heading to the locker room to shower.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you, Rachel is pregnant. "I could hear the grin in his voice. Stopping me dead in my tracks
"Have a good night, Brother." He said as he patted my shoulder and left the room.
"That bastard, next time I see him, I'll rip his head off." Creed hissed
I ignored Creed as I started the shower. Phillip always knew how to get to me, but I couldn't let him win. The more I ignored him, the more he would push back. I tried to wash the thoughts from my mind and decided I needed to get some air. After getting dressed, I went for a drive. I zoned out most of the drive; when I realized where I was going, I was in front of the hospital.
"It wouldn't hurt to see her," Creed muttered.
"It's late. She's probably sleeping." My tone was stern.
"Even better, she won't know we were here." I could hear the excitement in his voice.
"Just for a minute to make sure she's good, and then we are done," I muttered.
I turned off the car and walked up to the hospital. Everyone was shocked to see me enter. The last time I was here was when our mother passed. I never stepped foot in the hospital after that. But something was drawing me in. I had to know, and I had to know her.
As I walked to her room, the sweet smell of vanilla and citrus filled my nose. It was something you couldn't miss. I wondered if anyone else could smell it or if it was just me.
As I entered her room, her scent wrapped its self around me, luring me in. She was sleeping so peacefully, her scarlet hair a mess on her pillow, some resting across her fair skin. Freckles perfectly spread across her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. Before I realized it, I was standing over her.
"I said we needed to keep our distance" I scowled at Creed
"She calls to us. Even you can't deny it." Creed whimpered
Something about her makes us different. More caring, soft as Phillip had stated before. As an Alpha, that worried me. How could I run a pack with such distractions? Her monitor beeping loudly snapped me out of my trance. With a loud gasp, her Blue eyes flew open. Her hand gripped my arm in fear.
"Erik." She whispered as she let go falling back asleep. Hearing my name escape her lips sent sparks up my spin. There was no doubt about it. She was my mate, and soon she would know this too.
"She is ours," Creed whispered.
*****
Chapter 5 - Acceptance Athena P.O.V I slowly opened my eyes, letting the light hit my face. The sun was just rising as I woke up. Today was the day I got to leave and venture to my new home. Was it home, or would it be a prison. Would I be locked away for trying to escape, for showing the new Alpha such disrespect? I heard stories of the Bloodstones pack. How ruthless their Alpha was. He showed no mercy to anyone who defied him. My stomach turned at the thought of him only saving me so he could end my life himself. "Knock knock." A familiar voice spoke with excitement, snapping me from my train of thought. A smile spread across my face as I looked at Greta. "Greta, what are you doing here so early?" I asked happily. "
Chapter 6 - Transparent I walked into the washroom staring at my reflection in the mirrors lining the wall above the sinks. Dark circles sat under my eyes, my blue eyes dull with exhaustion, and my scarlet hair was weighed down and sweaty from cleaning. I turned on the shower and got undressed. My body was ready to collapse as the hot water soothed my aching muscles. The last three nights had been a blur. From the early mornings to the late nights I needed to sleep for a week, it seemed each time we would get finished one room, another would be left in worse condition. We finally ended the night by cleaning the gym for the morning training, which took the longestafter the bathrooms. Each mat had to be moved, washed down, and ensured all blood was gone before being placed back.
Chapter 7 - The Calling Athena POV After a short but quiet night of sleep and a fast-paced morning, I was finally able to sit down and breathe. I knew after lunch I would be training with Alpha Erik. Yet, my mind kept flashing back to last night. How much I wanted to touch him and test how far I could go. The thought of all of it caused my cheeks to flush the lightest shade of pink. I craved the sensation his touch gave me. I didn't know what I was going to do, but I had to have his touch. Something was pulling me to him. "Earth to Athena.. where'd you go?" Greta asked, snapping me from my thoughts. "Oh, sorry, just the lack of sleep is catching up to me." I lied. "I can't wait to be
Chapter 8 - Hunger As I walked into the dining room, two plates sat on the table, one at the head of the table and the second next to it. I was pleased to see I was the first to arrive. It gave me time to calm the knot in my stomach and reel in Phoenix's over baring thoughts. "You be careful tonight. We don't need to find out what Alpha Erik meant when he said we would have consequences," Phoenix smirked. "You are so unbelievable." I scoffed "I just say what we're both thinking." Phoenix huffed. "Just imagine what it would feel like to have him." She said dreamily, sending flashes of what she thought through my head. My fingers entang
Chapter 9 - Protection I slammed my fist on my desk. "Damnit, Paul, why wasn't I informed of this. When I asked you about past treaties and attacks, you never thought this was something that needed to be mentioned." I growled. "What is it that she wants," I demanded. "I was ordered not to mention it to anyone. Even after Alpha Hues passed, I honoured his command." His voice was low and full of regret. "The Fae told us a story of a wolf. One with unlimited power, its fur so dark it glowed blue in the light. She believes that one of our pack members has this wolf and is waiting for the wolf to come of age. She demanded that Alpha Hues inform her as soon as it happened. He refused to help her, so she infected him. We told her that the
Chapter 10 - Ceremony Athena POV After dinner, I was left feeling even more confused about Erik than before. It left me with a night full of staring up at the ceiling. As the sun started rising and a new day had started, I rolled out of bed unrested and unable to soothe the knot in my stomach. Before I could even get fully dressed, there was a knock at the door. "One second," I shouted. I slipped on my burgundy sports bra, a loose white Tee and burgundy leggings. I opened the door to see Alpha Erik standing there. My eyes widened as I stared at him, and my heart started racing beyond my control. His face was hard as he looked like he had a night without sleep as well. I roamed his face as I looked at his chiselled jaw and his eyes dark with emerald sp
Chapter 11 - Nightmares "Unbelievable," I shouted in frustration as I turned from the door. I turned around to look at the room I was now stuck in. My eyes widened as I looked around the room. In the middle of the room was a four-poster bed. There were two doors, one that led to a bathroom and another that led to a closet bigger than any closet I ever had. It was fully stocked with clothes for every event. The room was bright, with white walls and pops of gold throughout. When I walked into the washroom, my eyes landed on a huge soaker tub and a walk-in shower. A large mirror that spread across the wall. "I have never had anything so beautiful in my life. There has to be a mistake. I'm sure Beta Drake just put us in the wrong room." I said to Phoenix
Chapter 12 - Pleasure Athena POV "I can't believe we're doing this." I groaned as I got out of bed. Phoenix stayed silent as I approached his door. "If he doesn't answer the first knock, we're turning around and going back to bed," I said, more to myself than her. "Whatever you say," Phoenix laughed. Her excitement was twisting my stomach in knots. I reached up to the door and tapped gently, hoping he didn't hear it and I could retreat to my warm and safe bed. I waited a moment before letting out a sigh of relief and disappointment. I didn't know why I let her talk me into coming, but at the same time, she didn't really have to do much convincing.