ATHENA’S POV
I stood in front of the mirror staring at the woman beautifully dressed not recognising her. She looked like a bride, ready for her groom but the look in her eyes shows nothing but pain.
“Am I truly deserving of this? I did win the fight but is it really worth being with a man that would never love me?” I asked myself.
The Queen who was seated behind me seems to have sensed my uncertainty. She smiled at me before standing to her feet and marching towards me. She’s elegantly dressed in a purple dinner gown, beaded with royal apparels that pronounced her beauty to anyone who saw her.
She has been by my side since the beginning of the preparations, not leaving me or me her. I tried sometimes to find reasons to escape her for just a few minutes but she seems to always be ready for me.
“You look beautiful darling; Nero is going to have his eyes glued on you.” She said staring at me through the mirror. “I’m so proud of you Athena, your parents would be too.”
I felt tears start to pool my eyes at the mention of my parents. Would they really be proud of me even after someone died by my hands? Certainly they would call me a murderer like Nero did.
My breath started to get rapid at the realization that I could not wed Nero. The feeling was so strong that sweat trickled down my forehead, smearing my makeup. I feared I would have to sit for another session to get my face bride ready again.
I was hyperventilating and I wished there was a way I could disappear. I wanted to be away from Nero’s growing wrath I knew was building inside of him. Maybe outside of these walls I would find the peace I desperately desire.
“Are you alright dear? You look all sweaty.” The Queen pointed out concern etched on her face.
“I don’t feel so good. Can I go to the bathroom please?” I asked, feeling the dress get tighter around me.
“Of course Darling. I’ll go get you something to drink. In the meantime, don’t leave the room.” She instructed before walking out the door.
I nodded and placed a hand on my waist feeling dizziness form. I stood straight breathlessness washing over me as I struggled to reach the bathroom. I could pass out at any second but I pushed myself. I leaned on the door and forced it open. Dark spots began to appear in my vision as my anxiety took over. I could hear faint voices outside, like an argument playing out but I was too engrossed in my feelings to bother myself with it.
I turned the tap on and at the first contact with the water, I made sure you splash as much as I could on my face.
“Yup, the makeup is all ruined now.” I said to myself as I sat on the marbled floor. My vision began to clear up and the dizziness as well. But that dreaded feeling stayed. That feeling of knowing someone else should have been Nero’s bride instead of me.
What I would do to have my parents by my side right now. They would have had the best words fit for the way I was feeling. Deep down I know they wouldn’t be mad or disappointed at me. They too would have told me that I did what I had to. And somehow I can almost hear their voices, all calm and filled with love, enough that it calmed my nerves. But my dark side was done with the whole wedding.
I know it wasn’t my fault and yet I didn’t want to be married to Nero. I feared that he might kill me for even having the guts to marry him.
I tried pulling at the zip of my dress, ready to take it off when I heard the door slam shut. I didn’t even hear when it opened but instinctively, my hands let go of the dress.
The Queen rushed to the bathroom as though she knew where I hid myself. I could have exited the bathroom as soon as I felt better but it just seemed like the place to be. It was quite and my thoughts were allowed to roam freely even though the mirrors were accusing.
“Here darling, drink this.” She said handing me a cup. From the look I knew it wasn’t just water and I looked at her, waiting for an explanation. When I received none, I sighed and took a breath before gulping down its contents. I felt a rush of energy flow through me. The drink was water mixed with sugar.
“Your makeup is all ruined and we’ll need to fix it, there isn’t much time left. You do feel better yes?” she asked looking at me with raised brows ready to make me her son’s bride at all costs.
The last time I saw Nero was during the wedding rehearsals. It’s been at least a week since then and meeting him now even though I knew what to do as practiced felt like something I should avoid and I wanted to.
“Athena? We have to hurry, get up.” she ordered but my body stayed glued to the seated position. I also didn’t make any effort to push it up.
“I don’t want to get married your Majesty. Nero hates me, he doesn’t want me either.” I was sure she had missed what I said.
“I know that you feel scared, but you have to. You got into that arena and fought for his hand. And although you can revoke your stand on the matter, I want you to know that you’re the one meant for him. You might not see it now but eventually you will. So go sit, the makeup artist is waiting.”
I stood in front of the door leading into the throne room where I suspect hundreds of guests were waiting. Somehow the makeup artist seemed to have made me look better than she first did but she was unable to rid me of my anxiety.
The door opened and I gasped. I thought I was ready to march down but the stares made the remainder of my confidence falter. I peered through the veil as I marched through the hall. Nero had a look of shock on his face that made my stomach drop. Perhaps he expected that I would drop out of the wedding and not show up.
If not for your mother, I wouldn’t have. Then maybe you wouldn’t resent me so much. I thought.
Before the steps, in a fraction of a second, I imagined a life where I got to wed a man who was completely and utterly in love with me in a world where the moon goddess gave us each a mate. I smiled inwardly at the images that formed where I was spoiled rotten by my mate. We didn’t have riches but I was content knowing he was mine and I, his.
Nero had his hand out to me and he helped me up the steps. I tried to hide my eyes behind the veil but I am pretty sure that he could see right through it and me. The veil did not shield me from his burning gaze and the aura around him felt choking.
He continued to stare into the veil allowing his eyes meet mine as he tried to send a message. I wanted the opportunity to appreciate his features. My heart fluttered as he stared at me for a second I caught something in his eyes that could be mistaken for care but it vanished the same time it came.
I craved so much to see him gaze upon me with the look he would have for Zara, I wanted to know how it would feel to be stared at with so much love. I could see a reflection, a tiny of the hope in my own eyes from his and the possibility of a happy life together should he give it – us a chance.
His icy blue eyes turned colder than they first were when I arrived and I watched as a smirk formed on his lips. His brows moved with the smirk giving it a knitted wicked look.
I did not expect the words that flew out of his mouth. Because as soon as it did, I was sure the colour on my face drained and I felt the room suddenly grow cold causing me to shiver in fear.
“Welcome to hell.” He said his eyes not leaving mine.
NERO’S POV I stood facing the window, with hate filled in my heart. The feeling kept both a burning heat and a freezing coldness to it that made me wonder how they could even work together.To say I was shocked when I saw Athena walk down the aisle was an understatement. Although she looked gorgeous in her wedding dress, she should not have been in it in the first place. I remember how my breath hitched in my throat as I stared down her body, taking note of the gown she was dressed it that hugged her petite body perfectly, showing off her curves.I was not one to ever notice anything about her but in a bit to keep myself from running off the stage, I kept my eyes glued to her. It gave the guests the idea that I adored her and I know my eyes look it. “Just beautiful.” A thought escaped before I could suppress it.Every step she took reminded me that shit was about to get real. No one had to tell me that she was shaking in her steps, somehow I knew she was.I created images on Zara in
ATHENA’S POV To say I was humiliated by Nero would be an understatement. The way my body actively freezes in fear anytime he comes near me. The first week Zara passed, his emotions were well written on his face but now, he’s merely a shadow of his true self. The way he hides his emotions is as if he has been doing it for years that the practice has somewhat become his lifestyle. His eyes sure hold a fire in them, the type that was cold. I know he doesn’t care for me but hearing him say it out loud like that did hurt, it felt like he had his hand on my heart and clenched on it. I know things between us will be hard but maybe trying wouldn’t be such a bad idea. “I don’t care what my mother told you.” He said facing the window. “But I don’t want you in my room for any second longer. So this is what you will do, at night I want you gone. I don’t care where you sleep, but you will not be in this room at night with me. Understand?” His voice was harsh as he spoke and I didn’t need to l
NERO’S POV PREVIOUS NIGHT Zavier sat across from me in his living room. The house that once filled with voices and laughter was now only gloomy. My heart ached knowing that some part of it was my fault. It’s been a few days since the wedding and Zavier and I haven’t had much time to talk like I hoped we would. My father has now pulled me into more of the pack’s affairs. In his words, he said it was time for me to take over most of the deals like I wasn’t already doing so. I was already running things and doing the heavy work while he focused on the paper side of things. Zavier cleared his throat as he stared at me. “I expected you to come sooner.” He said his voice having some kind of accusation in it. “Pack work, Dad insisted.” I said curtly. “Or you were enjoying your time with your new bride forgetting the promise you made to me and my sister.” He said the accusation sounding more obvious now. “It was your job to get rid of her. You insisted you were going to be the one to do
ATHENA’S POVI could feel Nero’s gaze on me when I came out of the bathroom and my nervousness shot to a hundred as he stared at me. There was so much I wanted to tell him but perhaps someday.I walked downstairs to where I was supposed to wait for the Queen to find her waiting for me instead. From the stairs, I picked up my pace and headed down the stairs.“Forgive me your majesty, I didn’t realize you were already waiting.” I said my palms sweaty.“You’re mated to my son Athena, you’re his wife, I’d rather you call me mother instead.” The Queen said with a smile causing my own lips to stretch in one too.I nodded and she gestured to her side where some clothes were folded. “Here, change into this instead; we’re heading to the training grown. You could burn off some of your pent up frustrations in there.” She handed me the clothes and I did as she asked, I changed into the set of clothes and stepped out. The fabric from the short was smooth, and I couldn’t help but run my hands on t
NERO’S POVAthena returned in an outfit different from the one she walked out of the room wearing. The anger I held onto as I waited for her to return with my mother depilated when she walked in. She looked sexy wearing shorts and all my curiosity about how she looked under her nightgown earlier was nearly satisfied.There was my mate, looking sexy as hell. It wasn’t as if I hadn’t seen her in shorts. The idea that she was my mate even though I don’t want her to be walking around like that made me feel things I didn’t want to feel.Every time I try to forget about Zara and focus on my present life, I see Zavier’s broken face pictured in my mind. It always makes me wonder what Zara would think of me when in a fraction of a second I try to forget about her when her body was barely cold in the ground.I don’t want Athena, I could never want her like that and I wished that my body didn’t act on its own so that staying away from her could be easier.She had a smile on her face and her chee
ATHENA’S POV I ran as fast as I could into the palace building. I could feel Nero’s feet striding towards me from behind and I picked up my pace. I didn’t want to stop until I got to my room where I hoped I could lock myself in my room. A few meters away was Nero’s bedroom and I had just taken a step past it when an arm grabbed me and pulled me into the room. I stared back at Nero with tears in my eyes. Everyday his hatred for me seemed to grow deeper and there was no way for me to stop it. I knew he was going to hurt me and each time I was close to him, I always had my guard up but it did stop it from hurting when he said something harsh. “I get that you hate me and you’re right, I’ll stay away from you from now on.” I croaked hoping that whatever pain he wanted to inflict would end soon. Nero looked at me with the same anger and hatred he always had but this time it was definitely mixed with something else. I wanted to stare at him for longer but not because I wanted to get lost
ZAVIER’S POVI checked my watch for the umpteenth time as I paced in the living room. Nero was supposed to here hours ago but as usual he bailed.Somehow I knew it just had something to do with that wench. Anything she touches seems to be taken away from me. first it was Zara and now Nero, my best friend. I wanted nothing more than for Athena to pay for killing my sister so when Nero suggested getting rid of her before the wedding, I jumped on the idea with him volunteering to do the job myself because I wanted to be alone with her to give her a taste of her own medicine. I planned to torture her for some time before finally killing her but the damn Queen wouldn’t just leave her sight. That damn woman!It was as though she knew what we had planned because the way she had things stationed was too much of a coincidence for it to have happened the way it did. Now that my friend was stuck with Athena, we were left with no other option than to find another means to rid him of her.“Wher
ATHENA’S POV I wanted the ground to dig up by itself from the sheer feel of shame that radiated from my body. I could feel it and I bet both Nero and Zavier felt it too. His body felt like a wall that had no emotion.I knew he hated me but to see him stare me down like the way he was doing brought out a new kind of fear in me. I cowered before him and hated the images of his sister charging towards me and forcing me to react.They did look alike but not so much as a random person would point them out as twins. And the way that his forehead creased was enough to tell me that bad luck has become my second name.Zavier scowled at me and immediately I realized it was best to apologise and move out of his way.“I’m sorry, I should have looked at where I was headed.”His eyes turned dark and lips curled into a sneer. Zavier growled and lunged towards me. Nero didn’t have enough time to react before Zavier went after Athena and before he could react, Athena went flying across the hallway.