After hitting Darius where it hurts the most and satisfying my personal resentment, I returned back to the castle.
It felt light, seeing him miserable was only pleasuring me for now. It was not hurting me in the slightest, it only revived old scars.
And the urge to make him feel the same as I did burned.
As I was walking down the corridor, humming to myself, Jax called me from behind.
“Where were you?”
He was not pleased with my disappearance, knowing where I must have gone.
Stopping in my tracks, I sighed to regain my cold posture.
“Nowhere. Just some errands.” I responded coldly, glancing over my shoulder.
Coming closer, his voice went lower, narrowing his eyes in ire.
“You went to see him, didn’t you?” He hissed in a whisper, looking here and there if someone was listening or not.
“So what? I got permission from My Lord.”
Shrugging my shoulders, I moved back, grimace affixed on my face, not liking his interference in my matter.
“Why don’t you understand, Athena? Alpha Darius is devastated at this point, he could do anything to you and your life is important.” He scolded, curling his hand in a fist.
I frustrated him with my actions already and it was his duty too to ensure I live, he was going to be held questionable if I die.
And My Lord Hadrian won’t let me die.
“I know. And I can protect myself, Jax. Stopping worrying needlessly. I can handle myself.” I tried to speak softly, putting my hand in the air to help him relax and calm down.
“Ah you don’t say. I am well aware of how greatly you are capable of handling yourself.” He scoffed, taunting me which made me growl.
“Those times are gone, I couldn’t allow myself to become vulnerable now.” I reminded him seriously, hating his mock.
“We will see.” He challenged, curling his lips from one side.
"Tsk. Don’t bother me, I don’t need you now. I am fine on my own.”
Scoffing, I turned to leave, pressing my teeth together to control myself and not take his words to my heart.
I began to walk away, followed by the sound of his loud exhale, filled with worry for me for the path no return I had chosen.
“Whatever you do, don’t die.” He said worriedly.
I chuckled dryly, raising my hand to wave it in the air for reassurance.
“I won’t. Not this easily at least.”
With an empty smile I walked going and left for my room and relaxed for the rest of the day and not take whatever happened to my day or allow it to shatter my heart.
But, I had questions…
Where were these tears for me?
Where was this love for me?
Where was this dedication for me?
Were we truly nothing in his perception?
But, there was no point in asking- If it held any meaning, we wouldn’t be here today.
And with those thoughts filling me with agony, I spent the next week.
Following everyone's words, I didn’t take a step out of the castle, I remained inside, giving him time to register Blue’s death and think what he would do to break me.
“Is he going to come today?”
I asked My Lord who was on the patio staring into nothing, lost in deep pondering no one was unable to encrypt.
He sure was mysterious.
“I was looking around for him but I guess he didn’t come back to hear the decision. He knew it wouldn’t be in his favor.” I mumbled, shrugging my shoulders.
“How’s Darius doing?” He asked, taking a sip of his tea, exhaling.
“How would I know?” Mumbling, I frowned.
“Did you check on him?” He asked again, turning his attention towards me.
“I was busy. Didn’t have the time nor I wanted to at the moment.” I replied coldly.
“Or no one let you?” A teasing smirk came to the corner of his lips.
“Both.” I hummed, turning my head away to ponder what I should do or how long I had to wait.
“I see. Okay. Be careful.” He sighed, gesturing to me with his hand to leave him alone in his thoughts and go back.
“I will be, My Lord.”
With a bow, I left, wondering where he might be.
Lost in my thoughts, wanting to see how he must be dealing with his depression which brought a smirk on my face.
Ah, how desirable it would be.
As I was leaving to meet another hunter for a weekly report, a large pair of hands appeared before me, covering my mouth and throat and pushing me towards the empty corridor.
“What the- mhm!”
Before I could react, I was pressed harshly against the cold wall followed by a familiar strong body behind me.
Hovering over me with my breaths and voice captured in his hands.
“Daring me to touch you huh?”
Growling, his low, husky tone came, pressing himself harder against me which suddenly made my heart race.
His touch made my heart skip a beat. I hated it but his closeness rushed an unwanted sensation which I resisted.
“How does it feel now-”
Leaning down to my ears, his lips brushed against my skin, forming goosebumps over my skin as I was unable to move or deny him.
“When I am breathing in your ears?” He whispered seductively, biting my earlobe, sending a shiver down my spine.
Unable to breathe, my senses were falling into a blur.
Narrowing my eyes at him when his burning body compressed me, releasing low but heavy breaths in my ears.
“Oh? Can’t breathe now? Feeling powerless? Tch, tch, tch.”
Shutting my eyes to find a way to catch my breaths but he decided to sprinkle some so-called mercy and let go of me.
“Here. I will let you breathe.”
Gasping, I coughed for air, my face was red from the lack of air, my senses were blurry while he took a step back.
Pressing my hands on the table, I took rapid breaths to fill my lungs and realize that I provoked him to go wild and display his damn authority.
“Can’t let you die after all, hmm?”
Folding his arms at his chest, he smirked sinfully but the second I was back to my strength, I sent a glare at him.
“Fucking asshole.”
Growling, I turned to him but my truthful comment hurt his ego, causing him to slam his one hand on the wall to trap me.
“Shh.”
Pressing his index finger deeper on my lips, his tall and large form hovered over me, returning the same glare.
“Don’t curse at me. You started this. You were indulging in playing with fire, didn’t you?”
Losing his breaths, I could see his fiery fire clearly and as far as I knew him; he was not the man of hasty actions.
He hadn’t recovered yet from the trauma.
Leaning lethally closer to my face, he stared dead into my eyes. But I refused to back down or be startled too but never thought I would see a day where we would be like this.
“How was that now? You escaped once, not again. I look forward to the day you will break. We both know your heart is weak, Athena.”
Curling his lips from one side wickedly, he challenged me, almost out of breath.
“I will look forward to it too because at this moment-” I began to speak.
Staring back dead into his eyes, I grabbed his collar, bringing his face closer to mine, whispering seductively in his ears.
“I see the reason why I am what I am today.”
“Don’t make me open my mouth, Athena. I certainly don’t want to remind you how you begged me, do I?” He scowled, taunting me which hitched my breath.
Turning my head to the side in disgust, I burned those memories.
Smirking at my repulsion, he whispered back seductively in my ears.
“Please, Darius, accept me, I need you, I love you, I want you. Fuck Blue and become mine, hmm?”
Curling my hands in a fist, my heart skipped a beat. The last thing I wanted to remember but I won’t allow those memories to ravage me.
“I was naïve. I was unaware of your reality, Darius. Call that moment the worst moment of my existence.” I growled, lifting my heavy orbs.
I won’t look away, not anymore.
“Not so amusing now, is it?” He taunted, snickering to see how I was trying to stay strong.
“It would be a matter of time.” I smirked, holding my head high in pride.
I was not the woman he could crush anymore. I won’t fucking let him break me.
“Do you think that just because you have his protection you can escape me?”
Mocking, he raised an eyebrow in amusement.
A few centimeters apart, glaring down at my soul to reflect what he intended to do with me without mercy.
“Not this easily, Athena. I will make sure to steal you right from his grasp. No one- I repeat, ‘no one’ can stop me.”
Enunciating furiously, he pulled away abruptly, running his hand in his hair, making them messy.
He pointed his finger in contempt at me, declaring his intentions before walking away.
“I swear I will make you pay for killing my Blue.”
DARIUS ALFONSO. After showing her that I could do anything if provoked- Which was highly unlikely of me but when she challenged me to touch her, I couldn’t resist it. To feel her skin once again I wanted to show her that I was not the one to be toyed with. “She shouldn’t challenge me of all people. I will see how long this courage will last.” I muttered under my breath. After my tiny confrontation with her, I went to see His Majesty to hear his decision which of course- would be in his toy’s favor. “I have arrived,” Informing, I entered which caused him to stop. He paused but soon relaxed and took a sip of his tea. “Hmm. I could tell by your little confrontation with my huntress.” He mumbled, putting the cup away. “Have you reached a decision yet, His Majesty?” I asked coldly, standing before him with my hands closed behind my back. I was not in the mood to listen to useless justifications, I was only here as formality. She also came and he turned to us. His expressio
“Damn You-” Losing her composure she lost it when I used her sensitive spots. Scowling, I brought my hand to grab her but she attacked me with her dagger to stop me and instead of dodging- I stopped her attack with my hands. “Do you think this mere dagger can stop me from…” I held it with my hands, allowing it to cut deep into my skin and draw blood. Locking my eyes furiously with hers, brushing my body over hers. “Coming closer?” Whisering, I smirked darkly, holding her dagger back. “Do you fucking think you can come to me whenever and however you want all the time?” She growled, shaking slightly when I brought her family in between. Pausing the moment my blood began to draw out of my hands and stained her dagger. Her eyes widened, lips quivered slightly. Till today my blood made her tremble… Unwillingly, It pricked a needle in my heart. But she was not weak anymore and concealed those emotions perfectly. “Touch me now and I would cut those damn fingers.” She growled, co
PASTSEVEN YEARS AGOMy twenty year old self was sitting under the shades of a tree. Humming to myself to indulge in my time while my closest friend, the most skilled daughter of the Becker bloodline, Janine Becker, was sitting on the branch.One of the strongest hunters, the cunning and grace of the Becker family and my best friend.“Ah, Darius, I could barely wait.” Her chirpy tone came, hanging her legs from above.A wide, exhilarated grin spread across her blue eyes as her short raven hairs flew in the air.“So when is Athena coming, Janine?” I asked, glancing up at her. It had been a long time since I last saw her.“Soon. Why are you asking?” She asked nonchalantly, looking down at me which widened my smirk, teasing her.“Is she hot now?” I asked excitedly, bringing her frown on her features.Breaking off a branch she threw it at me but I caught it, smirking playfully at her.“Fuck you, Darius, she is my sister, like hell I would allow it.” Hissing, she came down, sending a wa
It’s been a few months since Athena came back and I couldn’t avert my attention from her. Those sensations I gained in her presence were inexplicable. I thought she was my ‘the one’. And taking those sensations along, I went to see her only to find her Father yelling at her. “What is wrong with you, Athena?! You are our blood and still can’t aim properly?!” He was teaching her how to hunt but she was terrible at this so she got a scolding. ‘The Athena I knew could never hurt a soul, let alone to murder one.’ His voice echoed in the air which pricked a needle in my chest. Athena was fragile, she was kind, she was not made for brutality. I didn’t like this. “I apologize but I condemn violence. I didn’t study this hard to kill a soul in the end. I cannot do this.” Breathing out, she turned her head away, curling her hands in a fist. She felt powerless. As a Becker, she must hunt- but she couldn’t. “This is survival. The basic instinct. You must learn it. Why don’t you get
After taking Athena away and avoiding her Father’s death-glare, I decided to not show up near her for the time being or else it would infuriate everyone. But, I couldn’t understand why they were displeased with our closeness? And since I was unable to maintain distances with Athena, I took my chance again and we left for a specific place in the evening. “Where are we going, Darius?” She asked with a giggle. Holding her hands felt delightful, it felt as if it was meant to be and I accepted it wholeheartedly. How could I not want a partner like her? “Shh. Just tag along.” Smirking, I pulled her forward, leading her with me to a beautiful lake surrounded by fully bloomed cherry trees and the second sun set- they began to glow. “So what do you think about it?” I asked happily, turning to her and found her lost in awe. Her jaw dropped, eyes shone brighter than the pebbles shining, making my insides curled into bubbly sensations, bringing a grin on my features. “So mesmerizing
I began to hold firm faith that whatever me and Athena had was the connection I was dying to receive but soon the reality fell flat on my face. Athena and her family were in the royal castle where our King Theodore was holding a meeting. I was the Alpha’s son and took advantage of my status and came with my Father, hoping to hold a glimpse of Athena. And when everyone was busy, I saw her, humming to herself, lost in her dreamy world, looking out of the window. Strangely, when I saw her this time, my heart didn’t race. It didn’t give the exhilarating sensations but I ignored it. ‘I must have gotten used to it.’ I thought, shaking my head and coming closer. “Hey.” Calling her sweetly, I rushed to her side. “Darius? What are you doing here?” Gasping, she turned to me hesitantly, moving back to stop me from coming closer but I didn’t want to. “It’s alright, Athena. No one is coming for an hour or so.” Reassuring her, I wrapped my arm around her shoulder. “And what about your
“Because Athena is not your mate, dammit!” If Athena is not my mate then what are those sensations that I am experiencing? Blinking, I failed to comprehend the depth of her world- perhaps I didn’t want to. I couldn’t justify my feelings otherwise.She must be wrong.“What…?” I asked again, praying I heard something wrong. It couldn’t be that.But, the sternness on her face indicated it was no lie. “Yes. I haven’t seen your mate yet and even if I would, obviously I am forbidden to tell you but whoever it is- It is not Athena.” I stood still, unable to grasp the depth of her words, hoping to accept it but my heart refused to.“She is.. Not?” I questioned myself. Yeah, my feelings were not how I expected them but that didn’t mean that she… that she is not my mate…“So stop toying with my sister before she develops feelings.” She did… She had accepted me as her lover. As her partner and mate.What should I tell Athena now? What should I do now? “I don’t want her heart to break, Da
ATHENA BECKER.Before I could realize, time passed in a matter of a blink in his proximity. When I was near him, things flew by so rapidly yet mesmerizingly. ‘I believed it wholeheartedly that we were mates.’Two years. Two years for immense love, devotion and affection.The years I wanted to burn from my memories but I couldn’t. They were my treasure after all.With my hands around my sides, I was staring at the sun drowning and spreading a delicate vibrant orangey shade in the sky.“Hey…” I murmured.Smiling, I inhaled deeply to indulge in this beautiful moment and to enhance it, his addictive scent reached me.Over these years, he had shown me overwhelming love, sweetness and care that it blinded me, I had absolutely given myself to him.I had utter faith that I was his mate. I would be marked by him, I would be his forever. I had faith in my love…“Hey. How are you doing?” He asked seductively, biting my earlobe. Holding me from behind, he pressed his large chest over my back,