AthenaShocked, stunned and mostly speechless, I found myself wanting to take more than a few steps back to create some sort of distance between us, to allow myself to take it all in— Get through the momentary disbelief with no damage. But there was no place left, not even a fraction of an inch."What...what are you saying?" I stammered, "How come you not have a....""It's just fate, Athena. For the longest time, I kept believing that I have a mate and I was just yet to find her even though my own parents had let me know the truth way earlier to make it easier for me to digest," He spoke, strange melancholy flickering in his orbs— Crossing his face like a silhouette, "But, soon I became aware of the reality when, on one, unfortunate full moon, it was revealed to me that I did not have that line of fate neither on my hand nor my forehead.""It could also be that the one predicting was wrong. How can you be so sure about that?""We are werewolves, sweetheart. None predicts the future fo

AthenaAs we settled outside, facing each other, he gave me the cup of coffee he had picked for me on his way over."Thank you, you really didn't have to--" I fidgeted uneasily in my seat, acutely aware of the weighty conversation that was about to take place. His piercing stare, the palpable tension that hung in the air, and most of all, the very first words he had uttered upon walking into the bakery.'We need to talk.' Those four words spoke volumes."It's fine. It's not a big deal anyway," he slouched in his chair, his leg tapping up and down with restlessness that mirrored my own. Inside, I was freaking out because the last thing I wanted was to lose a friend.The air still hung heavy with an awkward silence that seemed to stretch on for eternity. It was a strange and uncomfortable situation, to say the least. I didn't want things to be like this, but everything was so scattered and our lives were just too complicated."We need to talk, Athena," he finally spoke up, breaking the

SebastianTo say I was enraged would express the least of what I experienced. I fucking want to kill him at that moment when he let out those words but once again, I kept my calm."Cutting straight to the chase I see," I hummed, puffing out the smoke into the air, seeing visual in the white of them of how many ways I could snatch the life out of this man, "How come you are in love with her all of a sudden, I ask?""It's not sudden, Alpha," The fact that he was trying to act respectful was ironic, "I have liked her since the first day.""Ah, the first day, huh? You know, I don't hold grudges for feelings, but actions speak volumes. So, Aaron, what's the price tag for your attempt to persuade my partner to run away with you, despite her clear explanation of our situation? I care about actions, just as much as ever," I flashed him a smile, "Do you choose to be stripped of the position of my beta and returned to the very pack you once belonged to, now turned rogues with a vendetta against

SebastianAs I stood outside her door, I took a deep breath and knocked, trying to compose myself. My mind was racing, thinking of all the things I wanted to say to her and my heart was beating loud. My chest was heaved with tension and the urgency to talk to her, to see her face and grasp the one possible opportunity to pull her in my arms again as if time itself was running out and this was my only chance.The wait felt like an eternity until finally, she opened the door."Sebastian..." Other than the surprise on her face, I couldn't read anything else but her red eyes surely said that she had been crying.The sight of her left me speechless for a moment, but I gathered my courage and managed to stammer out a greeting, "Hey."I comfortably tucked my hands in the pockets of my overcoat, barely managing to stay still."You were supposed to leave today," She sniffled, wiping her cheek with the back of her hand to erase any possible traces of tears.God! I wanted to hug her, kiss her te

Athena"Aaron." His name slipped from my lips as I watched him, standing a few feet away, leaning against the bonnet of his car with his hands tucked in his pockets, his impatient eyes scanning the surroundings until they landed on me, and then at the man standing beside me, my mate.His presence had ignited a spark of tension between us that threatened to escalate into a full-blown confrontation. The way he leaned against his car with an air of confident impatience made it clear that he wasn't about to back down.But amidst the chaos, I couldn't help but wonder if Aaron's return was a sign of unfinished business."This piece of—" As Sebastian's anger flared, I felt a surge of fear and desperation to defuse the situation. "Sebastian, don't," I intervened, grasping his hand before he could react."Athena...""Please, Aaron's a friend and has helped me a lot. It does not have to end on a bad note," I said, "Let me just talk to him, okay?"I could see Sebastian's reluctance, but I knew