Chapter 6

Gavin Montgomery pov

After receiving the call from Veronica I was more anxious to return to see Athena. I hadn't answered her question directly and only reminded the wicked woman that I was going to be married soon to get her off my back.

Confused about why she was questioning me about her kitchen worker I had pondered about it the entire evening. The next morning I was sitting in my office and fumbling with the necklace that my jeweler had just finished repairing.

“The female didn't lie about who she was; her bloodline is that of a warrior and she is a moonless shifter like yourself. She was not part of the kitchen staff,” my Lycan, Rudik, growled sternly in my mind.

“If I hadn't had to return to deal with the rogues that attacked my Silver Moon pack I would have made her my luna queen by now and told her the truth about everything that very night. Hell, I have been searching for my mate since receiving the crown three years ago and well before that,” I muttered.

“What are you intending to do with Justine? You're betrothed to her believing that you would never find your mate and insisted that she was good for the pack,” Rudik inquired.

Running my hand down my face I grimaced.

Justine had proclaimed her love for me for years, and being the daughter of my father’s old beta, I had agreed to get wed, but shit changed, and now she was just an annoying nuisance. She continuously tried to get me to mate with her, and I continued to refuse her, not having any desire for her.

“I must go back and get Athena, she's has my mark and is the one that I will have next to me!”

Grabbing the necklace that Athena held dear I went to inform my Beta that I was going to travel back to the Harvest Moon pack to collect my mate.

As I traversed the hall Justine rushed up to me with a smile on her child-like face.

“What's the rush, highness?” She questioned while batting her big blue eyes.

“We need to have a serious talk,” I sighed and watched her blonde brow crease.

“You have been moody since the night of the rogue's attack. Do you need me to massage your shoulders? I would! I would do anything for you, Gavin because I love you so very much,” she said in an obsessive manner that just raked my nerves.

“No! I don't need nor want your hands anywhere near my body,” I snapped and saw a glimmer of anger flash in her eyes.

“You can't refuse me forever, highness since our wedding approaches and we will have our wedding night. You should sample the goods beforehand,” she said coyly.

Narrowing my eyes at her, I realized that I had never been attracted to her physically and found her unappealing, but her dedication to me and the fact that she was the old beta,’s daughter had made me choose her.

“I'm leaving now and need to find Nick to have him deal with the pack in my absence,” I stated firmly.

Giving me a pout Justine peeked up at me and said, “Must you leave again? Where are you going now?”

Rolling my eyes, I told her that it was none of her business, but I would speak with her when I returned.

Striding away from her watching me as I left I felt like an ass.

“I don't know what to do with her since she has nowhere else to go. Her father doesn't want her back,” I groaned.

“Perhaps you can send her off to another pack,” Rudik suggested and I decided that was a good ruse to return to the Harvest Moon pack and speak with Veronica.

“I could suggest her for a lady in waiting for Veronica,” I chuckled and found Nick speaking with the guards in regards to the rogues we had captured and imprisoned.

“Hey, bud, I'm going to the Harvest Moon pack,” I informed him.

Nick grinned slightly and asked me if I was going to get the female that I had mentioned.

Nodding, I said, “I am planning on it but you know how difficult Veronica can be.”

“Assert your authority, she can't deny a king,” he chuckled.

“Yeah, I suppose that since she still believes that I am just a prince…I will if it is necessary; otherwise, she doesn't need to know,” I growled.

Patting my back, my beta wished me well and said, “I looked forward to meeting this special female who has captured a Lycan king’s heart.”

After leaving him in good spirits, I drove my SUV to the Harvest Moon pack, wholly intending to explain everything to Athena and profess my undying love for her.

Giddy with excitement I pressed the gas pedal to the floor the entire way. When I pulled up to the Alpha's home I rushed to the front door and knocked repeatedly. The door opened to an elderly housekeeper who gasped at seeing me standing there. I raised my brow at the odd look I was getting from her and quickly asked to speak with Veronica.

“Please allow me to escort you to the Alpha's office and you can wait there for the couple,” the housekeeper explained.

Following her with anxiousness I entered the room and sat in a chair as I waited for either of them to arrive.

Criss-crossing my legs and wringing my hands, I was growing impatient when the door finally opened, and the couple entered.

Veronica’s eyes widened at me in surprise as she whispered something into the Alpha's ear.

Standing I got right to the point and completely forgot about Justine.

“I want Athena Blackstone. I have marked her as my mate and will leave here once I have her,” I asserted.

Huffing in irritation Veronica snarled.

“She is a lying disobedient bitch! Why would someone of your rank want a low-ranking wolf like her?! Unbelievable,” she spat with venom causing me to glare at her.

“You're speaking about MY MATE!” I growled.

Jordan pulled on her arm and scolded her for her foul tongue and then looked at me.

“Athena is in our jail being punished for neglecting her duties,” he stated plainly and I stared at him in disbelief.

“Take me to her immediately!” I asserted dominance and found satisfaction in watching them both squirm under my authority.

Recognition filled their eyes and Veronica stammered, “You became king?”

Exhaling deeply I nodded and said,” Take me to her NOW!”

Seeing the concern on the features, I gestured for the door and followed them out of their house and down the gravel road in between their pack houses.

“The jail is just ahead in the gray building at the edge of the forest,” Jordan stated with a huff.

Instead of waiting for their slow asses I ran ahead and flung open the door to get inside.

My eyes narrowed at the open door of the barred cell and blood-covered straw within the empty cell.

Rage filled me as I turned to them coming inside.

“Where is she and why is there blood?!” I demanded aggressively and both of their faces drained of color.

“She was locked in there! I swear it. I know nothing about the blood,” Veronica gasped. Shaking my head I strode past them, determined to find my mate. There would be hell to pay if I discovered she had been injured or worse…