When I woke up, Ares was still asleep next to me. I felt my wolf stirring in my mind. I tried to reach her. This was the day I could find my mate. I never thought about it before, “stupid Carson,” I mumbled under my breath.
I know the stories, how you recognize your mate instantly. I looked over at Ares hoping everything would fall into place, but nothing happened. I sighed in disappointment. With how he acted, I hoped I was his mate. I quietly got out of bed and got dressed.
Maybe Carson is my mate, but then again. Why would Ares be like this? Why would he claim me as his own if I’m not his mate?
I gave Ares one last look before I left his bedroom, hoping again for some sort of mate bond. I walked downstairs towards Carson’s bedroom. But was stopped by the head mistress. A small growl left my lips when she grabbed my arm. I saw I startled her with my growl.
“Don’t you have that tone with me, missy,” she said disapproving, but with a hint of fear in her voice. Something I have never heard before.
I looked at her confused, wondering why the fear. I chuckled, “who do you fear, me?”
She stuttered in return, “No, no I don’t fear you.” Her eyes lingered on the stairs. I followed her eyes.
“Ares?” I said with a cocked eyebrow.
The head mistress shook her head, hoping it would shake the fear out of her eyes, I presumed. “Alpha Ares, he’s very protective of you,” she said with a sigh.
I shrugged my shoulders, “then maybe you shouldn’t get in my way anymore. I’m eighteen now. I don’t have to listen to you,” I said with an attitude. I felt my anger rise. She has always been mean to me.
“I know, I have to give you something. Your parents gave it to me when they brought you.” her voice has never been this kind.
“You know my parents, I thought they were dead.”
I felt Rhys pressing forward. “now you wake up” I said, annoyed at Rhys.
“Just meet me at the orphanage,” the head mistress said before she turned and walked away.
“Are you keeping something from me?” I asked Rhys.
I got nothing in return. I felt her moving to the back of my mind again. I sighed, why is she being this difficult? I continued my way to Carson’s bedroom.
I felt nervous, wondering if I should be here. Or just wait. I shook the feeling off and knocked on his door. I tried to listen in, but I couldn’t hear anything. I slowly opened his door.
“Of course, it’s not locked,” I mumbled.
I peeked inside and saw Carson still asleep. I walked in and quietly closed the door behind me, his scent had filled the room. It was intoxicating. It suddenly gave me the same feeling Ares’s sent gave me. Carson had his back towards me. I walked over to him. I softly placed my hand on his shoulder. Trying to wake him up.
His movements were unexpected and swift. Before I knew what had happened. I was lying on the bed under him, he placed himself between my legs. His entire body pressed against mine. A growl left his lips before he recognized me.
“Seriously?” I growled in return.
A chuckle left his lips before he placed his head in my neck, sniffing me. “Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in,” he whispered in my ear.
His warm breath on my skin made a shiver ran down my spine, I felt my face heat. I cleared my throat when I felt something press against me, “I really hope that’s not what I think it is.”
He pressed himself down ever harder, “and what if it is,” he said seductively.
I felt my breathing getting heavier, I felt my body relax under his. He slowly released his grip and pushed himself off me, meeting my gaze. I saw his eyes flicker to his wolf.
“What is he saying?” I asked, softly.
“He is wondering if you found your mate.” He moved his lips closer to mine.
“No, I haven’t,” I whispered against his lips.
Carson moved back, confusion filled his eyes, “you haven’t?”
He moved his body off mine and got out of bed. Pacing back and forth. I chuckled, “What is it with you and Ares, with the pacing.”
My eyes lingered to his bare chest. I never saw him without clothes before. The blush on my cheeks never left. I could feel my arousal rise, I sat up and placed my legs over each other. Hoping to hide it. I saw a smile form on Carson's face. He stopped pacing and looked me in my eyes. His eyes lingered down while biting his lip.
He pulled himself out of the moment, “wait here.”
I sighed, “fine.”
He quickly got dressed and walked out. Just before he closed the door, he gave me one last look. He had the same devious smile as the day we met.
I tried to find Rhys, but she locked me out. Why was I feeling like this for Ares and Carson? I lied back on his bed, I buried my face in his pillow. His scent smelled perfect. But like Ares, the mate bond didn’t snap into place when I saw Carson.
I felt my whole body heat, being surrounded by Carson’s scent. I wanted to take everything off, to have some sort of relief from the warmth. I heard some rummaging outside before the door was opened. When I met Ares’s eyes, I felt my body tremble with desire. The heat overtaking me. I tried to snap out of it, but I needed his touch. I saw Ares moving closer but was stopped by Carson.
“You see what she does,” Carson mumbled to Ares.
I couldn’t understand what he was saying. I’m not doing anything. I can't help it.
“Who is your mate?” Ares asked plainly.
My confusion never left me. “I don’t know,” I said not much louder than a whisper. Embarrassed that I couldn’t recognize my own mate.
“She doesn’t recognize her mate, that must be it,” Carson said to Ares.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Well, you are my mate. I know it,” Carson said.
“But you are also mine. You have to be.” Ares followed quickly. He looked annoyed at Carson. My body started to itch because of the warmth, “can someone please open a window,” I said. Ares walked towards me, lifting me up in his embrace. I felt my body relax again, the warmth slowly settling down. “How do you recognize your mate?” I asked Ares. “Your wolf recognizes your mate instantly” Ares responded, keeping me in his tight embrace. “Hasn’t your wolf said anything?” Carson asked. I shook my head, “she’s been quiet.” I looked up to Ares, “does that mean I can choose, that it’s my decision?” I saw Ares’s eyes started to fill with anger “Yes, it is,” Carson said. “I’m not sharing,” Ares growled to Carson “It’s her choice, not yours,” Carson growled in return. “stop it! It’s my choice Ares. You can't make me,” I buried my face in his neck, inhaling his scent. I felt his heart beat slow down again. I heard my stomach rumble. I could heard Ares chuckle, “Hungry?” he asked. I l
I walked towards the edge of the forest behind the orphanage. I looked around, making sure I was alone before taking off my clothes. I was waiting for Rhys to take over, I was completely naked and nothing happened. ‘What are you waiting for,’ I said, annoyed at Rhys. I could hear her laugh before I could feel my bones breaking. I fell to the ground. I know the stories of the first shift. The pain you have to go through. I screamed out. My bones started to realign. My body covering in fur. My breathing was heavy, and my sight started to change. My hands were replaced by paws. The ground felt different. Everything felt different. It felt empowering being in this form. My fur had a gold shimmer running through it. I started running through the forest. I never felt freer than at that moment. The wind brushed through my fur. I had never been this far out before. I could hear water running. I tried following the sound. I gasped at the sight of this beautiful waterfall. I heard something
He looked at me with a smile, “do you really have to ask? I think you know by now how he is. Especially when it comes to you.” “I thought you mind linked him back.” Confusion was written all over my face. “I did, but he was still mad,” he said with a chuckle. “Did he hurt you this morning?’’ I asked him, concerned. “I believe he would never kill me, but he is still the god of war,” he said with an eye roll. “So, it’s true?” I asked. “It's not my place. You should really talk to him,” he said with a sigh. We walked inside. I wanted his touch. But he wouldn’t let me hold his hand. He was right, I shouldn’t have annoyed Ares this much. The entire packhouse looked like a mess. As if he tossed everything around. Carson pointed to the stairs. “Is there anywhere else than his bedroom I could talk to him?” I asked with an eye roll. I could hear Carson laugh at my comment. “He’s not as romantic as me,” he said with a wink. I made my way upstairs, and when I reached the top of the sta
I saw Carson running toward us, gripping Ares’s. I tried pushing Ares off me. Squirming underneath him. I felt his canines piercing my skin. The tingling sensation became stronger, running through my body like a fire that had awoken. When his canines pierced through my bone I felt my body go numb and weak. I saw Carson stepping back, while a tear ran down his cheek. Ares took my choice away. It was my decision, not his to make. Ares retrieved his canines and sealed the marking with his tongue, instantly healing it. He slowly moved off me. I knew he could feel my anger towards him. “I'm sorry, I had to do it,” he mumbled with regret. I pushed myself up, walking towards Ares and slapping him full in his face. “How could you? It was my choice. You knew what I wanted,” I said, trying to control my anger. A small growl left his lips, “I won’t share, you know that. You’re mine, only mine.” “I’m not yours, this mark doesn’t make you own me. It means nothing when it’s not done out of lov
Ares POV Maybe I shouldn’t have done what I did, but I need her to remember. She needs to see who we are to each other. With every life I lived, I lived in search of her, and every time I died alone. Waking up again in the same body, living the same life. I’ve seen everything, seen kingdoms rise and fall. But never my love. Until now. I won’t share her. I had to share her with her husband before. To be honest, without his knowledge. I chuckled at the thought. “He was never good enough for her,” my wolf, Gideon, said with a growl. “No, he wasn’t,” I mumbled. She will see that we are meant for each other. We are each other’s redemption. To get out of this life and be gods again. I never loved anyone else before or after her. And I never will. Nobody can compare to her. We are meant for each other. She always challenged me. Even now, before she knew who she was, of who I am to her. She never feared me, only loved me. Accepted every part of me. There was a loud knocking on my door. I
Jamie (Aphrodite) POV My whole body was aching as if I had been hit by a train. I felt myself slowly waking up. I could hear Ares calling for me. However, my throbbing heart made the sound of his voice hurt my ears. “Can you please be quiet,” I mumbled. He responded with a small growl. I tried opening my eyes, but the sun was hurting my eyes. I noticed we weren’t in the packhouse anymore. My eyes started adjusting to the light. Only then did I notice we were in the same car as the day I went shopping with Carson. I found the scent of Ares southing me, making the pain slowly subside. I was still mad at him for what he did. But with everything I saw, I understand why he did it. I noticed him staring at me. I laid back down, placing my head on his lap. “I’m not forgiving you, but I do understand.” I looked up, meeting his eyes. I felt the mate bond snap into place. I could hear my wolf Rhys screaming, MATE MATE MATE. I chuckled, I could feel how happy she was she could finally rec
Carson POV It hurt me to say those words, but I had to listen to my Alpha. He knew instantly she was talking to me. I want to be there for her, always. Be by her side. I hope I can someday, but I doubt he will let me. The pull she has towards me will fade. The love she feels for me will fade. With her being the reincarnation of the goddess Aphrodite or is she Aphrodite? Aach, my head. It is so confusing. Ares wants me to reject her, but I can't. The pain it will bring her, the pain it will bring me. I won’t reject her. I know she doesn’t recognize me as her mate, so maybe it won’t hurt her. But I can't let her go. I know if I do anything, Ares will kill me. He made that perfectly clear. He doesn’t care what it would do to Jamie. He only wants her to be his. When she completes the mate bond, there will be no room left for me. Her friend, Liza, hadn’t been quiet for a sec. My head hurts because of her constant blaring. I don’t know if she noticed, or if Jamie told her anything. But sh
Ares POV She can't keep denying me. I know what she feels. She has to accept me as her mate. If she doesn’t, we would both be back in limbo. With everything she saw, all her past lives. How could she still choose not to complete the marking? When she slapped me, I left her room. I needed to give her space and time. She is only eighteen. But she is Aphrodite, so actually she is older than me. Well, her soul is. I sent some of my men to get some food for us. I don’t want to leave this house until the marking is complete. My beta can take care of the pack business. It would keep him busy and distracted. He will soon forget about her. He can't be her mate. Impossible. After I did some minor work, I made my way back upstairs. I was debating if I should see her, or leave her alone. I was pacing in the hallway when I heard her moans. I walked to her door, listening in. By the sound, I knew it was her and Carson. “I want to be with you, you are my mate. But so is Ares. He has to accept it