Chapter 6

“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 looked up to him and then to Carson.

“Only if you two play nice,” I said with a smile.

“I’m not doing anything, it’s mister grumpy pants over there,” Carson said while pointing to Ares.  

I cupped Ares’s face, “be nice, he’s your best friend. Your beta. For me.” Ares nodded in return.

My eyes lingered to his lips, a small smile formed on his. I pulled him closer, making our lips softly touch. A tingling sensation ran through my entire body. I turned in his embrace, pinning my legs around his waist. I pressed myself against him. He devoured every inch. I felt myself drift away in this sensation.

I pulled my lips from his and chuckled. I turned to meet Carson's eyes. I reached out and pulled him closer. I heard a small growl coming from Ares. I quickly gave him a death glare in return.

Carson moved closer, leaning in. When our lips touched, the same tingling sensation emerged. I moaned in his mouth when Ares started kissing the marking spot. My back arched. I felt his hardened length between my legs. I started moving my hips against his.

The moment was broken when another growl left Ares’s lips. Carson pulled me of Ares’s embrace. Pinning me behind him. I saw Ares fighting with his wolf.

“you have to leave,” Cason said, worried.

“No, I’m not leaving you.”

He gripped my arms, “I will be fine, but I won’t let anything happen to you”

I nodded in return and quickly left. Before I closed the door, I saw Ares shifting. Lunging for Carson. I ran outside, away from them. I just hoped he wouldn’t kill Carson.

I made my way to the orphanage. I still hadn’t eaten. I went into the kitchen to get some sandwiches. I was finishing the last one when the head mistress walked in. She immediately looked at my neck.

“What?” I asked with my mouth full.

“I just wondered if he marked you already,” she said with a fake smile.

I ignored her statement, “well, I’m here. What is it you have to tell me?”

“I’m not telling you anything,” she said while tossing a dirty old book before me.

“I don’t know what’s inside. It’s sealed with a spell. I think only you can open it. When your parents brought you here, they gave it to me, to give to you when you turn eighteen. I never saw your parents again after that. They told me you were an omega. But I think you figured out by yourself, you’re not. You are much stronger than that. I think they were running away from something. I don’t know for what or where they are right now. I know I have always been hard on you. A lot of members in the pack always felt threatened by you. We could always feel your strength. That’s why I tried to get you away from Ares.” Her eyes filled with regret.

With everything she told me, I felt even more confused. “It’s fine, I know I wasn’t the easiest growing up.”

The headmistress nodded and left. I looked at the book she threw before me. I felt Rhys pressing forward again. I rolled my eyes at her, “look who finally shows up.”

She growled in return, “you wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

I picked up the book and made my way to my bedroom. I sat down on my bed. I tried to open the lock on the book, but couldn’t. I sighed, “great.”

I felt my body changing when Rhys took control. Claws formed from my fingertips. With her claws she opened the book. Like the lock was made for her. The claws retreated when Rhys gave me back control.

Happy birthday,

By the time you read this, we will no longer walk this earth. We regret we couldn’t be with you, but we had to keep you safe. There are still followers of Hephaestus. We need you to remember the stories we told you about the Gods.

 For the first time in a thousand years, Aphrodite and Ares walk this earth together. We know you don’t remember your past lives and we can't say too much. But please know, you won’t recognize your mate, but they will recognize you.  

Lots of love,

Your parents,

Jovis and Dione

The other pages of the book were blank, I kept running through them. Hoping I missed something. I sighed in disappointment.

Do my parents mean Ares is really Ares?

“Rhys, can you please stop ignoring me,” I mumbled to her.

I felt her pressing forward, “It’s not my time, not yet.”

“You can't leave me alone in this. Ares said your wolf recognizes your mate. You can help me.”

I felt her stirring again.

“What are you hiding from me?” I asked her, annoyed.

“I can't, I can't recognize our mate. You have to make that decision. I can't help you.” I could hear her disappointment in herself.

Maybe it would help if we shift, I thought to myself.

“When can we shift?” I asked her.

I could hear her joy, “now if you want.”