ログインAzraelI walked back to my office, my mind still unsettled from everything that had just happened. The hallway scene kept replaying in my head—the accusations, Athena’s condition, and then Gabriel suddenly finding his mate.None of it made sense, i had barely settled into my chair when the door opened. Gabriel walked in without knocking. One look at his face told me something was wrong. He looked defeated.I leaned back slightly, studying him. “Aren’t you supposed to look happy after finding your mate?” I asked. “Why do you look like she already rejected you?”His head snapped toward me, his eyes sharp at the mention of rejection. I almost regretted saying it.It was strange, Gabriel had been searching for his mate for years, just like me. We had hosted countless mate balls, hoping that one day fate would finally bring them to us. And now, after all this time, his mate had been in this kingdom for weeks and he had only just realized.“I can’t find her,” he said quietly, his voice heav
Athena“You!!”My father’s voice rang out the moment his eyes landed on me. Shock covered his face, his body going stiff like he had just seen something impossible. He took a step back then another, as if I were a ghost standing in front of him.For a moment, no one spoke, then the door behind him opened again. My mother stepped out.The instant she saw me, her mouth parted in shock, almost like she was about to scream. But she quickly controlled herself when she noticed the King and Gabriel standing nearby. Still, the fear on her face didn’t disappear. Both of them looked pale, almost as pale as I looked—like they were staring at someone who wasn’t supposed to be alive.“Do you know them?” the King asked, his voice cutting through the silence.I opened my mouth to speak, but before a single word could leave my lips, my father quickly stepped forward.“Of course she knows us,” he said smoothly. “She used to be part of our pack.”His tone changed, becoming colder. “But she committed
AthenaBy the time I finished scrubbing the entire kitchen, my body felt like it was about to give up. My back throbbed with pain, and my arms felt weak from all the work. If not for Talia, who came in later to help when she didn’t find me in the room, I wouldn’t have finished on time. She had worked quickly beside me, then left just as fast to return to her own duties.I leaned slightly against the counter, trying to steady myself. I hadn’t even eaten breakfast, and now the hunger only made everything worse.Just then, Janice walked into the kitchen, her attention on the preparations for lunch. But the moment she noticed me, she stopped.“What are you doing here?” she asked, clearly surprised.“Cleaning the kitchen,” I replied quietly.Even speaking felt like too much effort. My legs were barely holding me up, and every part of my body ached.Janice frowned and stepped closer, studying me carefully. “Why are you cleaning the kitchen? Your duty is to clean the King’s office and his ro
AthenaThe moment Gabriel walked into the kitchen, I rose to my feet quickly. My eyes shifted to the King, silently pleading with him to let me leave. Sitting there already felt wrong, and Gabriel’s presence only made it worse.“Good morning, Alpha,” Gabriel greeted as he stepped further inside. His tone was respectful, but the moment his eyes landed on me, it changed. His expression hardened. “How dare you sit where the King sits?” he snapped, his voice sharp with disapproval.He turned back to the King, clearly annoyed. “Why do you keep being kind to someone like her? She’s just a street urchin.”“Enough, Gabriel.” The King’s voice dropped into a low growl, filled with warning. “I asked her to sit and eat with me. She didn’t choose to. So watch how you speak to her.” His gaze was steady, leaving no room for argument. “And don’t address her like that again.”Gabriel’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue further. Instead, he walked over and sat at the counter, though his irritation was
AthenaI blinked, completely caught off guard. “What?” I repeated, unsure if I had heard him right.His hand was still around my wrist, firm but not rough. The warmth of his touch sent another wave of strange energy through me, making it hard to think straight.“I saw you earlier,” he said calmly. “You were rubbing your shoulder. You seem to be in pain.”I quickly shook my head. “It’s nothing, Your Majesty. I’m fine.”That wasn’t entirely true. My body ached from all the work, but I wasn’t about to let him know that. Not when I was already drawing more attention than I wanted.His grip didn’t loosen. “You don’t look fine,” he replied, his voice softer this time.I tried to pull my hand back gently, but he didn’t release me right away. My heart began to beat faster, and I became very aware of how close we were. The space between us felt too small, too charged.“I can manage,” I said quickly, trying to sound calm. “I still have work to do. I need to clean the bathroom and the rest of th
Athena“He likes his space neat at all times,” Janice said as she walked ahead of me, explaining my new duties. “So you will have to clean often, especially his office.”I listened quietly, keeping my expression neutral.“You can clean his room once, or at most twice a day,” she continued. “But his office is different. You may be called there several times, depending on his schedule.”I almost asked what exactly went on in that office that required so much cleaning, isn’t it just meetings and paperwork or is there something more but I held my tongue. This wasn’t the place to ask unnecessary questions.“He does not like anyone touching his personal belongings,” Janice added, stopping to face me. Her tone turned serious. “You go in, do your work, and leave. Nothing more.”I nodded. “If you are caught going through his things,” she went on, “you will be treated as a spy. And if that happens, there will be no saving you.”A small chill ran down my spine, but I kept my face calm. “No steal







