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Chapter 5: Playing the Game

Author: Emma Penn
last update Last Updated: 2025-07-13 16:37:53

Athena sat quietly in her small quarters, her fingers tracing the cracks in the stone wall. Every word the jealous concubine had whispered earlier replayed in her head. Stay away from Raphael… know your limits.

She smirked. “Limits are only for those who accept them,” she muttered to herself.

For the first time since she had been dragged into this palace, Athena no longer felt powerless. She had stumbled upon something far more dangerous than Raphael’s wrath—his interest. And if he was foolish enough to let his emotions cloud his judgment, then she would use that weakness against him.

But she knew it had to be done carefully. Raphael was not the kind of man to fall for easy tricks. He thrived on control, on dominance, on watching others bend beneath his will. If she wanted to fool him, she would have to play the perfect opposite of who she truly was.

Instead of defiance, she would show submission. Instead of fire, she would show warmth. And when he finally believed she had surrendered to him… that was when she would find her opening to escape.


The following day, Raphael summoned her to the great hall. His voice, deep and commanding, echoed against the marble pillars. “Athena.”

She walked in, her steps deliberately slower, her eyes lowered. For once, she didn’t stare him down. She didn’t smirk or challenge him. She bowed.

Raphael arched a brow, suspicion flashing in his eyes. “You seem… different.”

Athena clasped her hands together, making her voice soft. “I only wish to serve you better, my Alpha. I was foolish before. I didn’t understand my place.”

For a long moment, silence hung between them. Raphael studied her as though trying to tear through her act. His wolf stirred restlessly inside him, urging him closer, urging him to trust her. But Raphael had lived too long in betrayal to be naïve. Still, her lowered eyes, her softened tone… it soothed something in him he never thought could be soothed.

He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, the scent of his power surrounding her. “You think a few sweet words will erase your stubbornness?” His voice was cold, yet less sharp than before.

“No,” Athena replied, keeping her voice steady. “But I want to learn. If you will teach me… I will not resist.”

Raphael’s jaw tightened. He didn’t know why those words stirred a dangerous warmth inside him. For so long, he had punished her for her rebellion. Now, with her standing before him in feigned humility, he felt the strange urge to reach out—not to punish, but to hold.

He shook the thought away. “We shall see. Actions speak louder than words, Athena.”

Athena lowered her head again, hiding the gleam in her eyes. Good, she thought. Take the bait.


That evening, Raphael ordered her to serve him in the dining hall before his guards and concubines. Normally, she would have dragged her feet, glared at him, or muttered under her breath. But tonight, she poured his wine with careful grace, placing the goblet before him with both hands.

The hall went silent. Even the concubines, who usually sneered at her, exchanged wary glances. Never had they seen Athena so docile.

Raphael took the goblet, his gaze lingering on her longer than it should have. “Better,” he muttered, almost to himself.

Athena curtsied, a small smile tugging at her lips. Yes, she thought. Better for me.

Because if her act was convincing enough, soon Raphael would drop his guard. And when he did… she would finally have her chance at freedom.

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  • The Mate He Bought   Chapter 5: Playing the Game

    Athena sat quietly in her small quarters, her fingers tracing the cracks in the stone wall. Every word the jealous concubine had whispered earlier replayed in her head. Stay away from Raphael… know your limits. She smirked. “Limits are only for those who accept them,” she muttered to herself.For the first time since she had been dragged into this palace, Athena no longer felt powerless. She had stumbled upon something far more dangerous than Raphael’s wrath—his interest. And if he was foolish enough to let his emotions cloud his judgment, then she would use that weakness against him.But she knew it had to be done carefully. Raphael was not the kind of man to fall for easy tricks. He thrived on control, on dominance, on watching others bend beneath his will. If she wanted to fool him, she would have to play the perfect opposite of who she truly was.Instead of defiance, she would show submission. Instead of fire, she would show warmth. And when he finally believed she had surrendered

  • The Mate He Bought   Chapter 4: A Glimmer Of Hope

    For the first time in so many years, Raphael was unable to control himself as he stood in front of Athena. Watching her defy him made him so amused. Not in a shocking way, but instead in a different way. Like he felt his heart beat so loudly for the first time in a long time, which surprised him. He stepped back almost immediately, staring at her in utter shock."What are you trying to do to me?" he questioned as Athena could not help but laugh."I really don't understand what you mean. What do you mean by what am I trying to do to you? I am not doing anything to you, okay?" she said to him as he tried his best to compose himself.He stood straight immediately and pointed to the door. "Get out," he said angrily.She stood up and hissed before slowly walking away. Even though he was so angry at her and hated the fact that she always defied him, he couldn't help but be unable to say a word or even move from his current position. That was just how stunned he was, staring into her eyes. It

  • The Mate He Bought   Chapter 3: The Alpha’s wrath

    Despite everything that Athena had witnessed and now knowing that Raphael’s anger was not something she could easily amend, she still always got on his nerves. It had now been a month since he started working for Raphael in the palace, but yet Raphael was trying all his best to suppress his anger. And Raphael was not ready to let her be at all. He was also going to make sure that she would regret everything she tried to do with him. So it multiplied all her work. He made all her work excess that she did not even have a chance to do anything. She could not even stay an hour after lunch break resting because she was given so much work.Meanwhile, as Raphael had no excuses for giving all the work to Athena, he decided to suck most of the maids, leaving all the work mainly on Athena's neck. But she did not give up, and that did not cause her ego and pride as she still continued to do all the job effortlessly without even complaining at all. And it frustrated Raphael even more. Till an afte

  • The Mate He Bought   Chapter 2: Life in the Shadows

    At first, when Athena arrived at the palace, she thought that Raphael just gave empty words and that he did not mean any of it. But to her surprise, she was actually taken to prison for three days. She was not fed, nor was she given water. It felt like she would die. On the third day, the head maid approached her in the prison and asked her if she really wanted to continue being stubborn.Athena could not pretend anymore. She could not act like she was not weak, that she was not tired, and that she did not need help. She had no choice but to plead with the head maid to please let her go, which was done. At first, she thought she would be given minimal jobs to do since there were already excessive maids in the palace. But instead, she was subjected to doing menial tasks like scrubbing the ground and cleaning in ways that even the lowest servants wouldn't do. It made her so pissed. But she did not have a choice. After all, her stepfather had already sold her to Raphael, and there was not

  • The Mate He Bought   Chapter 1: The Unfortunate Bargain

    Raphael sat comfortably on the sofa as he watched Athena's stepfather serve him wine. Even though he was not going to take a sip from it, he still watched the man being all shaky to serve the Alpha who came directly to his house. He quickly knelt to the ground with both of his hands in a pleading position.“I am so sorry, my Alpha. I promised I would return all the money. I would return every dime, I swear to you,” he promised as Raphael shook his head sideways.“I don't want that anymore. You made me drive all the way to this place. I am getting everything, and if you don't have money, then I think I will just have to take your life,” he said to Athena's stepfather, whose eyes almost bulged out of their sockets.“You can't do that to me. I promise to give you anything you want, but I cannot give you my life because I have other things to do. I know I am owing you a huge debt, which is something I cannot even proudly say with my own mouth, but please, please give me a second chance. Ju

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