Athena's POVI was nearly shot on the leg as I leaped back.“I've been searching for you. But look…fate brought you to my doorstep."Her eyes were wet as her tears kept flowing down.I didn't know what she wanted. I didn't understand why she was there with no one around. She must know something. But first, I had stop her from killing me.“You took everything away from me. Everything!" She continued.“I have no idea about what you're talking about,” I stuttered, raising my hands in fear as though they could shield me from another silver bullet.“I'm going to ruin you, Athena. The way you ruined me. I can never forgive myself for helping you that night. All these wouldn't have happened. I would have found a way to escape on my own." She buried her face in her palms as the gun dangled in the air. I tried to crawl to pick my bow and set up an arrow. But she caught me instantly and shot me on the leg, without missing this time. I groaned in pain, clasping my right leg with my two han

Athena's POV"You went missing for days, Athena. You finally come back home and the next appropriate question you feel you should ask is why I did what?" Dante replied slowly as he walked towards me."You didn't think i'ld be hurt right. You keep running away from me every time without a reason and now you stand there questioning me? Don't I deserve an answer too?""You killed my parents Dante. Don't you even dare act the victim. You killed my entire pack," I yelled back at him. He was still approaching me when I felt the urge to bring out the weapon with me."Stay right there or I'll shoot!" I ordered. He seemed shocked as he halted."Tell me it's a lie Dante and I'll believe you. Tell me you didn't kill them. Tell me!" I was losing my mind. The mate bond didn't help remedy the situation as the gun quivered in my hands."Athena, I can explain but please put the weapon down," Dante spoke softly as he tried to persuade me. It didn't work. I was so mad at him. The fact that he didn't d

Athena's POV"No you didn't, Athena. You're just saying that to get me angry and it's working!" Dante roared as he walked up to me and held my shoulders.My eyes began to water as I saw his tears,"Did you let them go?" he asked, forcing each words out of his mouth with gritting teeth as his eyes penetrated me.I affirmed by nodding my head, holding back the tear that was begging to drop. "Why did you do it without my permission?" he asked as I felt his grip tighten on my shoulders."Because I had to. They deserve a better life as much as I do," I replied as my voice began to break."You know what I think. I think you're sick, Athena. You have no idea of what you've done. I should never have marked you as mate from the very beginning," he spat while he turned to the guards,"Tyler! Send every troop you can get and make sure you bring them back to me alive. Get out," he yelled at them as they stormed out of the hall.I didn't understand why he reacted with so much intensity as he kept

Athena’s POV"Athena... it's you," he whispered. I reached out for a tighter hug. His beards were all gone but there was no way I could mistake those eyes for another."You know each other?" Tyler's mother asked as she watched us exchange pleasantries.The Shaman chuckled as I guided him toward a double-sitter sofa in the living room. "It's a long story, Becca. She was one of my students in my old pack," the shaman explained as I sat beside him.I couldn't keep my jaws together as I was both delighted and shocked to see him. "How did you get here?" I asked. It suddenly felt like a family reunion."Is the king aware of your previous status in our old pack?" I added.It didn't look like he was ready to answer any question."You need to go easy on those questions," Tyler's mother, Becca, added as she held on to her husband.I stared at both of them, wondering how much Dante knew about me."King Dante knew I was the Shaman of Lion's Mane pack. I was among the few he spared the day of the

Athena's POV A strange heat piled up within, slowly I gained back consciousness. With a throbbing head and a weak body that couldn't hold me up for long, a smiling face was the last thing I expected to find on my mate's face."From now on, you order me around until my new love comes home," Dante remarked casually.My brows were furrowed, listening to him, with pounding heart. Was this a rejection? But, his expression didn't complement his words."Our child is growing right here," he said, placing his hands on my belly.My eyes were wide open, joyful tears streaming down my face. I was becoming a mother. I've been given a chance to correct the mistakes my parents made.I caressed my belly, smiling sheepishly. "That explains why I've been feeling sick," I said. I managed to get out of bed, with Dante's help. It felt like a lump was fighting to come out of my throat. I held on to the bathtub, greenish liquid pouring out of my mouth. and splashing all over the white ceramic."What ca