Rise of Athena

Chapter 24

Walking through the hallways of the
Royal house with nothing but a makeshift towel and a burnt hand wasn't as difficult as Alex thought it would be, he had expected to be the subject of mockery for at least a week but that wasn't an issue as almost no one was there save a few guards who didn't even blink at the sight of him.
The first time he walked this path he was a little surprised considering the scenery he was used to. Back in Blue moon pack the corridors and compound were always bussing with people, children and pups playing catch and nipping, maidens giggling as the saw him walk pass, the women huddled in various groups exchanging the latest tea' on inlaws the men inviting him to play some game he had to feign interest in as he
simultaneously gave an excuse while making his escape. He could never hope to understand what was so appealing or masculine about a man being so wasted he cannot walk straight line or the thrill of gambling even when you are clearly bad at it. It wasn't that he didn't know how to chose his odds well it was quite the contrary, what was the point of playing a game you know you would definitelv win. he just didn't have time for it, the only gamble he was willing to participate in was the one with Athena, that one was a gamble he had to occasionally admit to not knowing the outcome. It was exhilarating as well as terrifying, she may have set his hand on fire but to imagine a life without her now that he has finally found her, the pain on his hand paled in comparison to the one in his heart.
He still couldn't figure out what exactly it is that prompted her to go to thew fire even though he had a good guess, it was no secret how her mother had died, wicked rumours about the reason of her death were constantly whispered by the people who wished to remind them selves of reasons to hate Athena, although she never talked

about it or showed any sign of being aware he doubt she was un bothered as she would like people to believe, death by fire was the most terrible kind he wouldn't wish on any one.
And worse she was presumed dead. "
Presumed dead," he mused out loud.
The story was that she was still born.
But that clearly wasn't true. "Athena, goddess of fire." He smiled.
The circumstance surrounding her birth was strange but that didn't warrant immunity to fire.
Even though he was yet to completely find her, he couldn't lose her. And he was sure he was making ] progress especially when she touched him, her touch was so light at first he wasn't sure she was there, but the electric feeling coursing through his body as his wolf sensed her was definitely there, it took all he had to stay still and keep hus breathing even, one wrong exhale and she may chop off his hand for pretending. But that wasn't a

problem, the fact that she touched him in itself was a victory, it solidified one particular theory, her attraction to him, she touched him like she was unsure of what to do, like he was ghost and she was scared he would disappear, he had never really been a believer but in those moments, he silently prayed for her to move her hands, anywhere so he could be sure he wasn't dreaming it. He was a man who normally prided himself on restraint and patience but he lost the meaning of the words with Athena, since she wasn't ready to move he helped her.
He moved his body slightly but
Calculated so that her hands will slide across his body, only then did he realise his foolish decision, instead of bringing him satisfaction the motion only worsened the burning in his loins. Before he could divert his thoughts to the face of ancient former beta Athena had to cool his lust she seemed to have made the decision to

move her hand on her own but this time she touched his raw flesh and he couldn't control the sharp intake of breath through his teeth and heaven was snatched away from him as
Athena removed her hand.
But he got a glimpse of who Athena would have been had she not been born into a cruel circumstance,
It wasn't an apology, but she regret it, she regret hurting him, good thing he wasn't beneath using it to get what he wanted from her. Maybe its because of people like him she didn't like to be vulnerable, that thought should make him feel guilty bu he had tried the good boy way and she left him no choice but to play dirty.
And today he went a step closer and a step back because now that he had seen her vulnerable, the normal human response was to either loosen up with him or try to stay away from him, but as established she wasn't normal, and he knew a slight referral

to the incident before she was ready would not end well for him. As he has realised today, she took her words very seriously.
It was in the early hours of dawn and most of the servants were not yet awakened, he found someone in the servants quarters nice enough to help him get his bag so he could top roaming about half naked, thankfully this time, he was wise enough o bring up to six pairs of livery. After wearing the cloth he located the beta chamber, it was wide and spacious but nowhere as regal as the one Athena occupied.
Although the only source of light was the slowly rising sun.
"I don't know who you think you are or who trained you but here servants do not barge into places they haven't been summoned." Damien's voice came from the partial darkness and in that moment for the first time wished he could blow his cover and send
Damien to his knees. "I didn't come as a servant I came as a man." He tried to see Damien's expression but his eyes hadn't yet adjusted to the dim room.
"I came to thank you."
"Thank me?"
"For protecting her."
«You owe me nothing, if Athena wants to thank me she would do so herself."
"That seems to be an area of difficulty for her, to speak it out I mean."
"Listen to me, don't lecture me about the person I have known for as long as we both can remember, don't think because she let you in her bed you have access to her."
"You're right, I don't but neither do you and judging by the time which you have known her you definitely don't know she sleep talks, but guess who does?" his eyes had adjusted enough for him to see Damien's nose flare.
"The person she burnt? That burn couldn't have been from saving her from the fire, it was a deliberate one."
"Guess who got a massage and an apology." Maybe he was stretching it too thin but it was all that was keeping him form shoving Damien's stupid face into his ass.
"No." he was in utter disbelief.
"Yes."
"No way."
"While I would love to stay and play word games with you in have a traitor to dismember,"
"Too bad I have plans to serve his head to her on a platter."
Alex smirked. "May the best man win."

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Hi beautiful people, I haven't taken my time yet to edit this story so please bear with me