Rise of Athena

Chapter 25

Well things have turned interesting real quick, from getting burnt to spending the night with Athena and now he was walking around town looking for a faceless, nameless killer.
With no clue at all, the council members refused to speak to him and the only evidence was the arrow pulled out of his body and he didn't even bother to ask knowing he wouldn't share such an important thing that could aid him in finding who the killer was and consequently win their little
bet.
An Alpha of what some would say was the most powerful pack fighting over the scrap of affections he wasn't even sure to get. Another person would say how the mighty have fallen, but fighting for Athena's affections, was in no way demeaning. Not when she was going to be his future Luna.
Now that he was walking around with no particular destination, the town seemed larger than when he had first entered the palace.

Something about being lost ins place you are not familiar with makes the whole place seem like a maze.
He was pretty sure he had already passed this statue, either that or Athena's father had more than five statues of himself built.
He was lost, but one thing was for sure, he couldn't find her killer if he didn't even know where he was going.
"Let me help with that," he said to an elderly woman with a cane in one hand while the other was pulling up a bag that seemed to weigh more than she did. Everyone around her was just watching her and no one even seemed \like they had plans of helping her. At first he joined them especially since one if his hands was in disposed, It started off as a funny contest of would she carry it or would it carry her but now she was on her way to hurting herself so he decided to intervene but she didn't even seem to hear him.

"Ma'am?" When he still received no response after he raised his voice and came to her line of view it became obvious that he was being ignored. He could have easily left and console himself that he tried, or even feel insulted for her treatment towards him, but something about her stubborn attitude reminded him of a certain Alpha female. His mind wandered for a brief moment, was Athena going to keep her pride and stubbornness even in old age? He couldn't wait to grow old with her, count her grey hairs as they come and wonder how she grew more beautiful each day.
He reached for the bag she was so intent on lifting. "Let me- ow." He was rewarded with a smack on his head with her cane as the onlookers made no efforts to hide their
amusement.
"Don't touch my bag boy! You kids of this age know nothing of complexity."

This woman was either crazy or this was some sort of ritual.
He kept looking dumb founded as she kept on muttering things about him having no sense.
"Sorry," A girl who couldn't be more than seventeen came up to him. "Nana is highly protective of her things. I'm fiona, you've met my grandmother.."
She extended a hand.
"Alex," he took her frail hands in his.
"Your grandmother is charming." He said dryly.
Thanks for trying to help, you're not from around here are you?" Before he could answer she continued to explain.
'Most people know to leave her to what she wants to do and how she. wants ti do it. Surprisingly the results \though they may take time are not always so bad "
"Not always?"
"Well there might been cases of a few

missing toes and rooftops here and there, nothing dangerous." She laughed.
"Right nothing dangerous about your toes being at risk. Depending on the time your grandmother started to construct her experiment I'm guessing you're left with zero to no toes."
"Actually they are complete." She laughed.
"No chips and missing part?"
"I make it a habit to stay away whenever she is in one of her moods.
Everyone does, you should too." Alex looked at the woman who was now hitting her previous bag with her cane and wondered how he didn't see the crazy from the start.
"Yeah... I definitely will, thanks for the advise."
"*That was actually bad of me" the way she face palmed herself made it look like she was chastising herself.

"I_ wouldn't classify it as bad, because of you I know to protect my toes."
"Not that. She is actually a sweet woman when she is ... Well
"Not in the mood?"
"Yeah, basically."
"No offense but I'd rather not risk it."
"Why not? Too scared?"
"Too smart. It's like trying to pet a rabid dog. It may or may not bite off your fingers, and I love my toes way too much."
"Then why do you chase after her?"
"'Pardon?" He was startled at the turn the conversation had taken.
"They say you are each other's cara right? " She was talking about Athena.
"They said?" He was still processing the sudden change of topic.
"Oh common neither of you have made

any efforts to hide it. Everyone knows."
"And they should also know not to incur their Queen's wrath by speaking of her private affairs."
She went stiff and the step away from him she took seemed reflexive.
"Umm... Uh... Birds and trees talk."
"Everything okay?"
"Yeah just that.
You can talk to me I promise not to run to her with my information of the day."
The girl gasped not quite comprehending his joke.
'Kidding kidding." He raised his hands to show he meant no harm.
"She did that to you, didn't she?"
MIlf we want to be honest, I did it to
myself."
"Like when you pet a rabid dog?"

He hesitated not wanting that comparison.
"Well, yes. I had it coming.!
"Why do you defend her?"
"I don't know, it was a reflexive decision. Maybe that'swhat lovers do."
He answered truthfully.
"I'm sure that's what people in toxic relationships tell themselves."
"Okay, enough of the diversion. Tell me what made you go white."
The last time someone failed to refer to her as king, she called him to the palace."
"What happened? "
"We don't know, no one heard from him ever since." She looked away from him as if wanting to banish the memory.