Athena

Chapter 26

I feel everyone's emotions, wolves and aeteri alike. Their emotions are so strong that my body feels like it can't keep up. I'm taking it all in but it's hard to push it all down.

This is the day and this is the time. It's evening, the bombs are ready to go, wolves and their mates are saying their goodbyes while my people are testing their comms and making sure we are prepared for everything. Amaya has made sure everything on each boat is safe for use and ready to go and my flyers are checking our route to the sea from above and everything is clear.

"It'll be okay, I know it's a lot," Elias said to me, kissing my forehead, never once doubting my strength or ability to control it.

I've always excelled at this, the art of emotion and I try to stay calm on the outside but on the inside, especially on this day, I am a complete and utter mess. Knowing what we'll have to do reminds me of my life in the institute. I've fought, I've killed, I've tormented which were all necessary evils I have committed in order to survive, but doing what we are about to do is all necessary in order for all of us to truly live and that's what I will hold onto when we get to that island and save our people.

"You guys remember what I told you? You're confident in getting the boat there?" Amaya asked worriedly.

"Yes," I tell her to which she nodded and let out a shaky breath, clearly trying to make sure she remembered to check on all of the boat equipment and inform everyone that needed to be informed of their duties when we arrive.

"Hey," I tell her, "You don't need to be strong all the time. At some point, even you need to stop to breathe." I say, smiling when she gave me a dead pan stare.

"Gee, I wonder where you heard that." She rolled her eyes and I laughed.

I shrugged, "Some really smart girl told me that a few weeks ago."

She laughed along with me and I felt her nerves start to ease a little, "Of course she did."

Erin came up to me, looking determined and I already felt her emotions, knowing exactly what she was going to say.

"No," I tell her firmly and she clenched her jaw.

"Please Athena, let me come. I am able to multiply! You and Vivien can't be everywhere at once but I can." She said, frantically.

"You're a child," I say.

"I stopped being a child when you let me be apart of this mission." She snapped back.

I shook my head, she isn't wrong. It's only supposed to be Vivien and me to go and disable their security, no one else.

"I mean... She could plant the bombs." Amaya said and my eyes went to glare at her. She put her hands up defensively. "I'm the smart one, remember? With Erin's ability, she can plant every bomb at once which will save a lot of time."

"I can do this," Erin says with hope and I rub my temples thinking about it. Yes, I know she can do it, but anything can happen and she is a minor, my minor, my sister...

I looked into Erin's bright forest green eyes and grabbed her shoulders, "You listen to everything Vivien and I tell you, is that clear? You plant and she starts the timer, yeah?"

Her eyes brightened and she smiled, "Okay."

"Erin, I'm serious, this mission is no joke and there will be no surprises or rebellious moments from you. No heroics. Listen to me, got it?"

She nodded excitedly and ran off to tell the others.

"She could have just as easily arrived on the larger ship with everyone else to help with the aeteri," I say to Amaya.