ATHENA’S POV
I could feel Nero’s gaze on me when I came out of the bathroom and my nervousness shot to a hundred as he stared at me. There was so much I wanted to tell him but perhaps someday.
I walked downstairs to where I was supposed to wait for the Queen to find her waiting for me instead. From the stairs, I picked up my pace and headed down the stairs.
“Forgive me your majesty, I didn’t realize you were already waiting.” I said my palms sweaty.
“You’re mated to my son Athena, you’re his wife, I’d rather you call me mother instead.” The Queen said with a smile causing my own lips to stretch in one too.
I nodded and she gestured to her side where some clothes were folded. “Here, change into this instead; we’re heading to the training grown. You could burn off some of your pent up frustrations in there.”
She handed me the clothes and I did as she asked, I changed into the set of clothes and stepped out. The fabric from the short was smooth, and I couldn’t help but run my hands on the material appreciating it’s quality. The colour made me smile, she must have asked for it knowing it was my favourite. The different shades of purple made me look like a royal and I loved it. I couldn’t help but wonder what Nero would think of it.
I stepped out of the room and walked back to the waiting are.
“You look great in that darling, let’s go.”
I could feel my face heat up and I smiled. “Thank you, your majesty, uh I mean mother.”
The Queen laughed as we walked. Even though the training ground was quite the distance, the Queen refused to get into a car. She said it was good that we were walking and it was a good exercise.
Once at the training ground the Queen and I did series of stretches and soon we were facing each other in the ring.
“Here we are. Let out all your anger and frustrations on me. Don’t hold back Athena.” The Luna ordered. “I’m serious Athena, don’t hold back.”
I nodded my face turning serious ready to let it all out. The Queen was right, I did have a lot to burn off and I wanted to be able to return to my room feeling relieved. So far no amount of tears has helped maybe a little sweat will do the trick.
The Queen and I circled each other and here, she was like any other warrior ready to fight. We were just sparring but I knew it wasn’t just it.
“You have to focus on me Athena. Don’t let your mind drift off anywhere. You hear me?”
I knew she was studying me as I was studying her. she waited for me to make a move and I did. I made it look as if I was going to lay a punch but then used my left leg to land a kick on her thigh. She managed to block it using one of her hands.
“Nice try kiddo.” She smirked
She faced me throwing her arm at me, I ducked, blocked and kicked low towards Luna’s shin but she moved back quickly out of the way.
It was a hot day and as we continued to fight, pickles of sweat started to form on my forehead even before we got serious with the fight.
She lunged forward her fist coming fast towards my face and when I tried to dodge it I tripped on my feet stumbling back in fall.
“Your mind is not here Athena, you need to focus and stop holding back.” She snapped in anger perhaps because I wasn’t doing what she wanted.
I pushed harder landing a swift kick at her inner thigh and getting at her but she counter attacked hitting me back at my underarm.
“That’s better, you’re better.” She praised pride shining in her eyes.
We were dodging each other’s strikes and I realised how good of a fighter Nero’s mother was.
We stopped to rest when the fight was over and I sat on a bench panting like I had run a marathon.
“You know, the king used to hate me when we first got married. For months I tried to win his heart but nothing worked. It took me a while before he noticed me and even gave me a chance. I nearly gave up Athena, but to my surprise he was avoiding me because he didn’t understand his growing feelings for me. I guess what I’m trying to say is, give Nero some time but just don’t let him walk over you.” Her eyes held so much compassion as she stared at me.
I stared back, my eyes betraying me as tears began to pool it. “I just don’t know what else to do mother. He hates me and I feel like this marriage is nothing but a mistake.” I said in a whisper my eyes glued to the polyester made titles.
“Give it time pumpkin, he’s just grieving. Soon he’s going to realise that you’re the one for him.”
I knew that she could see the anger and hate that he had for me, I couldn’t understand why she believed that things could ever work out between us.
“There’s one more thing I need to show you. You should have gotten it the day you got married.”
Once we left the training ground, the Queen and I walked to the King’s stable. It was one of my favourite place to go as a child. I loved the idea of owning a pony then and although the horses were a lot bigger than I was, I would hide in the stables playing with them for hours.
It has been years since I last visited it though. The death of my parents made me too sad to want anything. I only ever smiled when Nero was in the room even though he hated my presence and he still does I kind of found comfort in his.
The stable looked a lot different than what it used to be. The paint job was different and so was everything else.
I smiled at the sight of the horses. I had been nervous for nothing. It brought back the excitement I used to have as a child.
“This one is for you Athena. The Alpha King and I chose him for you.” The Queen said grinning.
“Are you serious? This is too much mother.”
“I know you didn’t like coming here when your parents died and it took you some time before you even left your room. I know the king and I can never take their place but we want you to know that we didn’t raise you out of pity but because we love you as much as we love Nero, if not more.” She whispered the last part causing me to laugh with her.
I stroke my horse’s back, getting acquainted with him. He was a black stallion who stood magnificent and it was as though he knew who I was because he stayed calm.
NERO’S POVAthena returned in an outfit different from the one she walked out of the room wearing. The anger I held onto as I waited for her to return with my mother depilated when she walked in. She looked sexy wearing shorts and all my curiosity about how she looked under her nightgown earlier was nearly satisfied.There was my mate, looking sexy as hell. It wasn’t as if I hadn’t seen her in shorts. The idea that she was my mate even though I don’t want her to be walking around like that made me feel things I didn’t want to feel.Every time I try to forget about Zara and focus on my present life, I see Zavier’s broken face pictured in my mind. It always makes me wonder what Zara would think of me when in a fraction of a second I try to forget about her when her body was barely cold in the ground.I don’t want Athena, I could never want her like that and I wished that my body didn’t act on its own so that staying away from her could be easier.She had a smile on her face and her chee
ATHENA’S POV I ran as fast as I could into the palace building. I could feel Nero’s feet striding towards me from behind and I picked up my pace. I didn’t want to stop until I got to my room where I hoped I could lock myself in my room. A few meters away was Nero’s bedroom and I had just taken a step past it when an arm grabbed me and pulled me into the room. I stared back at Nero with tears in my eyes. Everyday his hatred for me seemed to grow deeper and there was no way for me to stop it. I knew he was going to hurt me and each time I was close to him, I always had my guard up but it did stop it from hurting when he said something harsh. “I get that you hate me and you’re right, I’ll stay away from you from now on.” I croaked hoping that whatever pain he wanted to inflict would end soon. Nero looked at me with the same anger and hatred he always had but this time it was definitely mixed with something else. I wanted to stare at him for longer but not because I wanted to get lost
ZAVIER’S POVI checked my watch for the umpteenth time as I paced in the living room. Nero was supposed to here hours ago but as usual he bailed.Somehow I knew it just had something to do with that wench. Anything she touches seems to be taken away from me. first it was Zara and now Nero, my best friend. I wanted nothing more than for Athena to pay for killing my sister so when Nero suggested getting rid of her before the wedding, I jumped on the idea with him volunteering to do the job myself because I wanted to be alone with her to give her a taste of her own medicine. I planned to torture her for some time before finally killing her but the damn Queen wouldn’t just leave her sight. That damn woman!It was as though she knew what we had planned because the way she had things stationed was too much of a coincidence for it to have happened the way it did. Now that my friend was stuck with Athena, we were left with no other option than to find another means to rid him of her.“Wher
ATHENA’S POV I wanted the ground to dig up by itself from the sheer feel of shame that radiated from my body. I could feel it and I bet both Nero and Zavier felt it too. His body felt like a wall that had no emotion.I knew he hated me but to see him stare me down like the way he was doing brought out a new kind of fear in me. I cowered before him and hated the images of his sister charging towards me and forcing me to react.They did look alike but not so much as a random person would point them out as twins. And the way that his forehead creased was enough to tell me that bad luck has become my second name.Zavier scowled at me and immediately I realized it was best to apologise and move out of his way.“I’m sorry, I should have looked at where I was headed.”His eyes turned dark and lips curled into a sneer. Zavier growled and lunged towards me. Nero didn’t have enough time to react before Zavier went after Athena and before he could react, Athena went flying across the hallway.
ATHENA’S POV I was on the ground bleeding again. I saw Nero standing over me yelling inherent words that I couldn’t grasp. I wanted to explain myself to him but I couldn’t. My entire body felt numb and I didn’t have control of my body any more. My head throbbed in pain and tears blinded my vision until they started to spill.My eyes fluttered and I began to see a light shining just behind Nero calling out to me. In the light were my parents and they had a sad smile on their faces. I smiled back at them. I was ready to go with them, to finally let go of all the pain I was feeling and I saw myself leave my body to go with them.My father shook his head, his face still young from the way I remembered it. “No baby girl, it’s not your time yet.” He said before the light went off and so did they. I tried to call out to them but I could only hear myself whimper. I saw Nero move from his position and was replaced by someone else whom from the look of it was his mother. She was looking at me
ATHENA’S POVDeath came for me in the forms of my parents but then it told me to hold on a bit that it was not my time just yet. It was however good to see my parents again. My heart ached knowing I could not be with them once again.I got another doze of Nero’s hate for me. But did I hate him? Honestly, no. Do I want to hate him? With everything in me.Our relationship was at the point where I wanted to go the other direction but I am forced to walk in the same one as him.When I opened my eyes, I realized that I was not in my bed. I knew I wasn’t good to be. My head felt tight. I lifted a hand to touch the spot that bled earlier on to feel a cloth in its placeI forced myself up, and I sat up. With my head heavy, I dragged myself from the bed only to be hit by a big wave of dizziness. I sat back down to let the wave pass and got back on my feet when it did.Using the walls like I did when I was bleeding, I walked out of Nero’s chamber in search of a maid to have his sheets washed be
NERO’S POVWith Athena sleeping in my bed, I was forced to sleep somewhere else. I stormed to the nearby guestroom but it felt off to sleep in. For some reason it was too cold and I didn’t want it.I found myself standing in front of Athena’s room. For all the years she had been in the Palace, I had never once cared to go into her room for anything. And back then when I needed to call her for something, I made sure to stay behind the door. That was how much I evaded any space that had her in it.Now standing in front of it gave me feeling like I was invading her privacy and I didn’t know why it mattered that I cared but I did. It wasn’t like she was going to find me here, not when she’s out cold in my bed.I opened the door and the first thing I came in contact with was her scent. I found myself shutting my eyes and taking in a deep breath. My lungs filled with the sweet smell of roses and vanilla. The room felt warm against my skin, like I had come home only this was Athena’s room.I
ZAVIER’S POVA part of me became restless as I paced around in my room. It felt really good to see Athena on the floor bleeding but it wasn’t enough, nothing ever is, not until she’s dead.It’s been barely a day and I’ve waited for Nero to come with me with news about her condition. I wanted to know just how bad it was we needed to take things in order to get rid of her for good.I grew tired of waiting and decided to pay him a visit myself. The thing about Nero was that he didn’t know when to stop being nice or tolerating.Just as I was about to walk through the corridors of the Palace to his chamber, the guards at the main entrance stopped me.At the first instance I was confused but a second later I started to get angry. I had been within the walls for as long as I can remember, even more than most of the warriors, and omegas. Years before a lot of them showed up and yet they were stopping me?My mind quickly searched for reasons and only one came to mind – Athena. It had to be bec