Chapter 77-Will We Ever Have All The Answers?

**Andreas P.O.V**
“WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE?” I roar when I enter Athena’s room a few hours later and see her restrained in silver bracelets that are attached to the bed railing.
“Alpha, it was necessary to...” Doc begins to say.
“IT WAS NECESSARY TO SHACKLE YOUR ALPHA IN SILVER?” I shout, cutting him off.
The Doc says nothing. He just grabs Ryna’s arm and pulls him in front of me. It’s then that I notice the bruising on Ryna’s neck.
“She attacked him,” Gino says angrily as he comes over and takes his mate’s hand.
I gently take Ryna by the chin and move his head to the side, examining his neck. “Are you okay?” I ask softly. Ryna nods, but I can see the tears in his eyes. I sigh and rub my face. “I apologize for screaming at you all,” I tell them, turning my attention to Athena. “Tell me what happened,” I say, moving to Athena’s side and taking her hand in mine.
I look over my beautiful mates’ face as I listen to the Doc tell me how she attacked her best friend and Beta.
“We need to find out what’s happening,” Doc says when he’s finished. “If what’s happening to her is what happened to the last generation of Chosen, then none of us are safe.”
“We need answers from the council. Someone needs to get a hold of Elder Laskaris,” I say when a realization hits me. “Fuck,” I groan, rubbing my hands over my face in frustration. “Alpha Pollux and his pack are going to be here in four days. As well as anyone else who decides to return.”
“We need to stop them from coming,” Ryna says.
“How can we turn them away now when we’ve offered them our protection?” I ask.
“They could be in more danger here than in their own pack lands,” Gino says.
“We need to talk to Athena before we make any decisions on behalf of the pack,” I say, turning back to her.
“She’s not in her right mind, Alpha,” Doc says. “Whatever is happening to her, I’m not sure she’s capable of making any decisions.”
I just shake my head and place my hand on her cheek, and that’s when I notice there are no sparks when our skin touches. My heart feels like it’s going to break as I take her hand in both of mine and still no spark.
“Doc, is there any way to sever a mate bond besides death?” I ask as I move my hand to Athena’s forehead, but there’s still nothing and Ares whimpers in my head.
“Not that I can think of, besides rejection. But it’s extremely risky after the mating bond has happened... So, if you’re thinking of doing that, I highly advise against it.”
I growl at his insinuation. “I would never reject her,” I say. “I can’t feel the mate spark,” I tell him.
“What?” He asks, shocked. “But... but... that’s impossible...” he stutters.
“What about the witches?” Ryna asks. “They seem to be involved in this. They could have done something?”
“But how? When?” I ask, unsure that’s the answer. “Everything was fine this morning. It’s only been since this... Episode happened.”
“Did you run a blood test?” Gino asks.
“Of course. I ran it for everything. There was nothing in her system besides the tranquilizer mixed with silver,” Doc explains.
“You mixed the tranquilizer with silver?” I growl.
“She’s the Alpha, and stronger than any lycan I’ve seen. I took the precautions I thought necessary.”
“How’s Tony?” I ask, changing the subject before I hurt someone.
“He’s more worried about her,” Ryna says, nodding toward Athena.
“How long will she be out for?” I ask.
“I honestly don’t know. It was a large dose that I gave her, but with her size and strength, it might wear off quicker,” Doc says.
“Ryna, do you have the Elders number?” I ask. Ryna nods and gets his phone out of his pocket, finds the number, then hands his phone to me.
“I’m going to step out and call him. Let me know when she wakes up.”
Ryna nods. I take one last look at my mate, then leave the room and walk to the waiting room at the end of the corridor. After closing the door, I sit down on the couch and dial the number.
“Beta Ryna, what can I do for you?” Laskaris says, answering the call almost immediately.
“Elder Laskaris, this is Alpha Andreas.”
“Alpha, it’s good to hear from you. I was actually going to call Alpha Athena before I boarded my flight. Is she available so that we can speak?”
“Athena is who I was calling about...” I say, my voice trailing off.
“What’s happened?” He asks, worry clear in his voice.
I explain to him what happened to Leon and Ryna.
“This is concerning, to say the least,” Laskaris says.
“There’s more,” I say, and I explain to him about Athena experiencing my dream, and our mate marks changing into a pattern. “We need answers, Elder. Is there anything that you can tell us about what might be happening to her?”
Elder Laskaris is quiet for a while. When he finally speaks, his voice is serious. “I need to contact the high council. Things are happening that may be too big for me and Elder Andino to handle. The disappearances we were investigating seem to involve the chosen. I also have a missing elder that was investigating Lauran’s old pack.”
“Missing? How is that possible?” I ask, shocked.
“I don’t know. We’re boarding a flight in thirty minutes to go to the pack and investigate. Listen, stay available. I will be in contact again soon,” he says, then disconnects the call.
I sigh as I lean back and rest my head on the back of the couch.
‘We can’t lose them,’ Ares whimpers.
‘We won’t, buddy. We’re going to sort this out,’ I tell him. But I don’t know who I’m trying to convince more. Me or him.
#
**3 hours later**
I wake with a sudden jolt as Ryna’s phone rings in my hand. I glance at it to see it’s Elder Laskaris calling.
“Elder, it’s Alpha Andreas,” I say, answering quickly.
“Alpha. I’m calling to let you know that someone from the High Council will be coming...” he trails off.
I gulp. This isn’t good. “Do they really think it’s necessary?”
“Apparently, they do. I would have thought they’d send more elders to help, but it’s not my place to question them.”
“This is big, isn’t it?”
“Yes, Alpha. For anyone in the High Council to leave Greece is... Let’s just say it doesn’t happen often. We have to keep this quiet, Alpha. No one is to know of this,” Laskaris warns.
“What about Athena? This concerns her directly.”
“Considering what’s happened today, I’m not sure it’s wise that she’s told.”
“I think that would be a mistake, Elder. If she finds out we have kept something this important from her, she will not be happy.”
There’s silence for a moment before he answers with a sigh. “You may tell her, but no one else.”
“Do you know who they’re sending?” I ask. “Can they be trusted?”
“The high council leader, High Elder Hasapis, will be coming himself. No one in the high council can be trusted if High Elder Hasapis turns out to be untrustworthy. But he is not a man to be messed with, Alpha. He is ruthless and can be dangerous to those who stand in the council’s way. We will have to tread carefully with him.”
“I understand,” I say, looking up when I hear the door to the waiting room open, and Gino’s head appears.
“Alpha, I’m sorry to interrupt,” Ginos says quietly, looking to the floor.
“Keep me apprised of the situation, Alpha. And I will let you know when our visitor will be arriving,” Laskaris says.
“Thank you, Elder Laskaris,” I say, disconnecting the call and turning my attention to Gino. “Is she awake?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “No Alpha. I was wondering if I could speak with you?”
“Of course, Gino,” I say, patting the couch next to me. “What’s on your mind?”
He sits next to me with a sigh and turns to face me. “What happened… What she did to Ryna…” he trails off, his bottom lip trembling. “She… She wanted to kill him… Her best friend…” he trails off again.
I place my hand on Gino’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “Athena loves Ryna. There must be an explanation for this, Gino.”
“I think the same thing that happened before is happening to her, Alpha. I don’t think we can trust her as Alpha,” he says quietly, tears falling from his eyes as he slumps his head in defeat.
“I wish I had the answers, Gino. The Athena I saw today in the conference room was not my mate. I know that with every fibre of my being. I couldn’t even feel the mate bond. So, something must have happened to have done this to her. I think she was poisoned.”
“But Doc Apollo said he didn’t find any evidence of poison…”
“It had to have been something. She wouldn’t do any of the things she’s done today on her own.”
Before Gino can respond, we’re both brought to our knees on the floor, as the roar of Athena rips through the building. When it finally stops, we both gasp for air, trying to catch our breath. I turn to look at Gino in shock, then without saying a word, we both scurry to the door, and run towards Athena’s room.