Chapter 22

With his strapping six foot four inches, dark brown hair that could be easily mistaken for black and even skin tan gotten from shirtless laboring Alex has had more than his fair share of women but he thought of Athena and panicked, what would she think if she caught him in this situation, she just might stab him on the spot or worse reject him.


He stopped thinking.


He ran.


He ran like the hounds of hell had been set loose and were after him.
He ran into the nearest room which thankfully was the library he had been headed to, shut the door and slid the bolt in place.
And then he turned to find Damien hunched over Cassandra just a few paces away.
His nose flared, he would have smelt him if he hadn't been running for his… Virtue?


"Is the hallway floor so hot you can't bare to walk on it like a civilised person?"
Damien straightened up.


"What is doing here Athena?"
Alex did all he could to keep his voice even.


"it's nothing you need to concern yourself with."
She replied and Damien smirked behind Athena.


Before he could absorb the smarting pain inside him, he heard the maid from behind the door.
"Darlin I know you're in there."


“Cassandra it's not what it-”
Alex Began.


“I see it's not a what that had you running,it's a who, Cassandra it seems Alex had other plans with his lover in he-”


Alex was about to lung for him but stopped short at Cassandra's cool voice.


“Don't use my given name.”


At that moment could give all his fortune or maybe half to his enemy as he witness the look on Damien's face when he realised Athena was referring to him.


“Forgive me.”
He bowed his head chastised.


“oh lovey come let me give you some suga.”
The voice from behind the door again


Alex nearly groaned out loud.
“Damien, lead her away from here.”


The stupid sod bowed and went to do Athena bidding.


“what business do you have with the girl?”
She went straight to the point.


“She attacked me.”


She titled her head in question.
“I'm to believe a maid who's wolf form is probably more puppy than wolf and is barely more than a child attacked you.”


“harass is more the word but after listening to your facts I feel quite stupid.”


“Where were you going at this time?”


He pondered his options truth or lie.
Humble truth went as follows;
What were you going at this time?
The library.
Why?
Blank.


Or deceitful lie.
Where were you going to at this time?
Being away from you for too long was making me loose my mind, I needed to see you.
And que Cassandra * swoon *


To be honest and honorable or deceitful and cowardly.
He went deceit. 
What was it the the wise ones said, who runs from death lives to die another day.
“Being away from you for too long was making me lose my mind-”


“Why are you lying to me?”
Thunder rumbled, accentuating her words.
Of course, she'd had the thunder on her side.


He heaved out a breath and grabbed a nearby stool and hoisted his left leg.


"It seems I'm not living to die afterall."
He muttered.


"You're not making sense."


“That's besides the point. I need to go to my pack for a day or two, you know, to tell my alpha how maltreated I've been-”
She her eyes became at alert.
“You should have told me when someone was mistreating you.”
Not when that someone is you using my heart as a door mat.
“Just kidding.”


“Why are you going then?”


“Worried I'll forget you?”


“if you'll take your ring with you, I'll be glad. ”


“Sorry to dash your dreams but I'll be back and the ring stays on.”


“it wasn't a dream, I was merely suggesting… ”
She trailed off and pointedly looked at him with those piercing eyes.
“Why are you going?”


“I think… Its my business. ”
Why hadn't he thought of this, if hadn't worked then maybe riling her up would. Or at least get a reaction out her other than blinking.


“I think your alpha should give you a promotion.”
“I'll make sure to mention it to him that I deserve a promotion.”


“i didn't say you deserve a promotion, you don't.”


"Ouch."


"You have too much nerve, arrogance and almost everything else of yours is out of proportion for a footman."


“Even my good looks and muscles?"
He teased.


"Perhaps."
She surprised them both by answering with a small smile

He swung his leg down from the stool and took long strides to cover most of the distance between them, he stopped when there was about a foot between them and she looked up at him, silently daring him to close the distance.


He smiled and took the last step.
Lightning flashed illuminating the room for one quick second and as a result brightened her too.


He cupped her head slipping his fingers through her coiffure that was now loose at the end of the day, he moved his thumb across her cheek in slow deliberate strokes savouring the feel of her soft skin. He slowly moved his hand behind her neck and his fingers worked to massage the tense muscles there, the small sigh she let out stirred dangerous things in his depths. The only sounds in the room now being the sounds of the heavy raindrops on the roof and the music of their frantic heart beats.


Her eyes were now closed, her lips slightly parted, he couldn't resist, he leaned in and felt the unmistakable sharp edge of her blade against his biceps.


“Leave.”


She sounded -to his dismay- betrayed.


He stepped a few paces away from her gave a pained mock salute not even bothering to hide his hurt and left the room and with an uncomfortable throb between his legs.


His walk turned into a run in the heavy downpour as he shifted from two legs to four heavy paws and he went into the direction of his pack. He saw lightning and waited a few seconds for the thunder that would follow and roared with it, knowing the thunder would mask him.


She felt rather than heard his cry through the cover of the thunder.
“Alexander.”


She whispered holding her hand over the twisting and pulling in her chest.
Up in her chamber as she sat on her king sized bed asking herself if her pain was that she let him get that far or she didn't let him finish.
But she reminded herself all these emotions and confusion was the ring. It was the ring. She thought as she looked at it with hatred.

She dreamt of Brenda teaching her to make scones. It was a peaceful dream and the scones didn't become balls if fire as she held them, just a nice memory.
And when she woke he was gone, just like she asked him to.
Good riddance.


She peeled off her garments and slid in to a tub a maid had filled with water to bathe.


The bathe water was always there at precisely 6am per her instructions.
She slipped deeper into the water and exhaled, reflecting on the events of the previous day.


They had started out with the previous alpha's diary and had once again had no progress trying to discern his murderer from his barely there writings.


So they had moved to another issue. A few letters came from the dismissed council members -4 - to be precise, praising her efforts and how they're offering their help and support with no strings attached.


Odd seeing how they were from the same group as the man whom she had more or less publicly executed.
But Damein insisted it was good to have them on her side because whether or not no one was publicly opposing her ruling, it was guts they did not have, the spite was there, and it was only a matter of time before they got over the fear of death and acted upon their hateful feelings.


She wrote back asking to meet them today at 11 am.
It was almost as soon as she had sent a footman off with the letter did an unwanted footman come running in.


She normally prided herself on having a good head on her shoulders but within a few days he had her chastising Damein and . . . canoodling with him.


What's worse?
She didn't hate it.


She sank deeper in to the water, and engulfed herself completely.
She heard the quick footsteps of her maids who opened the door to her dressing room and then one them proceeded to tap her knuckles in rapid motion on the thick white screen that provided her with privacy.


"Come."
She says after removing her head from the water.


They entered and before they could pick up the towel and soap Athena motioned to the brown skin one and the thin girl paled.
"Leave the bathing to her, find Damein Buchanan and tell him to be here in an hour."
The girl could have done much better hiding her relief as she curtsied and scurried away.


"Where is the other girl you usually come with."
She preferred the brunette, she didn't look at Athena like she was expecting to be devoured.


She her fingers stopped forming the lather and she looked surprised.


"She was dismissed your majesty."


“Why?”


"She got pregnant out of wedlock."


“The man won't accept her?”


"She don't know who it is. They raped her."


“They?”


“Yes Your majesty.”


“Tell the house keeper I'd like to have a word with whenever it suits her. No need to fret, your identity won't be revealed.”


“Thank you your majesty. Thank you.”****

And got to washing Athena's hair first then moved on to the rest of her body and when she had rinsed her off and helped her out of the bathtub, Athena sat on the chair in front of the vanity and let the maid dry and style her hair.
When the maid was done grooming her she proceeded to leave and Athena stopped her.


She couldn't pretend to ignore the nagging curiosity at the back of her mind.


“Do you know if the Alpha of Blue moon's pack representative is around.”


“I shall ask-”


“No don't ask.”


The maid looked uncomfortably confused.


“I'm telling you to gossip, just not about me but to me.”


“Your majesty I would never gossip about you it's strictly against the Palace rules.”
Now she just looked uncomfortable.


"Yet you do it, but I'm going to look the other way if you tell me about. . .Alexander."


The maid looked uncertain for a moment but then completely brightened.
“He was seen running last night, into the raging storm no less, and he was seen after that by one of the patrol guards in his wolf form going towards the east coast.”


So he had truly left.
She shouldn't have been affected but she was and it was vexing.


"Your majesty, I was wondering if it was true what I heard that-"


“I said I wouldn't quench your fire not help you fuel it. You may leave.”


“But your majesty-”


Athena cut her with a sharp look.


“Yes, your majesty.”


She rinsed off herself and sat in front of the mirror.
Her hand went to the ring she dreaded so much.
It was a good thing he was gone, though she suspected he would come back, she had a few days to collect herself.


How she hated bring laid low by her emotions.


And she hated even more, that it wasn't as as she thought.
He wasn't as bad as she thought.


She looked at her reflection, the maid had helped her don a simple day dress.


The cloth was a modest one not at all fit for an Alpha.
And that was the reason she was going to order a new wardrobe not because she wanted Alexander to see her in them.
Not at all.


He had ran for hours at full speed -his injured shoulder had healed almost immediately as he shifted to wolf form-but even that couldn't erase his pain or anger as soon as he crossed into his territory, his pack.


His people who share the unique link their Alpha all felt it.


He emerged from the forest with a tortured look on his face wearing tattered trousers he had held in his mouth while in his wolf form.


He saw not less than 500 of his soldiers all in wolf form prepared to spill blood.


But no one will harm his cara.
He protected her at all costs, but who would protect her from him.


He threw his head back and gave a loud animalistic roar, the sound attracting those who lived at the remote part of the pack and hadn't felt their Alpha's pain.


They all lowered their heads and crouched low waiting for command.
“Return. Return to your homes.
And worry not. Your Alpha is well.”


He walked into the throne room and met Ciara there.
“If it isn't Joseph the dreamer, I'm guessing your dream  turned out to be a nightmare.”


He thought of Athena, she was better than a dream and yet worse than any nightmare.


"And where have you been?"
He ignored the taunt.


"Away on a journey to thank the devil for keeping his promise to rid us of you. But it would seem my visit was unfounded and the rumors are true."


"The prodigal Alpha has returned."
Alex replied.


"May God have mercy on all our souls."
She said and they both chuckled good naturedly.


“I have found my Cara.”


"From your expression I am guessing she doesn't want you.” 
Ciara looked amused.


"She tries to kill me every time she gets an opportunity. Literally. "


“Let me guess, you decided to be foolishly romantic and didn't tell her you're the Alpha of the blue moon pack?”


“She thinks I'm a servant.”


“She thinks or you lied to her?”


“You're dismissed.”
He said annoyed.


“Think about it.”
She said with a laughter and left.


Was she right?
No she couldn't be.
He knew Athena not she.


He walked to the royal seat next reserved for the Queen placed on a pedestal slightly lower than the one obviously reserved for the king. 
He made a bow to himself. 
No matter what it takes Athena would seat on this throne right next to him.
For now, he gave her space.



"Take this to the council members, make sure they receive it without undue delay."
He handed a few missives to the messenger who hurried away.



"Beta, how are my people?"
Alex turned the dark haired man who just entered the building.


"Your people miss you."


"And I them."


"I learnt something curious when I arrived at the pack earlier. Something you clearly haven't denied. Yet, My wife tells me you plan on leaving again."


Alex leaned back on his chair in exhaustion.
"You may be the next Alpha."


"I do not understand. You still have a long time ahead of you to find your mate."


"I have found my mate."


"Is it a man then?"


"Are you out of your mind?"


"Well you must excuse me for asking, but it is a valid question considering the way you are speaking."


"She is a woman and I am very much sure of my sexual status as you should be too considering our past . . . hobbies."


"Where is she then?"


"Ruling her pack."
His left hand went to the arm of his and his fingers began to drum.


"Alongside her mat-? What are you saying?"


"I am saying my mate is an Alpha in her own right."


"Impossible."


Alex's fingers stopped momentarily as he asked. "Are you questioning my word?"


Aware that despite their friendship he was coming close to crossing a line, he quickly apologized.


"Forgive me. it's just that it has never been heard of in the history of werewolves that a mere wom-"


Alex couldn't let him finish.


"Careful."


"I believe I will take my leave now.
The beta said carefully.
"With your permission of course."


He added and Alex nodded his assent and released a long breath as he watched him exit the door.

**Note **

I'm trying to curate the last part of the book and see the part that got jumbled up. will do a proper edit tomorrow and fix the correct chapters.
thank you for your patience and understanding