Then I saw Jesse. Ugh.
A lady was with him, clinging to his arm like she owned it, it was pretty petty and possessive, her eyes narrowing the mont she noticed .
Wasn’t Jesse supposed to be used for sothing important? I hadn’t kept tabs, nor did I care to but I rembered Marcus telling that the king had plans to use him for sothing that could potentially kill him. For so reason, seeing him here, so casually entwined with another, sent an old, bitter taste crawling up my throat.
I rolled my eyes and moved to walk past, not sparing him more than a glance. He didn’t deserve more than that.
"Athena!" His voice rang out.
I paused, spine stiffening at the sound. I didn’t turn around imdiately.
"What do you need?" I asked coldly, turning only just enough to et his eyes. His werewolves’ senses would pick up on my disdain.
He untangled himself from the she-wolf, stepping forward hesitantly. "Athena, I’m sorry. For everything. I wanted to speak with you since but I was told that you had gone for a secret mission for the king. So I’ve been waiting for you to co back. I’m sorry if I’m talking too much right now... Ijust... I was hoping we could go back to how things were before."
A laugh burst out of , loud and mocking. Several werewolves nearby turned to look, but I didn’t care. The absurdity of his words practically demanded an audience.
"The fates must be playing so sort of sick joke on today," I said, shaking my head in disbelief. "Go back to how we were before? And why on earth would I want to do that?"
He winced, shoulders falling. "I know I hurt you. If I could take it back—"
"But you can’t," I interrupted. "You made your choices, Jesse. I made mine."
"Athena, please. Can I speak with you for just a few minutes? Maybe sowhere a big more private—"
The other she-wolf, still watching, bared her teeth ever so slightly. Her jealousy oozed from her aura like spoiled at, thick and sour. I wondered if she even knew what she was competing for.
I scoffed and took a step away. "Forget it."
But Jesse moved in closer. "It has sothing to do with your blood. I need to tell it to you."
That stopped .
My blood?
"What are you talking about?" I asked slowly, watching his expression tighten.
He leaned closer, voice low. "I can’t say it here. But you need to hear it. It’s important, Athena.It’s really important."
Important. The word stirred sothing in . I did feel fear. Just curiosity. Damn curiosity.
Lucas was still by my side, oddly silent. I didn’t need to glance at him to know he was listening.
"I’m still busy now," I said flatly, gesturing subtly to Lucas.
Jesse held up his hands. "Later. At noon. et at the training grounds. It’s usually deserted at that hour. We can talk there."
"I could find your quarters instead," he added, eyes searching mine.
"No," I said imdiately, too harsh. "No one will be there at that ti. We’ll speak then. At the training grounds."
He nodded once, relief flickering over his face. "Thank you."
I didn’t reply.
I turned, letting my steps fall into rhythm with Lucas’s as we walked away.
He didn’t speak at first, letting the silence coil between us like smoke. But I could feel the heat radiating from him. I didn’t know if he was angry. But why would he be angry? It didn’t make sense. It was definitely sothing else. anger. Maybe he was waiting for to break the silence.
I didn’t.
We walked in silence for a while, my thoughts tangled like roots. Jesse’s voice echoed in my mind—It has sothing to do with your blood. What could he possibly an?
Lucas finally spoke, voice low. "Why did you agree to et him at noon alone?"
I sighed. "I don’t know why he wants to see . But I want to know why. Only by eting will I find out what."
He didn’t press. Soon he departed from and I went to my own quarters.
Training Grounds – Noon
The wind was cold and dry when I arrived. Dust swirled along the edges of the empty field, disturbed only by my footsteps. Jesse stood in the center, arms folded, his back to . He turned the mont he heard approach, as if he’d been counting my steps.
"Athena," he said, relief washing over his face. "You ca."
"I said I would." My voice was flat. I didn’t care for whatever ga he was playing. "Now talk. What about my blood?"
He stepped forward, but I didn’t. The distance between us remained like a line drawn in blood.
"I was invited by the king to take part in an upcoming Awakening Ceremony," he began. "It’s a rare chance—a path toward elevation. A chance to bond directly with ancestral power. All it requires is a blood offering."
I narrowed my eyes. "Congratulations."
"The king says he’s not done gathering what’s needed for the rite," he continued carefully. "But it’s within reach now. Just a few items more... so for now I will be staying here until the ritual is over and I’m rewarded."
I tilted my head. "Why are you telling this?"
He hesitated.
"Because I want you to join . We can go to the king together and he’ll check if your blood is suitable, then you can participate too."
I scoffed. "You’re serious?"
"Athena, listen—this life you’re living, you’re just a guard. But with this ritual, your status could rise beyond anything you’ve ever known."
"You an to say I don’t belong where I am?" My voice dropped an octave. "That I should be chasing prestige instead of serving the kingdom dutifully?"
"That’s not what I ant—"
"You knew exactly what you ant," I snapped. "Let guess. You thought I’d swoon at the idea of becoming sothing ’greater’ at your side?"
A dream or a nightmare
He stepped closer, hands raised. "No, I just—"
I laughed.
It was a very loud laughter that made his brows furrow.
"So this," I said, waving a hand, "this is the important thing you dragged here for? This is what couldn’t wait?"
"Athena—please—"
"Just do what you ca for," I said coldly. "Whatever ga you’re playing, whatever hole you’re trying to crawl your way onto—leave out of it. I’m not interested."
I turned to walk away, but his hand shot out and gripped my wrist tightly.
"Please, Athena. Just listen to . Please."
His grip tightened.
I could feel my wolf stir beneath my skin.
"Let. . Go." My voice dropped low, warning seeping into every syllable.
But Jesse held on, desperation blooming in his eyes.
"I’m begging you," he whispered. "You don’t understand what’s at stake."
"Let go of ," I said again, more forcefully.
Still, he didn’t.
So I leaned in slightly, so close our breath nearly touched.
"If you don’t let go," I whispered, "I’ll break your hands into two."
That finally made him release —but not without one last act of sheer desperation.
He dropped to his knees.
Athena, please," he said again, voice cracking.
There was silence in the air around us. Even the wind seed to pause.
I looked down at him, kneeling in the dirt like a man with no dignity left.
But the pity I might’ve once had was long dead.
"I’ll see myself out," I said quietly, then turned and walked away—leaving him there in the dust.
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