QUEEN ATHENA FATED MATE

Chapter Two

CHAPTER 2

ATHENA

And then, to my horror, he kissed her.

"NO." I muttered, feeling the blood beat in my brain as my world crumbled.

The man I'd loved for years, the one who had promised to stand by me just claimed my sister as his mate.

I already felt lightheaded when he finally turned around and realised himself. The guilt and confusion in his eyes were enough to send the message.

"A-thena," He stuttered, "I-" I didn't let him finish.

I was already a sobbing mess by the time I turned, and ran out of the hall. The betrayal, the pain, it was all too much to bear. I didn't return to the Packhouse immediately, because Rose would surely have a field when she'd come back that night.

I needed an escape, I needed to drown my sorrows in anything that would make me forget and that's how I found myself strutting across the nether lands of the Pack and ended up at a local bar, nursing a drink I'd never tasted.

Closing my eyes, I brought the small glass close to my lips before drowning the strong liquor, clutching my chest as it burned down my chest. I dropped the glass, taking a moment to let the burn wear off before turning to the barista and croaked out a command.

"I want more of this."

He nodded and disappeared behind the counter subsequently. It was after I'd taken my fifth shot that he warned. "For safety reasons, your Grace, I can't give you another shot of thi-"

"I am not asking, young man!" I growled, pointing to the glass. "Fill this up!"

Scared, he hesitantly took the glass and began to pour it in again. And that was the moment it hit me- a sharp, sweet scent I'd come across recently. But I couldn't quite place where or when.

"Hey," A deep baritone called behind me. I whirled around to see Roman standing beside me, with his side bandaged and his grey eyes still intense and piercing.

The strange pull I felt earlier hit me hard now, stronger than before, making my breath hitch.

"H-hi." I replied, turning around immediately to drown the liquor that was already placed before me, hoping it would snap me out of what I felt whenever he was around me. His presence was like a magnet, and he carried a power that was impossible to resist. He smelled like petrichor- clean, fresh and with a hint of earthiness. It made my head spin. Or maybe that was the liquor.

"Thank you for what you did today, after the fight. You saved my life."

The deep voice resounded, chillingly close, sending a tiny shiver careening down my spine.

I turned to look at him again, bereft of words the moment I saw his features. His jawline was sharp with the low-cut beard making the outline even more profound, and his lips, boy, they were far too tempting. He was ruggedly handsome in a way that felt almost unfair, so hot I feared I'd catch a fever standing next to him. My heart was already hammering in my chest, loud and out of rhythm.

"Hey," he asked, before pulling the other stool close to me with a hint of amusement in his face. "Are you okay?"

I blinked, trying to focus. I wanted to wave the question off, but the words were already out of my lips before I could think.

"No," I admitted with a trembling voice. "I'm really not."

His brows scrunched up in worry, then he stepped closer and turned to the bartender to make his order, then he turned back to me.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked. I shook my head, but the tears were already falling anyway. "I-I d-don't even... I don't even know where to start!"

The lump had returned back to my throat now. And I hated how vulnerable it made me sound. His eyes trailed down to my hands, then he pulled his seat closer and took my hand. It felt strangely comforting, and I took it.

"Start anywhere." He said.

I hesitated, because he was too tempting with how close he was at that moment. Wiping my eyes with the back of my palm, the words slurred out. "It's stupid. He... he left me. He chose me over someone else!"

A giggle left me. "He left me standing there like I was nothing. The son of a b***h chose her over me."

Roman’s eyes were on my face the whole time, then he nodded with his jaw tightened. "I don't know who he is, but he sure as hell sounds like an i***t. I'm so sorry about that..." That made me laugh, even through the sobs that wrecked me.

"Maybe he is. But it still hurts."

I watched as he downed three shots in a row like it was water, then he turned to me. "People like that don't deserve you. If he couldn't see what he had, that's on him."

There wasn't a doubt that the words were simple, but it was like sunshine after a storm. I looked up at him, meeting those sharp eyes. And the way he was still watching me- intense, focused. It made my breath catch again. Goddess, what was he doing to me?

"Why are you being so nice to me? No one's ever been this kind to me." I asked softly.

He shrugged before a smile stretched his lips, highlighting the dimple. "You look like you need someone to be. I mean, anybody who knows your history knows-" That did it.

The dam broke as more tears began to run down my cheeks. He edged himself closer and pushed his seat away. I didn't hesitate, I wrapped my arms around him and melted against him with my face pressed to his chest. He smelled even more intoxicating up close, with a mix of pine and something else I couldn't quite decipher. But it was sweet, and addicting.

His arms held me firmly, but not possessively, and for the first time that night, I felt like I wasn't completely falling apart.

"It's okay," His voice was so soothing as the words rumbled out of his chest. "Let it out."

I had no idea how long we stayed like that, but when I finally pulled back, unable to stand straight because of the liquor, he kept his hands on my shoulders to steady me.

"Thank you, Roman." I said, breathing heavily as my nerves began to tingle, sending a rush of sparks down my arm.

My first instinct was to pull away immediately but my body didn't want that. It wanted him, I wanted him. Just then, his gaze dropped to my lips, making my breath hitch as I stared into those grey orbs of his and intermittently at his full, red lips. My breathing got heavier, and so did my heart pound faster.

"Athena," My name was rough on his tongue as he called my name, like he was trying to hold himself back.

"Y-yeah?" I whispered, unable to stop the way I just wanted to throw myself at him. I'd never felt this sudden attraction and addiction to anyone before, not even Liam.

"Do... you... mind if I-" He said the words with his eyes on my lips the whole time. I knew what he meant and I was already shaking my head before he was done talking.

"No." In a moment, he leaned in and gently laid his forehead against mine. I should have stopped him, I knew this was reckless and stupid even, but I didn't want to stop. I couldn't stop. When his lips finally met mine after that, it was like everything else had disappeared.

It was slow at first, cautious, but it deepened quickly right after. While my hands were now wrapped around his neck, his were wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer to his warm wall of muscle and his intoxicating scent.

The heat of him against me already had me moaning as our tongues battled it out. When he finally pulled back so we could catch our breaths, I was already wet and slick.

"Come with me," he said, right before lifting me effortlessly like I weighed nothing. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he reached into his pocket and dropped a bag of coins on the counter, ignoring the shell-shocked bartender before he carried me to an inn nearby.

When we reached the room, he set me down gently before his eyes settled on my slightly exposed cleavage, and then up to my face.

Then he asked. "Are you sure about this?"

The deep edge his voice usually carried had worn off now, and in its place was a vulnerable one.

I nodded as my heart rammed away in that unsteady rhythm. "Yes."