Queen Athena

04. Decisions

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Athena Grace Hound

BloodHound Pack

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Every bone in my body was shaking, his voice replayed over in over in my mind. My wolf slowly surfacing, overcomed with the mate bond

His dark grey eyes, looking through my very soul, while his woodsy scent drove me and my wolf crazy.

Never in my life would I thought that I will find my mate so soon, and I surely didn't expect him to be the King of all werewolves.

It seems that everyone was shocked once they realized what the King said

"My mate" Those two words that couldn't leave my mind once his lips uttered it. It seems the world stopped itself, only him and I were the only ones left.

I cannot look away from his gaze, every single part of me was frozen with fear, I was vulnerable and I hated it. He has a cold stare directed at me like he's daring me to look away from him.

Stories of the ruthless, fearless King ran through my memory like a slideshow. Wolves fear and respect him, Royals are capable to bend you to their will with just one word.

I heard a growl behind me, pulling me out of our trance like state. My father on his knees, directed his seething glare to the King. In which he stood there unfazed.

Giving Dad a silent pleading look, hoping that he would stop. He's entering dangerous territory, threatening his King.

I could feel everyone's nerves picking up. A few pack members were trembling on their knees. My mother fidgeted, worried for my father like I was.

Even the pack elders, worriedly assessed the situation. My father was challenging the King with his gaze and growl. If he continues to disrespect the King, one order is all it takes to lose our Alpha.

Then I felt it, like something in my head clicked into place, like a broken part of me I didn't knew I had, felt whole. My worst fear realized, my soul was combining with his.

"My Queen, at last, we meet" shivers ran up my whole body, wrecking every single piece of barrier I made inside my head. Looking back at him, he watched me under his dark brows.

His face, aged a few years since the day I first saw him. His chiseled cheekbones seem to been carved by the goddess herself. His form fascinated me, our mate bond making it so as if there was a rope on my waist pulling me to him.

Mixed emotions rang through me, my wolf was overjoyed by the fact that I just met my mate. But my mind was telling me something didn't feel right.

Any girl would be estatic to be mated to the King, but I was different. I could feel our mate bond, but something was holding me back from going with him.

Fear of being locked up inside again I suppose? Stuck inside a territory that I'm forced to live in. Or because of the commitment that is included in a mate bond.

I've never experienced a relationship, or do I have plans to be in one. A mate bond is basically a forced relationship between two wolves.

I do worship the moon goddess, but I was never in favor of the mate bond.

"Everyone stand up" he commanded as his voice rang throughout the garden as he ordered for everyone to stand.

Everybody hesitantly stood, scared as to what the King might do. He then approached me with long strides, his gaze fixated on me as people move out of his way. I feared for my pack, for our people, but most of all for myself.

Apollo then stood in front of me, blocking me from my mate.

"Apollo please, don't challenge him" but he stood his ground, I panicked internally, My heart nearly beating out of my chest. I don't want my family getting in trouble for my sake.

As soon as The King reached us, Apollo growled lowly. Father then stood by my side, holding one my arm. My brother is a tall male, but the King towered over him.

"Move" The King angrily ordered to my brother, Apollo resisted his command, to the point where it physically hurt.

My hands started sweating, I felt the mate pull, lulling me to him. His earthy scent driving my senses crazy. But I couldn't move, like every part of my body just wanted for him to be close to me.

"I said, Move!" He shouted shaking the ground beneath us. Everybody gasping in terror at the intensity of his voice.

"Athena when I tell you to run, you will run" Apollo told me in our pack link. I didn't know what to, my whole body was betraying me, I could feel my wolf slowly wanting to take over. This bizarre gut feeling that I never felt before.

"Forgive me for this King Xavier, but I won't let you take my daughter with you" I heard my father forcibly saying, while on his knees.

A booming laugh made me jump in my place, sending shivers down my spine. "Do not try to defy me, know your place Alpha's" the King taunts, My mother was quick to plead to him.

"Please our King, do not mind my husband and son. The arrangements are still on going, according to what we agreed upon." My mother suddenly says. Looking at her in shock.

My father growls and faces his wife. "What arrangements are you talking about Katerina? and why aren't I informed about this?" enraged he questions.

As to which the King answers for her. "Luna Katerina already set plans for our mating Alpha" He informs us. Betrayal dawns on to me. "I already known that Athena was my mate ever since my coronation. I conversed with your lovely Luna about our mate bond. And it was agreed upon that on her 18th birthday she will rightfully be my Queen and mate" Weak in my knees I tried to comprehend what he just told me.

My mother basically sold me, given me away to my mate without my consent. She knows that I will never want to be tied down with a mate, and yet she does this behind my back.

"My king, this is all but a misunderstanding. If we could just discuss this personally" My father negotiates, slowly standing from his place. I stood still, frozen in place as I slowly succumb to my doom.

"Athena, Liam is waiting for you in the forest right by training grounds. When I tell you to run I want you to go to him and never look back" Apollo reaches to me in our pack link.

I couldn't speak, shock was an understatement.

"There is nothing to discuss about this. Athena is my mate and is rightfully to be my Queen. And you will do nothing to stop our bond" The King declares and threateningly looks at my father.

My mother distraught at what was happening. "My wife's decision is not justified. I am the Alpha of this pack and what happens to my pack members is my decision alone" My father states firmly. The king then laughs under his breath.

"But I am the King and my word exceeds yours!"

Apollo growls and starts to challenge the King. "Run!" he shouts at me in the link.

Everything moved so quicky, in just a blink of an eye my brother was against the King, his wolf on the surface, teeth bared and claws sharp, attacking the King with swift sashes.

But the King was faster, easily dodging Apollo's advances.

"Athena! Run! Now!" Snapping me out of my senses, I didn't think twice and bolted to the direction of the training grounds. Pack guards were right at their toes as they block the Royal Army from catching me.

"Athena!" I heard making me quiver in my knees, his wolf shouting for me. It was difficult to run away from him, the mate bond was pulling me to him. But it could be resisted, it will be painful but it was possible.

And no matter how painful it could be, I am willing to endure it. The Royal guards were quick in my tail, in their human forms.

Fearfully looking back I gaped at the King who managed to run after me. His fur nearly coming out of his skin as his wolf's black eyes watched my every move, daring me to defy him.

His lyncan form slowly but aggressively coming out.

My heart nearly beated out of my chest, the mate bond making it harder for me to resist him.

"Tena! Where are you?" I barely heard Liam thru the wolf's link. His voice growing fainter by the second. Sprinting as fast as I could with this large gown on me was no easy feat. I could change into my wolf form but that will take too much time.

I gulped internally and prayed to the moon goddess to help me. Although I think she won't be answering my prayers since what I'm about to do is disrespectful to her.

Entering the woods my heels then snapped off, not caring for them I kicked them away and continued to run barefoot.

I then saw Liam's wolf, Getting on him he started to sprint, knowing full well that the guards was right behind us.

I then heard a loud howl coming from behind us, it was a minor one probably coming from a royal guard. Liam picked his pace up, carrying me on his back.

Gripping Liam's fur I braced myself as his pace quickened. Moving swiftly through the forest, making sharp twists and turns to loose whoever was following us

I felt the world was starting to shake, his almost lyncan form running alongside his guards. My wolf started calling out to me to just stop and go to our mate.

But I couldn't have that.

I felt a harsh tug on my waist, Liam almost loosing his footing from my dress being too long. I couldn't pull it up since we were moving so fast that if I let go of one of my hands I might fall over and hurt myself, and with the royal guards and the king himself trailing behind us I couldn't risk it.

Liam was the fastest runner of our pack, also the next in line for being Beta. If anyone can help me escape, that would be him.

Turning my gaze to my left, I noticed a royal guard almost keeping pace with us. An angry snarl directed at us, his royal mark taunting us. He was almost as fast as Liam but thankfully he knew the forest like the back of his hand. To that advantage Liam made a sharp turn into the denser part of the woods, making the guard stop on his tracks almost hitting his head on a tree.

My eyes started to irritate, not used to wearing contacts at all. The wind slapping on my face as Liam ran as fast as he could.

Looking around I catiously watched for any movement, any sign that says that a guard was just behind us.

Breathing in a sigh of relief, "Liam I think we lost them" I told him in our link but it was only responded with a sharp pain on my temples. Hissing in pain I gripped Liam's fur tighter, causing him to yelp unexpectedly and making me loose my grip, falling on the forest floor.

I groaned as the pain increases, holding both my hands against my temples. Liam's wolf whimpered and nugged me with his large snout. I inhaled deeply, it was a unfamilar pain one I feel throughout my whole body.

Turning to my side I felt the sharp pain slowly travel to my left arm which left this burning sensation along my shoulder and neck. With shaky hands I held my arm close to me, feeling like someone was ripping the skin away from it.

I hesistantly looked at it, my pack mark was slowly fading into a red patch. Gasping, I hyperventilated, shaking in fear.

Liam stood there helpless, pacing back in forth in front of me. He looks at me almost crying for me to get up, but I couldn't. He tugged on the fabric of my dress, whimpering.

A loud angry powerful growl made both of us stiffen. My already pounding heart could almost burst out of my chest, looking around us frantically, panicking. We were almost by the pack lines, just a few feet away.

I tried to get up but my whole body was rejecting it. My wolf was slowly fading in and out of my consciousness, wanting to communicate with me but she couldn't

Liam stood his ground. "Liam please go, just leave me here" I said in agony. But he ignored me and just stood there, like he physically couldn't move.

Groaning as I slowly watch my pack mark become unrecognizable, as I was slowly turning into a rogue. Is this the moon goddesses punishment for defying her? Being kicked out of a pack and labelled as a traitor?

"Stand down Beta" A royal guard said as he emerged from the trees. His head covered in a golden helmet, his armor taunting us of our crimes, defying the Alpha King. A few more guards then made their presence known as they surrounded us in a circle.

It was physically impossible for wolves to defy a Royal's order. All werewolves are linked to the Royals, they are superior to us, the first bloods. Only the Alpha's, who are close to being first ones are able to resist, but even to us it was difficult.

Seeing Liam in such as state, the guard wasn't just an ordinary one. He was a royal wolf.

"I do love a good chase" His chilling voice was heard even before I saw him. The unbearable pain suddenly lessened as he walked closer to us.

He appeared, almost in his lyncan form. I gaped at his stature, his height towering over everyone, almost every skin on his body spurted out his black fur. His gaze, snarling at Liams still form.

My hands started trembling then, being this close to him made me shake in fear and something I couldn't quite point what.

"Beta, Give me one good reason why I shouldn't just kill you now." His deep angry growl sent the trees surrounding us shaking. I fearfully watched as Liam's eyes trailed to me, begging me to run while I still can.

Trying to speak to him thru the link, nothing was going thru. An empty feeling left inside my head as I was no longer tied with the pack links. My limbs grew weak as the intensity of the mate bond increases, I could hear my wolf whimper in delight at our close proximity.

"I was planning to be kind to you Beta, seeing as you have a bond with my Luna, but causing her harm is where I draw the line" he snarls, his claws peeking thru his thick fur, already black eyes ready to kill anyone.

"Do you know what is the punishment for k********g a Luna, the Queen nonetheless" The guard who ordered Liam spoke, he then squatted down and snarled at Liam. "Death!"

"No please don't" I barely managed to speak out, he looked at me and bowed in respect. "Luna this is the royal rule"

I pleaded at him, "please punish me instead, I'm the one you wanted, it was my fault" I said, Xavier growled making me turn my attention to him. He walked towards me, his form turning back to normal with every step. Astonished I watched him under my lashes.

His close proximity, his scent, his wolf. Everything about him was drawing me to him, beckoning me to be with him.

He studies my form, slowly touching my markless red arm. He places his hands against my own, making tingles appear, depleting the pain imensely.

Liam growled under his breath, glaring at Xavier. Pushing my hand away he looks closely at my shoulder, his gaze turned cold and inhaled deeply.

Circling his arms around my waist and lifting me up on arms.Tingles shot up throughout my whole body, I couldn't feel both my arms and legs as I was unwillingly being carried by my mate.

"I will punish them for this my Queen" he looks at me directly at the eyes, staring right to my whole entire being. I became like a puppet in his arms, obeying every single command that he says.

"Please.. don't" I barely whispered to him, weak from the pain and from our bond. He gently caressed my cheek whilst holding me on one of his arms. His gaze turned cold again, directing his attention away from me. He then snarled and the guards made their way to William's steady figure.

The royal beta then held out a large metal chain, with a large bolt attached to a silver collar. Attaching it around Liam's neck, I watched him helpless. I wanted to just break his trance and drag him out of here but I couldn't, my body felt too weak to even move.

Losing a pack bond is the last thing a werewolf would want. It tears away at your wolf, degrading you into the last position in the hierarchy. A rogue.

I struggled to keep my tears at bay, the idea of leaving my pack behind and throwing away my dreams makes my heart ache. His comforting warmth, soothing me but it could only do so much when it was the reason of my pain.

Liam just stood motionless, a few guards securing the chains that was wrapped on his form. Guilt ran thru me, stabbing me directly at the heart.

"Bring him to their pack cellars, make sure he doesn't or anyone in his pack let him escape. I will deal with him personally" Xavier orders facing his beta who was holding Liam's chain.

Liam suddenly thrashed and tried his hardest to free himself. Twisting his neck and scratching the collar "Do not even try beta, its laced with wolf's bane."

He growled loudly at him and at Xavier, the both of them stood unfazed as Liam tried to attack them but was constricted by the collar.

Liam was dragged back to the direction of the pack house forcefully. Tears welled up on my eyes, sobs following after. Xavier pulled me closer to him and emotionelessly watched his guards with a close eye.

Leaving just Xavier and I, I inhaled deeply, unintentionally breathing in Xavier's scent.

He then looks down at me, looking deeply into my eyes, studying my whole face.

"You have no idea how long I've waited for you" he whispers, pulling me into a warm embrace, making my whole body stiffen.

Our bond was irresistible, I couldn't fight with it as much as I wanted to. I then feel my throat constrict, tears followed endlessly down my cheeks.

I felt the tension in my head, although my pack bond broke, our mate bond grows stronger by the second I was close to him. Everything that happened today took a toll on me physically, feeling an invisible weight on my shoulders, barely managing to keep my eyes open.

"I will keep you safe, I promise you" Hearing him faintly I looked at his face. My shaking hands almost touching his face as I weakly raised it.

"Well isn't this wonderful" a voice was then heard, making goosebumps along my skin. Turning our attention to the voice, A looming figure stood there, appearing from the shadows of the trees, I couldn't distinguish who she was, my eyesight blurry as I struggled to look at her, as my eyes grew heavy.

Her eyes, was a bright red, seeping thru the black cloth covering his entire stature and her steely gaze directed at me.

"Finally," she said her voice sending fearful shivers thru my spine, Xavier growled, pulling me closer to him, shielding me away from the woman

"My little prey has come out and play," was the last thing I heard before my vision turned black.