Queen Athena

08. Mate Bond

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Willa Jane Thompson

The Clawfang Training Grounds

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I let out a big huff of breath as I ran along the tarmac, everyone's heavy breathing fills the air as all of us struggle to reach the limit of the time that was set for us to train.

Everyone has to reach the finish line before the bell rang which was set to just under a minute, or else we'll be forced to ran another lap until we do so.

I breath out a sigh of relief as I reached the line just before the timer buzzed. All the ones that failed groaned in annoyance as they were forces to do it again.

I grabbed a water bottle from a table and drank it all in one gulp. Reaching around for the towel I swung over my shoulder, I vigorously wiped the sweat off of my face as it was dripping down my chin.

Every week we are subjected to do intense training for the pack, it was protocol for the pack members who are capable to train.

The only exceptions are the higher rankings who has to do the mandatory training thrice a week, based on their position. And it applies to their family as well.

Being that my father is the current beta of the pack and me being his only child, it left me no choice but to follow and train. Much to my displeasure, I for one love my sleep and waking up at five is frustrating as hell.

"Ms. Thompson, great work today, carry on with your day" Uncle John said as I passed by his post. I smiled at him gratefully. "Thanks Uncle" turning to leave but concern dawned into me.

"Uncle, have you heard anything from the Bloodhound pack yet?" I asked him, being careful with my words. He shooks head no.

"Nothing, is there anything that I should be concerned about?" he starts, I consciously thought over what to say. He arches his brow at me, seizing me up. I kept my posture as to not give anything away to him.

This was the main problem with the head warrior, the chief in fact is that he's very observant. A trait that is developed overtime when the position is bestowed upon you.

And trying to fool them is absolutely a difficult task.

"Remember Poppy? its just been a while since I talked to her." I quickly came up with a valid reason to say to him. He clicks the top of his tongue and nods.

Excusing myself I went straight to my house and finding my mother buried in what she was cooking. The smell of freshly baked bread wafted the entire house.

"Mom? are there any visitors?" I asked, trying my best not to give anything away to her. She looks up confused and going back to what she was doing.

"What are you talking about? were there suppose to be?" she asks and I gulped nervously. Shaking my head no "None, I was just wondering" I spat and she opens the oven door and places the newly baked cookies on the heat tray.

I watched her as she transfers the cookies to a plate to cool off.

"I have brunch with my gals if that's what you're asking" she informs me and I nod, falsely agreeing.

Why isn't my brother here yet?

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Xavier Blackwood

The Free Lands

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Pulling up to the make shift camp that I ordered my wolves to set up, I was greeted by absolute chaos, expecting to see everything in order for my arrival I met with my wolves wounded on the ground, the tents torn in half, and equipment thrown about.

Inhaling deeply to contain my anger, especially when I have Athena in my arms. My beta opens the car door and bows his head, carefully coming out, minding Athena's head, I stood in front of my soldiers, my wolf prominent to the surface.

"What happened here?!" I angrily questioned. They bowed and some even kneeled, very afraid like they should be.

"Alpha, the black lady appeared yet again" One of them spoke up. seething in rage I ordered them to prepare our leave.

That wretched witch just doesn't know her place.

Jonathan, who was conveniently the son of my pack physician, and whose also a medical trainee ushered me a still, somewhat intact tent.

"Alpha, if you could please lay Athena down on the stretcher. I growled under my breath

There is no way on this land that I will let my Queen be away from my arms.

He nods. "Alpha please lay the Queen down across your legs" I abruptly complied, keeping my hands under her head and her thighs, with her lying across my legs.

Jonathan grabs his medical supplies kneeling next to us. He examines where her supposed stab wound was. "There are no wounds my King" he says surprised, then proceeds to check her vitals.

"Alpha?" My beta calls for me from outside the tent. giving him permission to enter. "The mutt is chained and under lock down" he informs me. I nod, satisfied. "Make sure he doesn't escape. I will deal with him once we reach home." I ordered, he bows in respect and excuses himself out.

After a few more excruciating minutes Jonathan finishes checking on my Queen. "Alpha, the Luna is in perfect health. She might be unconscious for a while, seeing as her body is recupirating with the loss of her pack mark" he says and stands up from his position.

I then carried Athena again in my arms, and thanked him for his service. Leaving the tent, everything was ready to go, only barren tents was left, and a few more equipment to be packed into the car.

"Alpha, we are ready to go, sir" My wolf told me.

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Athena Bloodhound

The Infirmary

In The Blackwood Territory

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"Luna? can you open your eyes for me?" I heard an unfamiliar voice above me.

There was this feeling of displacement, like I wasn't where I was suppose to be. The sense of unfamiliarity, and the heavy weight on my hand pulling me from unconsciousness.

Forcing my eyes to open, a harsh glare of light met my eyes. Making me squint and blink repeatedly.

"Luna?" someone says.

Grogginess meets me, as I saw the white ceiling of where ever I was. My throat my very dry, making me swallow harshly, stinging the back of my throat.

A cold feeling met my lips, someone was helping me drink water to what I assume it to be. Drinking from it,the coll water refreshed me.

Slowly my eyesight settled, my vision got clearer, and I finally recognized where I was. The first thing I saw was the tubes that was tangling from above me. Following it it connects to an I.V. stand, which to what I assumed is attached to me.

Confusion sets in as I realized that I was confined in some sort of hospital, or a clinic. A man dressed in scrubs greets me. "We are glad you finally woke up your highness, we informed the Alpha and he will be with you shortly" he says, smiling from ear to ear.

Was he talking to me? my conscious tells me. Looking around there was only one bed in the clean room, which was mine.

"I beg your pardon?" I asked him, totally confused.

"Luna? can you recall what happened this past few days?" he asks me, concerned, grabbing his board.

Thinking far back, I could only remember Liam and I running from the royal pack guards, then it all went black after that

"The only thing I can remember is us leaving my pack, but other than that, nothing" saying uncertainly I asked him unquestioningly .

"If you mind me asking, but where am I" he smiles and replies. "My Queen you are home" still utterly confused.

"Do you mean we're at the BloodHound Territory?"

he shooks his head. "Your highness, your in Blackwood" he says, shocking me. I sit up immediately alarmed, disoriented I had trouble coping the sudden information that I was told.

"Why am I here? and how did I get here?" Puzzled looking around.

"I took you here my Queen" I heard his answer. Looking at the doorway there he stood. Overwhelmed I jolted to my feet, making the doctor panic and rush over to me.

"Luna, I suggest you lay back. You are in no condition to be waking or even standing up" he then forces me to lay back down on the bed.

"Athena, don't make this any harder for yourself, you must rest" his chilling voice creates a sort of calmness into me. But the shock was still there.

"Why did you bring me here? I don't want to be here" I grunted under my breath, glaring at him. The doctor then bows, excusing himself.

The King lets him pass through, once he left the room he answers me. "You are my Queen, you are suppose to be here"

I glared at him. "Has it ever occured to you that I ran away because I don't want to be mated to you?" I muttered. fisting my hands next to me, I felt the I.V. needle on my arm sting.

He chuckles. "You have no choice Athena, you are mated to me." he shrugs, taking a seat in front of the hospital bed I was laying on. "And it is your responsibility to your people, you are to be Queen after all." he taunts me. I growled under my breath, not caring if he is the king, I didn't consent for this.

"I could reject you, we don't have to be tied down to each other" I tell him, he then lets out a laugh.

"I'm afraid it doesn't work that way my Queen. You happen to be mated to a Royalty, you have no other choice" frustrated, I closed my eyes tightly.

"Not to mention that you are a special case. your eyes are very particular aren't they" he looks directly at me. "Tell me my Luna, does the color of your eyes mean something in particular" he asks me. I didn't want to answer him, he doesn't need to know.

He chuckled at my lack of response. "You do realize that you are pack less right?" he suddenly says, making my heart drop from my chest. "You are basically a rogue"

"removed from your beloved pack.." he taunts.

"by your own father in fact" he accused, his eyes turning a shade darker from their grey tone. His wolf was peeking into the surface.

"If I do accept your empty threats of rejecting me, which cannot happen for that matter. What assures you that once you leave this pack, you will not get killed by another pack?" he mocks me, shaking his head. I didn't dare to speak, knowing his words burns right through my heart.

Glancing at my left arm, it looked like a burn mark where my pack mark used to be. A scar that will haunt me for the rest of my life. "Look Athena, I don't want to scare you or anything like that, I'm just being realistic" he says, comforting me in a weird way.

I glanced at him, meeting his eyes causing goosebumps to rise up my arms and the back of my neck. "I'm not going to force you into a mate bond if you don't want to be with me, but you do know that a lot of people rely on you to be a Queen. We are mated by the moon goddess after all" he says, looking at me intensely. I was very lulled into his hypnotic eyes that it was so easy to persuade me.

The mate bond can do that to you after all.

"Can you just please leave me alone." I mutter overwhelmed with his presence in the room, with the irritating bond very prominent, I couldn't think straight.

His gazed lingered on my face. "If that's what you wish, I can give you time to think things through" he said with a nod, he left the room leaving me to my mind.

Inhaling deeply I relaxed myself, even though it was the hardest thing for me to do in this situation. He did have a point, no matter how many times I reject the fact it is still true. He is my mate.

But something inside me was longing for something, the freedom I never had, the dreams that I wish for every day of my life. And also the fact that my father basically banished me from my pack, for reasons I still do not know.

Overwhelmed is an understatement.