Bite of Rejection

Episode 2

~ Athena’s POV

As I sat up, rubbing my temples to ease the throbbing headache, the familiar scent of lavender and chamomile wrapped around me like a comforting blanket. I blinked, glancing around and realizing I was in Relia's room. The memories hit me like flames, pain, Relia’s frantic voice... and then whispers about Fridolf needing my help.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed, my mind still clouded with confusion, when the door creaked open. Relia appeared, her face a canvas of worry. In her trembling hands was a tray. It held a simple meal, bread and butter, with a knife resting on the side. A cup of water sat beside it. As soon as her eyes met mine, she seemed to forget the tray entirely. She rushed towards me, her grip tightening around the tray causing it to clatter slightly as she set it down on the table.

"Athena!" she gasped, rushing over. She set the tray down, albeit with a clatter, and before I knew it, her arms were wrapped around me. The tightness of her hug and the trembling of her body told me everything. She was crying, and when her voice came, it was thick with emotion.

“Don’t you ever think of committing suicide again! You can’t leave me,” she sobbed.

Her words hit me hard, and for a moment, I was too choked up to speak. I swallowed, forcing out the question that had been nagging at me since I woke up.

“Relia... what you said about Fridolf... was it true?” I asked softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

She pulled back slightly, wiping her tears with the sleeve of her shirt. Her eyes were wide and serious as she nodded. "Yes, every word. Beta Dolph is here to take you to him... The Alpha needs your help."

My heart skipped a beat. Fridolf? Needing my help?

I shot up from the bed, adrenaline flooding my system. "I have to see him."

Without a second thought, I dashed out of the room, nearly colliding with Beta Dolph in the living room. He was seated, the picture of calm amidst the chaos of Relia’s worried parents hovering nearby. His gaze met mine, and he stood, towering over me like an unmovable mountain.

"Athena, are you alright?" His voice was steady but held a trace of concern.

"I'm fine," I replied quickly. "Is it true? Does Alpha Fridolf need my help?"

Beta Dolph nodded, his composure wavering for just a moment. “Yes. The pack is suffering, and the Alpha believes your healing abilities can save them. We’ve tried everything else.”

The weight of his words sank in, and I didn’t wait for further explanation. I rushed back to change. As I dashed inside, Relia was so bent on going with me to meet Alpha Fridolf and I agreed to let her follow me. A few minutes later, we were on the road within minutes, my mind racing as we sped towards the palace.

When we arrived, the grandeur of the palace halls only deepened the sense of urgency I felt. Beta Dolph led us to the infirmary, explaining that Fridolf was too busy to meet with us just yet. But as soon as we entered the infirmary, I saw the devastation firsthand, pack members lying in agony, faces contorted in pain. My breath caught in my throat.

“Athena...” Relia’s voice was soft, as if she too was overwhelmed by the scene.

I didn’t have time to hesitate. “We need water. Lots of it.”

Relia and the nurses scrambled to bring me what I needed. The moment the water was before me, I closed my eyes, channeling the healing energy within me. My power glowed, swirling in the water, and I instructed the nurses to distribute it among the sick.

Hours passed, slow and torturous. Then, a cough. Weak, but there.

“They’re getting better,” Relia whispered in disbelief.

Relief washed over me, though exhaustion quickly followed. As I leaned against the wall, Beta Dolph spoke into his phone, his voice laced with barely contained emotion.

"Alpha, she's doing it. They’re improving," he said, his tone tinged with something more than just duty.

When he hung up, I approached him, still catching my breath. “They’ll need to continue drinking the water for a few days to fully recover,” I explained.

Beta Dolph nodded, about to respond when the door to the infirmary swung open. All eyes turned as a tall figure stepped in, draped in a heavy cloak. My heart skipped a beat as I recognized him.

Fridolf.

He was... breathtaking. His features were sharp and striking like someone had perfectly carved them out. That strong jawline and dark, slightly messy hair made him impossible not to notice. But what had me frozen were his eyes, those glowing, silver eyes. It felt like they could see right through me, past everything I tried to hide. They weren't just any shade of silver; they had this strange, almost magical shine like they were alive with something powerful.

I froze, my wolf stirring inside me, and then it happened. The voice in my head wasn’t mine. It was her, my wolf, speaking with certainty.

“He’s your mate.”

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. Fridolf, the Alpha himself, was my mate? Relief and joy filled me. I won’t be an outcast anymore. This was it, the bond that could change everything. I straightened my back, the tremble in my legs barely noticeable as I took a step forward, my heart hammering in my chest.

“Mate,” I declared, my voice strong and hopeful.

But the joy in my heart turned to ice as Fridolf’s expression twisted into pure rage. His eyes, once captivating, now burned with fury. Before I could even react, an invisible force slammed into me. The breath was ripped from my lungs as I crumpled to the floor, gasping for air.

"NO!" Fridolf’s voice boomed, and the power in his words was enough to send a shiver down my spine.

I lay there, stunned and trembling, my heart breaking as I realized what had just happened. This wasn’t the acceptance I’d dreamed of. This was rejection.