Hector's POV
I was going out of mind; this damn mate bond had proper messed with my head. I hadn't had a good night sleep in two days, each time I would drift off my dreams would be plagued with images of me, Athena and Axel. This whole three-way mate thing had me feeling uneasy, a nauseous knot forming in the pits of my stomach. Dark circles now sat under my eyes making it apparent to everyone that I hadn't slept. I wanted Axel; I didn't want Axel I just couldn't think straight. When we kissed, I knew it was wrong but what shocked me was how right it felt. When Athena and I kissed I felt like I was floating on cloud nine and when I kissed Axel, it felt like firework night; exciting, colourful and amazing like every cell and fibre with me was bursting to life making me feel temporarily complete for the first time in my life. Confusion was an understatement.
My phone had been ringing all god damn day and was now giving me a migraine. I knew it was Axel as I had been avoiding him for the last couple of days. I was embarrassed at what happened though I knew I shouldn't be. But I was destined to be Beta of the pack when my father stepped down and I worried more over what him and the rest of the pack would say more than I cared to admit.
"Answer it and see what he wants. He could have new information. He could miss us. Whether you like it or not Hector he is our mate just as Athena is. The Moon Goddess has a plan I know she does, and this is part of it. Everything happens for a reason."
"How can you be so calm about all this Bryant?"
"Because I'm comfortable with who we are, though you are fighting the urge to be near and touch Axel is irking me. Hear him out"
Ignoring Bryant, I rejected the call only for it to ring again seconds later. Bryant growled in my head as I felt him surge forward taking control in this form and answering the phone.
"Hector, we need to talk. I know your confused with everything right now, but you need to hear me out"
"Listening" Bryant's voice was deeper than my own, yet Axel didn't seem to realise or maybe he had but planned on using that fact to his advantage.
"I've spoken to a few witches; they think if Athena bares both our marks regardless of your wolfs form, she will wake"
"No" Bryant's voice was stern symbolising there would be no movement and what he said was final.
"If I don't mark her then I will mark you. I mean it Hector these are our only options. You can hate me all you want but let me assure you if it comes down to me making the decision, I won't hesitate regardless of whom it upsets. My mother is up to something. I know her well enough to know that when she leaves pack lands without an escort, it's because she's up to no good. I'm not willing to risk Athena's life Hector. You have two hours to make your decision, or I will make it for you" with that he ended the call.
Finally getting a hold on Bryant, I dragged him back to the dark depths of my mind as I regained control. Building a wall in my head to prevent him from taking over again was more difficult than normal as he fought to remain forward. I know he wanted what was best for us, but he couldn't go against me, we needed to be United if we were going to get Athena back. Two hours that's all I had until a decision would be made for me. There was no way in hell I was letting him mark Athena without her acknowledgement, she would undoubtedly see it as an instant betrayal. I knew better than anyone that once she had been betrayed it was damn near impossible for her to forgive.
"Then he will mark us, and I will not allow you to stop him" Bryant wanted this I could feel his needs seeping through our bond. His need to be marked by both mates, to complete the bond allowing us to become the so-called silver wolf we are supposedly meant to become. Though a part of me still suspected what Axel had read was wrong.
Jumping from bed I stepped into the bathroom needing to shower, this always seemed to calm me down the hot water washing away some of my stresses. After getting out and drying myself off I put on a pair of jeans and one of my black vests. I didn't bother to do my hair, all I wanted to do was be with Athena. Since the night I marked her I would get this cold dull ache in my chest if I'm away from her for too long, a feeling I'm hoping will disappear once she marks me back solidifying our mate bond.
*****
Athena laid on her bed the colour in her skin still hadn't returned and her skin was just as cold. I climbed onto the bed beside her pulling her to my chest allowing my body temperature to warm her. It wouldn't warm her completely but would be enough for her breathing and heartbeat to regulate. I know it had only been a few days since she fell asleep, but I truly did miss her, had I known this would happen I never would have marked her. I would have waited until her and Axel had made amends. Axel, god damn it I couldn't get him out of my head. The sparks that I felt from Athena did nothing to drag my mind away from him. The urges to find him were getting harder to fight, each and every thought making my cock twitch. All I could think about was the taste of his minty tongue as it wrestled with my own. The way he held me. I knew what I needed to do, what I wanted to do. The question is would I be able to follow through with it. Could I really give myself fully to a man?
"What should I do Athena? I'm so incredibly conflicted and could really use your input. Axel wants to mark you; he thinks you will wake once you bare both marks. I just don't want him to do it without your say so. I don't want any of your choices to ever be taken away from you again" I spoke softly to her hoping she could somehow hear me even though I knew she wouldn't respond.
I held her tighter as I felt a stray tear tall down my cheek. What the hell is going on with me. As I went to speak again, I heard someone outside of her door. Gently rolling Athena onto her back I walked to the door ripping it open. Before I had registered who was standing there, I felt a sharp pain radiate from my abdomen. Out of instinct my hands went to where the pain came from, blood covering them as it ran down my body onto the floor pooling at my feet. My eyes flicked up to the person in the doorway. Vanessa stood there a murderous glare shimmering in her bright blue eyes a malicious smile on her face. I went to speak when she suddenly thrusted his arm forward again the silver knife in her hand entering my abdomen creating a second wound causing me to stagger backwards as I stumbled over my own feet.
Had the knife been stainless steel I would have immediately healed but it wasn't. Unable to retaliate I stopped to my knees with a sickening crack, the room around me spinning as my vision began to blur. Vanessa pushed me over before stepping over me walking towards where Athena was laid on the bed. I watched in horror as Vanessa picked up her sister stopping momentarily as she hovered over me.
"This could have all been avoided Hector had you not rejected me I wouldn't do what now needs to be done" how could her voice be calm with what she had just done.
Using what strength, I had left I grabbed Vanessa's ankle only for her to stomp on my face with her other foot.
"Athena..." was all I could mutter before falling unconscious.