Athena's POV
"Athena, we have told you everything we know. Yes Hector was stabbed, no we don't know that it was Vanessa, yes you went missing once Hector was injured turning up only hours later in the woods. You weren't injured so we assumed you sleepwalked again like when you were younger. If Hector says he spoke with the moon goddess, then why not take him at his word. He's grown into a good young man Athena. That boy has never gotten into trouble much less lied to us about something as important as this" my mum basically scolded me for not believing my mate after running through the events of the last week a good few times.
"Well this heated up quick" my dad muttered as he sat awkwardly in his chair glancing between my mum and me as we argued. He was quick to learn that once we started it was pointless him intervening knowing all it would do it escalate things which nine times out of ten caused problems between him and mum.
"Look I came here asking for advice not to be bloody lectured. I haven't once ignored Hector, but I don't have the memories of a conversation he so blatantly thinks we had. I just don't know what to do. If he's right and Axel's mother has done something then it's too late anyway as Vanessa's welcoming is tomorrow and if the old hag hasn't done anything we would be stirring up trouble for nothing"
"That's one thing we can agree on. If you and Hector storm in there you will cause a war between our packs. Not only that but you will be putting your sister in a rather compromising position. I'm sorry Athena but unless you know for certain something has been done then you must stay clear"
My mum was right, as much as I hated that we actually agreed on something. Realising I wasn't going to get the answers I was looking for I went to look for Hector. Other than having finally gotten my wolf he was the only good thing in my life, and I wasn't going to let my own doubt get in the way of that, not after everything he had done for me. Hector kept me grounded, he was the one constant in my life I could trust something he had proven time and time again. Without him I was a mass of haywire emotions and if they got the best of me, it wouldn't be good for anyone. I had spent so long trying to stay within the light knowing the darkness was just waiting around the corner. Waiting for its chance to pounce dragging me back under, only I knew that if it happened again, I would be forever lost. It's like being in the ocean trying to keep your head above the water only each wave knocks you further out until you can no longer keep afloat.
That's the problem with depression, the first time you think you've won the fight you let your guards down only to find yourself straight back where you started. Only the next time... well I wouldn't win. Hector was that light he was my float, my reason for existing and if anything were to happen to him there was no way I would survive.
Though this only begged the question that had been niggling at my brain. I was well aware a part of me was missing that piece being the mate I rejected a void within myself that would never heal, it would act as a reminder that it was me that threw away a blessing that had been bestowed to me. In the memories I have Axel accepted my rejection however that niggling feeling kept prodding me, almost as if it was trying to tell me something wasn't right, that feeling agreed with what Hector had been saying. I wanted to believe Hector more than anything, I mean he had gone from being disgusted at the thought of being mated to another man to almost begging me to go with him to claim Axel as ours. Restoring a broken bond that neither Axel nor myself wanted. Could he be right or is it just that he himself hadn't reject Axel. I had so many thoughts swirling around in my head, mix that with my pacing wolf and I was a massive ball of nauseous.
One thing that worried about this whole ordeal though was going into heat. I had been getting dizzy spells lately, so I knew it wasn't far off. All I needed was for Hector to be away and it happen. I wouldn't be able to control myself, I would have no choice but to give in to the primal animal that is my wolf. I would mate with any unmated wolf just to ease the pain. My mum had told us what happens when we were younger making sure to tell us that for a future Luna it would be worse by tenfold. The heat was a way to ensure we would produce a pup though at my age having a pup was the last thing on my mind.
*****
"Hector I'm coming with you. If his mum is behind everything you say, then you will need me. Venus is strong we can help" I was becoming angry, I found Hector once he finished pack training and told him I wanted to be apart of his plan yet he deadpan told me no.
"Athena you said yourself you think your heat is coming. If you go into heat on another packs territory, I won't be able to save you. You know as well as I that the gemstone warriors are stronger than most packs"
"Most yes. This one no. Everyone here received a fraction of my mother's strength when she became their Luna. You know that. Plus, if I go into heat just push me towards Axel and I will mark him" ok so maybe that was the wrong this time say because Hector was now seething, Axel may be our mate but until he was marked by both myself and Hector he would be extremely jealous.
"Hmm Athena please don't do this. Do not put yourself in danger"
"Staying here without my mate I will be in danger. At least with at their pack I will have you and Axel. Venus also thinks that the scent of my heat could force him to remember us"
Knowing I wasn't going to back down, Hector finally gave in. It was a risky plan granted but if he's right and if I have been spelled then I will make it my personal mission to end it.
Axels POV
My mother must have thought me stupid, to think I would leave myself branded knowing what she could have me do. Please, as if I'd give her what she wanted. Little did she know that my father had my branding removed when I turned sixteen. He had told my mother that I was nearing the age in which the family company would be passed down and that what better way was there to learn than being hands on. I know it hurt him to lie to her because she was his mate, but it needed to be done. That day we hopped on a plane and flew to Italy where my father had found a witch willing to remove my mother's brand without her knowing. Luckily for me it worked because now I am fully aware of the spell, she had cast forcing a bond between Vanessa and myself. I didn't think such a spell existed so out of curiosity the moment I woke up in my car I held Vanessa's hand. Imagine my shock when sparks ignited along my skin, managing to keep my worry contained I smiled at Vanessa who was excited.
"Mate" she purred into my neck as she hugged me.
Don't fucking think so love I thought to myself while Thor snarled at me the spell having tricked him. The spell would have worked on me had I not gotten a special rune tattooed onto my chest. The rune prevented me being subjected to spells however it didn't protect my wolf. Thor could feel the mate bond wanting to act on it before any rejection could be said. Deciding to play along until I could get out of this mess, I spoke the words that left a rotten sour taste on my tongue.
"I Axel Gemstone accept you Vanessa Anderson as my mate and future Luna"
"I Vanessa Anderson accept you Axel Gemstone as my mate and future Alpha" the look of pure lust flickered in her eyes as she pulled me in for a kiss.
My stomach churned as her tongue darted into my mouth. I didn't want this; I didn't want her and I'd be damned if she thought I would actually follow through with it. Composing myself I took Vanessa back to my pack house giving instructions to an omega to take Vanessa to her room once we arrived. I held myself together as best I could when I noticed how confused she looked at not staying in my room. The tantrum she threw goddess how could I ever put up with that. As the week went on, she made countless attempts to gain entry to my room each time failing. Except today. Today I was in such a rush I had forgotten to lock it. When her scent hit me, I realised my mistake. Thor was purring like a fucking kitten in my head unlike the scary alpha wolf he was supposed to be. The longer I was in her presence the harder it became for me to control Thor's urges as they blended into me becoming my own. Taking a seat on the bed beside her Vanessa straddle me my stomach twisting in discomfort whilst at the same time the sparks I felt tempted me. Thor suddenly took control as we fucked Vanessa. It felt good yes because I got to blow some steam plus let's face it when doesn't it feel good? The moment it was over I stole back control of my own body forcing Thor away into the darkest depths of my mind before he could make matters worse. Vanessa sat there her with neck to the side waiting for me to mark her and complete the process. It wasn't going to happen. I needed to stall for as long as I could in the hopes, I could find a way out of this. If we did mark each other, I knew it could be removed thought the process was extremely powerful and sometimes the wolf wouldn't survive. All I could do was hope it didn't come to that, I could still feel the pull of the mate bond to Hector only becoming stronger trying to get me to go to him, I hoped Hector could feel the same. The stronger the pull the harder it would be for him to deny me, to dent himself. If he would get here and mark me then at least I would e safe from the clutches of this mad deluded she-wolf.