Hectors POV
Everything was rushed having not had the luxury of time on our side. Though I knew it was Vanessa that stabbed me her parents couldn't be sure, when they investigated, they couldn't catch any scents other than mine and Athena's so without proof nothing would be done. Alpha Jake was able to secure us a last-minute invite to Vanessa's ceremony under the guise we were happy for her having been accepted. We would be staying in the pack house due to Athena being an alphas daughter so getting to Axel shouldn't be to challenging. If we were under the same roof as him, we stood a better chance. Alpha Jake said the layout of the Gemstone pack house was vastly similar to ours only bigger. The alpha floor being right at the top with visiting alphas on the betas floor which was right below. He said that due to their pack seeing themselves as formidable warriors with over inflated egos, they felt the need for little security on the pack house. My plan was to get there, find Axel and get out. Would it all go according to plan? I highly doubt it.
"What are we going to do about Vanessa? You say she's the one that put you in the hospital and although my parents won't do anything without proof, I believe you" my eyes whipped straight to Athena's lingering for a few seconds before looking back at the road. I had never doubted her believing what I said so for her to bring it up hurt.
"We will get proof don't worry. I know she thinks she's clever but I'm hoping once we get to Axel, she will see that her plans falling apart and let her guard down. You know as well as I that once she's pissed, she can't help herself but gloat, it seems to be her fail safe. Trust me gloating over putting the betas son in hospital is something she won't pass up"
"Ok so if she does come out and say it how are we going to show that to my parents? They won't just take my word for it. She's their daughter, they won't make any rash decisions when it comes to either of us. Plus, you do realise if we can get this proof then Vanessa will be stripped of her pending alpha title, which would be passed onto me. I just don't know how that would work. You, Axel and I would all be alphas"
"You're forgetting we have Henrik within our pack territory now he's got his own family with a pack member. Though he may not be a participant in the Gemini coven anymore he is still able to tap into their strength. I'm willing to bet he's more than capable of looking into our heads and showing to your dad our memories. As for the title for the alpha title Vanessa should have thought about that when she decided to stab me. She would be lucky if being stripped of her title is all that happens. Believe me Athena my parents want blood. Look babe, don't stress about becoming an alpha not yet. Besides, I'm happy to stay at beta level and leave the leading to you and Axel."
"Ok, so what if we are too late and they have marked each other already? We can't force him to reject her then, it would kill them"
"Athena don't worry about that. If it comes to it then there is a route we can go down. Not going to lie but what we would need to do would be a bitch, so I really am hoping we get to Axel before that happens" Athena just nodded before looking back out of the window, I could feel her emotions through the bond and they were everywhere.
The drive to the Gemstone pack didn't take long, we spent the rest of the journey going over the plan. The more it was in our heads the less could go wrong. The one thing I did see becoming a problem however was Athena's heat. Her scent was a lot more potent than it was twenty-four hours ago. If I had to place a bet, I'd say we had less than thirty-six hours before it came. We would need to be gone well before that.
When we arrived, we joined a que of cars waiting to enter the territory. A few other alphas were attending and were most likely allies of theirs. When it got to our turn, I showed the guard our invite and he waved us through without question. Their territory was mostly open space nothing but greenery until you got another three miles down the road, then it was just house after house along with a few shops and a hospital. The Gemstone pack house sat dead centre standing out like a sore thumb. Where the other houses were decent sized, not small by any means, but the pack house was bloody gigantic. It looked just as big and posh as one of those hotels you see celebrities staying at on the T.V.
As we pulled up an omega was waiting to take the keys so he could park our car as he had done for everyone before us.
"Bend it you mend it" I told him using just an ounce of my Beta voice. My Jeep was new having only got it before finding out Athena was my mate so if he damaged it, he could pay for it only then would I kick the crap out of him.
Walking into the pack house Athena on my arm I felt intimidated and through the bond I could feel she felt the same, only slightly more nervous than me. The foyer was that spacious you could stick a conference table right in the centre and still have plenty of room. The walls were a bright white with grey marble floors, white vertical blinds decorated the floor length windows that sat either side of the double doors in which we entered from. To the back was a grand staircase which split off in two directions with a white and gold banister. The stairs also grey marble but with a golden edge. The entrance alone was elegant and smart I could only imagine what the rest looked like.
Athena and I were shown to our room which was definitely bigger than either of ours back home. Although we were now mated, we hadn't moved our things into just one room yet. This room had a silver king size bed the bedding white with a silver embellishment on it. White voile draped from the ceiling going around the bed offering a form of privacy from a once again open planned room. A massive bay window sat adjacent from the bed offering a beautiful view of the countryside.
"Oh my goddess" I heard Athena's excitement coming from the bathroom.
"What?" I asked curious as to what had gotten her excited.
"This bath has jets. Ah that will feel amazing when we you know" her eyes began to glow Venus coming forward with the dirty thoughts I could practically see spinning around in that gorgeous head of hers.
Athena's POV
I was in complete awe of this place. It was big and beautiful though I couldn't help but feel sorry for the omegas that had the job of cleaning it. As classy as it is to have everything white, I could only imagine how difficult it would be to keep it all sparkling clean, especially with us being wolves. The bath other than the bed was my favourite part of the room. I had always wanted a bath with jets, I had asked my dad several times to allow me one in my room back home, yet he always refused. I knew Hector could tell why I was excited about the jets though. Just the thought of them turned on while getting to business with him in that tub had me turned on, that plus Venus's dirty thoughts I really was excited. After putting our things into the wardrobe, we decided to have a walk around the pack house before dinner. The better idea we had of the layout the better our plan would work; I know dad said it was similar to our own home, but it didn't hurt to make sure.
Going up to the alpha floor noticing the lack of guards we decided to find Axels room. When we did find it, we stepped inside after making sure he wasn't in there. His room was like ours only had other different decoration along with a four-poster bed. Man, I wouldn't mind being cuffed to that. Ahh what's wrong with me? Get it together Athena!
"Do you smell that?" Venus seemed joyous for some reason as she spoke from the confides of my mind.
"No, what can you smell?" I asked having not smelt anything other than Axel. His scent alone was intoxicating which I couldn't understand, had he truly accepted my rejection as my memories stated then his scent wouldn't be having the effect on me it currently is.
"Vanessa's scent isn't here. He hasn't marked her yet otherwise her scent would be all over the place" she was right I just hadn't noticed; I was too busy heating up while inhaling his scent. Flutters between my legs confirmed the mate bond was still unbroken as I became aroused.
"Yeh we best get out of here" Hectors voice brought me back to myself.
"Why what's wrong?" I asked oblivious.
"If your scent gets any stronger, I'm going to take you here and now. Axel will certainly come back and most likely have a heart attack at us on his bed" I couldn't help the noise that left my mouth. I wouldn't even know what to call it, but it was a mixture of both a growl and a chuckle.
We left Axels room and headed downstairs to look around the mass hall and lounge areas. Turns out this place was a maze because we got lost. Totally undeniably lost. Why neither of us memorised the way to our room is beyond me. Each time we made a turn we ended up in either a library, games rooms or staff areas. I was ready to give up and ask one of the omegas when we finally found the front door.
Eventually we found the mess hall to find pack members along with guests filling in waiting to be served their meals. Tonight was just a casual dinner, tomorrow however was going to be a formal event.