Hectors POV
I had spent over an hour searching for Athena with no luck, even through the bond I felt nothing. It was if a barrier was preventing us from connecting with one another. When Axel disappeared, I knew something was seriously wrong, he wouldn't have not come back knowing our mate was missing. I had this disturbing feeling in the pit of my stomach that told me either Vanessa or Axels mother were involved. If that was the case Athena was in serious trouble and needed to be found asap. Athena had grown in strength since her wolf came that much was obvious by the way she carried herself alone, her entire aura had changed it was stronger more confident. Even if she hadn't noticed, I had along with other pack members. However, she didn't have a cruel bone in her tiny body. People had always put her down, beat on her whenever they got the chance and why, because she would never fight back. She was an easy target; they wouldn't even fear for alpha Jake coming after them because they knew Athena would never speak up. Athena hated confrontation and would do anything she possibly could to refrain from participating in it, if by chance she had you could bet your bottom dollar that she didn't have a choice. Vanessa was by far the worst. They are twins yet complete opposites as people. Vanessa is strong wielded, confrontational, and evil whereas Athena is strong but gentle she's shy and so incredibly kind and loyal, they share a special bond though one that's broken and probably beyond repair after years of torture.
I had gone back to my room after having searched the entire territory again when my phone buzzed on the side table showing a message from Axel.
'I have Athena, she's not far from my territory, Vanessa took her. She's alive but not good. I can't get her out until the barrier spell in place ends at sunrise. I will send you the address, but you can't kill Vanessa... not yet.
Axel.'
'Don't you dare ask me to leave her alive! After everything she has done, she doesn't deserve to breathe. What has she done to my mate?'
'She's been injured and secured with silver. I've managed to stop the bleeding but until she gets to a hospital she won't heal. Hector, you must trust me, I won't allow any more harm to befall her. To save her I had to make a decision. Vanessa and I have marked each other. It was the only way to save Athena... I couldn't watch her suffer, I couldn't sit back and watch hr die at the hands of her sister. I need you to get your parents and bring them to the address I send you. I need them to detain Vanessa until this mark is removed otherwise, she dies I die'
'They won't kill their own daughter no matter what the fuck she does. Look when the sun comes up, we will be there. Axel protect her'
I threw my phone across the room in anger not caring about anything but Athena. I promise her I would never lose her again and now that promise was broken. Bryant was howling away in my head trying to force me to shift, fur sprouted along my arms, but I had to stop him. If he took control now there would be no telling the carnage, he would cause. He would literally destroy anything in his path to retain his mate. It wasn't until I had slightly calmed down that I registered what Axel had said. Axel and Vanessa had marked each other, we would need a witch to remove the mark but one powerful enough for that would be difficult to find. I had asked Henrik before coming to the Gemstone Pack whether or not he could do it but, he and his coven didn't have access to information or any spells regarding the mate bond.
Clearing my mind and focusing on alpha Jake, a shiver of fear ran up my spine setting goosebumps ablaze on my skin as I felt the mind link connect. I told him everything that happened and what Axel had told me. I could feel his rage rolling through me forcing me to submit where I stood as the pain to resist became too much to bare. He didn't know what to do, they were both his daughters and he loved them more than life itself, but what Vanessa had done couldn't go unpunished and he knew it. But would he really be able to kill his own daughter. Alpha Jake agreed to meeting me at the address just before sunrise tomorrow, he wanted to see the house and find a place to wait for Vanessa to reveal her true colours unaware he was watching.
Athena's POV
I couldn't feel anything my body was totally numb; my eyelids were heavy, and I was tired. I had been in and out of consciousness due to the blood loss of Vanessa's torture I don't know if I had been here hours or days. The only thing I could feel was the pain in my heart. I knew he did it for me but to witness Vanessa pleasure the man I shouldn't have rejected only to mark him seconds later, it felt like a knife to the chest. I'd take another whipping if it meant never feeling that tether snapping pain ever again.
"You need to drink Athena" Axel's voice was low, barely above a whisper yet I could just about hear it. I wanted to turn away from him, I wanted to cry but I didn't have the energy. I froze startled when I felt him put a cold glass to my lips, a cool liquid lubricating my lips and throat as it slid in and down. Water, he couldn't have given me anything stronger I thought to myself.
Slowly I managed to open my eyes, the light blinding me causing them to sting as the air came into contact. I had cried every last tear I could, my eyes now dry and scratchy. Axel looked pained; he didn't want to see me like this, I didn't want him to see me like this. Guilt and regret were written all over his face. I couldn't blame him for this, no, this was Vanessa. Her jealousy over my mates led her to this, I had nothing other than them for her to be jealous about. I knew she hated me, despised my even but to inflict pain and injuries on me to this extent was something I never would have imagined. Not even in my wildest of dreams.
"You're going to be ok" Axels deep brown eyes bore into my own as his hand caressed the side of my face before he suddenly pulled it away having realised what he was doing. "I've stopped the bleeding, but you won't heal, not yet. I know this should have been the first thing I said to you Athena but I'm sorry. I'm so sorry... for everything. Had I stayed away from her none of this would be happening" it was clear he was struggling with the outcome of the decisions he had made that led us up to this point, his eyes that once held confidence now only held fear, fear of what was to come.
"Thank you" was all I was able to say and even that was a struggle with how dehydrated and lightheaded I had become.
"Don't say that... not to me. I haven't done anything to deserve those words from you. But I promise you Athena, you will survive this"
"Oh, I'm not so sure she will" my eyes shot to Vanessa who was standing at the bottom of some stairs. "She's weak, one look at her is enough to make anyone see that. Now get away from her Axel. I don't want you touching her"
"She needs to drink. I told you If she dies, I walk Vanessa"
"Fuck's sake fine but hurry it up. As your Luna I want your attention on more important matters, like me" she spat before turning on her heel and headed back up the creaky wooden stairs.
"I won't let her hurt you again. I love you Athena, I need you to know that and hold on to it"