Axels POV
My skin blistered and burned as Alpha Jake continued his interrogation, I knew why he was doing it for I would have done the same. After what Athena had been subjected to, he needed to be sure that I wasn't just another bully in her life. Had I a daughter I'd be just as ruthless if not worse. Alpha Jake could torture me to his heart's content for my answers wouldn't change. I loved Athena and I knew with all my being she felt the same. If I could have turned back time I wouldn't have even breathed in Vanessa's direction, but since I did more than breathe her way Athena was right to reject me. I know I hurt her, and I will forever hate myself for doing so. As far as I'm concerned, I deserve all the pain Alpha Jake throws my way.
"Do you have anything to say before you go back to your cell while you await my decision?" Alpha Jake gripped my bruised sweaty chin forcing my head up to look at him. My eye sight becoming blurry as my blood ran down my head obscuring my vision.
"Is Athena, ok?" I tried to hold strength in my voice but after going through a gruelling four hours of interrogation as he calls it, I had no strength left. My skin melted away on parts of my body which I hoped would heal if given my freedom.
"Even after all the pain I have made you endure you still want to know of her well-being?" He looked at me with disbelief before sighing when he realised I meant what I had asked, I was genuinely worried about her and I needed, no I wanted him to see that. "She is fine. Athena hasn't woken up yet but even if she does, she hasn't completely healed, and I don't want her leaving the infirmary until she has." I watched as he stepped away from me running his hands down his face. He looked tired and run down. I could only but imagine the pressure he has been under with everything going on. "Look Axel I know men like you, hell I used to be like you. Always using the Alpha status to get what you want even to the extent of a woman into bed. The trouble is this time you did it to not only one of my daughters but both. One of which was your fated mate" concern was etched onto his face as his thoughts had clearly gone to Athena, her fragile mind hoping she would pull through what happened.
"I never slept with Athena I swear to you. As for Vanessa I only did as..."
"As you were told by that bat shit crazy mother of yours. Yes, I've heard all about the branding from Hector. See my trouble Axel is that I'm not an idiot. I know more about brandings and runes than you realise. Like this one right here." He points to the rune I had done when I was younger with my father. "This one is to stop spells working on your human counterpart but unfortunately for your wolf they would bare the brunt of it, I'm betting he's quite content knowing you and Vanessa are now marked as he believes she was his mate from the last spell that witch cast. You may have been branded but you weren't when you slept with my daughter, yet I'm curious as to why Hector is under the impression it's still in place"
"My father... he had the branding removed. My mother believes it's still there, he told me to never tell anyone until the time was right as if she knew there were other harsher ways for her to use me."
"What's so special she needs you to bend to her will?"
"I'm an elemental wolf. Fire is my gift; it feeds off my emotions. The angrier I am the stronger and hotter it becomes. With one rage fuelled blow up I could destroy an entire town" Alpha Jake looked taken back almost as if he was trying to remember something.
"My own father used to tell me stories of elemental wolves. Some possessed the gifts of water, air, earth and well obviously fire. I heard rumours that there were fire elementals in your father's pack but never took much stock in them. I'm sure your aware that your breed is incredibly rare"
"The gift as you call it runs in my father's bloodline"
"You don't see it as a gift?" It was clear he was confused by my confession.
"When you're a pup that struggled with their emotions a gift isn't exactly what it is. I can't tell you the number of times I woke up to find my room engulfed in flames all because I had a nightmare. Alpha Jake, I promise you I mean Athena no harm. I love her. I want my mark and bond gone from Vanessa. I did what I had to in order for Athena to survive, if I had to go back to last night, I'd have done it all exactly the same. Her life is worth a thousand times more than mine and I will do anything I can to ensure she lives it"
Athena's POV
Last night was a massive blur. I vaguely remembered watching both Axel and Vanessa being restrained but then my knees gave out on me. When I awoke, I was in a hospital bed, the machines bleeping excessively giving me a headache. Sticky pads placed all over my body a wire attached to each of them and goddess were they itchy. When I heard the sound of soft snores, I turned my head to find Hector sitting in what looked to be an extremely uncomfortable position as he slept next to me. A tear fell from my eye as I smiled at him. I was happy beyond relief to be home, to be back with my mate. I looked around unable to spot Axel anywhere when fear began to build inside me sending one of the machines crazy as it began to chime even louder. He had said goodbye to me knowing Vanessa wouldn't survive what she had done. They were marked now so if she died so would he. With wolves when we lose a mate it can cause horrendous pain which can either kill the surviving mate or turn them mad. However, being as Vanessa is a descendant of the moon goddess Axel would die. Had he already received the alpha title from his father he would have survived it, but he hadn't.
Frantically I began ripping at the wires that cover my body making sure to pull them all off. The machine sounded an alert which woke Hector who began to panic before noticing it was only me disconnecting them.
"Athena stop you need to rest, your wounds were deep you need time to heal" I smiled as Hector fought the urge to yawn as he tried to prevent me from getting off the bed.
"Axel, I need to get to him" I pleaded with Hector who just gave me a sad smile in return. "No... tell me he's not" tears threatening to fall fearing it was too late, he was already gone. My body trembling with guilt and fear knowing he died for me.
"Athena calm down, Axel isn't dead. He's in interrogation with your dad. I tried to tell him he didn't play apart in this. That he was the reason I found you. He won't kill him Athena, but he needs to be sure he isn't a risk to you" Hectors grip on my face was firm as he forced me to look at him placing a soft and delicate kiss on my dry chapped lips, the kiss was so meak I think he thought he might break me.
"He saved me; Vanessa was going to kill me. He stopped her Hector. He marked her for me, for us" Before he could respond there was a knock at the door followed by a nurse entering. She wasn't very old she looked to be in her early thirties with sandy blonde hair that had been pulled up into ponytail. The smile she offered was kind and sympathetic, I could feel her fear for me radiating from her unlike the other pack members who only showed compassion when my parents were around, I could tell this nurse genuinely feared for my safety.
"Sorry darling to interrupt but I need you to lay back down. Your parents don't want you leaving this room until your completely healed" that kind smile now one of determination, she had been commanded to keep me here so knowing I wasn't going to win I frowned and sighed as I sat back in the bed allowing the nurse to reattach the pesky wires. I fought the urge to wince as my back touched the bed, my skin extremely sensitive and sore from the beating Vanessa had dished out. "Now your parents will be over shortly, and the doctor will also stop by to check on your progress. Until then please just rest Athena, your body has suffered a vigorous amount of trauma and will take time to heal. Would you like any pain relief for your back?" I refused the medication having had enough of having pills in my system before thanking the nurse for her help as she left the room.
Hector and I continued to talk for what seems like ages before the door once again opened for my parents to walk in followed by the doctor. The doctor was well in his fifties with greying hair however he was still of a muscular build though not as built as Hector or my dad. My mum came over to my side sweeping me into a gently hug, the distinctive look of relief shining through her eyes.
"Ah Miss Anderson nice to finally see you awake. How are you feeling?" His voice was deep yet soothing.
"Tender, my back hurts the most. Have I almost healed?" Some how I knew the answer before the words even left his mouth.
"Lean forwards for me dead and I will have a look" Doing as he asked, I leant forwards my mum holding me still while the doctor undid the back of the hospital gown I was wearing. As he pulled back the edges of the gown I hissed, it felt as though he were ripping my flesh. "Tsk" he clicked his tongue as he gazed at my exposed back. "Well, I'm afraid you're going to be in here for a while. The stitches have kept the skin closed enough to stop the bleeding however when we cleaned your wounds, we found traces of silver meaning the whip used contained that element. The blood transfusion you had cleaned your blood of the silver so now we just have to wait for your wolf to wake and gather the strength she needs to complete the process. I'm afraid until that happens, you're healing at an astonishingly slow rate. I will prescribe some pain relief to help you remain comfortable. However young lady you need to rest" I nodded in disappointment remaining silent whilst my parents thanked him as he left the room.
"So what of Axel and Vanessa" Hector must have read my mind because he asked the exact question I needed answering.