Athena's POV
From the moment my parents arrived, everything moved forward incredibly quickly. Axel had an omega bring up some desks so we could use the lounge as an office as Axel didn't want to waste crucial time on checking the actual office for bugs. Now, maps covered them entirely while my mates and my dad ranted on about possible locations in which the high priestess could be holding up with Vanessa. My mum several times tried to have an input, but the guys wouldn't give her a chance which made her angry big time. I'd lost count the number of times she'd growled at him while I couldn't help but sit back and think just how sexy both Axel and Hector looked while in full work mode.
Axel was well aware that the pebbles could open a portal straight to his mum, but my father warned him against it. He said that he could appear right in-front of her then our plan would have failed before it had even begun. It was a kick in the balls for him, but he knew my dad was right. Axel was determined to find Vanessa and as much as he tried to hide the truth, I knew why. I could feel his desire for her burning in the pits of his stomach. It was faint but it was there and growing which in turn had me worrying. He didn't love her I knew that without a shred of doubt, this was purely their bond. I could feel Axel fighting against the bond, his own urges and that of his wolf. Thor wanted to take control, find Vanessa, and keep her safe for the remainder of their lives while Axel tried to force the bond away. He only wanted her safe just long enough to give birth to his pup, the next alpha to the Gemstone Pack. My mum had bought the paternity test with them, it confirmed what we already knew. The pup was Axels and it hurt like a knife being twisted in my stomach, a massive part of me had hoped everyone was wrong, that the pup wasn't his and she had just tried to trap him. He was my mate, is my mate and I wanted to be the one to give him an heir, but that was just something else my sister had now taken away from me. Something else she would now pay for with her life. A death that's been sealed, sanctioned by the council of elders. The trial they were going to hold was just a formality, they had to stick to their own rules, yet we already knew what the outcome would be. So as much as id love to hold a grudge over the whole thing it would be pointless for she wasn't going to be around to raise it.
"Right so if we send a scout team here, here, and here then I think we have covered it. They are going to have to conceal their scents, if your beta is going to be there, he will sniff them out instantly" my dad pointed to various points on the map, each location marked with a coloured pin. After what had felt like hours or debating and arguing they finally had a plan.
"That won't be a problem, concealing a scent is one of the first things the pack learn when they receive their wolf. My father wanted us to be ready for anything, a pack with the rank we hold you never know when someone wants to knock you down a peg or two. Stupid as they would be to try"
"Great then it's settled. I'll send a team of my men to this area, you send a team from this pack to here and then if you send a team from your security firm to the most likely of places which is here, then at least if they are spotted it wouldn't seem unusual. Just tell them to act like they are on a job and if anyone asks any questions it wouldn't lead them back here" I watched as Axel nodded in agreement, going back a couple months I would never have thought they could be in the same room after what happened the weekend of the masquerade ball, yet here they were putting their differences aside for me. My father just wanted me to be happy, and if me accepting Axel after everything he did made me happy, then my dad was ok with that. Even though I knew he wouldn't truly forgive him.
Leaving my mates and my dad to finalise the details I motioned for my mum to follow me to the kitchen, I was starving y stomach making all kind of un-lady like noises. Yes, I still get lost here and thought she may know the way better than I and guess what, I was right.
"So... when will you officially become Luna? You've been mates for some time Athena if you don't do it soon pack members will start asking questions" my mum always knew how to break the silence, even if it was a comfortable one.
"Honestly, it's been the last thing on anyone's mind. What with all this going on with Vanessa, her being pregnant and not to mention being mated to Axel before I was. I don't think pack members would accept me anyway. Until the bond between them is broken they are just going to see me as some home wrecker that's raising the Alphas pup" realising what I'd said I clasped my mouth shut. Well done Athena couldn't just leave it at 'don't know' could you. Venus was laughing in my head, she had been on at me since the night I received her to open up more about my feelings, to speak what was on my mind instead of bottling it up like I had done my entire life. But like I kept reminding her, it was easier said than done.
"Baby you are his rightful mate right alongside Hector" She pushed my hair away from my face placing it behind my ears. "Though I must admit I'm still in shock over it all. Two mates, I have never heard of such a thing. However, I trust in my mother and my grandmother" my mum grabbed my hand from across the worktop giving it a gentle reassuring squeeze. My eyes flickered to her injured hand; I had never seen one of my parents injured from an attack. So, knowing what our enemy did to my home, to my parents, I was terrified of what they would do not to me, but to my mates.
'We will destroy anyone that try's Athena. We have great power, and we will use it to our full advantage' Venus's words gave me the courage I needed to believe it was a fight we could win, once we find them that is.
My mum was always an amazing cook and was always in the pack kitchen back home. The omegas loved having her around, she truly was an amazing Luna and would one day make an even better Queen when she does take over from my grandfather and Rita. I just hope and pray to be half the Luna she is. As we chatted, we made some snacks to take back upstairs before turning and bumping into the stone hard back of someone we hadn't expected to see. I mind linked Axel immediately and grabbing my mums arm I pulled her behind me. The beta turned to face us a sinister smile on his face as he stepped towards us. Taking a gun from his pocket he aimed it directly at me and it likely contained silver bullets. Venus sensing the threat forced her power into me so fast it gave me head rush as my veins tingled. My eyes burned as I raised my hands to meet his aim. My forcefield reappeared preventing him from harming us. My mum audibly gasped as she took a step back from me taking in what I was able to do, I wanted to see her reaction, but I couldn't force my gaze away from the man in front of me. He came here for a purpose, that being to kill but who?
"Angel, Athena!" My dad's voiced echoed as it bounced off the walls followed by his large build as he descended the stairs taking two at a time, a toe-curling snarl leaving his lips as he took in the threat we faced. The beta knowing he couldn't harm me or my mum turned his attention to my dad. It was as if time stood still watching his finger pull the trigger down with a click. Fear pulsating through me as I gripped onto my mum for dear life. Her screams loud as she watched unable to get to her mate. When I didn't see him on the ground, I was shocked, the beta aimed and fired it straight towards my father, but he remained unscathed.
"Oh, my goddess Athena... you...oh my" my mums words startled me causing me to realise what had actually happened. I had somehow stopped the bullet from hitting my dad by pushing my forcefield towards him, the bullet bounced off its force sending it back towards its user. The beta fell to his knees as the bullet hit him in the chest. Axel and Hector were quick to restrain him knowing the location of the bullet wouldn't be fatal.
Once secured Axel took him to the dungeon and using his alpha command, he ordered the guards to watch him. My dad was still in the arms of my mum as she fussed over him. This had been the second time in twenty-four hours his life had been put in jeopardy. My dad however looked over at the shooter, a look of pure excitement about the prospect of introducing the beta to his new interrogation ideas. Ideas he had built on and perfected over time.