Aaron
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice trembling with a mix of confusion and fear.
"Ah, it seems your memory fails you, I understand facing a loss in love does that to everyone," he chuckled over the phone, a sinister undertone coloring his laughter. "I am...Celine's mate."
What the fuck!
"What?!" I blurted out, unable to process this unexpected revelation.
"Yes, shocking indeed," he continued with a sly tone. "Celine didn't mention me to anyone. It adds a certain element of surprise, don't you think?"
There's no way this motherfucker could be Celine's mate. I never thought much of that bitch after all the despicable things she did to seek revenge on Sebastian. She sold her dignity and soul in the process.
"Stop bluffing and tell me who the fuck are you?!"
He sighed, his weariness apparent even through the phone. "I don't like repeating myself, but it seems you're too shocked to comprehend. I am Celine's mate, and I'm well aware of the actions you've taken, including being their companion in their quest for revenge. However, after playing the role of a loyal lapdog, thirsty for money all along, you ultimately switched sides, didn't you?"
"It's complete bullshit! Cut the crap and tell me what you want!" I seethed, my voice laced with venom.
"No, it's not bullshit," he said, his tone mocking. "Your reaction confirms that you are indeed that one traitor who managed to escape the havoc and maintain the facade of friendship until you messed it all up by trying to sway Athena away with your charm. That was your true motive, wasn't it? The excact reason why you betrayed Celine and her family. At first it was all for the sake of power and taking Sebastian's place, atleast that's what you tried to show them but deep down your hidden agenda was stealing Athena away from Sebastain and his position." A laughter of his broke through making every inch of my skin burn with rage.
God, how I wish I could kill this piece of shit right now!
"You started growing feelings for Athena, I wouldn't blame she indeed is a beautiful woman," he continued, "You tried your best, indeed. You even backed up from the plan the very last moment to run away with Athena, but Alas! Im the end, the Thompson family fucked you up real bad with the rogues from the pack you once betrayed caught up with you, didn't they? You've done well to survive this long while your sins beckon you to the grave."
This motherfucker knew way more than he should have. I had to do something.
"Listen, stop beating around the bush and tell me what you want."
"Well... Well, I don't think there's much you can do except shoving money in my mouth to stop me from exposing your secrets to your alpha, especially his mate whom you're obsessed with. But I don't want anything you can give me; I already have plenty, to buy you more than twice, if I am being honest," he trailed off, before resuming after a brief pause. "So, you can do nothing for me. Traitors like you usually have nothing to offer when they're in need of a favor. However, I'm doing this for free by staying out of this mess."
Wait, what?
"Don't expect me to fall for this shit," I chuckled wryly. "I know you're up to something, or else why would you dig up old graves and try to blackmail me like this?"
"Because beneath one of those old graves lies a person I love dearly," his voice took on a serious tone. "And I know what she went through, the injustice she didn't deserve from you and the other monsters surrounding her. So listen to me, Aaron Lozano. I don't need anything from you because you're not credible enough to give me what I want, and I am more than capable of getting it myself. This call today is another favor I'm doing for you, by letting you know that your dear Athena is now hanging between life and death."
That was it. All other thoughts flew out of my mind.
"What?" I stammered, my voice barely a whisper.
"You heard it right. Her life is now at great risk because of that baby in her womb," he uttered, followed by the sound of a flicker and a long, dragged-out sigh, this bastard sounded like he was casually smoking as he talked to me, "In this race, either she'll survive or her baby, or perhaps not even a baby, but a monster in disguise."
"What the fuck are you saying? She had a miscarriage. How can this be?"
"There have been many cases of false miscarriage in medical history, Mr. Lozano. You're no expert in that field. The one you excel in is treachery," he laughed. "Your dear Athena had a false miscarriage that night, and when you all thought it was the end of the story, it was just the beginning. It's Sebastian Valdez's child, Aaron. Do you really think it would die so easily without a fight? No. The fetus, or perhaps now a peacefully growing baby, inherits more of his father's nature when it comes to survival instincts, and we both know Sebastian would—"
"Kill to survive," I interjected, my voice hollow.
This was not good news.
"Yes, you got it right. That baby in Athena's womb is a ticking bomb. One wrong move, and it will tear through her womb to make its way into this world. Its claws may have already emerged, and the medications? They might be increasing the chances of abnormal growth even more. Who knows, right?"
"How do you know all of this? What have you done? Are you inside their house right now?"
"No, I am at mine," his nonchalant behavior triggered my nerves. I wished I could tear his body apart. "But I think I should pay another visit, shouldn't I?
"If anything happens to Athena, then you're dead," I growled, "I've played enough games to be fooled by this flimsy one of yours. I will hunt you down, drag you out from wherever you're hiding, and cut you into mere pieces."
"I'll be right before your eyes," he laughed, but it quickly faded, and his voice took on a more sinister tone. "And yet, you won't be able to harm a single hair on my body."
"Is that so?" I hissed. "Just wait and watch."
"Don't worry, I don't have many tasks on my hands except for Athena's demise," he said, his voice filled with cruel satisfaction. "You know what they say... an eye for an eye and... a mate for a mate."
"You bloody—"
"If you want to save your love, fight tooth and nail. Although I doubt you'll achieve anything, considering she doesn't seem like the type to give up on her child," he taunted, his voice laced with challenge. "Enter the battlefield, Aaron. All the players are there, except for you. Let the game begin."
With that, he abruptly ended the call, leaving me hanging on the precipice of the toughest decision I had ever faced.
Athena was carrying that bastard's child, and that child could potentially be the cause of her death.
I had to do something. I couldn't let her die!