I sit up with a start when I roll over and realize the bed is empty. “Andreas?” I call out.
“I’m here, Athena,” he says, and I look over to find him standing in the bathroom doorway.
“Are you okay?” I ask as I push the blankets off and rush over to him.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you. I needed the bathroom, but I didn’t have the energy to get back to bed.”
“You should have woken me,” I say, worried, as I take his hand and help him back to bed.
“I should be taking care of you, not the other way around,” he says as he lies back down in bed.
“That’s so last century,” I say, rolling my eyes as I climb back into bed as well.
“I didn’t mean it like that. I mean, I know you’re hurting, and I wish I could do something to take your pain away,” he says as I snuggle into his chest again. “You were calling out for Alex in your sleep,” he says sadly.
“Oh,” I whisper.
“You started calling him dad?”
“Yeah, just yesterday,” I say sadly. “I wish I’d started calling him dad sooner.”
“You had a special relationship, no matter what you called him. He was so proud of you, Athena,” he says, lifting my chin up with his finger. “I’m so proud of you.”
I lean up and kiss him, but I feel something twitch against my thigh, causing me to freeze. “Oh goddess,” I say, embarrassed. “You’re naked. I didn’t get you clothes,” I say in a hurry and jump out of bed.
“Athena, it’s okay,” Andreas says with a chuckle.
“No, I’m so sorry. I’ll go and get you something to wear,” I say as I rush out of the room.
I rush downstairs to the laundry room and find a hamper of Dad’s clean clothes and rifle through it for something he can wear.
‘*Why are you so embarrassed*?’ Enyo asks with a laugh. ‘*He’s our mate. I say you go back up there and finish what you started*.’
‘*I’m not ready for that*!’ I squeal, and my cheeks feel hot with embarrassment. ‘*And besides, he’s not strong enough! You saw his wounds*!’
I finally find a shirt and some sweats and run back upstairs.
‘*Marking each other would make us both stronger. You should mark him*!’
‘*I’m not ready for that either! Stop being a bad influence*!’ I scold her.
She laughs and curls up in the back of my mind. ‘*Fine. You’re no fun. I’m going to talk to Ares*.’
When I return to the room, I place the clothes on the bed and turn around, avoiding eye contact with Andreas.
“You know you helped me shower, right?” He says with a laugh.
“I’m glad you find this so funny,” I say, crossing my arms with a huff.
“I think it’s cute, not funny,” he says. “Argh, shit,” he groans, and I turn around to make sure he’s okay.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“I can’t get my arm through the shirt with this stupid I.V in,” he groans. “I’ve got the pants on. Is that okay?”
I nod and walk over and take the shirt from him, placing it on the back of my desk chair. I climb back into the bed, and Andreas holds his arms out for me. I snuggle back in close to him and inhale his scent in.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” he whispers.
“I know. It’s just… I’ve never… I’m…” I stammer and hide my face in his chest, embarrassed.
“You’re a virgin?” He asks. I nod, not able to answer. “That makes me so happy to hear, baby girl.”
“It does?” I ask, looking up at him.
“It does. I am, too,” he says, smiling down at me.
“Really?” I ask, surprised.
“I was saving myself for my mate.”
“You were never tempted?” I ask.
“Oh, a couple of times. But I always stopped myself. You?”
“Once.”
“Jason?” He asks quietly.
“Yeah. But nothing before or after him. Besides you,” I tell him.
“I’m glad to hear that,” he says, kissing my forehead.
“How did you know about Jason?”
“Noah was keeping an eye on the motel when I couldn’t. He was going to try to talk to you that day, but he didn’t want to… interrupt.”
“Well, I’m glad we were interrupted by the old guy from reception. It would have been a huge mistake…”
“I’m glad you were, too,” he says with a smile.
I place my head on the pillow with a tired sigh. “Do you really think there’s going to be a war?” I ask.
“I think that’s what their end goal is. They want to be rid of us.”
“Why, though? We did nothing to warrant any of this,” I snarl.
“We weren’t the first to be chosen by the Moon Goddess. They think we’re going to turn bad.”
“What do you mean turn bad?”
“The last time the chosen were on earth, they thought themselves to be pure, so they killed anyone they thought was below them. So, the rogue pack tried to kill us all off before we had the chance to do the same,” he explains.
“That’s what Doctor Shields told you?”
He nods. “The day I was taken. He said the prophecy spoke of the chosen to lead our kind to peace, but I think there’s more to it.”
“We’ll probably never know the real prophecy. For all we know, the prophecy isn’t even real. It’s just a chance to kill us off,” I growl.
“I think it’s real, but I think it’s been twisted to suit someone’s agenda. Why would the Goddess need to choose special lycans to bring our kind peace? Before the attacks, we pretty much had peace. It just doesn’t add up.”
“Nothing adds up anymore,” I sigh. We’re both quiet for a moment, then I ask, “What are we going to do about our ranks?”
“What do you mean?” He asks.
“Well, you heard Mr. Williams tonight. He thinks I should be your Luna.”
“I don’t care what that old man has to say, Athena. You are my Alpha. You earned the right to be, and if the prophecy is real, you were born to be Alpha. I will do everything I can to support you, and if anyone has anything to say about it, they won’t like my reaction.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, letting out the breath I was holding.
“Let’s try to sleep, baby girl.” He says as he wraps his arms around me, nuzzling his nose in my hair.
#
“How’s he looking, Doc?” I ask Doctor Apollo when he comes out of Andreas’s room.
“His MRI was clear, but his bloods still showed wolfsbane in his system, so I’d like to keep him on the I.V for another day and go from there.”
“Is it the same wolfsbane that was used on me?” I ask.
“No, thank the Goddess. The wolfsbane in his system is the usual one, but I can tell some of his wounds had the other one in them because of how slow they’re healing. Those will probably scar, but the others should heal as usual. Normally, I would advise him to shift to accelerate the healing, but he isn’t strong enough.”
“Is there anything we can do to strengthen him?” I ask.
“You could mark him,” Doc Apollo says with a smile.
“Anything else?” I ask, knowing my cheeks are probably red.
“He needs rest and to build his appetite back up. He’s malnourished like the others.”
“How are the others?”
“As I said last night. It’s going to be a long road for all of them.”
“Are you coming to the meeting?” I ask.
“Yes, I’ll be there, Alpha,” he says with a smile.
“Great, thanks for everything Doc,” I say and leave to see Andreas.
I stop at the door when I hear my name and realize he’s talking with Noah.
“You’re a lucky man, Andy. Athena is an amazing woman.”
“Thank you for looking out for her, Noah. I know none of this could have been easy for you, either.”
“You’re my brother. That makes her family.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s what those who believe in her marked ourselves with to show our loyalty to her.”
I realize he must be showing Andreas his crescent moon marking.
“How many did this?” Andreas asks.
“About twenty of us. We call ourselves her Crescent warriors.”
“Do you think they’ll protect her?”
“They already have. They’ll throw down their lives for her.”
“Good. Things are going to get worse before they get better, and I want her protected if I can’t.”
“Don’t talk like that, man…”
“I’m too weak to protect her right now. I’m glad there are people close to her that will, that’s all.”
“You’ll get there, Andy.”
I knock on the door, then open it and stick my head in the room. “Sorry to interrupt, but I need to get to the meeting with everyone, and I wasn’t sure if you were coming.”
“If you’re there, then I will be too,” Andreas says with a smile.
“I’ll bring him over for you, Alpha. We’ll be there in a few minutes,” Noah says.
“Great. I’ll see you both shortly.” I say and close the door.