He’s My Mate, page 31
“Is this what your phone call was about?” I glared at Hector who shifted uncomfortably on his feet under my gaze.
“Oh come on Athena live a little. You’ve been so stressed lately we thought you could do with cheering up”
“You’ll both regret this you know that right” flashing them an evil smirk I picked Layla up and took her inside. I would get them back and they knew it.
Once everyone had arrived and the children were settled the magic show began. Henrik was putting on one hell of a display and everyone seemed to enjoy it. He created animals using magical orbs for the children and ended with a firework display. Layla had really enjoyed her day and eventually she gave in to exhaustion. We were spending the night at my old pack, a pack that would be mine in less than two weeks. I would be their Alpha even though we were going to merge the Moonlight pack with the Gemstone pack. At first my dad wasn’t thrilled, he had jumped the gun and assumed there would no longer be a Moonlight pack. He however was wrong. I may be mates with another alpha but that didn’t mean I couldn’t run my own pack while completing my Luna duties for his. It would be hard work, especially with two children, but hey I’m looking forward to it.
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Axles POV
Members of my Gemstone pack were arriving today excited to see Athena take over as Alpha. She more than deserved it. Still to this day I’m both thankful and blessed to have a mate as kind, forgiving and strong as she is. Athena had been put through the ringer more times that I could count, yet each time she beat the odds and came out with her head held high. I knew I didn’t deserve her, nor did I deserve Hector, yet they loved me unconditionally. The day Roman was born, I barely made it to the hospital in time. I had been so stuck in my downward spiral of regret that I shut everyone out. My daughter didn’t know who I was which I knew was my own fault, and it was also my father’s birthday. It wasn’t until one of the omegas came flying through the door that I realised why my phone had been constantly ringing. I had never felt so scared as I did the moment, I ran through those delivery doors. Athena had tears streaming down her face while Hector sat next to her nursing what looked to be a broken hand. Athena screamed as she pushed, the birth taking its toll on her body. An alphas pup was generally bigger than that of an omega, so while Athena only had a tiny frame she struggled. Once Roman was born my own dam burst. I fell to my knees as I stared at him. He had Athena’s eyes my facial features and Hectors hair. He really was a piece of each of us. It was when I looked into those bright blue eyes that I promised never to fail my mates again. To be as loyal as they were to me and each other.
“Daydreaming again?” Athena’s silky voice caught me by surprise as she came
up behind me snaking her arms around my waist. I relaxed completely as she rested her head against my back.
“Just thinking about the day Roman was born. I really am sorry about all the shit I put you through”
“I know you are, and I know how much it meant to you that he was born on your fathers’ birthday. Its why Hector chose his middle name” And I couldn’t have been more grateful. Roman Tobias Gemstone. I did want him to take Hector’s surname, but he insisted that he and Athena were taking mine. He said being as he wasn’t an Alpha it wouldn’t be right. Though I still don’t agree with him. “Come I want to show you something” Athena took my hand interlocking her fingers with my own. She led me up to our room and towards the bed where Hector was waiting.
“What’s going on?” Hector seemed just as confused as I did.
“Go look in the bathroom” Athena sat on the edge of the bed a silly smile playing at her lips. Hector and I furrowed our brows as we went into the bathroom. It immediately caught my eye, and I couldn’t believe it.
“Pregnant 6-8weeks” I read it aloud and Hector laughed.
“We have super sperm” both Athena and I laughed at his reaction. He wasn’t wrong though. We had been careful, we used condoms every time not wanting to have another pup until both Layla and Roman had grown a bit.
“I was going to wait and tell you when we got home but I couldn’t wait. I know it’s not what we planned but…” her words were cut off as Hector slammed his lips into hers. Arousal flooded through the bond causing my dick to harden in my jeans. Walking over to where my mates stood, I lowered my face to Athena’s neck. Kissing and nibbling her mark the scent of her arousal grew stronger. Sliding my hand under her top I palmed her breast rolling her nipple between my fingers. Hectors hand undid her skirt pushing it to the ground with her panties. Picking her up he carried her to the bed placing her on her back. Coming up next to him I trailed my kisses down her neck going lower and lower until I reached her pulsating nub. Flicking her clit with my tongue Athena gripped the bed cover in her fists as she writhed under my touch. Hector held her wrists in place while kissing her mark and before sucking on her breast. Slowly inserting two fingers I twisted and curled them before slowly pulling them out only to push them hard back inside. Her moans muffled by Hector as his tongue dived into her mouth. Quickening up the pace I pumped my fingers into her until she orgasmed coating them in her juices. Slipping them from her I put them in her mouth letting her taste herself on them. Lining my hardened dick at her entrance I coated it in her juices before thrusting into her.
“Alpha we’re under attack” the words that made me instantly limp. Fear coursed through me as I thought about our children. Quickly I pulled out and pulled my trousers up. Telling my mates what was happening we quickly ran downstairs. The entire courtyard was in chaos. The stench of rogues perfumes the air. Moonlight wolves were definitely skilled but weren’t anywhere near as quick. Athena ran to find our pups while Hector and I began to defend the Moonlight pack. Together we fought fiercer than ever before. We now had pups and a pregnant mate to protect, so now nothing else mattered.
The rogues were bigger than the standard wolf which shocked me. That and they acted like a pack. This wasn’t a random attack; this had been organised and well planned out. I caught sight of Jake and Angel each of them in the deepest part of the fight. This was still their pack, and they wouldn’t go down easy. A loud roar caught my attention giving another wolf enough time to jump me. Knocking me to the ground he bit into my shoulder.
“AXEL GEMSTONE” following the sound of shouting I spotted a large man covered in tattoos holding my baby. My blood runs cold, my heart hammering in my chest.
‘Axel someone took Roman. I have Layla but he’s gone’ Athena was all but screaming through the mind link. Sending her a mental picture I ended the link giving this soon to be dead man my full attention.
“I had intended to kill your father, that was until I heard he already… what’s the term? Kicked the bucket? I owe him for making me what I am for making me a FUCKING ROGUE” my eyes remained on my son. Thor was ready, should he try something our first priority would be Roman.
“Give me my son” I forced every decibel of Alpha tone into my words. Had he been an ordinary rogue he would have been slightly affected, but nothing. He was completely unscathed.
“Quite the boy he will turn out to be I hear. You see Axel I know who you are, who your mates are and what you are capable of. I also know what this child will be.”
“Who are you?” If he knew what he said, then he’d know this wouldn’t end well. That neither me or my mates would allow him to hurt our son.
“Jameson Gemstone. I guess my brother really did remove my existence from the pack. Nevertheless, I will get my revenge on you instead. Firstly, let’s deal with this little abomination shall we” Fur began to sprout along my limbs at the threat of his intentions towards Roman. Jameson extended his canines and went to deliver the fatal blow to my child only for Hector to knock him down sending our baby sprawling into the air. Angel had shifted back and was quick to catch him.
I didn’t even have time to let out the breath I’d been holding before Thor took control now seething with anger. Racing toward my uncle he shifted into a wolf similar to mine. He to was a fire element. We circled each other, each of us daring the other to make the first move. Our instincts the same as we collided, our jaws snapping at one another. In the distance I could hear Athena crying knowing she was now cradling Roman while getting him to safety. Seeing my distraction Jameson managed to get the upper hand. He truly was a skilled fighter, and he was strong. The teeth bit into my back leg causing Thor to whimper as he shook us dislocating it. Jameson shifted back into human form as he lowered his face to mine.
“I will make them watch as I end your entire bloodline. Who knows, I may even take your bitch for myself” not realising what he was about to do Thor pushed forward his canines tearing out my uncle’s throat. At the same time a pain radiates through my entire body as we collapsed on top of him. The last thing I heard was the screams of my mates as everything around me went cold and black.
Chapter Sixty
Hectors POV
My hands clenched my chest. My heart soaring with pain. Axel had been gravely injured and our bond to him was fading. Athena was on the floor her mum taking Roman as she began to thrash in pain. The look on her face said all I needed to know. We were running out of time. Axel was dying. Forcing the bond away was just enough to dull the pain enabling me to move. Crawling over to where Axel laid unconscious a sliver knife sat embedded in his chest. Feeling for his pulse it was there but it was getting weaker by the second. Silver was fatal to us and the position it was in made it impossible for me to remove.
“Come on let’s get him to the hospital” Alpha Jake and my father were at my side in a heartbeat. Both helping me to my feet before picking Axel up. The fighting had stopped, the rogues running away as their leader met his demise. No-one chased after them, my mate was every ones priority at this moment.
“My darling oh my goddess” my mum cupped my face tears falling from her eyes before pulling me flush against her.
“Mum I’m ok, but Axel I… Athena, where is she? ATHENA!”
“She’s here. She’s here. She’ll be ok. Just please go with Axel I will take care of her” Luna Angel cradled Roman while embracing her daughter. I knew she would take care of both my mate and our pups. Athena was the only daughter she had left and still to this day neither her nor Alpha Jake had forgiven themselves for not more to help Athena’s suffering over the years.
Henrik appeared out of nowhere and transported us directly into a hospital surgical room where a team of scrubbed up doctors were ready to go. Alpha Jake and my dad carefully placed Axel on the bed where I wasted no time in grabbing his hand, I needed to feel a connection with him, I needed to feel those sparks. His skin was clammy and losing its colour. The pain threatening to subdue me. One of the nurses ushered us outside were I spent the next three hours frantically pacing the corridor. I knew he was alive, the tether of our mate bond there although barely.
My dad had told me to rest but I couldn’t even if I wanted to. The three of us had only just got back on track, Athena was pregnant again and to top it off my sons first birthday had been ruined. Athena soon arrived, her eyes red and puffy her mascara stained her face. We stood there holding each other for what felt like an eternity until a doctor finally came to us.
“Hello, I’m Dr Mendez, I’m sorry to be meeting you for the first time under such strenuous circumstances. We were able to remove the knife and stop the bleeding but I’m afraid some irreversible damage has been caused. His pulse remains weak however he appears to be stable. We will need to keep him here for a few days to ensure he heals appropriately”
“What is the damage? Surely once the silver leaves his blood Thor can heal him?”
“I’m afraid not Alpha Athena. He will heal at the rate of a human, I’m sorry to have to tell you this but weren’t able to save his wolf” Those words knocked the air from my lungs. Axel’s wolf was gone. The one thing that made us whole, the one thing that kept us sane: well for the most part anyway. Bryant whimpered and howled in my head at the loss of his friend and mate.
“Ca… can we see him” Athena’s voice was as shaky as her body, and I hoped that this stress wouldn’t harm our pup, if something were to happen it would just finish us off.
“Of course. A nurse will be out shortly and will show you where to go. And I am truly sorry” we both just stood there shocked and routed in place. The nurse eventually came to get us, but we were struggling to process what the doctor had told us and hadn’t heard a word she said.
Walking into the brightly lit room and seeing Axel so vulnerable bought me to my knees. His top half wrapped up in bandages wires all over his body and a tube down his throat. The sight of him this way sickened me. How would Axel ever get past this? Axel had spent years trying to control Thor and when he finally holds the reins his wolf is ripped away from him. Athena climbed onto the bed beside Axel gently resting her head on the non-injured side of his chest. Her hands stroked the side of his face as she whispered to him.
All of a sudden the machines went haywire, their alarms blaring as several doctors ran into the room. A nurse had to prize Athena away from Axel as she screamed for him to wake up and to stay with us. Being escorted back out into the corridor, all we could do was wait.
Ten years later…
Athena’s POV
“Roman I swear to the goddess if I have to tell you one more time, I’m going to have your wolf put to sleep until your eighteenth birthday!”
“Fine you ruin everything… I hate you” sliding down the wall and placing my head in my knees I sighed. Roman was incredibly difficult these days. Like my mum he shifted early and since then his attitude has been nothing short of terrible. Axel constantly tells me to give him a break, that he’s only bonding with his wolf. His wolf was beautiful though. His name was Balthazar, and he was pure white. Hector had been trying to teach him how to control his wolf but unfortunately all it did was end in arguing. They constantly clashed and I knew it hurt them both when they didn’t get along. The number of times I have caught Roman crying in his tree house because he thinks his father hates him upsets me. We all love him just as we love Layla and his younger brother Kai.
“Athena? What are you doing down there?” I looked up to see Axel eyeing me suspiciously.
“Roman”
“What did he do this time?”
“He shifted and hid under Layla’s bed. When her and her friends woke up, he grabbed her ankle and scared the shit out of them. I told him how he can’t do that and so he told me he hates me… again” Axel just shook his head and smiled before sitting on the floor beside me.
“He’s only young and he’s still learning. But I will talk to him. He doesn’t hate you Athena, you’re an amazing mum he just doesn’t know how to work through his emotions. I was the same you know that, but let’s not dig that back up. I’m not making excuses for him, but when you lose your wolf, it really makes you wish you’d had more fun with them. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t wish to have Thor back, to be able to have one more run with him, to feel the breeze as it blows through his fur. All I’m saying is you don’t realise what you had until it’s gone. Let him be a boy Athena, you know as well as I do when he comes into his gifts the world for him is going to change” gripping my chin he tilted my face upwards placing a delicate kiss on my lips. It amazes me that even after all these years such little moments like these still make me feel amazing. Each touch, each kiss sends sparks igniting on my skin starting that throbbing between my legs all over again. Our bodies had all changed with age, yet it hasn’t changed how we each felt about each other.
Axel stood from the floor and offered me his hand. Taking it, he pulled me up lifting me off the floor as I wrapped my legs around his waist. After assuring me Hector had left to take the kids to school, he carried me up to our room. Placing me on my back he began to undress me placing a kiss on each piece of skin he revealed. Goosebumps covered my entire body at the loving act before his lips smashed into mine. Flipping us over and pulling Axle’s shirt over his head, I began sucking on his mark. He may not have Thor anymore, but he still felt the enticing effects of the mate bond. Trailing my tongue down Axle’s chiselled chest while keeping eye contact with him I paused when I reached his belt. Quickly undoing it and pulling his jeans down I let his beast spring free.
Taking it firmly in my hand I swirled my tongue around the tip causing him to drop his head back onto the bed. Taking it into my mouth I sucked it with a fiery passion while massaging his balls. The groans that left his mouth made my own nub start to pulsate. A few sucks more and he blew, his warm seed trickling down my throat.
