VINCE
I played the scene out over and over in my head. Seeing the look on Athenaâs face. It was betrayal. It was her plan but she also didnât know that this was happening behind her back. I didnât want her to know. It would make things unreal and I didnât want her to stress everything out. Her face was covered in bruises and dried blood. Her clothes were also torn. She was skinny and tired. I feel like I screwed up really bad when she left. Because who knew if I was ever going to see her again. The Goddess was satisfied. She thinks sheâs won the war. âI almost feel bad for her.â She had gotten out of the bed and started to dress. âItâs not funny. This isnât happening again.â I said as I dressed. âOh please, you werenât complaining at all. Now, why donât you come back.â She came from behind me and tried to hug me. But all I did was move away. âWhere do you think youâre going?â She asked. âTo go find her. She is my mate and you will be nothing but a piece of ass.â The words came out worse than I thought they would. I needed to go find her and make things right.
I canât have her turn on me. I loved her too much to hurt her intentionally. I headed for the door but she was already gone. I tracked for her scent as long as I could and called out to her but there was no response. But it was at this moment I got a call from Jack. Itâs like he knew something was wrong. âHey what happened?â The worry in his voice basically means he already knows. âSheâs gone, man. I didnât tell her about what we were doing and she walked in on his.â A sigh was heard over the phone. âI told you to tell her Vin. She runs when sheâs hurt you know that. I am coming down. I swear if she is gone I am blaming you.â I was already feeling like complete and utter shit at this point. By the time he gets here, she will be long gone. I walked around a little bit longer waiting for Jack to arrive. Knowing him he is coming in his wolf because he would get here a lot fast. I reached a water hole and smelled her there. She had been here to probably clean off but I also smelled death which wasnât settling either. There was a burial ground for the supernatural nearby that made her smell not so tasteful.
About an hour passed by before, I heard leaves crunching that caught my attention. It was Jack and he carried a backpack. He quickly shifted back and started to dress. âHer scent is faint, but the water and the dead carcasses fade it all out.â He sniffed the air some more but he made a sour face. The smell of rotting flesh was the worst. âSo she really found you guys fucking?â I rolled my eyes at his comment. âShe was on top of me when she walked in. Man, the look on her face just said everything. I shouldâve just told her but she was already stressing out and she was getting her ass beat every single day. I didnât know what to do. I just froze while she dramatically took off with her award-winning âYou can have himâ speechâ We both walked around for a good while and went deeper and deeper into the forest. It just wasnât adding up. âYou just canât seem to keep your dick in your pants huh?â Jack said. âWhat is that supposed to mean?â I think this brotherly bonding is about to get worse. âI mean you waited a day before you made a move on Athena and the Goddess? What do you want the Queen of England next?â I hit him over the head with his stupid comment. âIf it matters they both came onto me first. I was just fulfilling everyoneâs dreams.â We both started laughing at that. âShe is a catch. She didnât care about status but she was respectfully honest about how she felt. But now you never really know. Like she feels she is a burden to everyone. But she could never be. This is why I never wanted to find my mate. But only me. Sheâd be my brotherâs mate. And I am always coming in second.â His words put me in deep thought. I guess I never really considered how he felt. He felt like a second option and I am the reason for it. But how could we break that cycle? How do I want the person I am meant to be with but hurt my brother in the process of it all?