Chapter Text
Athena feels her heart racing as she is fighting to get to her parents. There is utter chaos in the pack, but they don’t smell like rogue wolves. Rogues have a distinct smell- yet it is clear these wolves don’t belong. Athena knows it’s not every wolf's fault they are rogue. Sometimes they leave their packs due to bad situations, abuse, neglect- slavery. Others are forced to become rogue due to their own crimes.
Athena bursts into her home to see her parents on their knees before their alpha, “please no” Samuel begs. He looks at Athena, “she just turned 18- she has a fated mate out there” he reminds the alpha. A tear slips from Beatrice’s eye, “are you sure it’s her?” she looks at their alpha as if she is already resigned to what he is telling them. “We are not strong enough to fight his pack- he said he would stop if he had Athena” their Alpha says simply.
Athena feels her blood run cold as she is understanding what they are wanting, “please, I have a mate somewhere out there” Athena takes a step back but is stopped by the alpha command, “DON’T MOVE” he orders her and she finds herself frozen to the spot. “Don’t do this” Samuel stands trying to get to his daughter while Beatrice tries to hold him back. “Alpha Grayson is this the wolf you desire?” her Alpha asks and Athena shivers at the way this new man looks over her. “Why yes, yes, it is” he grins, “I believe she will make a fine Luna or you know plaything” he says with a shrug. Athena feels so much anguish inside as she looks at her Alpha, “please” she begs. “I’m sorry Athena, your life will save our packs” he says before turning to Alpha Grayson and extending his hand, “deal” he says. “NOooo” Samuel roars, “don’t you hurt my baby” he is fighting while Beatrice is straining to keep her husband back. “Keep your husband in line” the Alpha says. “Samuel stop it, she will be with an Alpha, she will have a good life” Beatrice says making Athena’s heart bleed. “Momma please don’t make me go” she whimpers and Beatrice sighs, “you will be saving our pack. Just be good and do everything Alpha Grayson says” are Beatrice’s final words to her daughter. The next thing Athena knows she is getting dragged away from her parents as she is sold to the bastard Alpha.
Athena gets thrown into a car forcefully. “What do you want?” she snaps, “what did you mean about making a good Luna?” she asks. Alpha Grayson looks at her, “most she wolves would love to be in your position, they can’t wait to play with an Alpha” he says before biting her ear. She cries out and shoves him away angering him. “You heard your mother” he growls before backhanding her so hard she finds her head spinning. “I don’t understand” she cries and he rolls his eyes, “you will see once we get to my land” he mutters.
They drive for what feels like hours before the car finally stops. When they get out of the vehicle Athena finds her wrist squeezed painfully by Alpha Grayson as he drags her around showing off his pack. Athena looks and is more interested in the warriors as well as schedules of rounds than anything else. She is still clinging to the hope of escape and finding her true mate.
Finally they enter the pack house and she is dragged into Alpha Grayson’s room. “You will act as the Luna in all matters that count” he tells her as she stares at him. “I don’t understand, you are taking a chosen mate?” she questions. It is frowned upon but often times when wolves can’t find their other halves, the one the moon goddess made for them, they will pick and mark a chosen mate. Alpha Grayson laughs, “Did I choose you yes. I saw you and wanted you and I take what I want” he says. “I will mark you because I don’t want you with anyone else, you will be the Luna only in responsibilities- there is no way I would accept you, an omega, as Luna of the mighty Winterford Pack” he laughs.
Athena can’t help her frown, “then why would you mark me? I can do the Luna duties without you marking me” she states knowing she doesn’t want to be bonded to him. His eyes flash with anger, “because like I said I don’t want you with anyone else. The only way I can guarantee that is if I mark you” he says as he approaches her. Athena backs away from him, she knows she is not strong enough to fight him as she is supposed to get her wolf tonight. “You can try and fight me” he laughs, “I like when my playthings have a little spunk- I do so enjoy breaking them”. She shakes her head, “please you don’t have to do this” but he doesn’t listen as he lunges at her, throwing her onto the bed. “You know the best thing? I don’t want pups and since you're not my Goddess given mate you will never have children. I can take you as many times as I please with no consequences” he laughs as he tears at her clothes. She does what she can to desperately fight him off but she is no match for his brute strength and she screams as she feels him bite down on her marking spot while taking away the last of her innocence.
…..
Athena wakes with a start from her dream. She would say it is a nightmare but that is more or less what her life is here in the Winterford Pack- mainly due to a particular Alpha. She starts to get ready for the day and prep what was needed for Alpha Grayson or Heath as she had learned his first name was. It will get better Pearl, her wolf tells her. Pearl had shown up after Heath left her that awful night, she comforted Athena as best as she could and healed her from the physical injuries Heath caused, unfortunately only time could heal the emotional wounds. She will admit that having Pearl made her feel less alone despite her wolf’s optimism. Athena rolls her eyes as she talks back to her wolf, we’ve been stuck in this hell for six years I don’t think the Moon Goddess is listening she says, plus this pack is scared of their own Alpha- how is it supposed to get better? but Pearl doesn’t have an answer.
“Mommy” Athena hears as she enters her children’s room. They shared a tiny room but Athena had hung a sheet in between them to make it look like they had their own space and the kids loved it. That is one thing she can be grateful for, the only time he raped her was the day he marked her and gave her the most precious gift, her daughter May. Heath had been pissed when he found out she was expecting but since the hospital had it recorded he couldn’t do anything about it. As he told her that first night he never wanted his own pups so he hadn’t raped her again. She still had to deal with his unwanted touching and his physical assaults but with Pearl she could block it out for the most part.
She had also been allowed to adopt an orphan wolf, a young boy that she had named Harry. That one had cost her, Heath had returned from a run angry and bloody. He claimed that there had been a rogue attack. When she questioned why he had the baby he said he was going to teach everyone a lesson on what happens if you are a rogue and dare attack his mighty pack. She didn't know what that meant until he had called a pack gathering and tried to take the child's life. Athena had thrown herself in front of the baby and plead for mercy, saying she would raise him and Heath would never have to interact with him. "Back down" he had growled at her and she refused. Suddenly, people from the pack were speaking up about how benevolent he would be to show mercy and raise the child. She could see the anger in his eyes but he couldn't go against his pack too much. He agreed, stating the child would never have claim as Alpha and he had beaten Athena severely in private that night, but she had saved her baby boy so it was worth it.
Her children were her life, she prepped whatever she needed as Luna but she spent the majority of her time waitressing in town or working odds and ends. Heath had a bad habit of spending more than he should so she had gotten the job to try and replenish what she could while also trying to save as much as she could hoping that one day he would let her go. Although they didn't look alike, May took her role as a big sister very seriously, even though she was just two when Harry arrived. Neither mother nor daughter cared that Harry’s scent was off- he wasn't quite human but he wasn't quite wolf either- it was as if something was blocking him but Athena had faith that with unconditional love everything would turn out fine for their small family.
“I had a dream mommy” May tells her as Athena works to get her kids ready for the day. “Tell me” she encourages. “I was in a beautiful field and this pretty lady told me that my daddy was waiting for me” she says making Athena frown. Heath had nothing to do with the children, especially since May was a girl and couldn’t inherit the pack. He stayed true to his word and didn’t acknowledge Harry as his own and she tried to hide the interactions she had with Heath from the children. Even after all this time Heath still took joy in hitting Athena when he was angry, belittling her and his favorite form of punishment was sleeping with other she wolves because of the pain she felt due to the stupid bond his mark made.
“Baby I don’t know if daddy will be available-“ but before she can say more May is shaking her head, “no my new daddy. The lady said he would love all of us as his” she says with such innocence for her six years of age. Athena bites her lip, “okay baby, let’s just not say that out loud okay?” she asks knowing if Heath overhears she will be in trouble. May nods while looking at her mom, she hopes her dream was true because she sees how hard her mom works and knows that her dad is not a nice man to her mom.
“Alright go downstairs and eat, help your brother” she reminds May who takes her four-year-old brothers' hand and they go off. “When I’m done talking to your dad I will come get you to take you to daycare” she says and her daughter nods. Athena takes a deep breath before walking to Heath’s office and knocking on the door. “What were you and May talking about?” Heath asks once she enters and her heart rate increases hoping he hadn’t heard, “she was just telling me about a dream she had” she says softly. Heath eyes her, “we will be hosting a party tonight and I need you to be present” he states.
“Why? I’ve never been present before” she asks without thinking. She gasps as his palm connects with her face and she falls to the ground. “Why do you make me do these things Athena?” he asks her, “when will you learn not to question me?”. Athena takes a steadying breath before standing. That fucking bastard Pearl is yelling he’s no alpha of mine. Athena takes a few moments trying to calm her wolf down. She had been training in secret but it had made Pearl more confident that she could rip Heath’s throat out. Think of the children she hisses at Pearl and it does the trick. “I’m sorry” Athena says, “what time should I prepare for?” she asks instead. “The party will start at 9 PM make sure that everything is flawless” he laughs. “May I be excused?” she asks feeling annoyed that she had to go make last minute preparations. “What was that?” he leered at her. “May I be excused, Alpha” she grits out and he nods.