Athena watched as Leo, Tucker, and Case escorted a yelling Sheila out of the building. She said a silent prayer for the three men because that woman was fucked in the head.
Athena looked back to where her husband was in a conversation with an older man that was dressed in a three-piece business suit. She could tell from how relaxed he was that her husband and this man knew each other well.
“O’Connor, this is my wife, my true mate, Athena. Athena, this is the pack’s attorney, Bigley O’Connor. He is also the attorney I had for my company while I was in California.”
Athena smiled at the man and shook his hand. She could see he was a gentle soul.
“Don’t let the smile fool you, mate. He’s a fucking shark in the courtroom. I stole him from his law firm. I think the D.A. and everyone else in California cried in relief.”
Athena laughed at her husband’s joke with the attorney. She was starting to see him relax more and more lately.
Placing her hand over her stomach, she said another small prayer for her husband and their unborn child. She sent a silent prayer that the mess with the Maplewood Pack was over with soon.
She still had a hard time sleeping sometimes after everything they had put her through. She was afraid the worst was yet to come.
Because of that fear, she was petrified of what would happen to Draco, their unborn child, and her in-laws. She admitted she would wish for death if anything happened to them.
Little did she know her nightmares were about to come true. Wishing for death was going to be her new mantra.
Chapter
Thirty-Two
Athena woke with a start.When she realized she was at home in bed with Draco, his arms wrapped around her waist, she relaxed slightly.
With a heavy sigh of relief, she laid back down and curled up closer to Draco. His scent and touch calming her already.
“What’s wrong, mate? Another nightmare?”
“How did you know?”
“We are mates. I can sense your emotions. Want to tell me about it?”
“No, not really. I’m afraid to give them a voice. I can’t lose you, Draco. Not when we’ve finally found each other…”
“Hey, hey! Calm down, baby. I’m not going anywhere. Not without a fight. They don’t know who or what they are up against when it comes to me or Leo. We won’t let anything happen to you or our little one. Even if, by some fluke, they manage to get to you before Leo or myself, just know I will find you. I will always find you.”
“How? How will you find me if they manage to take me into their territory?” Athena sobbed, letting the tears and her fear win out.
“Our minds, our hearts, and our souls are connected, my beautiful mate. There are mates, fated mates, and then there are true fated mates, like us.” Draco pulled her into him, holding her tight.
“I understand the differences between mates and fated mates. But what is the difference between fated mates and true fated mates?”
Athena remembered the conversations with them all in the beginning about the differences between mates and fated mates. Rolling over, she turned to face her husband, her hand going to his to intertwine their fingers together.
She breathed in his scent when he moved to wipe the tears falling freely down her cheeks with his thumbs. Her heart thumping like a runaway horse racing to the finish line.
“Mates choose whomever they want, which is something that happens more often than not. Fated mates are a rarity among shifters. With fated mates, they share a bond that is unshakeable. They can sense feelings and emotions. With fated mates, it’s not talked about, but they don’t even have to like one another or even love one another. That bond can be rejected. It’s hard as hell, but it can be rejected, just like the mate bond when they want to divorce.”
Athena’s eyes jumped to Draco’s. That was something they had failed to tell her about fated mates.
“I thought fated mates were blessed by the goddess or whatnot from the way you guys were talking.”
Athena started to pull away but was stopped with Draco’s hand on her hips stalling her movement. When he pulled up to his elbow so that he could stare down at her, she knew he meant business now.
“For some, yes. If their fated mate was one that they were happy with, then it is a blessing by the goddess. For some, the belief is that fated mates are found to bear strong offspring.There are many different beliefs around it,” Draco answered, rubbing his thumb on her hips in circles.
“True fated mates? Can they be rejected or hate each other?” Athena bit her lip, fear seeping into her eyes and voice.
