Queen Athena

02. Black Rose

Chapter Two - Black Rose

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Athena Grace Hound 

BloodHound Pack

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I glared at him from where I was standing, while he just sat there looking over his paperwork. I crossed my arms and glared at him.

I wanted him to feel how angry I was at him.

This was probably the meanest glare I could muster, and here he is just waving it off like it was nothing.

"Athena, you have to understand, it was for your own good," he muttered not lifting his head to even look at me.

I puffed a big exhale of breath and grinded my teeth in anger. But it didn't deter him, not even a slight flinch when I growled under my breath. He is an Alpha, so that would explain the lack of fear. And he is my dad and I'm his pup.

"But you promised!" I said angrily, looking him over with a pout on my lips. Knowing him, he has this exception when it comes to his children, the stern Alpha turns soft.

I was very persistent, a trait that I inherited from my mother, as dad mentioned before. He didn't even glance at me as he continued to do his work.

"It was for your own protection-"

"I'll be 18 tomorrow! haven't I proved enough to you that I can take care of myself?" I exasperated and he sighed. Finally giving in and putting his work aside. Turning his full attention to me, clashing both his hands on his office table.

"You're my only daughter, do you honestly think that I will let you be venerable like that?" He asked standing up, and made a move to approach me, I stepped back every time he took a step towards me.

He looked at my face and sighed, crossing his arms at my persistent nature.

"I wasn't, I only stayed inside the pack." I exhaled "You are so unfair Dad, we talked about this ever since I was a little girl, and you promised me!" I told him frustrated.

I continued to scowl at my father but he wouldn't budge, good thing I was his daughter or I'll probably be sent to the dungeons from the way I was acting.

"I know" he muttered to himself, but due to my sensitive hearing, I heard him loud and clear. I smiled internally as I noticed that he finally admitted in such a short amount of time. Usually, when we have this kind of conversation it will last to two hours max.

"I'm sorry but it was for the best and you know it. Even in my own pack, we can't just trust anybody for your protection," he said and looked me over, searching for a sign that I was injured.

The disappointment I feel towards him was an understatement, I've been looking forward to this day my entire life and he ruined it.

I do get where he is coming from, but I was trained by him and my brother, he has to understand that I'm not as fragile as he thinks.

"So, you just happen to have a witch on our territory and she happens to know about my eyes" I mentioned and he seemed surprised about my sudden discovery. He shook his head and pushed his hair out of his face. "So you met her already" I nod, scowling.

"Well she is reliable and loyal" he muttered and I arched my brow at what he said. "How do you know that?" I asked and he chuckled, mumbling about how annoyingly persistent I was.

"She proved herself to the pack, even before I was born" He mentioned and I glared at him.

"So you trust her to be around the pack and knowing my secret, but you can't trust me, your only daughter, enough that I can handle myself?" I tauntingly said, adding stress to the word daughter.

He looked taken back from my question, his eyes bulging out and a chuckle escaped his lips.

"I.. It's different Athena., you wouldn't understand" he claimed and I glared at him.

I was about to protest when his office door opened with a bang and revealing my ever so lovely mother.

She was the definition of poise and elegance, never once did I see her posture slouch, not a hair on her head out of place.

"Benjamin, dear you have an appointment with the elders, and you know how they hate it when people are late," she said with a bit of irritation, my father is known to be fashionably late, and of course my mother hated that. She hates it when things are out of order, like me.

"Of course," Dad said and grabbing the stack of papers and placing it in his suitcase. "And dear, wear your nice tie, they wouldn't appreciate a Alpha wearing a tie that is inappropriate" I laughed a bit, which made my mother glare at me and dad grin.

He was a pretty laid back Alpha, not like the other Alpha's we know that are very strict and controlling. My dad was like an easy going Father that takes his children to a local soccer match every week.

A lot of royals and elders thinks that he isn't suited with the Alpha title but of course he continues to prove himself to them every single time he has submitted a report to the Council.

Dad left laughing and leaving my mother huffing angrily, their mate bond was really surprising, considering they don't have anything in common, they're polar opposites. But we can't question the moon goddess's choices, a mate bond is a mate bond.

Mother looked me over and gave a disapproving look. "Athena why do you look like you had been rolling in dirt, how many times to I have to tell you that it is not proper to act like that!" She scolded me, I looked at her emotionless. This was a common occurrence, that no one should be accustomed to.

"I've gone out, went around town mother" I lazily said, looking at her directly at her eyes. She huffed in annoyance. "And you wouldn't think to let me know? Athena the council is already at the pack, what will they think of you misbehaving? What if they saw you in town? They will be furious with not only you but both your father and I as well! This outlandish behaviour has got to stop" she continued to lecture me while I completely ignored everything she just said.

"Do not be a disgrace to the family name Athena!" I fisted my hand next to me, keeping my face down, I could not let her see my eyes.

"Now go to your room and clean yourself up, the elder council is expecting you. They want to formally speak to you regarding your birthday tomorrow" she ordered and I nodded. Mother then went to work, rearranging the mess that my dad made on his desk.

Mother was like that, everything has to perfect, everything should be where they were. Nothing should be out of place.

That rule implies also to her two children.

Leaving the office I inhaled deeply, closing the door behind me softly. My vision then turned black and punched the person next to the door. He too was going to face my wrath.

"Tena! What was that for?" he said breathlessly, holding his gut wheezing. I glared at him and kicked him on the shin also. That made him wince and fall to the ground in pain, quite dramatically might I add.

"That's what you get for breaking your promise" I told him and crossed my arms. I was already ticked off, and having a conversation with my mother made it worse.

"I was only following the Alpha's orders Tena, I can't exactly disobey him" he muttered, groaning in pain exaggerately.

"Stand up, the only thing that hurt you was that kick. Stop over reacting you wimp" I angrily said and he laughed. "I just wanted to make you smile" he winks and standing, brushing the imaginary dust on his trousers.

"Well you can't, because you broke your promise" I huffed and walked away, but him being the Liam that I know, followed after me.

"I didn't exactly broke it, I didn't disrupt you." He says and I stopped in my tracks, turning around and giving him another death glare. "I was only watching you from a distance" he mutters and rubbing the back of his neck.

Ignoring him I continued my pace and stomping to my room, with him following behind me.

Ever since we were kids. Mother has always been controlling, raising us to be proper and all that s**t. She was raised in a rather luxurious way, her side of the family was rich and to our displeasure the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, they're all control freaks.

I walked around the halls, controlling my breath. I was in slightly happy that I get to explore outside all by myself, even though half of that time, Liam was following me around.

"Tena don't be angry, you know I only did it for your safety" he blocks my way when we reached my room. Due to his towering figure, he completely blocked me from entering my room.

I looked up at his face and glared at him with an arched brow. He looks at me clearly amused. "For my safety? No one even know what I look like, I don't need to be guarded" I argued. "And you weren't only watching me, you were basically stalking me, you honestly think I didn't recognize you with that horrible wig on?"

"Honestly I thought it was a good disguise" he shrugs I exhaled in annoyance. " Look cut us some slack Tena, we couldn't help but worry about you even Apollo was reluctant on letting you go outside" he mentions.

"Hey, don't include me into this mess, I have nothing to do with it" My brother said as he appeared in the hallway, exiting his room. I ignored him and continued to glare at Liam

"Little sis, just forgive him already, you I both know that he can't refuse to follow an Alpha orders" Apollo says and ruffles my hair, I swatted his hand away.

"But still, a promise was a promise!"

Liam sighs and chuckles under his breath "I'll make it up to you, I promise" he says, I sighed and gave in. "Okay, but this is the last time you break a promise" I point at him daringly while maneuvering my way around the two tall guys that was blocking the hallway.

Closing my bedroom door, locking it behind me. I immediately jumped to my bed, face planted on my sheets. Groaning exhaustedly I faced the balcony window, it was already nightfall.

Unwillingly standing up, I followed my mother's orders and took a short shower, changing into a dress that I found in my closet.

Meeting the elder council was mandatory for me. They know that my 18th birthday was tomorrow, the legal age for werewolves. For Alpha children it was a big deal.

Looking at myself in front of the floor length mirror, I glanced at the necklace that was hanging from my neck. I hid it earlier under the shirt that I was wearing.

Ever since Clio gave them to me, the gem of the moon seem to glimmer, the pocket watch charm was still ticking backwards. Hiding it again under the top of the dress.

After freshing up, I made my way to the the dining hall, where sure enough the meeting was held.

Entering the room I immediately grabbed everyone's attention. Every elder looking my way and studying me with calculating glances. The dining table was already covered with pack files and important documents.

"There is my gorgeous daughter, come sit here sweetie, we were just about to talk about you" My father said from the head of the table, I took a seat on his left, across from where my mother was seated. She then assessed me from head to toe, giving me a approving nod.

"Athena, I wish you a happy birthday, it's never too early for my god daughter" The blonde man beside me says. "Thank you Uncle Henry" I said and he mentions for me to give him a hug, which I gladly gave.

"Alpha Benjamin, I would like to address the issue of the breach in your territory lines." The head Elder asked completely out of topic, looking sternly at my dad, he responded passively, showing no sign of discomfort.

"Yes, the border line was indeed breached by a lone rogue, he was of no threat, just a passerby so the guards let him go" he reported, the elder didn't seem convinced, arching a brow and tapping the table with his index finger. He clicks his tongue on the roof of his mouth.

"How can you make sure of that? Maybe he was taking advantage of your kindness. Letting him in the pack be in just like that, who knows what he would've done" He taunted my father, but being his Alpha self, he stood his ground, never once growling from the obvious sign of disrespect from the elder. Although Alpha's have a higher ranking than Elders, they are highly respected all of them are previous high ranking members.

"Simple, he still have his pack mark on his shoulder. That alone should tell you that he doesn't mean harm to this pack" My father smirked, knowing that the head Elder was taunting him, he especially was one of the people that we're opposed to my father being Alpha. He is constantly finding ways to abdicate my father, but unsuccessfully failing every single time.

The elder was furiously glaring at my father's amused face. Another elder, a previous Female Beta spoke, clearing the tension between them.

"On to a more important note. Now that Athena is here, we would like to discuss the ceremony, I'm sure everything is prepared for tomorrow Luna Katerina?" She asks, my mother smiles and nods. "Yes everything that was planned was executed well. Rehearsals were a success yesterday , and the caterer's and maidens are already prepared." I huffed in annoyance, not looking at anybody, almost everyone here knows what my eyes mean. One look at my eyes they will know what I was feeling.

It was a pack tradition that the 18th birthday of a Alpha Daughter has to be celebrated with a big feast, every Alpha in the continent or even farther should be invited.

The moon goddess made it that a girl from a Alpha line should be mated to a fellow Alpha linage, be it a Alpha, Beta or Gamma. Males were a different story, they coud be mated to any wolf in the pack.

"What is your plan for concealing her eyes?" A silver haired male asked, one I forgot what his name was. Honestly half of the members of the Council, I don't know who they we're

"Already covered, she'll be wearing a pair of colored lenses, one that was made just for her." My mother excitedly searches thru her purse, revealing a small lens compartment showing it to them. "It is her natural eye color, she'll be wearing this the whole day. No one will notice, or suspect anything" she gives them to me, I look at it suspiciously. The head of the Council then nods.

"Are the Royals making an appearance tomorrow?" another man whom I don't know ask. "The King accepted the invitation, he and his beta would be coming at dawn tomorrow" my father answers.

"Athena, you are aware that you could possibly meet your mate tomorrow" Uncle Henry suddenly says amidst the conversation. My dad then stiffen upon hearing it.

"Brother I rather not talk about my only daughter getting betrothed this early in her life."

"But you have to consider that she might meet him tomorrow. You only get to meet one mate in your lifetime" He says, looking away. Dad then groans, rubbing his face and muttering about how he will chase him out of the border lines if it happens. "What if she is mated to the Alpha North? wouldn't that be great for the pack? We could finally have a alliance with that stubborn pack" Uncle mutters while my mother coughs in surprise.

"I would rather not have my daughter be wed to such a brute!" Dad growls at him, his eyes directed to Uncle in irritation.

"I assume that your daughter is old enough to know the responsibilities of an Alpha's daughter if she doesn't meet her mate tomorrow" the head of the Elders mentions, his gaze slightly intimidating, or was it the lack of hair that was on the top of his head.

"She is aware of it, she's been trained alongside Apollo ever since they were children" mother says quite annoyed. "Its good to be clear my Luna, we wouldn't want a repeat of last time now would we" he taunts, making my father growl under his breath.

A knock called everyone's attention, my brother stood there, looking around the room. He was probably eavesdropping anyway, he did know when to make an entrance.

"I apologize for the interruption, but could I have a moment with my mother and sister? Their gowns had just arrived" he butted in, I heard my father inhaled a sigh of relief, nodding to us. Mother and I excused ourselves and left the room.

"Now Athena, the gown is extremely delicate, a gorgeous piece made by our seamstress. Be very carefull tommorow the silk tears easily "My mother tells me, I nod, not really acknowledging her.

Two mannequins were placed in our living area. A lavender A line dress was next to my black ball gown. Of course my mother's dress were far more conservative than mine. My mothers claps her hands in excitement once she saw my dress, she mentions for me to have a more closer look.

"The dress is perfect for you Athena, she did exceptioneply well with mine as well." she runs her hand along the fabric of the dress, she beckons for a maid to bring it to our rooms. Another maid then shows her Apollo and father's suits, which were made to be matched with ours.

Based on my mother's face she seemed to be pleased, I thanked the seamstress internally. We didn't have to be subjected to our mother's wrath.

Soon enough my mother rushed to another room, probably fussing about the decorations and food. Apollo then approached me, with a rather large bouquet of flowers in his hands. "Is this for me brother? have you gone soft on me?" I teased him, he exhales loudly, laughing under his breath. "You wish"

He places them on the coffee table, I glanced at it, a single black rose in a bouquit of red roses, sits in the middle. Quite an odd arrangement

"It was sent by a messenger, he didn't say where it was from though. Maybe it was from a admirer" Apollo chuckes popping his knuckles. "Well I have something, or someone to look forward to beating tomorrow" he taunts, I glared at him which he amusedly laughs at.

"Don't worry sissy, I won't break all his bones" he jokes and ruffling my hair again, I growled at him, patting my hair down.

"Apollo" we heard our mother's voice call out from the kitchen, he sighs in annoyance but went to follow her anyway.

I then studied the gift from the stranger. The black rose sits comfortably in the middle, it catches your attention immediately, the bold color out of place from the rest.

Maybe it was from Alpha North, last I remember he did have some kind of infatuation with me.

I gently reached for it, removing it from the rest. I would place it on a vase, next to my bed. But to my surprise a black ribbon was attached to the stem . A small folded parchment was dangling at the end of it, with a seal melted at the middle of it, keeping the letter closed. It was hidden inside the bouquet.

Looking around, everybody was busy with their chores. Seeing that no one was looking I touched the seal, recognizing it instantly. It was the royal seal.

Would it be a greeting from the Royal family? But sending it anonymusly made it suspicious. And a black rose amidst a bunch of roses? Aren't black roses used for mourning?

//AN: I made a watercolor painting of the rose and its posted on my insta❤.  @BellewithaJ

Curiousity got the best of me, carefully tearing the seal away and opening the letter, placing the black rose neatly on the table, being careful with the delicate petals

Only a name was written inside. Reading it slowly I gasped in surprise.

Xavier Black

The Royal Alpha, or should I say. The King of the Wolves, had sent this bouquet. He is known to be quite mysterious, I've only seen him once, when he was crowned King upon his father's passing. Only my father met him that day, when he addressed all the Alpha's

But his eyes constantly haunted my mind ever since that faithful day, his grey eyes that seem to see right thru my soul.

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