-Theo-

''We should have followed her,'' I tell Charles while pacing across the living room.

''You think?!'' he replies, voiced laced with sarcasm. ''I just hope she doesn't do anything stupid.''

''Athena is not a kid Charles. I trust her not to do stupid things,'' I reply, feeling the need to support my mate.

''Yeah right, because she is not very the same person who went and pissed off a 600-year-old vampire, who now, wants her dead!''

I snap my head towards him. ''Now I hope she doesn't do anything stupid. I've already tried calling her several times. Her phone is switched off.''

''You should have gone after her man, stopped her from leaving at least,'' Charles says as he walks out the door and into Athena's apartment.

''And risk it once again. Charles I know her; she doesn't like to be pushed into making decisions. Although I'm pretty sure she will need us in this fight. We need to find out what Amunet has over her. I mean why would she suddenly be interested in killing Athena. We've always maintained distance with the vampires. They don't cross us and we return the favor.''

''We do need to find out Theo. Enough of sitting down and trying to talk to Athena. It always ends up in a fight and her storming out of here,'' he says. ''So now, what do we do about this?'' he then gestures to the murder house.

''We clean up the blood and call the professionals tomorrow,'' I reply as I lift the door and walk in.

''Typical alpha's, making their betas do all the dirty work,'' I hear Charles grumble under his breath.

The next morning, we call the cleaners and carpenter to fix Athena's apartment. ''Do you mind telling me what exactly happened here?'' the supervisor from the cleaning company asks me.

''Oh ummm,'' I try to come up with a reasonable lie but Charles beats me to it. ''Actually sir, you see, the uhh- owner of this apartment is mentally unstable. Last night she had one of her – episodes – for lack of better words and she went on a rampage. We tried our best and were finally able to contain her so we sent her off to rehab for a few days.''

I glare at him but he ignores me. ''Athena will kill you when she finds out,'' I mind link him.

''And who will tell her, you? Relax man, what Athena doesn't know won't hurt her,'' he replies, then cuts the link off.

After a few minutes of inspecting the house the supervisor walks up to me. ''Sir, the damage to this house is extensive. The windows in the kitchen and bedroom are broken. Maximum damage however is here in the living room. There is a lot of work to be done. This might take longer than I expected.''

''That is not a problem, take as long as you can. I want everything to be perfect. You can send the bill to me,'' I reply and walk out.

I'm now in my office, sipping on coffee when my secretary walks in, ''sir, I have called all the hotels in this area and the ones near your home, no one by the name of Athena Robinson checked in last night.''

''That's fine, thank you Alicia. You can leave,'' I dismiss her.

''Where are you love?'' I think out loud, swiveling my chair to face outside. ''Where are you?''

My phone suddenly rings, I look at the caller id before answering, ''Hi man, is everything okay back there?''

''You tell me Theo. What is your mate doing here? and more importantly,why are you not with her?'' Ashton asks me.

''Athena is there? Oh thank the moon goddess. I've looked everywhere for her,'' I sigh in relief.

''What's going on?'' Ashton asks me in that judging tone of his.

''Everything is okay. In fact, I think it's more than okay. If she is there then she has definitely gone to reconcile with her family.''

''I may not be happy about her being here alone, but at least you managed to get her to do that,'' he replies. ''And don't worry I'll keep an eye on her and make sure nothing goes wrong.''

''Thanks man, I'll really appreciate it,'' I reply. 

As soon as I'm done I quickly dial Charles, '' 'sup?'' he answers immediately.

''Athena is at Crimson, so you can come back from wherever you are,'' I tell him. ''Ohh great, I was on my way to the office anyway.''

''Come on, let's go. We should be on our way to the airport by now?'' Charles says as soon as he  barges into my office.

''And why would we be going to the airport?'' I ask him, looking up from my laptop.

''Well we need to go after Athena don't we?''

''No we don't. She's at home, she is safe. I don't want us to go there and spoil whatever she has planned,'' I tell him.

''But –but Theo-'' he starts. 

''No Charles. We are not going there. Let her sort this out on her own. Besides, she won't like it if we go. And look, before you say it, I know, I know that you told me to up my game and I did, I mean we've made progress haven't we?'' I chastise him.

''Okay, yeah, yeah you have a point,'' he gives up. ''So when do you think she'll be back?''

''I'm guessing in a few days, after all she's got a business to run,'' I close the laptop and get up. ''Now, I'll see you soon, I've got someone waiting for me in the boardroom.''

I leave my cabin and walk towards the boardroom. As soon as I walk in I'm hit with a rotting stench, making me scrunch up my nose in disgust.

''You've got some nerve coming here,'' I say to the figure seated at the end of table, their back facing me.

The chair swivels to face me, revealing the face of the one woman who has made my mate's life miserable. 

''Hello darling, we are long overdue for a chat. Please sit,'' she says in her thick accented voice.

-Athena-

''You came back! You're actually here!'' Ethan shouts from his position on the top of the stairs. I can see tears starting to build up in his eyes.

''Yyyeah...'' I manage to croak out, ''ahemmm- '' I clear my throat, ''I came back.''

''Oh Ena! I'm so happy that you're back, we've waited for months. Mom and Michelle almost gave up on your return. But I knew, I knew you'd come back. I knew you didn't mean all those things you said to me months ago,'' he rushes down the stairs and envelopes me in a bear hug.

''I didn't, I really didn't mean that. I was- i was so confused and -and angry and hurt. I said so many awful things to you Ethan. I'm really, really, really sorry. Will you forgive me?'' I ask him.

He holds my face between his hands and wipes the tears rolling down my cheeks. ''Of course I forgive you Ena, you're my baby sister. Yes, your words stung like a bee but at least you've come to your senses now,'' he says then places a chaste kiss on my forehead.

''Oh my children,'' Mom sniffs and wraps her arms around the both of us. 

That's when I notice someone standing a few feet behind Ethan. She kind of looked out of place. ''Umm Ethan, who is she?'' I ask my brother after we all pull away from the hug.

''Ohh right sorry. Ena this is my mate, Michelle,'' he introduces us as he places an arm around her waist.

''What?! Really? Ethan this is amazing. When did you meet her? how comes you didn't tell me?'' I smack his arm.

''Ouch!!'' He rubs it in pain. ''I met her last year and you didn't even give me a chance to talk to you when I visited or called you. The only thing you had in mind was throwing me out. So whose fault is it?''

''Yeah, okay. That one's on me,'' I shrug my shoulders. ''Anyway, Hi, I'm Athena. Which you know, of course,'' I flush.

''Hi. I'm Michelle Reed. It's nice to finally meet you,'' she smiles. I smile back my gaze landing on her ginger colored hair and the freckles on her cheeks. She is very pretty, I must admit and looks around my age too. We might just get along.

''You said Reed didn't you? So I'm assuming Shadow pack?'' I ask her, raising my eyebrow.

''Um yes, Sean's my younger brother,'' she replies with a smile.

''Ohh right! Of course he is, how could I have not seen it? The resemblance is uncanny,'' I slap my forehead. ''How is Sean, he must be what 20 now right? And oh your parents too. How is Emily and Benjamin?''

Michelle looks at me horrified at first, but quickly changes her expression. ''Umm Ena, why don't we go tothe living room. We can talk more there. Give me your bags I'll get them sent up to your room,'' Ethan hastily says, grabbing my hand and pulling me with him.

''But...but I was talking to Michelle.''

''You can talk to her later. In fact, why don't you go and freshen up. Take a nap even. You must be tired,'' he says and now pulls me towards the stairs.

''Ethan what's going on?'' I ask him but he ignores me. ''Ethan!'' I shout and pull my hand away from his grip. ''What is going on? I'm not going to ask again.''

''Look Ena, it's a long story-'' he starts. 

''Oh it always is, isn't it?'' I roll my eyes.

''I will explain everything to you and I will answer all your questions, just not right now. I've got some pack business to take care of. Meet me at our spot at six. We'll talk then. Okay?''

''Fair enough. But mind you I have a lot of questions. In case you forgot, I'm missing a shit load of memories,'' I say. 

He chuckles at this, ''Took you a while but at least you accepted it.''

''Yeah whatever, I'm going to my room. See ya later, alligator, '' I joke and run up the stairs.

''Eww Ena!! When did you get so lame?'' I hear Ethan's shout before I shut the door to my room.

My room is just the way it has always been. I dump my bag on the bed and am about to jump on  it, when my mom walks in. ''I've had it cleaned every single day since you left,'' she says while leaning against the door frame.

''You did?'' I ask, although I'm not surprised. 

''Hmmm.'' She walks in and sits on the edge of my bed then pats the empty spot next to her, ''come, sit with me.''

I walk to her and take a seat. ''I'm really sorry mom. I didn't take your feelings into consideration, I was selfish, I didn't think about what you were going through. I just.... i just...I'm really sorry.''

''It's okay princess, it's okay. I forgive you. You're my child and children tend to make mistakes. It's a parents' duty to forgive them, but to also tell them that they were wrong. What you did was not right Athena, you were not the only one who was hurt, but I'm glad you realized your mistake,'' Mom says and kisses me softly on the cheek.

I put my head on her shoulder and a wipe a tear that threatened to fall, ''Dad used to call me that,'' I sniff.

''Yes, yes he did, '' she says desolately while patting my head. ''I miss him, you know, it has been hard getting used to him not being around here. You leaving did not make it better either.''

''I know mom, I took me a while to realize that. That's why I'm here. Funny thing is, it took Theo Argent of all people who helped me come to terms with it,'' I chuckle humorlessly.

''Theo? Theo is with you? where is he honey? Did he come with you?'' Mom starts bombarding me with questions.

''What no? why would he come with me? in fact, he doesn't even know I'm here,'' I reply.

''Athena why haven't you told him? Isn't he your mate, don't the two of you talk?'' Mom looks at me wide eyed. My head no longer on her shoulder.

 ''Ughhh mom!! Can we go back to being all sappy and sweet? I don't want to talk about Theo,'' I grumble.

''Athena are you having problems with him? Because if you are, what in the name of the moon goddess is wrong with you?! Theo is such a sweet boy,'' Mom says. I narrow my eyes at her in judgement. Sweet boy? Seriously?

''He is like a son to me, he even offered to help and take care of me during those times.'' She says softly, referring to when she couldn't come to terms with my father's death.

''Look mom, it's – it's umm......it's complicated okay. Let's not talk about it,'' I dismiss her.

''Okay, I'm dropping it today because you just came back and you're tired. I don't want to bombard you with questions,'' she tells me. 

I roll my eyes at her and shake my head. ''You bombarded me not even 5 minutes ago!'' I yell.

''Yes well, I was just getting started. Now why don't you freshen up and then come down for lunch. I'll make the fried chicken and gravy you like.''

''Okay mom, ''I grumble as she stands up and leaves my room. I check my phone and sigh in relief to find no calls or messages from either Charles or Theo. As if on cue, my phone rings.

''Nancy,'' I answer immediately. 

''Well aren't you in a mood. What happened? was the flight that bad? Or did you already start fighting with your mother?'' She asks.

''Wouldn't you like to know. So tell me, why'd you call?''

''Well actually, Leo Grey called. He asked for you,'' she tells me. 

''What? Why? Isn't he supposed to be in America?'' I reply. Why the hell is Leo calling?

''So what if he is, he can call from there too and how do you even know that?'' she questions me.

''Never mind that. What did he want?''

''Well actually, he left something for you. It's like an apology basket.''

''Ohhhh okay, umm just keep it, if it has perishable stuff in it, you can take it or I don't know whatever. Distribute it. I don't care.''

''Really you don't? It's really pretty you know?''

''Nancy, I don't care. Do whatever you want to do with it or better yet. Return it to the sender. Thanks and bye,'' I say and cut the line.

''Who is this unlucky person who is getting his gift sent back to him?'' I hear someone ask from behind me.

''Michelle, hey. I didn't hear you come,'' I say bashfully. 

''Yup, it's because you were too busy shouting at your assistant,'' she jokes. ''Can I come in?''

''Oh yes, please, come on in, sorry,''

''I just wanted to make sure you're okay and well settled in,'' she smiles at me kindly. 

''Yeah, yeah I'm good. Just need to shower.'' I grab my bag and remove some clothes.

''Okay. I just.... umm.... if you need to talk to someone I'm here,'' she tells me and walks out.

The smell of chicken and gravy leads to me the kitchen where I see my mom setting the table. ''Hey princess, you're right on time. Come on let's eat.'' She says just as Ethan and Michelle walk in.

''How is Nadia feeling honey?'' Moms asks Michelle. ''She is a bit better now. The herbs Noah gave Axel are working.

''Why what's wrong? is everything okay?'' I ask suddenly worried about this Nadia person.

''Yeah she is pregnant, I don't know if you're aware of it. So she was feeling feverish this morning, but it's all good now,'' Michelle tells me. Ethan soon joins as and walks up to Michelle, placing a soft kiss on her forehead which makes me smile. ''You guys are cute.''

''They are, aren't they? I can't wait to see their pups running around the house, driving everyone crazy,'' Mom says in delight. ''To think it was just last year I was lecturing you both on finding your mates. Look how far we've come.''

I look at her like I'm seeing her for the first time. Happiness clear on her face. My gaze finds Ethan's across the table who sends me an encouraging smile and nods.

Things are starting to look good, at least for now.

***

So what do you think?

 How do you think the conversation between Theo and Amunet will go?

Let me know in the comments as usual.

-Jessica.S