Page 14

Chapter

Fourteen

Athena’s heart skipped several beats when she saw Draco take the drink. She honestly didn’t know how to respond with everything she knew without making an ass out of herself.

Before she could say anything, Deidra walked up to the woman and punched her in the face, knocking her to the ground. Pandemonium broke out.

“Don’t drink that!” Athena shouted as she knocked the drink out of his hands and stepped in front of him.

“What the fuck is going on?” Draco yelled out, making everyone go still and look his way.

“S-she is trying to drug you or something. Trying to get you under the influence so she could get you to have sex with her. And something about claiming you so you would have to claim her. Whatever that means.”

Athena wanted to fall to her knees and bow her head in compliance when Draco turned his dark angry eyes toward her. Why she felt that way she had no fucking clue.

“She’s lying. I would never do that!” Shades screamed as she lunged toward Athena.

“Enough!” Draco yelled at Shades before turning his eyes back to Athena.

Well, shit. Now she was in serious trouble.

It wouldn’t matter if Deidra believed her or not. It would be up to Draco what happened to her now.

“She’s telling the truth. Arrow had come to me about Shades’ plans,” Leo confessed, joining the group, moving next to her.

“I know she’s telling the truth. What has me upset is she put herself in harm’s way as my sister and a traitor fought,” Draco seethed without taking his eyes off of her.

“Bite me, asshat. Excuse me for my lame attempt at protecting you. I forgot, I’m a weak two-bit, fat bitch. At least according to your fucking team. You know what, I’m out of here. Deidra, call me after the party. I’m getting an Uber and going home.”

“Don’t you dare,” Draco growled darkly toward her.

She had no clue what came over her, but she turned toward Draco and flipped both of her middle fingers up at him then walked away. She fought the urge to turn back around when she heard his deep chuckle.

When she heard Deidra shout her name in fear, she whirled around to find a giant dog jumping into the air at her with its massive jaw opened. Reacting, she jumped to the side, twisting her upper torso as she shoved the animal away from her as she fell from the impact.

When the giant dog stood up, it shook its head then turned her way, growling at her as it prowled toward her. Before she could react, a giant black dog attacked the one stalking her.

She was barely aware of Deidra, Leo, Coren, Katarina, Tony, and Ray running toward her and pulling her away from the fray. She tried to look around them at what was happening, but they did their best to block her view.

When the other dog stopped moving, the large black one turned toward her as if to study her. To make sure she was okay.

When it advanced toward her, she stepped slightly back toward Leo, whose hand touched her arm. When the large black animal growled and snapped at Leo, she reacted and smacked the animal’s large snout.

“Don’t you dare snap at him because he’s helping me. Just because you saved me from the mean dog doesn’t give you the right to be rude.”

When the animal tilted its head, she could see behind him and froze. Where once a large animal had laid, now lay a naked woman’s body.

W…T…F? Was she in a dream or was this a nightmare?

“Oh, shit.”

“You see it, too?” Athena turned toward Deidra.

“You weren’t supposed to find out like this, little one.”

Athena whirled back around and nearly swallowed her tongue. A naked Draco stood before her where the huge black dog…holy shit, a wolf, had been sitting.

“Shifters are real?” Athena asked in shock, looking around her.

“Yeah.” Deidra sighed heavily as she shifted from foot to foot.

“Oh, God.” Athena’s flight mode kicked in as she thought of something that had been said to her recently.

Now it all made sense. So many things she’d been confused about.

She’d always put it down as her being an outsider. Boy was she an outsider.

“Thena…”

“No!” Athena backed away from Deidra, her hands in the air.

Athena looked around at Deidra’s parents, the tears welling up in her eyes. She realized then that had hurt worse than her best friend having lied to her all these years.

With one last look around her, she ran away from the group. When she got to the road, she remembered she had no car.

“Come, I’ll take you home. And answer any questions you have.”

Athena turned to see Deidra’s father coming her way with a weary smile. All she could do was nod to keep the tears at bay.

The ride back to her house was made in silence. She had so many questions, yet wasn’t sure who she could trust to ask them to right now.

When they pulled into her driveway, Coren turned the car off and turned her way. Her heart was breaking at the loss of someone she looked up to so much.

“I’m sorry you had to find out this way, Athena. This wasn’t how you were supposed to find out. Deidra wanted to tell you so many times, but our laws prohibit that.”

Athena looked at the man in confusion. “If it is your law, why not amend it? Ten years, Mr. Blackwood. Was I not a good enough friend to Deidra in those ten years? Or is it because I’m weak and have a horrible background?”

“Ah, sweetheart, if it had truly been my law, it would have been broken for you years ago. Let me ask you this, can I have Deidra, my wife, and Draco come over and we can answer any and all questions that you have. I can also explain why that particular law isn’t mine to break without repercussions. ”

Athena stared at the man for a few moments, seeing the sincerity in his eyes. “Okay.”