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Chapter

Twenty-Three

Athena had been in a daze for the last three weeks. The afternoon everyone found out that she and Draco were mates, thanks to Coren and Katarina, they were married by the justice of the peace.

The next day, an official announcement was made naming Draco as the new Alpha of the Blackwood Pack, and she was the new Luna. She had to admit she was surprised by the welcome and the cheers she received when everything was announced.

It was agreed that she would be able to finish out the rest of the school year as a teacher and then they would go from there. In the meantime, Katarina would continue with the duties of a Luna while she taught Athena what was needed.

Once summer came, she would be a full time Luna with guidance from Katarina until she was comfortable in the role. But every night, when it was just the two of them was a whole different story.

Every night when she got home, she would make sure there was a dinner cooked, or she would stop and pick up something that was quick and easy and make sure there was something cooked when he got home from his days of working his corporate job and that of a newly crowned Alpha.

She admitted that the one time he was done with his day before she was, and she had got home, he’d had dinner ready and was waiting on her when she got home.

But once dinner was done, and the dishes were done, the night was just getting started for them. Every night, they were in each other’s arms, the passion flowing, and very little sleep happening.

Despite the nights spent in each other’s arms, she always felt refreshed and ready to face the day. Each day, she also greeted Arrow with a fresh cup of coffee and breakfast, since against her wishes, Draco had assigned Arrow as her bodyguard.

“Draco, don’t you need Dana with you and your team? Surely her talent is being wasted babysitting me,” Athena asked as she walked into the living room where Draco was sitting on the couch looking over some papers he’d brought home that night.

She didn’t see Draco put the papers down onto the coffee table until he’d reached out for her and pulled her into his lap, making her shriek out in laughter. When he let her up for air after kissing her breathlessly, she could only stare at the exasperating man.

They’ve only truly known each other for several weeks and yet she was mated and married to the man. The both of them talked as if they’d been married for far longer.

“Because the Maplewoods are still a danger to you. Just because they haven’t made a move now that the word is out there that you and I are not only fated mates, but also husband and wife in the human sense of the word, doesn’t mean they aren’t planning something. Your safety is my first priority.”

“Draco, your family and your pack should be first. Focusing on protecting me leaves them unprotected. They all made threats against your family. You need to protect them.”

Athena placed her hand on his face and forced him to look into her eyes. She was desperate for him to see the importance of saving his family and his pack.

She wasn’t used to someone looking out for her. These last several weeks with Draco had been a dream for her.

She had honestly thought that when things settled, that Draco would be scarce, hiding away from her after they had been caught together. She partially was afraid he would think he was being forced to marry her since they had mated in the shifter sense.

But Draco has never made her feel like he was forced to do anything. In fact, he’s been totally the opposite.

Loving. Caring. Attentive. Passionate. Dominating.

Everything she’d ever wanted in a relationship. Only thing she can’t get past is the fact he hasn’t said the three words she’s longed to hear from a man.

She couldn’t really get too upset about it since she’s never told the man those three words herself. But, in her defense, she was afraid to say them.

Afraid that her feelings would be one-sided. She knew, thanks to Deidra, before that eventful night happened that Draco never wanted a real wife in the sense of them being happy and loving.

He was prepared to settle for someone to have a child with that would reign as the Alpha of the pack when he was ready to step aside. It didn’t matter if he didn’t love the person he had that child with.

They would be well taken care of and exist. To her, that was a sad and lonely existence.

Yet, she couldn’t help if that’s what this would wind up being anyways. How long would she be able to coexist without love in the mix?

“Penny for your thoughts, my mate?” Draco asked softly as he rubbed his thumb over her lips, as he looked into her eyes.

“What makes you think I’m thinking about something?” she parried back, quirking an eyebrow.

“You seem to have forgotten I can feel your emotions. You’re sad and torn about something. Talk to me.”

Athena looked up into Draco’s eyes and just stared for a minute. A part of her wanted to take the plunge and say what she was feeling but a part of her was petrified of the answer.

“I guess I was thinking about something you had told your family a while back. Only marrying to produce an heir to take your spot when you were ready to step back. What would have happened if the firstborn was a female? Would she have been able to take over as Alpha?” Athena blurted out, biting her lower lip.

Draco coughed his laugh at her question. Shaking his head, he leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

“No. Sadly, the Council does not allow for a female to lead, yet. I guess it would have been up to the female I would have mated. If she wanted to try again for a male or we marry our daughter off to a male who has Alpha blood and merge our packs with them,” Draco answered honestly, rubbing his fingers over her lower lip.

“And I took that away from you. Your ability to just do that. Didn’t I?”