Page 106 of The Alpha's Bullied Rejected Mate

Chapter 20 - Athena

Riley sat cross-legged, watching Marcus draw on a board they had set up as the soft, dappled afternoon sun filtered in through the trees that cast a shade upon them.

Athena watched the two of them from the bench she had settled on, her arms resting on her hips.

Something inside of her was filled with the light, full laughter that poured from her son’s lips. As Riley nodded and pointed like a miniature general issuing orders, Marcus had a pencil tucked behind one ear, sawdust stain on his sleeves, and an absurd look of concentration on his face.

“You’re making the ears too small,” Riley boomed in a serious tone, pointing at Marcus’s drawing of a wolf.

“I’m not,” Marcus replied, equally serious.

Athena smiled to herself, enjoying the scene before her.

She had promised herself she would be content with this—moments like these. Riley, safe and loved. But a junior hunter had come to whisper something in Marcus’s ear.

She didn’t need to hear what it was, because she could already tell. It probably had something to do with the witch, Aubrey.

Athena didn’t want to feel like this.

Jealousy was a petty emotion, she told herself. One that shouldn’t belong in the same breath she exhaled.

But emotions didn’t always wait for permission.

Her arms fell loosely to rest on her waist on either side, watching as Marcus walked across the clearing toward Aubrey again.

It was the third time that day. His expression was all duty, sharp lines and quiet nods—but Athena had seen the way he relaxed with her, with careful attention and purpose.

He had assured her he was simply studying her magic. Evaluating her to see how powerful she was and needed to be.

But it still bothered her.

She had been noticing how Aubrey always seemed to only need Marcus every time he was with her or Riley, how she waited just a beat too long before walking away. How her piercing gaze sometimes lingered whenever Athena was with Marcus.

She was not misreading things; she was sure.

Aubrey barely spoke to anyone else except Marcus. She never showed herself outside and declined almost every invitation from the other witches. “She was still working on trusting others,” someone had told Athena with a sympathetic shrug.

“She seems to have a lot more on her plate. You can’t really blame her.”

Athena huffed.

Still…

She hated the way it gnawed at her.

She was only worried because Aubrey took too much of Marcus’s time that he should be spending with Riley, she told herself.

No, she wasn’t jealous.

Was she?

She exhaled nervously.

She and Marcus hadn’t yet defined whatever they had going on.

Recently, she had been aching to ask Marcus what they were to each other, but she was too scared of the response.

Yes, they did spend more time together. And they had gone on one date. And he was keeping his promise and showering Riley with the calm, unwavering devotion of someone desperate to make up for lost time.