Chapter 21

―Alpha Yves―

'Speak your name, human.' She demands.

'Minerva, it's me. Yves.' I scoop her cheek caressing it.

'Oh, I see. Move aside.' She demands again. I did move aside. She looks around and felt herself. 'I am not your soul mate.' she stated like it wasn't important.

'What are you talking about?' I was baffled by her accent and her behavior. Am I still dreaming? She looks at me directly to my eyes. She was emotionless and I can't see Minerva there. She's too different.

'Fetch me a glass of water.' She orders. I nod and stood running downstairs to get her water.

I call Dina and Haney telling them that Minerva is awake. I get a glass of water then I walk back to the room. She was standing in the middle of the room staring at the mirror. I walk to her and wrapped my arms around her. I kiss her cheek. Gosh, I miss her so much.

'Step aside, creature!' she pushed me. I was too quizzical about her attitude. She took the water from me and drank it. 'When I say that I am not your mate, I wasn't untruthful.' She gave me the glass. 'Your mate is long gone and it was up to her to go back to her own body,'

'Athena.' Someone speaks from the door. It was Zoë. I bow at her. 'Please leave us alone Alpha Yves. We need to speak privately.'

'Zoë...' I murmur.

'I will explain to you everything.' She told me. I nod at her and I glance once at Minerva then I walk out the door.

I drank a few glasses of water and eavesdrop on their conversation.

'Speak to me Selene, when that wolf is not listening.' She got me.

How does she know that I was listening? I keep my ears shut from eavesdropping. Then I went out to the backyard. I removed my shirt and shorts then I shifted to my wolf form. I feel mad and anxious. I growl away from the house. I don't know why I feel mad. She kept talking that she's not my mate and fuck that!

She's not Minerva... Gray told.

What the fuck are you talking about Gray!? She's Minerva! Our mate had waked up yet she's denying that she's our mate. That's stupid, Gray! I was there on her side every night.

Yves, you don't understand.

No! You don't understand! She's doing this on purpose. She's denying us on purpose.

When I went back to the house half-naked, I saw Minerva, my mate sitting on the stool while Zoë, Dina, Haney, Eros (Minerva's father), Clarisa (Her mother) is there. Clarisa and Eros are preparing foods while Zoë is still in silence. I look at her and she signs me to sit.

'Take my counsel by apologizing to me on what you did when I told you that I am not your mate.' Minerva said with authority. I don't understand what in hell she was talking about. I look at Zoë, she nods at me.

'Why are denying that you are not my mate?' I questioned her. She stays motionless.

'I do not deny my words, Lycaon.' She said formally and too old accent. 'It is factual that I am not your mate. Minerva is my apprentice and I take her body and soul to continue our mission.' She explains.

'You mean that my mate is dead?' I asked again.

'Yes and no. It was up to her if she wanted her soul to get back to her own body.'

This is getting crazy. Does that mean that my mate is gone and this Goddess occupies her body? It will only make me worse from craving for her.

'Do you believe me now?' she asked me. I look into her hazelnut eyes. It was beautiful.

'I'm sorry, but it was hard to accept.' I bent down a little to her to give respect.

I walk out of the kitchen. I run to my room to take a bath. I stood in the shower while I was leaning on the tiles. I just can't accept that my mate is gone. I need her back. I need my mate back. I punch the wall and growls. I was mad at myself for taking the trap. If I just only realize that the witch had put a spell on me, I will not lose her.

I walk downstairs when I was fully dressed and well-presented.

'You need to eat. Minerva's body will get weak if you didn't take care of it.' Clarisa said to her, I guess.

'Thank you, Clarisa. I am still adapting to her body.'

I look at Electra who just arrived. She bent down to show respect and I just nod at her. She smiles warmly. She seemed more cheerful than the last time I saw her.

'Come, talk to her about your mate.' Electra offers her hand to comfort me. I took it and it was warm. She pulls me to the kitchen. She bows when Minerva looks at her. She released my hand.

'Electra, I am pleased to see you again.'

'I am also delighted to see you again, Athena. Thank you for coming.'

'I ought not to come down here in the human world. But immortals are violating each other, slaving humans, and taking them to get immortality. Artemis's nymphs are in danger and they need to be protected before it's too late.' She said.

The reason why she comes down here and took my mate's body is to save the nymphs. But we are doing our best to save them. Without them, the forest will die. That's what Zoë told me.

'I had remembered where their compound is. I am begging for your kindness to help us save my sisters.'

'Very well,'

'But, will you give my mate back?' I asked her. She looks at me and she was intimidating. 'I am begging you to give my mate back, Athena. I need her, please.'

'Everything is not up to me,' said she. 'Minerva is my apprentice and it is up to her to continue or fail the mission that I had given to her.'

'I understand, but can you please convince her to come back to me?'

She didn't speak for a while like studying me. She put down the fork and sipped on her water. And then she looks back at me.

'You are showing your undying love to her, and you should be forgiven for your mistakes.'

'Thank you, Athena.'

'But you should keep your desire from me. Though I have your mate's body and portrait, you need to keep yourself distant. Remember that I am not your mate that Aphrodite and Eros given to you.'

'I will keep that in mind.' I nod. Clarisa smiled at me and I smile at her bitterly. Then I left the house.

I went to the packhouse to the Alpha's office. I open my computer and check e-mails from other packs. It was now all about business and the former Alpha Robert is teaching me how to handle business. I don't need to take college just to master the business. I had businesspeople around me.

'I heard that Minerva is awake.' He speaks.

'She is but Minerva is not what I am expecting.'

'Hmm, the Goddess had occupied her body?' he guessed. But I know that he already had heard the news.

'Can we please proceed to the business?'

'Yup sure. We lose supply and we need raw materials.'

'Is it possible if we started farming?' I asked him.

'Hmm, I don't think so. But strawberries will grow here. There are lots of fruits that can grow based on our four seasons. But they are not enough for the food supply.'

'What about Mr. Hans's poultry and piggery?'

'It is still not enough. Our population had increased and we need another supply.' He advised.

I typed on my computer and search for food supplies from other packs.

'Since the small packs had been invaded and ruined, we need to find a way to build them. Let's try to cooperate with other packs.'

'Good idea.'

The business meeting had interrupted by a knock on the door. It opens and Terence bows his head.

'Alpha, there's a rogue on our boundary.'

I immediately stood. I asked him if our army is ready. He said that they are and these rogues are not like those stable ones. They are normal Lycan's. We went to the woods where the rogues are.

'Who are you, people?' I asked them with an authority.

'Are you the Alpha of this pack?' the red fur wolf asked

'I am Alpha Yves of New Moon pack. Speak your name.' he bows at me.

'I am Alpha Lorenzo of Eclipse pack. We have nowhere to go. Our village had been attacked by black magic and rogues. Alpha Seven from Crescent Moon pack instructed me to come here because your town is the nearest to our pack.'

I look at his back and there are his packs, also kids are riding at their father's back. I instructed Marcus and Terence to lead them the way to the packhouse. We need a few rooms also another house for them. But it will be just temporary.

We gave them food and medication. Now that their village had been attacked I instructed some of our soldiers to go there together with the Blue Moon pack. King Nathan appears and everyone bows at him. He signs them to stand and face him. He asked a few questions from the Alpha Lorenzo.

'There is black magic everywhere and my soldiers had been poisoned. I immediately took my pack to left the village because everything there is on fire. They are too many for us and anytime they can kill us on a snapped.'

'Where are your soldiers that had been poisoned?' King Nathan asked.

'They are dead.'

'I will call my wife.' He murmurs and turns back from him. Then Zoë just appears from nowhere. 'We had been sent our soldiers in your village. There is a possibility that their next attack is on the humans near your village.'

'We will do the medication.' Zoë told him. She went to the kids that are cuddled up and smiled at them. 'Hi, I'm Zoë.' She greets them cheerfully.

I look at Minerva, I mean, Athena who just arrived wearing a white long dress.