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~If you ask me to stay. I will lead you astray.~

Song of the Chapter: Take me to Church by Yonas Remix. (This is my new jam don't touch me)

Sweat covered my shoulders but I punched mercilessly until my last hit had a cry escape my lips. Everyone was okay. Living, laughing and smiling like something that has happened before never happened. They knew what happened, yet they decided not to speak of it. Megan could have died, and at some point I think she did. It scared me. it scared me so much that I would not risk it again. I was not strong enough to push Hades down. I let it all happen.

This was all my fault.

I pressed my head against the boxing bag, panting as I tried to get my heart beat back to normal.

"Kick needs some work."

I twisted abruptly, Alec was standing at the door his brown eyes glued to mine. There was no trace of injury or vulnerability that I had expected. Hades returned Alec home, he transported all of us.

"Like you could do any better?" I snapped watching as Alec chuckled and made a move towards the black boxer gloves. His back was covered by a neat black V-neck that brought a more outlined view of his structured collarbone.

He swiftly pulled each one on and turned to me. I breathe out waiting for what he has to offer. Alec smiled mischievously before motioning towards him.

"Hit me." He spoke with unwavering confidence. I raised an eyebrow, I was out of breath and sweaty, the challenge wasn't fair.

My fist flew aiming straight for the perfectly carved face but Alec easily blocked my blow.
"Too obvious." He declared and I narrowed my eyes, then settling on punching his stomach my hands swung in the direction of the muscled package. My knuckles never reached their destination, I had one second to gulp before I was planted against the cold floor. Just like a tooth pick slipping from one's grip.

"Pick an emotion and channel it into your punch." Alec instructs and I stifle a laugh glaring harshly at his inching face. It was all about emotions. Always. Not the strategy or technique - feelings.

"Get off me." I hissed, struggling against the steel grip. The only reason Alec was stronger was because he had a living wolf stuck in his soul.

"Alex."

My eyes flew wide open and I gave out a shriek as energy flowed through my veins - it hurt. I jumped to my feet, my vision staining white.

"Don't. Ever. Call. Me. That." I gasped as invisible force knocked the CEO of his feet. Alec stumbled to the floor but was instantly back in the game, predator stance on.

"Alex? Triggers something doesn't in?" There was a wicked smile which I wanted to wipe of using a kitchen utensil but at the moment I had only my boxer gloves.

I attacked him.

Swinging my fists that managed to once brush against his jaw. His face whirled to the left after my knuckles were removed. The red eyes ignited with flames before two hands shoved me down. Throbbing pain exploded in my leg.

"Do you feel that?" He twisted my ankle, at that moment I felt a mixture of a crashed bones and sparks which buzzed across my skin and set me off warm in the stomach.

"What does it trigger? What emotion specifically." His lips were at the corner of my ear and I bit my lips until I tasted blood. A hand pressed further on my ankle, to the point where fragile bone almost gave away.

"You tell me and I will not break one of your bones." Alec compromised, great offer, very fair.

"First of all, get me a lawyer." I deadpanned in a groan before there was a bang next to me. Alec's fist tore a hole in the wall in front of my head.

"I will let you try again." He said calmly after taking a deep provoked breath. His fingers began to tighten their hold on my ankle and I squeezed my eyes shut.

"Anger." The fingers went completely still.

"Anger - why is that?" Alec's voice was low, I blinked slowly gathering my thoughts.

"Because I hate you." A statement brought out a growl that rumbled aimlessly at the gym walls.

"Hatred is overrated." He replied agitation evident in his tone of voice.

"Not in my world." I breathed out, there was another bone-crushing flash of silence and then he spoke.

"I don't understand where I went wrong." It left his mouth quickly, and even quicker he flipped my body over, leaning in so close,  that I could clearly see the irises of his brown eyeballs.

"Anywhere you could have, you went wrong, don't you get it?!" I raised my voice, not daring to keep it quiet anymore.

"And what if I make it right?" My hands curled into fists. What was that? A request for a second chance?

"You will never make it right." I tattled trying to push him off of me. I couldn't move as his feet pinned my legs down. He weighted a ton; if not more.

"Why not?" Alec questioned from above, his lips were so close to mine. I pushed his face away.

"Because no ones perfect. Not you, not me." Alec chuckled, sparks glowed in his eyes. They were radiating a soft alluring red eyes.

"No." His voice was soft, silkier than the fabric of my mums wool-made blanket. He leaned closer until his lips made contact with my cheek.

"But we're perfect for each other." He vibrated against my skin. I felt a sharp tug at my shirt and looked down to find claws extending from the callous fingertips.

"You're delusional." My voice went a few pitches up, giving Alec the idea that I was scared of him. Nervous, yes. But not scared.

"And you're mine." He growled softly and my eyes went wide. He knew. ALEC KNEW WHO I WAS! At some point I felt a smile stretch onto my face.

"Alec doesn't know. But the wolf always knows his mate." My face dropped. It was a moment too good to be true. Now I just felt angry.

"You're. Mine." The wolf growled when I ever so slightly tried to reach for an escape route.

"Get Alec back." I ordered wiggling my legs to do something at least. I didn't know the Alpha King. I knew Alec, and even so I couldn't trust one or the other.

"Don't rush me. I want to get to know my mate." He growled and I glared harshly.

"And I don't-"

His lips crashed on mine.

They were smooth and paralysis in my body prevented me from doing anything in the moment. I responded. I kissed my mate back. My lips moved against his in a complete beautiful harmony. Feeling of peace settled in my stomach and at that point I wanted to do anything but hold him close. But this wasn't Alec and this wasn't a real bond.

I pulled him back staring into his soft brown eyes. Only these eyes were not puppy brown they were redder than blood filling my body.

"Don't you understand. We were forced together. This bond was never meant to happen. These feelings were never meant to mean anything more." I shuddered as the Alpha King brushed a finger down my cheek.

"Its real I know it's real. I can feel it." I grabbed his hand and squeezed, a tear fell down my cheek.

"Bring Alec back. Please." I almost begged, my voice shattering.

"You don't..you don't want me?" It was weird to see Alec/Alpha King show vulnerability.

"I like someone else." It was a tiny reply which weighed so much more.
There was pain and hurt in his eyes before he blinked. Someone else settling in.

"Why are you crying?" This sound was so much more fierce. Like there was hidden flame of emotions behind it - like this was Alec.

"Because there was a mistake, and I can't change it." I muttered prying his hands away and taking chance to leave while Alec was dazed in surprise.

"I gotta go. Megan wants me to go shopping with her." I called quickly over my shoulder. The bruise on my ankle was letting me know of its presence. I jogged towards the door throwing boxer gloves behind.

"What did you do?" I heard roughly from Alec's direction. I fought the tears and then decided f*** it. They dropped to the floor and I twisted in my sneakers.

"What do you mean?" I asked focusing on the blurry silhouette of Alec. He was crouching on the floor, appearing as if he wasn't going to move any time soon.

"He's broken." Alec mumbled and I blinked as more tears fled.

"Aren't we all?" I whispered before leaving the facility all together.

***

"And this dress with the shoes!" Megan yelled happily carrying the plastic bags to the front door. We over eight hours at the mall. Megan never mentioned that Miss Gabriella will be joining us either. The makeup artist made sure to snatch all of the clothes that I was examining. She didn't even know I had no money to buy them, she took everything.
Megan brought some things for me not that it was necessary. I really didn't need anything.
By the time we made it back to Alec's mansion I was truly begining to believe that there was no way Gaia could have fully brainwash Gabriella. For her soul was forever doomed. The girl was pure evil, and I mean it.

"Hey what's up with you? You haven't been overly excited!" Megan commented dumping the bags on the floor with some much force I thought the boys would have rushed upstairs. We spent a fee hours in her room, unpacking and throwing old clothes out.

"It's just everything." I clasped my hands sitting down on Megan's double bed. How could I explain to her that I wanted my mate to admit of our bond and then ruined everything by doing completely the opposite.

"Yeah well-" I cut her off sharply.

"You know what, I'm gonna go. I want to be alone right now." I stood up, giving her a hug and made it for the door.

"Okay." Megan was confused but she wasn't the only one. It was hard to understand what I really wanted. Alec and I were not meant to be. My mum made a mistake.

I have just exited the house moving past the gates until I saw him. He was sitting on the large field that stretched out into the forest, it was previously covered by dark bloody roses but now it was empty.

"Ethan?" The body twitched and then he looked at me with a rather sleepy expression. He had a purple hoodie on and his legs were curled into a ball showing off his classic black converse.

"Why are you sleeping outside?" I stepped over to him. Now that I realised I haven't seen him around the house at all. Only at that time when my dad came around.

"I'm not welcomed in there." Ethan gritted his teeth. He was freezing. I took off my jacket and threw it over his shivering body. The cold air hit my bare shoulders but I clenched my teeth fighting the shivers. God I hated winter.

"Hey get up." I chirped rising to my feet and extending him a helping hand. Ethan scanned it curios before shaking his head like some sort of ego blasted guy.

"I'm not going anywhere." The brunette sounded and I dropped to the ground next to him. Keeping the distance fairly great.

"If you're not. Then I'm not either." I breathed out settling more comfortably on the frigid earth.

"So." Ethan began and I smiled with a frozen face that was literally going to fall off in a minute.

"S-so.." I dragged out on the verge of cursing the hell out of everything.

"Tell me about Eros." I mentioned the only thing that came to mind at this moment. I was still yet to find what worth were the contents of the silver envelope that he personally handed to me.

"Eros?" Ethan appeared to recognise the God and I simply nodded my head. "Yeah, Eros."

"He said anything? Who did he appear as?" He bursted instantly with questions. I opened my mouth as Ethan shifted his weight and instead pushed the jacket back onto my shoulders.
I wrapped it around myself and Ethan chuckled.

"What?" I muttered perplexed and he blabbered something about the leaves stuck in my hair. I brushed a hand through my hair but Ethan beat me to it - lifting so carefully the dried bits of organic waste from my dark locks.

"You." I said after a while of silence.

"Hmm?" He didn't understand the link I was trying to mention, Ethan was too focused on the task to have considered the last topic of our discussion.

"He appeared as you." I gloated hoping for the best reaction. It was weirdly satisfying how relieved I felt when with Ethan. He was like a stable foundation isn't too cake-y or wears off, it's just right. I honestly think I spent too much time listening to Gabriella rant about makeup.

"Oh." Ethan replied, his fingers not moving.

"Oh?" There was a blink of panic in my heart. Did he realize what that meant?

"Oh-oh."

"What's that-" A hand clumped my mouth shut. Ethan pressed himself against my back.

"Don't move." He whispered removing cold fingers from my face. I looked around discovering nothing - only to conclude that there was probably something that only Ethan could see.

"Who's there?" I breathed barely holding myself together from trembling.

"The devil is watching." Fear spiked its disgusting way into my system. If devil was truly here then it meant one month was up. But he was early. I still had at least five days before our deal was to take action.

I turned slowly scanning to locate that  there was a shadow in the trees. He was barely visible amongst the trees, blending in like eye-shadow. Dammit Gabriella. But Hades didn't do anything just stared like the creepiest freak out there.

"I think he just wants to talk." I stammer feeling Ethan become even more stiff next to me.

"You think?" There was a giant three headed dog by his side. I thought I killed off Cerberus. I pried Ethan's hands away and gave him a look to stay here.

"I will only talk to him." I glowered but Ethan appeared very doubtful. I walked confidently forward, feeling that very confidence vanish as Hades smiled in amusement.

"And what did I do to be graced with your presence?" I scoffed tucking my palms into the hem of my shirt. My lips were numbed from the flaming eyes of Cerberus. It was growling openly, I'm pretty sure it remembered me.

"What I can't take my pet for a walk now?" He kicked a wooden log with his foot sending it flying a few feet forwards.

"If by walking you mean stalking behind a tree then-" Cerberus roared glaring at me as much as a fired demon monster could glare.

"No you can't, she's useful to us." Hades smiled at my raised eyebrow. So the demon dog talked? Cerberus stayed calm just perked his ears as the devil laughed.

"Useful?" Hades lifted his eyes, a smirk lacing his lips. "That's what I said." Then he dumped his coat and pulled it over my shaking shoulders.

"Thank you." I mumbled genuinely and he passed me a loop-sided grin.
"Let's go for a walk." He waved his hand to the dark trees in front of us. I watched hesitantly, it was so dark.

"What? Didn't you want to be alone?" I tried to shake off my shock because really why was I suddenly surprised that the Devil knew what was happening in my life.
I glanced back towards Ethan who was saying something to Alec who I don't think saw me yet.
I didn't want to run into Alec right now. I wouldn't know what to say to him.

"You'll get me home safe right?" I turned back to the nodding Hades who searched for something in my expression.

"Just trust me."

Hey ho, so they kissed.....kinda..

Its almost december whoooooopie. Literally gotten so cold in UK I was walking to my class today and my face totally was gonna freeze like a popsickle.

And omg thank you so much for almost 27k reads on the first book of this series!!!! I love you guys so much!

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Christmas is coming to town!

Stay celebrating!

~M~

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