So I fully missed chapter 25 (not a mathematician AT ALL hahahaha). Just ignore it and maybe one day I'll fix it up lmaoooo

As always, pretty please comment and give me some entertainment from my hectic day! 

Anywayzzz ya'll are gonna die for this one. 

MICAHS POV

"Cool." The mocking tone of James voice draws my attention to him the second we exit the apartment and he pulls a dorky imitation of me.

I swing my fist into his shoulder with an excessive amount of force and he lets out a yelp of pain and clutches onto it, a painful groan leaving his lips.

"What the hell?" He asks and I grab him by the collar and push him against the wall, doing what I'd wanted to a moment ago. But I couldn't, not with her there.

My fits connects with his stomach and I let him drop to the floor, doubling over in pain as Benny slaps me on the shoulder, chuckling. "I'm shocked you didn't just straight up knock him out," he says and I let out a huff of annoyance before extending my hand to James.

He takes it hesitantly and I pull him up. "Don't ever talk like that in front of my mate again. Actually never talk like that about her, ever," I say, shaking my head as disgust and rage overcomes my face.

I try to simmer my anger at the insinuation but it burns and like Ben knows, he laughs even harder, hitting my shoulder once more. "Come on bro, let's just go play some ball. I think James was trying to piss you off."

"Yeah well it worked." I say with venom. We all start walking and I shake my head as James just groans again, still recovering. "If it makes you feel any better, neither of us are going to share that bed tonight," I mummer, irritation gathering in my eyes.

"What do you mean?" Benny asks. "I thought you two were getting along. What happened between your little sleepover and now?"

He sounds almost as exhausted as me and I shake my head, letting out another sigh. "She's just not ready for anything remotely to do with being a mate. In her mind we are not dating—whatever the hell that is even supposed to mean. So she has decided to sleep on the couch."

"Gee," James says, still rubbing his arm. Sympathy lines both of their faces and I want to crack a joke like I usually do or distract them with other news but I can't. I can't help but dwell in this never ending pit of confusion.

It's like she has my heart in her hands and I am left with nothing but the scraps of it she throws back. My mate, not my friend, not my girlfriend or my lover or my wife. My mate.

"Do you think..." Ben starts, his lips forming a serious line. "Do you think she might really be so against it? Like fully."

Its a thought I know he's held since the moment terror filled her eyes as she stood dripping with blue paint in front of me. That she might hate me and this bond so much that she'd do anything to escape it.

I don't hide the pain that etches across my face. I can't.

"I don't know," I admit. "I think she's trying, it's just not easy for her to accept. This life and responsibility—sometimes I think maybe its best she doesn't have it, if it will cause her so much suffering."

"But you are her mate," James says. "How can she suffer with you? It's not uncommon for humans to do this, my dad brought many human mates that had fled back to their homes when he served on the Gamma committee. All of them are together to this day."

His words strike an even deeper chord in me. But how many of them are happy? I want to ask. I bet not a lot of them, not truly anyway. How can people come back together after so much pain? How does a relationship get past that?

The questions of how this will all even work eat me alive day and night. They consume my mind, my very being.

I don't want to damage our relationship before its even begun and yet somehow, despite it being the one thing I want to ensure—it happens.

"Thats exactly the problem. I mean Benny, if Molly despised the idea of being a Gamma female, if in her very core she opposed it and it made her feel ill to even consider—would you make her do it? What choice would you make between your mates happiness and your pack?"

He looks to the floor, grimly. "Its an impossible choice," he concludes, shaking his head.

"But she is going to be our Luna," James says, having trouble even fathoming the idea of a leaderless pack. "She has to come around. You know Micah, its those people that she's around—I mean let's face it, none of them like you or probably even wolves in general and that has got to be affecting her opinion. Her little bro friend Harry or whatever straight up told you to your face that he disapproves—her closest friend."

He speaks like he is piecing a puzzle together. But I have looked at all of these pieces a thousand times over and still not managed to find a solution.

"He's probably right," Benny admits as we exit the elevator into the now vacant lobby, directing ourselves towards the open field. "She doesn't seem to mind being around us, I'd argue that although she's slightly out of place she actually appears happy. It's when she's influenced that she turns on the idea. By her family, or Henry or whoever that new dude is."

I put all my effort into stopping the growl in my chest from escaping my lips. "I don't think she's entirely mindless in it all, if she were so easily swayed then the bond would surely have some effect on her—which it hasn't. And even if that were the case? What am I supposed to do? Ban her from seeing her friends and family because they don't trust or like me?" They are silent in response.

"To them I am a stranger that is forcing himself in their lives, that's how humans see it no matter how sacred the bond is to us. And it's not like I haven't tried getting them to come around, but it seems no matter what I do they don't trust me. It's going to take years for her parents to accept me and maybe decades for her friend. It's not even that I mind fighting for her, I'd fight a thousand years if it meant winning her love—its all I want. It's just so frustrating seeing everyone else around me happy and in love so easily whilst I am out here getting scraps."

We stop at a tree near the field and sit, the three of us all pondering over my words. I don't think I can play ball with all of this on my mind and truthfully, its nice to be able to just vent to my friends. If I even brought this up with my parents, let them think it all wasn't under control...

"You're right," James says. "You do need to win her family over and hey, that might seem hard but I don't think it is. You're a stand up guy, Micah, you've got great grades, a shit load of money, a very stable career lined up and nothing but good intentions for Athena. You just have to give it time and give them the opportunity to see that about you."

I nod. I think the last dinner I had with her parents went well. I don't know if they are aware of the hand situation or even about our last argument but I really hope not. I don't want them thinking that's me, I never wanted to hurt her in any of those instances.

Benny nods his head. "What about Athena?" He asks and I furrow my brows.

"What do you mean what about Athena? I thought we'd established her feelings towards me," I say, picking at the grass and throwing it in front of me.

"Okay, so she's hesitant, which we know is a very normal thing for humans," he says, nodding his head towards James who mimics him. "But what about the bond. Have you tried using that to show her that it's real? Of what it means?" He asks me, raising a brow.

"What?"

"Well have you kissed her? Touched her tenderly? Read her a love poem? C'mon Micah, you surely know the effects the bond can have. What about even making her a meal? Not cookies, a full blown chef-level meal," Benny suggests.

"I don't know," I admit, shrugging. It's the one thing about having a mate that was supposedly the simplest thing to figure out. "It's not that I don't want to, I'm just afraid that if I move to quickly then it'll scare her. I'm barely sure she wants to be my friend, much less anything else... But I did make her food, and she liked it."

James grabs my shoulder. "See? Benny's right, you just need to get a bit more romantic. There is nothing stopping you from flirting a little."

"Yeah, I'm telling you man, if you use your charm I am sure she will fall head over heels for you in no time. And you can take it slow, make sure that she's comfortable but your wolf will guide you there too."

"So I've got to get better game?" They both laugh boisterously at that and I try not to smile because its still a serious matter.

"Yes, you look like a beaten puppy every time something even goes slightly wrong. Take control of the situation and have fun—this is a big deal for you too, its something to be enjoyed." Ben says, his words of encouragement spoken with absolute candor.

"Alright," I say, nodding. "Make her friends and family like me and get a bit more romantic. I can do that."

Benny grins. "That's the spirit! James go and get a pen and some paper, our pal has some writing to do whilst we play ball."

---------------------------

Molly did eventually come knocking on the door and managed to drag me from my room onto a big trip around the campus. It was a really cool university. Kelsey ended up up joining us at some point and we spent most of the afternoon in the gaming centre with them playing on arcade machines and drinking milkshakes.

And the best part about it was that they didn't bring up the guys really at all, and they definitely didn't bring up Micah and me. We just explored and collected pamphlets and it was honestly a nice day.

We didn't even get back to the rooms, it was so late that by the time we returned that we headed straight for the dining hall. The moment we entered my attention turned to the table holding Micah and the other guys, like he had some sort of beacon attached to him.

The room was enormous and full of students from all over the pack. Everything was loud and crazy and I honestly wished that Henry was here next to me right now.

I followed the girls as we walked over and watched as they moved slightly quicker and both embraced their mates, Molly in what looked like a near tackle followed by a kiss and Kelsey much more subtle. I just moved close to Micah and waved my hand with a smile, sending a clear message before he even made the move for a hug, not that he would.

"Heyo," he say, awkwardly waving back. "How a—" he starts coughing loudly, patting at his chest and my entire body is pulled to alert.

"Oh my god, are you okay?" I ask, moving forward like I could actually be of any help if he wasn't.

He raises a hand, smiling. "Yep, I just breathed in water," he croaks.

"Goddess give me strength." James groans, making me snap my attention to him. He raises his hands innocently. "I think I am going to get seconds."

"The food looks good," I comment pointing to Micah's full meal of meats and vegetables and bread. His plate is stacked.

He recovers completely, nodding. "It is, I got extra in case you didn't want to wait in line but this is the only option other than some vegetarian lasagne," he says, shifting over and I look over at the insane line before taking a seat. There definitely is enough food for two here.

"How was your exploring? Benny said you guys checked out most of the campus." He looks so at ease as he splits some food onto a spare plate for me, completely comfortable despite being surrounded by so many strangers.

It's interesting considering his walls were so up at his own family dinner and especially at mine. I guess his friends are a sort of comfort zone for him.

"Yeah, it was really cool. We spent a lot of time in the arcades, there's this vintage Fire and Fury game that is actually so insane. You can choose characters to play that you can't even on the video game, like the professor? You know him?" I ask and he nods, a grin overtaking his features. "Yeah, even he is in there."

"No way," he says, genuinely excited as he passes me my plate. "I've honestly always wondered why they did nothing with him in the newer versions, I mean a gunslinging eighty year old professor? Who wouldn't want to play him, dudes a ninja."

"Exactly! So yeah it was pretty dope, you should really check it out while we are here. What did you guys get up to today?" I ask him and he finishes the food in his mouth.

"Oh not a lot, we just played some ball and checked the stadium out," he says casually. "But I am keen to check that game out before we go back, maybe you can show me the ropes." His eyes look so soft as he smiles at me with the suggestion and honestly, I could stare at those eyes for a millennia and never get bored.

There is something so calming in the caramel of his brown eyes, as weird as it might be to admit, it made him seem so trusting.

"Its actually a battle game, so you'd have to be my opponent. I'm not sure its in my best interests to teach you," I respond before digging into my own food and he laughs.

"As long as there is a dragon—"

"Oh my goddess," Kelsey's mate, Xavier says. "I swear you are the biggest nerd."

Olive laughs. "Is he on about Fire and Fury again? Good luck to you getting out of that conversation Athena." Micah laughs as they all tease him and consequently me.

"You're just mad because you couldn't figure out the riddles in the first five minutes," Micah quips and Kelsey furrows her brows, a soft hand moving to her mates muscled arm.

"Hey," she warns, leaning closer to her him. I think it is safe to say that she carries most of the intellect for the two of them, he's the brawn and she's the brain — a perfect match.

"Its fine babe, anyway, if that shit was real I would just make the riddler give me what I need and slay the dragon with no troubles," he gives his mate a large grin and she returns it.

I honestly don't doubt it. He's got about the same muscle as Micah and though he appears goofy, something tells me that if it ever came to a fight, he would know exactly how to kill an opponent. But my brows knot together.

"The riddle maker wouldn't confess and besides, if its the old version which we are talking about then you couldn't even use force. He is magically there, the physical person is just a mirage," I don't even think before blurting my obvious facts but the table soon turn to my input, curious as ever.

"I take it back," Olive says with an amused huff. "It seems you are both nerds. Well, at least our pack will be safe from dragons and warlocks."

I shove more food in my mouth to stop from having to reply, the thought of ruling anything enough to put me off.

"You never know," Benny says with a shrug. "And for the record, I like Fire and Fury, I'm on your team with this one." He sends a smile our way.

"Is anyone going out tonight?" Molly asks. "I'm incredibly tired but if there is a party happening I don't want to miss out." It was like she had just snapped into the conversation, her mind in another realm.

I think back to how she knocked back wolfsbane at the last party and encouraged me to do the same.

"I think I am going to go to bed, it's an early start tomorrow for the field classes," Micah announces immediately and I wonder if it's because he thinks there's a low chance I will go without him. He assumes that just because my only other friend isn't here I'll stick by his side.

It wouldn't be an entirely wrong assumption but I almost want to prove him wrong, prove that I'm not some super shy awkward introvert.

"Party?" James questions as he slides back into his seat, an enormous pile of food sitting atop his plate. "Yeah I'm so down, I was talking to some people in the line who are going. Apparently tomorrow night is going to be even better."

"Are you sure the teachers are going to see it as a social outing?" I ask and he gives me a grin before looking at Micah.

"There are so many students here they won't even know we are missing. You should both come, it's going to be an incredibly fun time, dancing and music and bonding with other people," he says, looking more towards Micah than me like he heard his reluctance on sitting down.

"I really think it's going to be a no from me this time," Micah reaffirms.

"We will come!" Molly says and Xavier and Kelsey nod as well, Olive following suit.

"Does anyone know where Gia and Finn are at?" Benny asks, "I'm supposed to encourage her to come out to any and all social events as a part of my training according to her big brother."

Everyone laughs and its Olive who speaks up. "Good luck with that. But if either of them are going to find their mate, here is a good start. A bunch of eighteen year old wolves from across the pack in one place—maybe you'll get the goddesses gift cousin."

James smiles. "It is bad luck to know," he responds.

I turn to Micah as the conversation continues, capturing his attention."Do they have drink refills up there?" I ask, picking up my empty cup and he nods, moving to stand but I stop him. "No it's okay, I can get it."

I leave the table before he can object and let out a shaky sigh, letting the anxiety roll off me. I feel calm in that group but something within me always stirs, like I can't handle it for too long.

I fill my cup to the brim with my good hand just as someone knocks into me, making the orange juice go all over my shirt. I stand soaked for a good second, realising what's happened as a large guy, almost the size of Micah turns around to me. Judging from the looks of the group he's with, I'd wager they are all not human.

He lifts his white shirt that has orange juice soaked into the end of his sleeve and sneers. "Could you watch where you are going? This is a nice shirt you've just ruined girl."

I am stunned as he stares with disdain, his friends around him chuckling before going completely quiet.

"Maybe you should watch where you are going." Micah's voice is menacing from behind me and I take a step back into his chest without realising it.

The guy in front of me stiffens before looking between us. Interest sparking in his eyes.

"Apologise." Micah's voice is stern and full of power and I open my mouth to object, to try and mitigate the situation but he places a hand on my waist, effectively shutting me up.

The man nods a head in my direction. "I apologise, I didn't realise she was your mate." Like it should make a difference. "I truly meant no disrespect..."

He raises a brow, drawing out his words. "Athena," Micah corrects.

"I meant no disrespect, Athena. Please accept my apologies to yourself and your pack. As your neighbour, I sincerely hope the goddess helps me to correct my misgivings," he says and I don't know how to respond to such a formal apology so I merely nod my head which is enough for him to bow ever so slightly to Micah and walk away.

I move from his touch instantly. "What was that about?" I ask, looking back to where the male leaves the room.

"He's in line to be beta of our neighbouring pack. To disrespect you within this pack requires a formal apology, it's customary and even if it wasn't I'd make him. Prick," I turn to assess the irritation burning through Micah's eyes, as if the incident was such an injustice. "Are you alright?"

I look down at my shirt that sticks to me like a second skin. "Well, I don't think I'll be going to that party anymore."

I touch his arm lightly to pull his attention from the door the future beta walked into. "Hey," I say, "It's fine, it was just an accident, nothing that a shower and trip to the laundry won't fix. I think me and orange juice just aren't meant to be."

The angered gleam in his brown eyes softens and he nods firmly though I know he disagrees. It's the principle of the matter.

"Do you want to go straight back to the room? The others are all going to head off to the party in a moment," he suggests and I nod.

We leave the cafeteria after saying our goodbyes and I endure the shock and questions at my state like a complete champion. I'm honestly surprised that I didn't just break down in tears at the embarrassment of it all, maybe I didn't because there's no telling what Micah would've done to that guy if I did.

As soon as we enter the room I go straight to my suitcase and get my clothes, having a shower immediately. Though a pool party might have been fun in a terrifying way, I can't say I'm super mad that I'm not going. One hot shower and I am ready to just watch movies and relax.

I get into my baby blue pyjamas and enter the room to find Micah laying down on the main bed, making me fight to conceal my smile of triumph. "The shower is all yours," I comment, moving over to the couch and sitting down immediately.

He gets up with a groan and grabs a towel, stretching out his muscles that are defined even through the loose shirt he wears. "Do you want to maybe watch a movie when I finish?" He asks causally and I nod.

"Sure, why not."

He beams at my response and nods. "Awesome, I won't be long—you can pick." Like he's not wasting a moment of time, he turns immediately and enters the bathroom, the shower turning on just seconds later.

I shake my head with an amused laugh. Henry is not going to believe the situation I am in right now and Gabe... I don't think that he even needs to know about this.

I feel greasy just thinking about it. I am keeping a secret from Gabe about a bigger secret I already kept from him.

I move to get comfortable on the couch—my bed and pick Micahs varsity jacket off, throwing it onto the coffee table just for a small slip of white paper to fall out. Thoughts don't even wander through my mind as I pick it up to put it back in his pocket until I see my name scrawled across its folded front.

My hand freezes mid air and I dart my eyes to the bathroom, the shower still running. I shouldn't pry, it could be anything—but it has my name on it. What would he be carrying around that concerns me?

My mind jumps to the worst conclusions, that its a legal document, an evil plot, a piece of my private information and so I just open it, biting the bullet.

Eyes that shine brighter than a thousand stars

Close to the

The goddess of war

As a When I was a pup child.

When I was a child, I'd sink into the sand of the ocean and imagine the waves carrying me to sea

I'd gaze into the crystal waters and think of falling endlessly into the oceans cool embrace like my body was made of bricks.

It terrified me, yet I would slip further and further from shore until I was called in to return

You are the ocean, the goddess of war, the mighty and strong current that lures my heart into dangerous waters

I yearn to fall deeply into that which I do not know, into unchartered territory full of horrendous excitement

My very soul ignites with each crash of your waves, with every bit of sunlight that you allow to filter to my falling body as I sink into the dark waters

I feel aflame and the love burns me deep,

Even as I am torn into currents of darkness I grasp onto that slither of light, of your love.

Goddess of war you wound me

I wonder if love is worth fighting for when it torments me so much,

For is there really love in war?

But I would die a thousand deaths, endure the many battles you scar on my heart to just glimpse into those eyes.

Just to feel the strength of your waves crash down upon me

To listen to your stormy—

"Where did you get that?" Micah asks, standing in the door with nothing but sweatpants on, his muscled chest gleams with the droplets of water that remain. I gape at him, my eyes going wide and I register the panic on his own face despite the collected facade he manages.

He visibly gulps as he sees his jacket on the table in front of me, running a hand down the length of his face before pinching his brows monetarily. "You were not supposed to see that," he mumbles, sounding like he wants to run and jump off a cliff, like he's embarrassed.

"Is this... for me?" I ask, the answer so glaringly obvious I don't know why I even said it.

He cringes and moves towards me, gently taking the paper from my hands. "How much of it did you read?" He asks and my silent response is enough of an answer—most. "I— This was supposed to be, I was going to give this to you..." he stops himself short again. "It was meant to be a romantic gesture, a poem for you but it's a draft and rough and maybe this wasn't the best time for you to see it. This hasn't really gone how I thought it would," he concludes with a heavy sigh.

I am stunned on so many fronts but the fact that Micah is rambling in front of me might top the cake, his composure has just flown out of the window alongside mine and both of us are too awkward to deal with it.

I lift my hands up towards the paper and take it back and he's too surprised by the action that he lets me. "No," I say, furrowing my brows as I unfold the paper. "It's beautiful and, and a really nice poem, Micah. I didn't realise you wrote like this." My eyes skim over the page once more and he takes a seat next to me on the couch.

"It's slightly embarrassing," he admits, discomfort still lining his features.

"Do you really feel this way?" I ask, looking back to the paper scribbled with his handwriting. "That I torment you? Burn you? Do I hurt you so much?"

Just saying the words aloud makes my heart constrict, the idea of bringing anyone pain is enough to make me feel shit but this... I feel like my whole body rejects the notion.

Clarity overcomes him and he shakes his head, leaning forward. "No! No, that's not what I meant by it... I mean, maybe some of it turned into my feelings accidentally, but the poem is meant to show you that I will fight for you despite those feelings and everything else that is going on," he says and I see in his eyes that he is adamant on removing my guilt.

"I don't mean to hurt you, Micah. I know that I do and I'm sorry I can't feel the way that you do. I'm really, really sorry. It's unfair and you don't deserve it," I say and just like that I see more agonised pain cover his features and it makes tears well in my eyes.

He takes a moment to absorb my words before moving slightly closer. "You don't have to apologise, Thea, I don't expect that of you. The poem, what I was trying to say, is that maybe part of love is the fight, maybe the goddess has given me this challenge so that I experience love like humans do. Maybe... maybe the falling part of falling in love is supposed to be scary and tough."

He speaks as though his thoughts are flying off his tongue, like he is telling me his feelings before he's processed them. I make the mistake of looking down and allow a tear to fall from my eyes as I clutch onto the paper full of his hope that I crush time and time again.

Maybe I am a goddess of war, cruel and evil and making him battle something that isn't even supposed to be a fight for him. Meanwhile he is finding every positive spin he possibly can.

Micahs warm hand immediately cups my cheek and sparks erupt down my spine at the contact as he brushes the tear away with his thumb. I didn't realise that we had gotten so close that I can feel the heat from his bare chest and see straight into his brown eyes that trap my gaze.

"Please," he says, a pained smile overcoming his face. "Don't cry, I only wanted to make you happy."

He speaks with such sincerity but I can't help the small laugh that bubbles from my mouth at the whole situation. He wrote me a love letter and I sobbed, I'm sure this only adds to the torture he feels.

The moment my lips stretch into a somewhat smile, adoration covers Micah's eyes and his brown orbs pull me into a trance again as his pupils darken slightly. "You are so beautiful," he mummers to himself and I feel my breath get hitched in my throat. The heat of his chest brushes against mine. I want to tell him that he is too, that he is the most gorgeous person I have ever laid eyes on. But I don't.

I glance down but his finger gently tilts my head up, connecting our eyes again like his life depends on it. His hand moves to cup my cheek, fingers brushing softly against my skin before resting at my ear. I don't pull back and the air between us turns tight.

There is so much torment in his gaze, so much longing and hurt and I am reminded about all that this is for him. All that I am preventing him from having. His destiny.

But beneath the pain swirling in his hazel orbs is an indescribable pull that comes with staring into the abyss leading to his very soul. It's like my entire body is drawn to him. Like I'm just a moth to his blazing fire.

I don't think, don't even consider the consequence as I follow that tug and descend my lips upon his in a soft, swift movement. And then my body lights up like its new years day. 

And i oop -