Lycan's Bride

"Time when fate made us meet was something that I felt so grateful for."

Zev Russel

***

In a crowded ballroom at night, a lot of people were gathered over there. A lot of guests came wrapped with their most glamorous clothes so they looked elegant and prestigious. The sound of musical instruments was echoed in the luxury place as some couples chose to dance at the center, meanwhile some of them chose to chatting with another guests about their businesses and companies.

Until...The whisper came into a handsome man's ears that stood while he was holding his wine glass gracefully.

'Mate'

Zev Russel saw a woman in the hall. That man seemed a little bit surprised when the woman passed him. He had never thought if there was another woman that could steal his attention instantly. Zev couldn't deny that she was so beautiful and so perfect in his eyes but at the same time, he also could sense the woman was also an extraordinarily dangerous one. He knew that woman would become someone special for him sooner or later.

At that time, Zev had an instinct that someday this woman would bring storms and dilemmas into his life as he knew the woman brought something dangerous in this kind of place. He saw a dagger silhouette from the dress slit that she wore. From his experiences, usually, the woman assassin would put the silver dagger on their thighs and it was covered under their skirt or something. Zev couldn't believe these assassins still used the same trick as if they were not learning from their mistakes in the past yet. So many years before, Zev Russel had to deal with a lot of assassins but they were handled well but it seemed it would be different with this one because...

She was his mate. He really doesn't care what she was, but from her scent, he knew that woman was a human but what kind of her species it doesn't matter to him. When their gaze collided for a moment, he could sense that woman was so nervous about something and he had to admit that the woman had a beautiful face and a fresh scent that he could smell from afar.

"Hi." That woman smiled at him but of course, he knew she targeted him but he would never let her plan happen as the woman wanted. He would turn the situation to his benefit for sure...

"Hi."

"I hope I am not disturbing you. Mr. Russel." She said confidently.

Zev just smiled because his prediction was right as that woman would approach him. She does like what he wanted but Zev was aware of all possibilities as he knew that she wanted to trap him, but a lycan man like Zev would never let that happen because he would be the one who trapped her instead. His prey and also his mate now standing in front of him so how would he let her slip away?

"Zev. You can call me Zev."

"Okay, Zev."

"Uhm, and you don't need to worry, I will always give my time to my mate." Zev stared at her because he wanted her to know he was always serious regarding his mate. Even though that was too early to talk about mate.

"Your mate? I think a successful man like you can choose anyone to be your mate." She said calmly but Zev knew that she doesn't trust him at all but Zev doesn't complain though.

"But I know my mate is you." He said to her and from her facial expression, Zev could sense that she must be shocked but he pretended to not know anything.

"Okay. Then I will be your mate." She said nonchalantly.

"I am serious about this." He insisted, and of course she was not aware about the meaning of his words.

"Then I say again. I will be your mate, Zev Russel and who can reject a man like you Mr. Russel?"

"Are you sure?" He asked her back.

"Yes, of course. It's my pleasure to be your mate, Mr. Russel." She smiled at him but her smile actually was a fake but it doesn't matter for Zev Russel.

"Ms-,"

"Athena."

"You have a beautiful name." Zev smiled at her

"Thank you, Zev," She looked at him for a while before she continued, "so Zev... can we talk at another place?" She asked.

"Sure. But I warned you that I am gonna mark you as mine and you can leave now before everything too late." Zev warned her but from her reaction, she thought that man was joking but... the fact... he doesn't joke at all.

"I am sure. Let's go. You can take me wherever you want." She said to him with a mesmerizing smile on her beautiful face.

"Athena, are you sure?"

'Don't say that I wasn't warned because I warned her over and over again but she insisted on following me and I also knew that she was an assassin that had a mission to kill me but I would show her that I am a game changer.' Zev thought

"Yes, I am sure. Just take me wherever you want."

'Okay!'

So Zev did as she said as she doesn't mind to go wherever he wanted so Zev brought her into his mansion. The place where there was no one knew it but just his pack.

All this time, Zev Russel always lived in the underworld. The humans just knew him as a successful man but actually he had a big responsibility to make sure that his pack could live in peace so they didn't need to be worried about their pups because Zev would provide everything that they needed. He also had a lot of loyal warriors that were ready to stand for him in all circumstances.

He was aware this woman must be an assassin that has a mission to kill him and she was sent by her client that knew about his real identity, but he also insisted to claim her tonight as his no matter what because he knew If she really was his mate, then she couldn't ignore him no matter what.

'You can't lie to me.' Zev sowed these words into her mind when their gaze met again. He knew what he wanted to do. He would make Athena not lie to him, but he still played this game with her because it seemed so interesting. Zev wanted Athena seduced by him before he claimed her to become his. For now, she agreed when he brought her wherever he wanted and of course Zev would never let her client's mission be accomplished by her.

'Search information about Athena, the woman who is standing in front of me, right now!' Zev ordered his pack while he was still talking with her. Usually, he doesn't want to know who is the assassin that wanted to kill him but this time it was different because Athena was his mate so he needed to know everything about this assassin woman.

While he still talked with her, he knew that she wanted to seduce him so she could kill him in the place that her target wanted. Zev brought her into his mansion while he waited for the investigation result from his packs. Actually, her perfect plan ruined since he knew someone had spied on him recently and he also had captured the spy and the spy had admitted everything before he killed him.

As a leader. Zev Russel didn't have a lot of choices when he realized that so many people and species were targeting him and he decided to be cruel. He promised to himself that he would never let any creatures bully his pack. Even he knew Athena was his mate, but he would never forget that she was also an assassin that gave a mission to kill him so he has to deal with her first because he doesn't want her to become a menace to his pack.

Athena acted like she looked astonished when she arrived at his mansion but he knew everything that she showed in front of him was fake. Zev admitted that he loved how she had to pretend that nothing happened. Meanwhile, her face looked a little bit worried but he tried to make her calm down.

Zev grabbed her palm and guided her to get into the mansion.

"Athena, do you really want to be my mate?" Zev asked her once again.

"Yes. I do." She answered without thinking any further. Zev couldn't believe that she could look so certain as well so, there was no problem since her 'I do' was an important key to starting the marking process.

"Then you have to remember from this now on that you are... mine." Zev whispered the words into her ear as he sowed his words into deep down in her soul forever so she would never forget it.

"What if meeting you is like a disaster in my life?"

Athena Xander

***

"Athena, I warned you that you have to accomplish your mission tonight."

That voice was always echoing in her head recently. Even if she doesn't want to take this kind of job, what could she do? That man would never let her rest until he got what he wanted! She hated everything about her life but again... Athena Xander doesn't have a choice.

"Listen! You know that I just want to stop! You have promised me before, that you will let me go! Why do you want me to do this mission?"

"I don't need to explain it to you," That man looked at her coldly. "Athena, I know that you need this job. I promise you this will be your last mission no matter what has happened in the end. Be careful, your target is not an ordinary man." He whispered in her ears softly while he threw a lather bag on the ground before he left her that night.

That man always gave Athena a lot of information about her target before she executed them. He just gave information not anything else but this time, that man also gave her a silver dagger that she has to use to execute him, Zev Russel.

She knew a little bit about Zev Russel before because he often appeared on a lot of well known magazine covers. Zev Russel was also a successful man and he had so many businesses so Athena was not wondering if there were a lot of people that wanted him to die, and tonight...

She would kill him so she could get her freedom back.

***

The client also had given her an invitation so she could get into the party where Zev Russel was also attending. For this time, Athena wore a one shoulder long sleeve black dress with a high slit so she could move freely even though she was also walking with high heels.

The hall was filled with a lot of people. From her spot, she could see a handsome man with his black suit surrounded by some people. Athena observed him for a while from the second floor in a classy manner. At this time, she has to pretend that she was just an ordinary visitor even though that was not easy because Athena had never attended this kind of party before.

Athena was astonished when her eyes met his eyes. She felt a little bit panicked but later Athena composed herself and gave a smile to him and left this spot calmly. At first, Athena had thought about leaving but she changed her mind and decided to come to him.

"Hi." Athena smiled.

"Hi." Zev responded to her with a gentle smile that painted on his handsome face so she thought he was interested in her. Okay! The fact was, Zev Russel was interested in her indeed! Their glance glue once he approached her and gave her another gentle smile.

"I hope I am not disturbing you. Mr. Russel." Athena said to him casually.

"Zev. You can call me Zev."

"Okay, Zev." She called his name gently.

"Uhm, and you don't need to worry, I will always give my time to my mate." Zev stared at her.

Athena could not deny that Zev Russel looked so handsome and charming indeed even she had to remind herself about her mission. He was her target and she has to kill him tonight.

"Your mate? I think a successful man like you can choose anyone to be your mate."

"But I know my mate is you." He said while his sharp gaze pierced on her.

Athena was shocked when he said such words to her. For Athena, someone like him must say such words to a lot of women, yet why does she feel this man was serious with his words? And once again Athena Xander reminded herself, 'Zev Russel is just my target and I should not have any personal feelings towards my target. Then alright! I will play this game.'

"Okay. Then I will be your mate." Athena said without thinking any further because she thought tonight would be his last day so why doesn't she give him his last wish? Also she had never failed in her missions before. Athena just wanted to stop doing this kind of job because all that she wanted was to live peacefully. Athena wanted to be a normal woman.

Zev looked at her before he smiled again. There was something in him that made her couldn't turn her gaze away from him even though that was something that she wanted to do right now.

"I am serious about this." Zev warned but it seemed Athena didn't care at all because she was still thinking that Zev Russel will die in her hand tonight.

"Then I say again. I will be your mate, Zev Russel and who can reject a man like you Mr. Russel?" Athena knew that tonight she must be a whore again but she had to do it to lure him to leave this hall and after she killed him, everything would be done and she doesn't need to kill anymore. She would get her freedom as a human again.

"Are you sure?" Zev asked her again.

"Yes, of course. It's my pleasure to be your mate, Mr. Russel." Athena said as she smiled at him.

At this point, Athena thought Zev was really a good seducer. His orange vanilla perfume sneaked into her nostril created something familiar in her heart. Something that she doesn't understand yet, but she knew that scent would become her favorite.

"Ms-," Zev paused, while his gaze was still on her as if he was waiting for her answer.

"Athena."

"Athena." That girl paused for a while before she looked at Zev and managed to act normally but deep down in her heart, she also doesn't understand why she gave her real name to him. 'Okay! Calm down, that's okay. He will die at the end. Just calm down!' She calmed herself because she knew that she made a big mistake when she gave him her real name.

"You have a beautiful name." Zev complimented her but Athena thought that was just superficial things as she had seen a lot of men like him that complimented a lot of women like what Zev did to her, then left them in the morning and acted like nothing happened.

"Thank you, Zev." Athena looked at his amber eyes. Athena had never known his eyes could be so mesmerizing like this. "So can we talk at another place?" She asked him because she wanted everything to get over soon so she would get her freedom. Her dream.

"Sure. But I warned you that I am gonna mark you as mine and you can leave now before everything too late."

Athena laughed a little bit because a woman like her would never leave her target alone or let her target run away.

"I am sure. Let's go. You can take me wherever you want." She said as she wanted to seduce him into her trap.

Before Athena had read information about him. In the information, he always goes to his apartment every night and Athena was sure that he would bring her over there as she had prepared her plan to run away from his apartment as well. So yes! Athena Xander was ready for this mission.

"Athena, are you sure?" Zev asked her again but she made up her mind to kill him by tonight.

"Yes, I am sure. Just take me wherever you want."

Zev guided her to get into his vehicle and she followed him as he put his arm on her waist gently. Athena had prepared a small dagger on her left leg that was covered by black fabric skirt. Along the way, Zev Russel doesn't say anything to her as the vehicle goes in the other direction. Athena panicked because this was not like her plan as he didn't bring her into his apartment but to another place that she didn't know.

Athena tried to be calm. She almost wanted to kill him in this vehicle but, if she killed him here then she has to kill his driver as well and that would make everything become complicated. After thinking about this matter, Athena decided to wait for the right time.

The vehicle stopped at a huge mansion. Athena had never gotten information about this place from that man before so she looked around but that woman still doesn't have any idea where this place was. The darkness of night made her couldn't see anything but the mansion as his perfume somehow made her so comfortable.

"We arrived." He said to her before he opened the door and helped Athena to get out of his vehicle.

She could feel Zev Russel was not an ordinary man but she didn't have a clue yet. She knew that he was so dangerous but what she could do? She was shocked when she saw inside the mansion because this mansion was so glamorous and at the same time, she kept reminding herself that she has to be sober enough because she was aware that this was a critical moment and she has an important thing that she must accomplish.

When Zev grabbed her palm, Athena felt like there was an electricity that struck her and made her heart beat so fast as she had never felt something like this before.

'What is it?' Athena thought.

His touch ignited something that she couldn't understand. She felt so nervous as well but at the same time, she had to pretend nothing happened. Again, Athena Xander reminded herself that 'I have to focus and accomplish this mission and I get my freedom'. That sentence suddenly became her spell to draw her back to reality.

"Athena, do you really want to be my mate?" He asked her once again. Athena became bored because that man always asked her the same thing over and over again.

"Yes. I do."

"Then you have to remember from this now on that you are... mine." He whispered.

Then everything became so dark.

"Sometimes escape is a better choice rather than die for nothing."

Athena Xander

***

When Athena Xander opened her eyes the next morning, she found herself laying over the bed. There was no one beside her. Athena looked so confused as that woman doesn't remember what had happened last night because everything seemed so blurry. Athena tried to be calm but the fact is, she can't lie to herself that she was scared because she found herself laid naked on the bed as her black dress and underwear were scattered on the floor.

'Calm down, Athena. Everything will be alright.' She chanted these words as she thought it could help her to be calm in this situation and she took a deep breath and took a step to collect her dress and wear it on the spot as her legs trembled. Even Athena was still dizzy but she insisted on getting out of this mansion.

Athena tried her best to recall about what had happened last night but she could not think any further as she found a bunch of blurry images that she couldn't identify what was that and it left her with a lot of questions in her head.

Athena looked around and found there was no one around. That means the situation was clear and it was good so she could get out of this place without any trouble. Athena had to walk around thirty minutes before she found a taxi that sent her to her studio apartment.

Athena felt so exhausted and her neck also in pain when she arrived at her room. Athena was also a little bit astonished when she looked at the mirror in the bathroom because she could see a bite wound on her neck. It seemed like there was something that bit her neck and she didn't remember anything so she felt so frustrated as well.

Athena cleaned the wound carefully because the wound delivered a burning sensation all over her delicate skin. The wound in her neck made her realize that she has to take the consequences from that man because her mission failed. It was possible if that man wanted her life now.

By thinking about that possibility made her head dizzy and all that she wanted right now was to just take a rest for a while before she has to deal with the cruel reality in front of her. Athena doesn't know if she is ready or not for the consequences that she has to deal with.

Yes, of course, she was aware there are a lot of rules in the organization and an important rule that she has to remember as assassins, that the client must be someone that never existed even if the mission had failed. Even if the target wanted to kill her, she has to deal with something like that alone

The worst possibility happened to her perhaps would happen soon because Athena was quite certain that Zev found the silver dagger that was hidden on her leg and covered by her dress slit. At this moment, Athena also has to prepare because there was a possibility that Zev Russel would kill her soon. He has a lot of subordinates and Athena was aware of what she was faced with since that man said killing Zev Russel became her last mission.

Athena took a deep breath because I know her life was in danger since she decided to become an assassin but now she just wanted to forget everything for a while until her mom came from the door suddenly and slapped her face so hard. That slap made her head blank for a while but actually, the pain that she felt was not on her face but it was in her heart instead. Athena also doesn't understand how this slap delivered more pain than the wound on her neck that almost burned her?

"Mom,"

Actually, Athena wanted to say a lot of things to her mom and tell her what had happened to her but all those words just stuck in her head, just vanished suddenly when she saw Edrica's face.

"That man told me that he will kill me and your brother because you are so dumb! How come you failed on your mission!" Edrica looked so mad until her face became reddish.

"Mom,"

Actually, Athena wanted to tell her that her target had hurted her. He hurted her neck but it looked like Edrica was just concerned about herself and her son. Somehow, Athena had ever thought her mom was treated her like this because she was a first born so her mom was more concerned about her brother than her. But why? No one could choose to be a first born, middle born or last born but Athena felt her heart was cold and chill. She just wanted to be alone at this moment.

Athena gasped the air as she felt her heart felt so heavy. She tried to compose herself before facing her mom. "Mom, you can go."

PLAK!

The second slap landed on her face again. She was exhausted so she didn't want to say a single word to her.

"Athena! Do you want to whoosh me away?!" Edrica looked so mad as her eyes got bigger when she stared at her. Actually, her mom has always been like that but Athena doesn't understand why she felt that she could not tolerate what her mom had done to her right now anymore.

Athena turned her body around. Usually, Athena didn't cry easily even though her heart was trampling on the ground by her mom or anyone else. Even though Athena felt broken, again and over again. Deep down in her heart, she knew that her mom would never change and what she had to do was just accept the truth even though that was not easy at all to have a mother like Edrica.

"Okay! Now just give me the money, I need to go before that man sends his man to kill me because of your dumbness." Edrica opened her right palm in front of Athena as if she was ready to get the money from her daughter as her face looked so infuriated.

Athena just wanted peace so she took her purse and gave it to her mom. "Mom, you can take all the money and the cards you know the password, just take it." Athena said nonchalantly.

Edrica stared at her awkwardly as if she was astonished but Athena knew her mom so well. Edrica was happy as she accepted Athena's purse and there was a happy smile on her face. Meanwhile Athena gasped as she couldn't hide the exhausted, pain and agony that she was felt all this time.

"Athena, are you serious?" Edrica asked her daughter with a happy face.

"Mom, don't you say that you want my money? Just take it." She confirmed it.

At this point, Athena just surrendered everything about her mom. She surrendered to hope that someday her mom would change. Athena thinks, as a daughter, perhaps she was too naive and too hoped that her mom would love her like she loved her brother but then, she just realized, no one could force anybody else's feelings even if she was your own mom.

Edrica opened the purse and her smile looked wider than before when she found a large amount of cash before she gave Athena's Id card back to her before she left Athena alone in her studio apartment.

Again, Athena took a long deep breath when Edrica left her apartment like this after she took all of her money but at this time, Athena doesn't want to think about anything but sleep until she heard someone open her apartment door. Athena just wanted to surrender if Zev's subordinate wanted to kill her so she chose to close her eyes as if she was ready to die as the door was closed.

"Athena, what are you doing? Just sleep in your room."

'Why could I hear Ares' voice? Wasn't he with mom?' There were some questions in her mind after she heard a familiar voice in her ears so she opened her eyes and she found that her brother was standing in front of her as he looked at her confusedly.

"Athena, what happened to you?"

"Ares! Why did you come here?" Athena asked her little brother who came to her apartment with a big backpack on his back. Athena knew her brother wanted to sleep over in her apartment but this was a little bit weird.

"Mom asked me to come here and stay with you. She said that she had to go." Ares looked so frustrated when he told her about this matter.

"So Mom doesn't go with you but leaves you with me instead?" Athena could not believe that their mom just left them without money.

"The fact that you still see me here, right?" Ares asked. His gloomy face was like understand what had happened here and his eyes told her as if he could read what was in Athena's mind right now.

"Okay, then I will be honest to you." Athena looked at her brother with a serious face.

"What?!"

"I gave all of my money to Mom and now, we have nothing left."

"Okay, I know." Ares answered her nonchalantly and of course Ares' reaction made her so confused and curious at the same time.

"Wait? Ares, how do you know?"

"Athena, that's easy! Mom would never ask me to be here if she wants me to go with her, right?"

"Okay, you're right. I never thought my brother could sense something like this." Athena really doesn't know if she should complain or compliment her smart brother.

"But, you don't need to worry because I have enough money." Ares looked at her and smiled. "I have some money that I earned all this time so don't worry." He said proudly.

"That's good," Athena responded as she tapped Ares' shoulder lightly. "I want to sleep. I was so exhausted." She said again.

"Wait!" Ares grabbed her left arm before she almost took a step to go to her bedroom.

"What?"

"Let me dress your wound." Ares said while he took off his backpack and put it on the floor before he took the medicine kit on the cabinet.

Athena let Ares dress her wound. At this time, she knew Ares must be so confused when he saw the wound on her neck.

"Athena, what happened to your neck?" Ares asked her in curiosity.

"I don't know. I don't remember anything." Athena answered her brother nonchalantly because she really didn't know what happened to her at that time.

"You said that you don't remember anything?! I hope my sister didn't do something stupid." Ares murmured.

'Yes! But ... what if... I really made a big mistake.'