"Apollo! Let Kronos have the control back." I struggled out, my arms pinned by the side of my head.

Kronos's eyes were pitch black, his growl echoing through the room.

Apollo snarled, his chest panting. Kronos... or rather, Apollo, pressed his lower half against mine, grinding on me. A moan soon slipped out between my lips as I held back the next one.

I gasped as he dove for my neck, inhaling my scent.

"You smell so divine, Rhea..." he growled, trailing kisses until he reached my breasts. His hands roamed my body, kissing each and every corner as he started to unbutton my blouse. Not a second after, I could feel him cup my breast gently, as he played with my nipple.

I squirmed, the sparks becoming overwhelming.

"I just want to eat you all up..." he whispered, kissing down my stomach.

His hands started to wonder, as he inched closer and closer to where I knew I'd scream in pleasure. Panting, with a mixture of moans from his touches, I mustered all my strength to stop him.

This wasn't Kronos, and I know he would never do this to me.

To us.

It was odd seeing a wolf out but using their human to speak. I would never get used to it. Clearing my throat and summoning all the authority I had in me, I spoke, "Let. Go. Of. Me. I understand the need is strong right now, but Kronos and I aren't ready. If you really care about our well-being, you'll control yourself."

There was a moment of silence, before a whimper.

Kronos soon suddenly collapsed on top of me, his eyes closed.

Panicking, I sat right up. "Kronos, are you back in control?"

He made a slight sound, "Mmh..."

Frowning, I caressed his hair, hoping to stir him awake.

Not a second later, Kronos moved his head and tilted up to meet my concerned gaze. Immediately, he flushed red, jumping up high in the air and landing like a cat.

"I-I'm so sorry, I blacked out and Apollo took control. Please forgive me, I would never do something that would force you to do anything you didn't want to do. You might be mad or angry, but please don't hate me, I-"

He stopped his sputters when I started laughing my ass off.

In all honesty, I sounded like a hyena.

Kronos waited for me to stop rolling on the ground before I said, "It's okay, Kronos. As long as you apologized and mean it, I forgive you. I went off on Theo and your dad earlier, for showing you that shit."

He blinked, ignoring my profane language and sighed. "It wasn't right, but they thought I would have fell behind in the adult world or been made fun of."

"You're perfect the way you are, Kronos. Don't worry about it." I said, reassuring him.

Kronos nodded before staring at me wide eyed. He quickly cleared his throat as he turned his head to the side. Face red.

Confused, I asked, "What's wrong?"

"... Your blouse... it's open. I can see your... your... um..." he paused, "titties."

It wasn't a second after before I scrambled to cover myself. My face was crimson, embarrassment flushing my entire being once more. Fixing my blouse, I timidly called for him.

"Kronos...? You can look now." I said, biting my lip.

On cue, he snaps his head back to me and gives an awkward laugh. "I'm really sorry."

"It's honestly fine." I said, flustered out of my own mind. I quickly changed the subject. "I mind-linked Theo and Ouranos. They should be here soon."

A minute later, a knock echos through the room. I give them the okay to enter. They both walked in the room and looked at Kronos apologetically. "Kronos, we're sorry we forced you the lesson. It wasn't right and we should have allowed you to learn on your own. After everything you've been through... and not considering that, it was wrong. Please forgive us."

Kronos stared at them in silence, smiling.

As he smiled, anger shone through his eyes as he paced himself over there and flicked their foreheads before smacking them upside the head. Both grown men groaned and were about to complain when Kronos beat them to it.

"I forgive you guys. Besides, I learned something out of it."

I snapped my head to him in shock, "You what?!"

"I know what eating someone means now!" He exclaimed.

I nearly fainted then and there.

Theo and Ouranos only started rolling on their bellies, barking out in laughter.

It was a long evening where Kronos explained to what he learned, and there were occasions I turned red and mute. As it progressed and came into the morning, the party ended well and swell.

Little did I know, it wasn't the end to surprises.

Because the very next morning, Kronos was challenged for the title of Alpha.

***

"Mm, this is some good food." Coco said, munching softly on the chicken, licking her lips in delight. Of course, her mate was hungry as well.

However, he wasn't hungry for the food, he was simply starving for her. His eyes were glued onto her lips, especially when she let out a moan of pleasure when the food was to her taste. It made Kronos and I chuckle when Coco was doing it purposely.

Her pregnancy hormones were high after all.

She needed her beta male.

Not on the streets, but between the sheets.

Shaking my head slightly, I'm about to turn to Kronos when Ouranos burst through the kitchen in a panic. His chest rose up and down, a frown evident. "Son, Rhea, we need to talk. Now. Along with the beta and female beta, please."

This got the attention from all four of us, as Ouranos wasn't one to speak so urgently easily.

We scrambled out of our chairs, scooting them back loudly and quickly following Ouranos to where Kronos's office was.

It was somewhere private, something we needed at the moment.

Right when the door was closed and locked shut, Ouranos blurted out, "Someone has challenged Kronos for the title of Alpha."

Silence before the storm.

All at once, we all started shouting and demanding answers. Some pointing fingers, face scrunched up in confusion, and perhaps a little of fear.

Kronos, on the other hand, stood pale as a sheet, his mouth gaped.

Eventually, we got too loud and it caused Kronos to shout.

"Everyone, quiet down! Dad's trying to tell us what's going on and it isn't helping that you're all inching towards and surrounding him. Give him a break, please."

Just like that, all of us shut our mouths and listened obediently.

Ouranos finally sighed, ruffled up his hair and spoke in a grave tone. "It was bound to happen eventually, especially how you've first led the pack in the beginning, Kronos. You refused to come out of your office and interact with anyone. You refused to shake hands, touch, or do the majority of what an alpha has to do. While we all understand why you couldn't do what you needed to do, the people who challenged you does not."

Now, that... caught my attention.

Sputtering out what remained in my head, I questioned, "Did you just say... 'people'?"

He nods.

Once.

"Are you saying that not one, but several others have challenged Kronos for the title of Alpha?!" I found myself shouting, the anxiety growing within me.

Coco looked like she could throw up at any second, while Azrael seemed to shake, his anger easily seen. He did not want his best friend to die, not to people who clearly didn't deserve the title.

"This is outrageous!" He exploded, face red.

"Why would they do this? Don't they know Kronos has suffered enough?!" Coco scowled, tears pricking the edges of her eyes.

Ouranos sighs again, "I know. Believe me, it's hard for me to think of the possibility that my son could be killed by these vile members of the pack. After all Kronos has done for them... they still would do this. It breaks my heart."

Kronos, who was silent for a few minutes clicked his tongue.

"But why now? Why didn't they challenge me in the beginning when I was mute? When I refused to come out of my shell and ever smile again?"

We turned to Ouranos for an answer, and he had the saddest look I've ever seen on him.

"Because they're the type of people who are silent in the shadows. Many believe they don't talk much, but it's the quiet people you must be wary of. They're not socially awkward or anything, they're just observing you and waiting to destroy you later in life. Which is now, where you're happy and have finally gotten the strength to be a proper alpha."

And the room grows quiet once more.

"When do the challenges begin?" Kronos suddenly questions.

A breath is heard before Ouranos breaks the silence, "After this meeting."

"Right after this meeting?! Are they insane?!" I basically shouted, already growling my words.

Ouranos silently nodded, grimacing.

Coco was already crying, her hormones going haywire. Azrael rubbed her gently on the back, comforting her but at the same time, getting comforted by the sparks she gave.

It calmed him, and his wolf down.

Me on the other hand?

I was a raging fire, a storm waiting to be unleashed.

Kronos stood silently bedside me, his expression blank yet calm. He blinked once, saying something that surprised us all. "I can take them. I knew that they would challenge me sooner or later and I'm glad they're stepping out of their shadows now."

Ouranos sighed, "That's the spirit son. I believe you can win."

Azrael and Coco nodded, after calming down a bit.

For me?

Not really.

My fists shook, voice wobbling before I excused myself out of the room.

I could hear Kronos disperse the meeting quickly, as he chased after me. His footsteps creaked and batted across the wooden floors, scent engulfing me.

"Rhea, Rhea! Stop, please stop."

I couldn't stop.

I couldn't breathe.

I couldn't stop crying.

Then suddenly, I felt his arms wrap around me from behind, his face buried in my neck. He breathed my scent in, tightening around me, shaking.

"Don't leave me, please."

Inhaling his scent in return, I cried out softly in a broken voice, "I'll never leave you. My soul and wolf won't be able to handle it." Pausing, I turned around in his arms and sniffled out, "Please win. I need you to win. Those bastards can't get your title and ruin what your family has built on for generations."

He nods, placing a kiss on my neck as I continued my rant and worries.

"I love you, Kronos. So for the sake of the moon goddess, I won't leave, but in return, don't leave me. I need you. I have faith that you'll win, but the thought of you possibility losing, is my greatest fear." I whispered, a tear rolling down my cheek.

Kronos leans back a little, his eyes full of love. "And I love you. I promise, I'll win. I won't leave you behind, I wouldn't allow that, especially if you're the Luna. They could claim you as theirs and take you. Tell me, Rhea. All your greatest fears and worries, your insecurities. I'll take them all and remove them from your torture."

I shook my head up and down, tears fully coming out.

And we stayed that way for the remaining time I had with him before the challenges began.

***

"You're worried about your weight and your looks?" He asked, eyes shocked.

We were sitting in our bedroom, laying onto each other. I had confessed to Kronos and wanted to open up to my mate about my insecurities. I know I seemed 'fine' or 'perfect' on the outside, but I can be such a mess on the inside.

It wasn't helping since Kronos had challenges soon.

I nodded, biting my inner cheek.

"Why? You're perfect." He countered, cocking a brow as he caresses my thigh in a loving motion as I leaned into him, snuggling up his body heat.

"I just... compare myself to other female wolves sometimes. How their curves are, their looks, their eyes, and I see the biggest flaws in myself. I don't know why I can't look in the mirror and call myself beautiful. Have you seen the fat on me? It's unattractive. I'm scared that you may not mean what you say, that you'll leave me for someone else. That I'm not good enough for you."

Kronos became quiet for awhile, and then I started assuming... that maybe he was trying to tell me that I was right.

I'm about to speak up when he beats me to it, stunning me.

"You know... I believe that a women's deepest insecurities comes from the men that hurt them. They saw that we ourselves are our biggest enemy, our biggest pessimist. Rhea... if you cannot respect yourself, who will? Don't you want respect from others? It's not easy to love yourself, and my words may mean nothing." He pauses, gripping me tighter. "But to me, you're my world. My dreams. My queen. You rule all, baby. To everyone else, you're an average female. In my eyes? You're more. In the end, it's up to you to believe it. I cannot solve all your problems."

I blinked, tongue tied.

"It's almost like a horse. You can only bring them to the waterside, but you cannot make them drink it. I can't change the way you think or feel, because you have to make the decision to feel that way. If someone calls you ugly, or unattractive, you can let them label you and carry it on for the rest of your life, or... take control of your life and say, 'No, it's my life. I can't blame others by saying, 'well, my mother says I'm fat. My brother or sister says I'm ugly.' It's up to you if you want to be labeled that way. Take your life in your hands, because it's all up to you in the end."

Closing my eyes, the heavy feeling in my chest started to melt away.

I knew it wouldn't go away overnight, but I needed to take baby steps.

I can't love myself overnight, but I didn't need to do this for Kronos.

I had to do it for me.

Smiling finally, I kissed him gently on the cheek and hugged him. Kronos, who was silent for a few minutes, reached over to grab my chin.

I let out a surprised sound when he did, as I stared at his beautiful eyes. They were mesmerizing. I could feel the tension in the room start to heat up. I swallowed nervously, knowing what was about to happen but I nodded. Seeing this, Kronos smiles.

He soon leaned in for a kiss. Just as our lips were about to touch, Azrael and Coco suddenly knocked loudly on our doorway.

We immediately turned to the door, our smiles vanishing. My face was red from embarrassment as I could hear a grunt of frustration from Kronos.

"It's time, Alpha."

And now... the challenges begin.