Antiope

My senses come alive all at once and I am assaulted with too many information. It's too bright, too loud, too many smells. I groan and I feel my throat hurt.

"Antiope!" I hear a familiar voice.

Celia? I struggle to focus and then I feel the bed deepen and an intoxicating smell invade me.

"Mate," Max says.

"Shh," Magnus purrs and I relax. "You will be fine."

I flutter my eyes and I finally can focus. I am in my room and Magnus is sitting on my bed. Behind him, Celia looks at me with her palms together and a faint smile. And behind her shoulder... Thane.

I remember now. I went to free her, only to find her comfortable and happy in that cabin. And then Thane came in and they kissed and I run. And then... I gasp and my body shakes.

"It's over! They are dead. You killed them, little girl," Magnus caresses my hair.

I scowl at him and I try to speak. But nothing comes out. Anger is replaced by panic.

"You are still healing, Antiope," Celia kneels by the bed. "You need to take it easy."

I raise my arm and I caress her pretty face. She is worried about me but she can't hide her happiness. That is all she wanted, to find her mate. It could be anyone in the world but that stupid ass, though.

I look up to Thane that lowers his eyes. Then he comes to the head of my bed and kneels seriously. There are thin lines under his eyes and he seems pale. Unlike my sister, he looks tortured.

"I failed you, my Luna. I swore to die in your place and still I... I am unworthy of being your Champion and unworthy of your sister."

That's all he says and he gets up to leave. I glance at my sister that is regarding him with pain. I smell him on her but faintly. He has kept his distance, burdened with guilt. I look up to Magnus asking a question with my eyes.

"Did you force him to?"

"He deserves this," Magnus hisses. "He was supposed to protect you."

"He couldn't help himself. How was he to know that he was going to meet his mate?" Celia spits. "If you hadn't gone through all that elaborate scheme-"

"Celia!" Magnus warns.

Oh, no he didn't!

"Shut up!" I croak.

Magnus turns to me and focuses on my face. His anger is dropped and all I see is worry. He should be worried. I am going to tear him a new asshole for that stupid prank he played on me.

"Don't strain yourself," Magnus leans in closer.

"Tell me what to do one more fucking time!" I threaten and he leans back.

"The Everstone sisters," Magnus mutters.

"Antiope, he is right," Celia falls on me with worry.

I smile at my little sister and I open my arms. I have missed her so much. I have been worried about her for so long that I can't seem to get enough. And over her shoulder, I look at Magnus and beckon at the door.

He nods and tightens his lips before getting up and walking out of the room. He leaves the door open and lingers at the threshold but when he meets my cold gaze, he walks away.

"I am fine, big sister. I am fine," Celia reassures me.

"Did they hurt you?" I whisper.

"At first," he shrugs. "I wanted to paint some lakes up here and I trespassed without knowing. They caught me and had me in silver."

I tighten my fists.

"But the next day, I was released. The Beta told me that it was all a mistake but it would be for my safety to stay in their territory. He said the Alpha wanted to commission some paintings and they gave me a cabin to live in."

I frown. That scheming, lying asshole!

"You would have preferred it if he tortured Celia?" Max asks.

Damn it! I could at least hate him. Now? Now I am confused.

"They brought me food and guarded me but other than that I was free. I was ordered not to go to the pack-house, though. I was still a trespasser after all."

And make sure I didn't meet her.

"But you?" She asks.

I shake my head.

"Thane told me. You thought that Magnus was keeping me captive and you agreed to be his mate?"

"I'd do anything for you," I whisper.

"I love you, Antiope," she kisses my cheek. "Now, rest and get better."

She makes herself comfortable at an armchair next to my bed. I study her. She is looking out the window and bites her lip. It's not me she wants to be with. It's her mate.

"Go find him."

"He... He doesn't want to," Celia shakes her head and I see a tear drop. "He says he is not worthy. he hasn't said the words but he might... reject me," pain drips from her eyes.

"Go to him. And tell him it's an order from his Luna," I let out with a sigh.

Who knew I'd be playing match-maker to Thane? Life is sure as hell funny. Celia looks at me with hope and I nod. She gets up, leans to leave a kiss on my forehead and runs out. After a while, I can't keep my eyes open and I drift into a deep sleep.

***

I am awakened in the middle of the night by an agonizing scream. I jump up and I look around. I am alone in my room, and the almost darkness is reigning outside. I might be dreaming, I think when I hear the same scream. It's in my head!

I get off the bed and I look around. Am I going crazy? But that's when I feel a sharp pain take me over. Not physical pain. I feel strong, healed, better than before. It's a pain I can't bear but still not my pain.

No! I go to the mirror I have on the wall and search my neck. And there I see it. The mark! Not just a male mark. Not even an Alpha mark. The Royal Mark on my neck! That asshole marked me without my consent!

I walk out my room and head straight to his. Without knocking I enter, ready to rain hell on his arrogant ass. But I don't. Magnus is naked on the floor, in a fetal position, his clothes torn as if he shifted again and again. His eyes are closed and he is whimpering some words I can't understand.

"Not her," he pleads finally in English. "Not her too."

Sweat has covered him and in his sleep, he hits his head with his fists. My heart tightens at this miserable sight and I kneel on the floor by his side. All my anger is gone and I get a fierce protective feeling inside. It's the bond, I try to convince myself. But even so, I can't bear to see him like this.

"Magnus," I try.

All I get is a wail and a pain in my head. He is suffering.

"Make it go away," Maximo cannot stand to see him like this.

After the marking, the bond is stronger and she feels every ounce of his pain like I do.

"Magnus," I dare touch him on his shoulder.

When we connect, his eyes fly open and he looks at me. I swallow hard. I have never seen so much pain in anyone's eyes before. He raises his arm and his hand cups my cheek.

"Väldigt vacker," he whispers. "You are OK, you are OK,"

"I am, Magnus. Please get up."

He is still in a trance and shakes his head. A cruel laughter leaves his mouth and cuts through my heart.

"I am... bad. I kill everything around me. But she is OK. Antiope is OK. It's all that matters."

My heart tightens at his words. I shouldn't have come here. I can't be seeing him like this. I should be hating me by now. Hating him for all his lies, for all he put me through. But as he hides his face in his hands and cries, I can't take it.

"Come in bed with me," I caress his hair.

I take his hand and I force him up. Like a child he follows my lead. I make him lie on the bed and then I go round and slip under his sheets. His arms seek me desperately and he engulfs me in his embrace. I cozy closer and after days, weeks, years, maybe my whole life I settle.

"Förlåt mig," he begs in my ear.

"Sleep now," I run my fingers through his hair.

I rest my head on his chest and I let my hands wrap his waist. Immediately, his breathing gets heavy and he finally sleeps. I look up to him and I hold back the tears. This is the calmest I have ever seen him. His handsome face is so peaceful, his breath so soft it makes my heart ache.

It's not now, this moment, when I saw him suffer. It's been going on for a while, that sneaking feeling crawling inside. From the casual breakfasts to the formal dinners, from his trust in my judgement to the place he gave me by his side, from the hard work to keep his pack safe to the way he takes care of the weakest among them. And most of all, it's his smile. What have I done?

"You have fallen for our mate," Max howls in joy.