Royal Meets Rogue
Chapter 19: Choices

Ares

“I’m sorry for jumping on you.” I heard a voice apologize quietly.

And man did that voice sound like an angel.

I looked ahead on saw a short girl talking to Jason.

“Athena.” Apollo whispered with a smile.

“Yeah, I got that.” I joked. “Zeus is going crazy.”

But can you blame him? This girl is the definition of perfection. Long, wavy, brown hair with an angelic voice. And I remember Apollo and Janus saying she was a little skinny, which I can see.

‘Why is she so skinny?’ Zeus asked confused as we walked up to them.

‘I don’t know. Hecate said something about her having a hard past so maybe that might be the reason.’ I said. ‘But she won’t be skinny for long. I’ll make her whatever she wants to eat.’

“Great.” She nodded before turning to Hecate. “Now can we please leave before the Alpha King shows up?”

“I’m going to try and not take offense to that.” I said.

‘Too late.’ Zeus growled.

She screamed and jumped around. But her fist also came with.

Her fist hit me square in the chest. I tried not to laugh as her face scrunched up.

“Ow.” She groaned as she rubbed her knuckles.

I watched her freeze for a second before her eyes traveled to mine.

‘Mate.’ Zeus growled happily.

“Hi Athena.” I smiled.

She quickly dropped her eyes and bowed her head. “Hello, Alpha King Ares.”

I sighed and I carefully lifted her chin up so she could look at me in the eyes.

“Please. Just call me Ares.” I smiled. “And you don’t have to bow. You’re my mate, we are equal.”

I’m pretty sure she could feel the sparks because the next thing I know, her eyes get big and she turns her head so it falls out of my grasp.

There was an awkward silence between us and I don’t think either of us knew what to say.

‘Can we just beg her for acceptance?’ Zeus asked.

‘Since when do you beg?’ I laughed as I let my eyes wander over her beautiful face.

‘I don’t. But I will when it comes to my mate. Have you seen how sexy she is?’ He howled.

I internally rolled my eyes. Good Lord.

“Well, this is a lovely night.” Apollo said breaking that awkward silence as he looked up. “The stars are beautiful.”

I watched as Athena smiled softly and looked up at the sky. The way that the moonlight is reflecting off of her skin is breathtaking and I don’t ever want it to stop.

“Athena?” I asked breaking the silence.

She looked away from the sky and turned her beautiful brown eyes towards me.

“Yes?” She responded.

“M-May I talk to you?” I asked getting nervous all of the sudden. “In private?”

Everyone stared at her, waiting for an answer. Hecate gave her a small smile and nodded.

She sighed quietly and looked back at me. “Sure.”

I breathed a sigh of relief and grabbed her hand.

But she quickly retracted her hand from mine and I felt the sparks disappear.

“Uh sorry.” I apologized as I looked down and walked forward.

‘Way to go idiot.’ Zeus growled. ‘Don’t scare her away. She already ran once.’

I walked a couple of yards away from everyone and over to a tree but I tell she was quite uneasy.

“Please don’t run. I just want to talk.” I said quietly as got closer to the tree.

“How did you know?” She asked shocked.

Once we got to the tree, I turned around. “I had a feeling.”

She looked down at the ground and tapped a rock with her foot. “What did you want to talk about?”

“Why did you run?” I asked. Although I had a big feeling it was because of her past. But I want to know what happened that makes her so scared.

“You’re very blunt.” She laughed nervously.

I shrugged. “I’m the Alpha King. I kind of have to be.”

She cleared my throat. “Right. That makes sense.”

“I’m sorry for scaring you, okay?” I said as I took a step closer to her. “I-I didn’t mean too. Those weren’t my intentions and I truly am sorry for scaring you. I just wanted to meet you.”

“W-What?” She asked unsurely.

She must not be used to people apologizing to her.

What the hell happened to her?

“When I got word from Janus that there was a female rogue, I headed his way. But then I smelt your scent and I knew that you were my mate and I ran as fast as I could. I wanted to meet you. I had to meet you, Athena. You are my mate.”

“I-I don’t know what to say.” She admitted.

“I don’t know what happened in your past, but I can assure you that your future will be so much better.” I smiled kindly as I stepped closer. “I just want a chance, Athena. I want to be with you.”

She stared at me with large eyes.

“Ares.” She stared.

‘She needs to be careful.’ Zeus growled and I could physically feel my eyes getting darker.

She cleared her throat. “I-I just need some time. To think.”

I nodded my head in understanding even though I was dying on the inside. “That’s okay. Take all the time you need.”

She cracked a small smile. “Something tells me you don’t really mean ‘take all the time you need’.”

I chuckled softly. “I don’t, but I’m trying to be nice.”

“At least you’re honest.” She shrugged with a small smile.

“But I do want you to take time to think about this. I don’t want you to feel pressured.”

“Thank you.” I smiled back. I could tell she felt a little more comfortable now.

“But I mean I would like an answered in a week. Tops.”

“Ares!” She yelled laughing.

“What? I’m only joking.” I smirked. “Maybe.”

I couldn’t help but smile and stare as she laughed. The way her eyes twinkled in the light and the way that the dimple on her left cheek formed when she smiled. And this gorgeous being was my mate. My other half. Breathtaking. I really don’t know how else to describe it.

“What?” She asked confused as she stopped laughing. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You just look really beautiful.” I said softly. “That’s all.”

I watched her cheeks heat up and she looked away. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” I said laughing. “But you do realize that I will have guards watching the house right.”

Her eyes shot back to mine. “You’re joking right.”

I shook my head. “You’re my mate. What can I say?”

She groaned. “No thanks.”

“Too bad.” I shrugged. “You’re also the Alpha Queen so you need protection.”

“I told you I was going to think about it.” She stated.

I looked away before she could see the hurt in my eyes. “Well I don’t care. You are getting protection and that’s that.”

I let out a small growl and walked back to where everyone was standing.

“How did it go?” Apollo asked hopefully.

I looked up and Hecate was staring heavily at me, but I turned my attention back to Apollo. “Good. I told her that she had all the time she wanted to think about it because I didn’t want her to feel rushed and pressured.”

Hecate let out a sigh of relief. “That’s good news.”

“Did you honestly think I was going to force her?” I asked getting slightly angry. “I would never do that. She has a choice.”

“No, I didn’t think you would. But I did have a small amount of doubt.” Hecate admitted.

I narrowed my eyes at her and she continued to stare.

“Don’t worry Hecate.” Athena smiled as she walked up next to me. “He gave me a choice and I appreciate that.”

I looked down to my left and gave her a smile.

She gave me one back, but let it drop quickly after.

Zeus laughed. ‘I don’t think she was expecting to smile back at you.’

‘That’s good! It means that she is slowly letting us in.’ I said.

‘Keep it up. But don’t you dare piss her off or scare her because I will have your head.’ Zeus threatened.

‘Believe me. I would never want to do either of those things. I just want her to be happy.’ I said as I stared down at Athena.

“Well let’s get you home.” Hecate smiled as she wrapped her arm around Athena.

Athena nodded. “I’d like that.”

I watched in sadness as Hecate drove away with my mate. But I knew I’d still get to see her.

“Jason and Achilles.” I called out to them.

“What’s up?” Jason asked as they looked at me.

“I want you two to pick out eight other men that you trust with your life.” I stated. “You two are going to be her personal bodyguards but I also want those other men to make a perimeter around the house. No one gets close to that house.”

“You got it.” Jason nodded determinedly.

They both shifted and ran after the car.

“Do you think that is a good idea?” Janus asked.

“Don’t know.” I replied honestly. “But I also did tell her that she was going to be having guards. So she knows that they will be there.”

“At least have them keep a respectful distance to make it seem like they aren’t there.”

“Yeah, yeah.” I mumbled waving him off. “They all know.”

“So what do we do now?” Apollo asked.

“Nothing I guess.” I said unsurely. “But I don’t want word getting out yet. Because that would mean she would have to come to pack visits with me and meetings.”

“You got it.” Apollo said as we started our way back to the castle. “Isn’t it funny how the castle is only forty-five minutes away from Hecate’s house and none of us knew that Athena was here.”

Janus chuckled. “He’s a got a point. She’s been here for who knows how long. Our Queen was only forty-five minutes away.”

Even I couldn’t help but laugh. It was pretty funny.