Chapter XIX

That was such a lie. The feast was long over, and everyone was outside partying. We had been out here for at least two hours and there was still no sign of my Mate.

I was sitting on a log by the bonfire in my own world while everyone else was drunk out of their minds. Ellie and Declan were publicly making sex eyes at each other and Artemis was dancing to the music along with a few females in the pack. A male approached her, and she smiled, so I did not intervene. She must have known him.

"Hey, kid." Leo walked towards me with a beer in his hand. "Having fun?"

"Not really. It isn't anyone's fault, though. I'm just worried about Atlas." I replied, scooting over so he could sit.

He sat down and stared at the fire in front of us. "He is fine. He just needed to let Helix loose."

I nodded and gave him a smile for his attempt to reassure me, but it did not help.

Like a prayer being answered, Atlas walked around from the side of the house and headed straight to me. He had changed clothes and looked even better than before. A black button down and a pair of black slacks this time around.

"Atlas." I frowned and stood. "Do not do that."

"I'm sorry. Helix was-" he stopped himself and just changed the subject completely. "How was the food?"

Since I already knew about Helix and his issues, I did not force him to tell me right now. I just gave him the best smile that I could. "It was good."

"Good." He replied awkwardly and looked around at everyone surrounding us. "I am glad you are enjoying your time, Everly."

A yawn broke me from what I was about to say. Leo was covering his mouth and then looked at his watch. "Time for bed. I will see you two tomorrow."

"Goodnight, Leo." I said.

"Night, pops." Atlas said after me.

Leo waved and walked into the woods.

"He has a house back there." Atlas answered the question. I didn't even know I had.

"Ah," I turn to see Declan and Ellie walking up the pack house's back deck and into the house. "Then there were three."

"Yeah," Atlas chuckled. "Actually, there is a lot more of that, considering all the wolves here."

"I meant from our group, dummy." I smack his chest lightly.

"In that case, there are just two of us." He said, moving his eyes from person to person.

"What?" I darted my eyes around, seeing that Artemis was nowhere in sight. "Artemis is gone."

"She probably went inside." He shrugged it off, but I got a pit in my stomach that told me to find her.

"Atlas, I really think we should find her." I said.

"Alright, if it will make you feel better. Go check her room. I'll check around here." He instructed me.

I went without a word.

Declan and Ellie were giggling at each other by the doorway when I entered. I ignored them and carried on. I passed some wolves that were sleeping on the floor, so I was careful not to step on them while making my way to her room.

I knocked on the door before opening it and found the room empty. I knew it.

"Atlas! Enough!" Declan's voice came from the window, as did the sound of yelling.

Not wasting a single second, I flew down the stairs and outside.

My heart stopped.

Ellie was holding a crying Artemis, whose shirt was ripped down the middle.

Declan was trying his best to pull Atlas away.

Atlas was choking the lights out of a male against a tree.

"Get her out of here!" I yelled at Ellie.

My legs worked faster than my brain did and I grabbed a hold of Atlas' other arm. He snarled out, flinging his elbow towards my direction, earning me a place on the dirt and a bloody lip.

As the metal-like taste entered my mouth, Declan was right beside me, trying to drag me away, but I broke free of his hold.

Celeste growled in my mind.

I agreed.

I spat out the blood and stood, walking over to Atlas. I grabbed him by the back of his collar and kicked his legs out from underneath him. He landed with a thud along with the other guy. He growled out until I put my hand up to tell him to stay.

"Everly..." His eyes widened and came back to his natural color. Blood was dripping from my lips, so I knew he had just acknowledged I was the one he gave that sick elbow to.

I turned away from him and looked at the male who caused all of this. He was coughing and laying on his back. I walked over and grabbed his shirt, pulling his face up to mine. "If you ever look at or touch her again, I will not make him stop and you will have to be put on a liquid diet. Then I will cut off your balls and feed them to you through a straw." I growl and slam him back to the ground. Celeste pulled through, showing our canines.

"Y-yes." He stuttered. His face was beyond recognizable and I was proud of Atlas for that, but he needed to keep better control.

Once I got the answer I wanted, I faced Atlas. He immediately had me in his arms. "I am so sorry, Everly. I am so so so sorry."

I gave him a small hug and whispered to him. "We will talk about it later."

He did not protest and held me tighter.

"Alpha.." a voice came from beside us and he instantly went into defensive mode.

It was Fin.

He knelt before us and showed his neck in submission. "I am very sorry for disrespecting your mate and our Luna."

I did not have words, as all eyes were on us. I guess the secret is out.

"Alpha Female." Atlas corrected, holding me by his side. "It is her place to forgive you. Not mine."

"I forgive you." I did a little smile, but my busted lip screamed at me, so I went to a neutral expression. It was healing, and I basically reopened it like an idiot. "Flounder."

Fin looked up with a grin and stood. "I mindlinked Mr. Lycurgus. He is on his way."

"Thank you." I said and looked up at Atlas.

"Take care of Warren. He is to be put in the cells until I can deal with him." He commanded, and looked down at me with soft eyes.

"Yes, Alpha." Fin bowed and then did what he was told.

"Everly..." He started again, but I shushed him.

"We need to check on your sister and get you cleaned up."

His glazed over eyes told me he was mindlinking someone before he mumbled, "Ellie said she's asleep." He did not dare to look at me and his jaw was clenched, trying to hide his emotions. I could still see it, though. It was worse than when Helix came out and scared me at The Burrow. Guilt was drowning him.

"Let's go home then?" I asked, grabbing his hand and tugging him along with me.

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾Please Vote and Comment☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙