Athena's head lightened as she staggered backwards.
Her vision grew hazy as the people before her suddenly seemed to stand behind clear glass.
Another evening took hold of her mind, and the soothing scents from flowers and shrubs around her suddenly turned threatening.
Icy fingers danced on her skin as she remembered being pressed into hard ground, the hateful bulk of the man to her left pinning her down, while others held her limbs powerfully.
"Well, Ludric is an expert at getting what I want done. So, you don't really think he acted alone back then, did you?"
Richard's mocking drawl seemed faint to Athena as other sounds filled her head.
She brutally dug her fingers into her palm, almost drawing blood as she anchored herself to the present, facing the hateful people looking at her with almost identical smug expressions.
"You saw when I was leaving?" she whispered through a painfully dry throat.
"You must have thought you were so clever. Sneaking off like an ungrateful bitch after eating my family's food and wasting my efforts!" he snapped.
"Don't let this pathetic loser upset you, baby," Susan said, patting his chest. "Just get rid of her."
"Of course," Richard said. He swung her around till she was facing him, with her back to Athena.
Then he locked lips with her, moulding her ass, his eyes on Athena even as he deepened the kiss, making it noisier.
Knowing what he wanted, Susan moaned in her throat while wriggling her arse in his hands right in Athena's face.
Nausea rolled in Athena's gut, and even she was embarrassed for them.
Ludric, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying the show, while the men who had followed Richard out uncomfortably fixed their eyes elsewhere.
Seeing distaste instead of jealousy on Athena's face, Richard grew angry and yanked his mouth away from his purring cat.
"Still the prissy, uptight nun, I see," he sneered, striding forward to grab her face tightly.
Despite his hard grip, Athena tilted her head even more regally as she gritted out, "Take your filthy hands off me. You reek of cheap perfume and bad taste."
"Bitch, I am going to tear you apart," Susan screeched, but stopped when Richard jerked a finger at her.
Staring into her mesmerising eyes, Richard couldn't stop his instant hard-on as he said breathily, "What? Jealous? You wish I had my hands all over you instead. You wish to feel me inside you, making you feel more worthy than you've ever felt in your entire life? Beg me, and maybe I would allow you to suck on my dick," he finished in a low tone that Susan did not hear.
Athena's eyes flamed as she retorted, "You disgust me, you slimy asshole. You are not worthy to even breathe the air that I exhale. I would rather fantasise about a diseased pig than you. Since that wouldn't happen, then you have your answer. Take your smelly hands off me!" she gritted out.
The strength of force he felt from her surprised him for a moment.
She was a wolfless rogue and shouldn't have this much aura, yet even Kail, his wolf's aura, seemed inferior to hers.
"Impossible!" He shrugged off the thought.
"I will make you beg for it. You will plead for mercy and beg me to take you even as my slave," he vowed with lustful hatred in his eyes.
"Try falling overboard and dying first. I might consider it over your dead body," Athena tossed back.
He was about to reply when Susan slinked to his side again, saying, "Baby, get away from her. Don't let her transfer her rogue scent to you."
"Right." Richard jerked his hand away from Athena as Susan glared at her with hatred.
She did not miss Richard's evident arousal and knew the seductive bitch was to be blamed.
"I am going to ruin your life once Richard is done with you," she vowed to herself.
Thwack! Athena's hand cracked against Richard's face.
"What the fuck?!"
"How dare you touch the Alpha?!"
"Richard, baby, you need to punish this bitch right now!"
"That is for sending your dog after me!" Athena said, standing her ground as Richard glowered at her, holding his cheek.
"I left partly because you were an arsehole. I owed you nothing because you always found a way to make me work for every meal I ate. Every single thing the Alpha gave me must have a payback in your account. You despicable rat, you could have just rejected me!"
"That's right, baby. Reject her," Susan urged, seeing her perfect chance. "Look at what she did to you. Reject her ass and let her die from the pain if she would. She deserves it for humiliating you like this. How will you face your pack if you let this disrespect go?"
Though he had intended to bring up the rejection later, Richard had expected Athena to get him and even offer to accept his terms when he mentioned it.
The pain of rejection was something even the strongest of wolves feared.
A wolfless rogue like her? Being wolfless, without the protection of a pack, made her very vulnerable.
So vulnerable that a rejection could kill her.
He expected her to beg, but instead she lifted her head regally, seeming to look down at him though he was 6ft to her 5'7.
The bitch.
"Since you are so eager to die, be my guest," he said in a threatening tone.
"Now she would beg," he thought.
After all, she didn't know what he knew.
Still nothing, just steady, expectant eyes.
Athena could barely mask her derision at the pitiful fool.
Rejection pain might be fatal for mere wolves, not Athena.
Even with her wolf currently snoozing, her Alpha power was enough to shield her. Coupled with the powerful aura bonded with hers when she first held her Moon Goddess-gifted sceptre, Athena knew the pain she might feel would be mild compared to others.
And she was glad to welcome that pain, knowing it would clear any lingering feelings she had kept over the years about this cold bastard.
"Fine, suit yourself," Richard said arrogantly as he began.
"I, Richard Boone, Alpha of Silvergate, reject the rogue, Athena Atkins."
He gave Athena a do-you-dare look.
Susan waited with glee to see the bitch drop to her knees in bone-wracking pain or even drop dead.
Ludric smirked, expecting her to be reduced to her knees.
The men behind wondered if she would dare, because only someone with a death wish would accept rejection while wolfless.
With her back ramrod straight, Athena's voice rang clear, "I, Athena, accept Richard Boone's rejection."
Athena refused to close her eyes as she expected the pain.
Her skin prickled as she felt a slight irritation on her neck, the spot where he had marked her.
She waited for the pain to begin in her stomach before spreading all over.
Gleeful eyes fixed on her, awaiting her torture.
Seconds passed.
And Athena felt… nothing.