Chapter Twenty-Three

"I think he minded..." Venus muttered under her breath. Atlas had launched her over his shoulder, just moments before, but was now standing above her body. She wheezed and coughed into the ground, blood trickling slowly from her nose down her lips and chin. Atlas breathed heavily and his shoulders slumped. He cast his face to the sky and closed his eyes, taking a minute to breathe after a victory.

"You," Serena burst into a coughing fit. Dirt and silica flew from her mouth. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and continued, "Didn't have to throw me over your shoulder that hard, you know." Serena stuttered out in between coughs and gasps for air.

"Oh I'm sorry, Lacuna, I didn't think you'd mind a bit of playing a bit rough for once," Atlas smirked at Serena's hunched figure.

Serena glared at his smug look as she rose awkwardly to her feet. She readied her fists, but Atlas made no movement. She darted forward, lower than usual. Atlas quirked a brow but remained fixed on her. She was close, within his reach, but just out of fighting reach.

Serena thrust a fist up and collided it with his chin. His head flung back a bit and tears formed at the rims of his eyes. He shook his head and glared down at Serena. Their eyes met and traded daggers.

"I thought you wanted it rough." She smirked with a shrug.

Atlas swung a leg and kicked her ankles hard. She crumpled to the ground, a cloud of dust forming at her feet. She sat there, a wilted flower in the dry dirt and sun rays.

"Not that kind of rough, Lacuna." He knelt down and extended a hand. "We're done for today." She slid her hand into his and was lifted from the ground like a feather. "We need to talk," Atlas said shortly. His grip on her hand was firm.

"Okay." She whimpered, and she gave a fearful look at Venus. Venus shooed her along with a wave of her hand. With one last pleading look at Venus, she was out of the training grounds, heading toward the cove of trees and the meadow.

They walked in silence until their feet met the meadow. A breeze sent chills through Serena's bones. Atlas swung her around to face him but continued holding her hand tightly.

"What is your problem?" He demanded, face cold.

"My problem?" Her face was sour, full of repulsion.

"Yes! You have been avoiding me all day."

"Only because you have been making it your one goal today to make me miserable."

"Me? Make you miserable?" Atlas ran his hand through his hair and released an exasperated sigh.

"Yes." Serena nodded and angled her body away from him. "You were rough and a complete asshole during the evening spar."

"Oh, and you weren't a bitch last night." Atlas snapped. "You never appreciate anything I do for you." His eyes widened as the words lid from his lips. He turned away from her and held a hand over his mouth. Wishing that he hadn't said what he did.

Serena tensed. Her entire body was rigid and her face tight. She squeezed her eyes closed and bowed her head.

"I'm sorry." She mumbled, her face turned away from him. She was angry, scared, and guilty.

"What?" Atlas turned toward her to see her clutching her chest. Her shoulders shook and her lips were fastened tightly together.

"I'm sorry, okay?" She said louder, still barely loud enough to be heard above the rustling of the grass. "I'm-I'm just-" She couldn't finish. She didn't want to finish. That would mean coming to grips with how she felt. Feelings that she had suppressed and ignored for so long came rising to the surface, threatening to spill out of her lips and her eyes.

Atlas reached out a hand and hovered inches from her shoulder. The warmth of her body soothed his palm. He retracted it and placed it in his pocket slowly, missing the warmth, her warmth.

"You just?" He asked, nudging her to answer.

A long silence filled only by the sound of the wind and grass followed. Atlas started to turn his back on her when Serena made a noise.

"I just..." He turned back to see her tear-stained face and puffy cheeks. "I don't feel allowed to be happy."

"What?" He whispered, confused. "Allowed?"

"Yes, allowed. My father, my only family, is dead. And I don't know who killed him or why. The last conversation I had with my dad was of me yelling at him. I didn't want any part of what he was offering me. His heritage and his life were nothing to me at that moment. I rejected it. I am not allowed to be happy. I am undeserving of you and your pack and..." The tears flowed down her cheeks and into the crevices of her lips. They tasted salty. As salty as her heart felt at this moment. Nothing could replace her father and the bond they had had.

Atlas was silent, studying her face and her eyes. They were vulnerable and open. She looked messy. Her makeup was running, her hair was glued to her face by sweat and the rest of it was flying wildly in the wind, and her clothes were covered in dirt and blood. The remnants of the blood from her nose were dried on her lips. He strode forward and closed the gap between their bodies. He cupped her face in his hand and wiped away the tears, dirt, and blood with his thumb. His thumb grazed along her skin and sent shivers down his spine. She looked like a mess, but a beautiful one.

"You deserve happiness. You regret how things ended and that is enough. I will help you find your father's resting place so that you can tell him all the things you wish to. You are my mate and that means you are my family. I promise you that I will find whoever killed your father and make things right. As someone who is a part of this pack, that is my duty and as someone who cares about you, it is my privilege." He stroked her cheek with his thumb. Serena closed her eyes and leaned into his touch with a sniffle.

"Okay." She whispered, soaking in the comfort only he could bring. "Promise?"

"I promise, Lacuna." He leaned his head down and rest his forehead on hers. They stood together in the grassy sea for a few moments before Atlas ran his hand down to hers and guided her back to the house.

A few days passed slowly. Slower than long winter days full of blizzards and icy roads. Serena had left Atlas alone for the last few days to give him some space and give herself some. After dinner one evening, Atlas dodged every pack member and closed himself in his office. Serena followed behind and cracked open the door.

He flopped into his chair and sighed, squeezing the armrests tightly and his eyes closed. Serena slid into the doorway and clicked the door shut behind her. He looked tired. More tired than usual. His face was tight and the bags under his eyes were dark and droopy. She tip-toed to his desk and plopped herself gently on the surface in front of him.

"What?" He snarled.

"About what you said..." Serena started quietly.

Atlas' eyes flipped open to see Serena sitting on his desk, legs crossed and graceful as ever. He placed a hand on her knee before reclining back into the chair. He closed his eyes again. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and under his eyes slowly, methodically.

"About what?"

"How you will help me find who killed my father and his final resting place." She rest her hand on Atlas' hand and shifted her position. He gave a slight squeeze before opening his eyes.

"Oh that. I am going to go back to where I found your father and do some investigating."

"But how?" She pressured, leaning forward. Her body was getting closer and Atlas was having a hard time remaining focused. His gaze flicked all around the room, but at her.

"By using my wolf. I am an Alpha for a reason. And I have good relations with many of the packs in the area. I can ask them if they've seen any rogues. Specifically, that light brown one that you said you remembered and I remember seeing over your unconscious body on that day."

Serena nodded and leaned back. Atlas relaxed his hand and looked back at her.

"Anything else?" He teased his dull eyes had a bit of a twinkle in them.

"What did you mean by me being a part of this pack?" He tilted her head and stared at him.

Atlas reclined further into the push office chair and turned toward her.

"I didn't have a chance to tell you earlier this week, but I made an appeal to the Elders. They have accepted the appeal."

"What appeal?" Serena slumped forward, propped her chin on her fist, and narrowed her eyes.

"I asked them to make you an official member of the pack. Venus seconded that request and a few other members also supported that decision."

Serena straightened and her eyes widened. She jerked her head away from Atlas and refused to look at him.

"I, Atlas of the Riverwood Clan, want to formally accept you into this family of werewolves if you so choose, Serena." His face softened and a smile curled his lips. The gruff and exhausted look from a few hours earlier was melted away and replaced by the Atlas that Serena knew and had grown fond of.

"I accept." Serena smiled brightly and fell onto Atlas, hugging him tightly. Atlas wrapped his long arms around her hips and pulled her tightly against his chest, relishing the sense of what her body against his brought him.

"There will be an official ceremony on the Blood Moon. That will happen in three weeks. Be prepared for a long night and lots of traditions that we uphold here. Venus and I will help prepare you for them." Atlas rubbed her back and mumbled into her hair. Her scent was intoxicating and made the instructions the Elders gave him muddled.

Serena pushed a hand against his chest and broke their hug. She tilted her head and glared sharply at him.

"Wait, what ceremony?"