Chapter 6 - The First No
Athena waited until after dinner to ask.
She always waited for the right moment.
When James was relaxed. Fed. Comfortable. Less likely to be irritated by questions he didn't like.
He sat on the couch scrolling through his phone while she cleared the plates from the table. The house was quiet except for the soft hum of the dishwasher and the ticking clock above the stove.
Her heart was beating too fast for something so small.
She dried her hands on a towel and stepped into the living room.
"James?"
He didn't look up. "Hmm?"
She twisted the towel in her hands. "I was thinking... maybe I could volunteer somewhere. Just a few days a week."
That got his attention.
His eyes lifted slowly to her.
"Volunteer where?"
She swallowed. "The hospital. Nothing big. Just helping. Filing paperwork. Anything they need."
Silence.
His expression changed into something she recognized immediately.
Disapproval.
"You don't need to do that."
"I know, I just thought-"
"Athena." His tone sharpened. "Why would you want to do that?"
Her cheeks warmed. "I just... miss it sometimes. Being around medicine. Helping people."
His jaw tightened.
"That's not your job anymore."
She nodded quickly. "I know, I'm sorry."
He stood up, setting his phone aside.
"You don't need to be running around a hospital. You don't need to be around strangers. You have everything you need here."
She stared at the floor. "Yes."
He stepped closer, lifting her chin with two fingers.
"I take care of you so you don't have to do things like that. Understand?"
Her heart fluttered from the attention.
"Okay."
He kissed her forehead like the conversation was over.
Because it was.
?
Later that night, Athena couldn't sleep.
James was already breathing heavily beside her, but her mind felt too loud.
Her chest felt tight.
Restless.
She slipped out of bed and walked downstairs quietly.
The house felt different in the dark.
Bigger.
Colder.
She walked to the back door without thinking and unlocked it.
The night air hit her skin like a shock.
Cool. Fresh. Alive.
She stepped onto the porch barefoot.
For a moment, she just stood there breathing.
The forest stretched out before her like a black ocean.
And instead of fear...
She felt drawn to it.
Her pulse began to race.
A deep, distant howl echoed through the trees.
Closer than before.
Her breath caught.
But her feet didn't move back toward the house.
They moved forward.
One step.
Then another.
Until she stood at the edge of the porch stairs.
Her heart pounded in her ears.
Every instinct inside her screamed that she should go back inside.
But something stronger whispered:
Come.
A breeze passed through the trees, carrying that same earthy, wild scent she'd noticed before.
Familiar.
Comforting.
Her eyes scanned the darkness.
And for a brief second-
She saw silver.
Two glowing points between the trees.
Watching her.
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
But she didn't run.
She didn't scream.
She just stood there... staring back.
Like she recognized it.
Like she knew it.
A voice behind her shattered the moment.
"Athena!"
She gasped and spun around.
James stood in the doorway, anger already on his face.
"What are you doing out here?"
"I-I couldn't sleep..."
"Get inside. Now."
She obeyed immediately, hurrying past him.
But as she walked back into the house, she glanced over her shoulder one last time.
The silver eyes were gone.
But the feeling wasn't.
And deep in the forest, a massive black wolf watched the door close.
Waiting.