June sat in the middle of a crowd watching the females spar for an opportunity to be Luna.
She found it confusing how people who claimed to hate Zeus were on their necks, almost killing each other for an opportunity to be Luna.
Tara was not left out. Despite her threats on Georgina and how ridiculous she felt to fight for a position that should be rightfully hers, she fought anyway.
June watched Tara pummel a female on the ground until she was almost lifeless. The event manager raised her hand in victory.
“Tara!” he yelled and the crowd applauded.
Series of fights continued until it was down to three best performing ladies. Zoey, Candice and Tara.
Georgina applauded their efforts in a speech and invited all to a party that would be held in celebration of the three top performing females.
June returned to her quarters with no intention to attend. The last thing she needed was any more confrontation with Tara who seemed hell bent on getting on her nerves.
The party went on and she remained in her room. Soon enough she felt hungry and decided to get herself something.
She got to the kitchen and ransacked the place for an easy snack but there was no such thing.
While June contemplated on her next point of action she heard a voice that startled her. “Hungry?”
June turned around and there he was. Zeus. Standing in his bare chested glory and droopy eyes.
“I-I wanted to make something..” she murmured distractedly.
Zeus smiled and she felt her heart beat. He looked so much like Rafael when he smiled. The thought of Rafael brought an unintended frown on her face.
“What do you want? I could have them prepare it.”
June shook her hair. She didn’t want to bother anyone. “I’ll be fine.” she said. “I’ll just fix myself something and call it a night.”
Zeus watched her fuss around with some ingredients with a smile. When she picked up a knife to slice her finger open he swooped into action.
“Let me.” he said sternly when she refused to give it up.
Zeus attended to her wounds while they shared a comfortable silence. Afterwards he led her to a stool.
“Sit here while I make something fitting for a queen.” he said with a wink. June hid her smile.
“Thank you.”
Zeus whipped something delightful within thirty minutes. They both ate on the kitchen aisle. June ate heartily and cleared her plates.
The duo returned to the sitting room after the meal. June turned to Zeus in question. “Why are you home?” she asked with sincerity.
“I could ask you the same thing.” Zeus responded. “I hoped to see an empty house but I met a hungry woman.” he joked and they shared a laugh.
“The party was to celebrate the winners.” June said. “I’d think you should be there seeing they risked their lives to be your Luna.”
Zeus shrugged. “I don’t like parties. I’d rather be in my home, cooking dinner for a particular woman.”
June smiled. “That sounds like what my little Luis would say.” She muttered and Zeus stiffened.
“What?”
June realised what she had said afterwards. She immediately covered up. “I know your presence would be highly anticipated. You should get to know them so your pick would be easier.”
“Who said I would be picking?” Zeus asked and June smiled.
“Of course you would!” She stood up. “It’s only a matter of time now.” She looked over the clock and feigned surprise. “Oh look at the time!”
“If you go to the party now, they’ll be very happy to have you.” June said and Zeus made his way to the fridge.
“Drink?” Zeus raised an expensive bottle of wine in his hands. June stilled for a minute, wondering if she was ready to have a drink.
These days she found herself slipping into the slope of dark thoughts about the state of things in South City. It had become clear she was nursing anxiety of what the future held.
“Yes please.” She sighed, deciding a few glasses of wine wouldn’t hurt. She wanted to shut off her mind anyways.
Zeus and June returned to the sitting room with a bottle of white wine and two glass cups. June drank until she couldn’t feel the burn of alcohol going down her throat.
“You look so much like him,” June slurred, touching Zeus’s face and blinking repeatedly.
“Who?” Zeus asked with rapt attention, hoping he wasn’t mistaken.
In that moment, Rafael hoped, prayed that he had been mistaken. He hoped that his precious had not met the same fate as him.
His world was about to change and the stakes of his mission were raised even higher.
“My Ex-husband.” June yawned, dozing off in his arms.
Rafael stiffened. A thousand and one emotions ran through him, sending signals to the other shared inhabitants of Zeus’s body.
“Calm down!” The wolf spoke first. “Control your gifts!”
“What is going on?” Zeus said from within, evidently angry. “What did she do? Who is her ex-husband?”
Rafael put up a mental barrier and kept his eyes focused on the lady sleeping in his arms. Small, weak and defenseless. The lights flickered from the intensity of his gifts and he tried to rein them in.
If his precious wife lived inside her body, does it mean she got an offer to live again? Did she get a mission too?
While June slept in the arms of Zeus, Rafael was engulfed with thoughts. So much so he didn’t realise when Mrs Georgina walked in.
“There you are.” She said with a smile. “I’ve been searching for you the entire time. Where did you-”
Georgina trailed when she saw Augusta lying limp in his arm. She immediately thought he killed her.
“What have you done?!” She asked with a shocked impression. Georgina realised the young lady was breathing when she came closer.
She sniffed the air and frowned. “Don’t tell me you were out drinking while we expected your presence.”
“You didn’t even show up at the competition. The girls expected you at the party.” she reprimanded.
Zeus couldn’t care less. While Georgina spoke, he gathered June into his arms and made her leave.
The front door opened and Tara walked in with two other ladies. Zeus turned to Georgina for an explanation.
“You see, one of the criteria for the winning ladies is that they would live in the Alpha’s house until the ceremony.”
Rafael frowned and Zeus raged within. “I don’t want any one in my house. Ask them to leave!”
The young ladies walked into the house and stood behind Georgina who tried to level the playing field.
“Not to worry. The ceremony is only a few days away. I believe letting them stay in the house will help you make a proper assessment of them and aid your selection.”
June shifted in discomfort and all thoughts of sending them out evaporated from his mind frame. He needed to take her to bed.
Every other thing was secondary.
Tara and the other girls watched with jealousy in their eyes as Augusta was carried by the Alpha up the stairs.
Georgina turned to them as soon as they were out of sight. “Your journey starts now. May the best woman win.”