Atlas: The City Of Hellius part 2

Aston

The wind is propelling me forward as Gabe and I rush through the forest, following the delicious scent of our mate. The forest parts for us as we crash through the bushes, and I know this is the Goddess trying to aid us where she can. I can feel the anxiety building in my muscles—I need to get to Nat. My heart is frantic; I can smell her blood. And as much as she is trying to shield us from her emotions, I can feel her pain. She is in turmoil. Her body is broken, as is her heart.

I’ve never been so terrified of what I’m about to find. I need to feel her in my arms. I need to tell her. I just need her. I can feel her heartbreak crackling down our fragile bond. I know I’m the cause of it, but she needs to know—it wasn’t our fault. We were tricked. Anger replaces the anxiety like a lightning strike, and I have to shove it down. I will have my retribution.

We were all tricked. It wasn’t real.I keep repeating it to myself. I can feel others behind me, trying to keep up. Natasha’s father, Caleb, is frantic—he’s been tearing through every rogue in sight. Inconsolable since the ball. After Marina and Nat’s aunts stripped the spell of its power, the argument between Caleb, Evie, and Laura nearly brought down my family home. It took a good portion of my warriors to get Caleb under control.

Once he came to his senses and was separated from the aunts, I finally managed to tell him what I had heard from them.

I’ll never forget his reaction to the truth. His face crumpled, and I realized I hadn’t heard a man cry like that since the day my father lost my mother. I never want to hear it again. When Marina burst into the room to tell us she couldn’t find Nat—that she’d been taken—I lost all reason. The tables turned then. Caleb was the one comforting me.

Gabe and I have been feral these past few days. Once we found out she was gone—taken—no one could stop our rage. I didn’t listen. I shifted mid-air and ran into the forest surrounding my family’s estate, ignoring the mind links from the pack trying to reach me.

The panic this time was worse than the first time I couldn’t find her. Back then I knew she was my mate—but now I know her. I’ve watched her, seen who she is, how deeply she cares. I can’t imagine life without her. As much as I tried to stay away, to shield her, she broke through the barrier around my heart. The guilt, mixed with the worry, was dragging me under—and if I let it, it would drown me.

Gabe tried to comfort me, to soothe me, telling me we’d find her. He was trying to be strong for both of us, but I could hear the worry in his voice.

It was a blessed shock when I felt her through the mate bond. Just for a second—I saw where she was, smelled the forest, felt her sadness, her pain. I had to block the emotions and focus on my senses. A second was all I needed. Then she shut down the bond.

We used my family’s home as a base to find her. I set up in the old dining room. My mother’s ornate dining table—her favorite—was buried under maps of the forest. Greta tried to stop everyone from putting their hot cups down on it, but she gave up after five minutes. She was keeping herself busy. She’d become close to Nat over the past few days. And while I wanted to believe it was just because of her role as a goddess warrior, deep down I knew—they’d become friends.

I didn’t understand everything yet, but I had the feeling my Luna had formed her own pack… as well as being Luna to ours.

We managed to gather help quickly. All three packs had already been at the ball, plus Natasha’s coven. Marina showed up later with a new fae companion—they just appeared out of nowhere. It was Marina who sensed the spell after finding me, and she managed to reverse it. She discovered the drinks had been spiked with old magic, the kind that lets the conjurer create illusions for the victim.

We even found Nat’s glass in the ballroom. It still had remnants of a blocking spell and a sedative that would have knocked her out and stripped her of her powers. Whoever did this had serious power. Marina had to contact her grandmother, who sent Dora to help with removing the spell.

Evelyn was too busy with some kind of emergency to come herself. I know something else is going on.

Marina didn’t explain the emergency, but something definitely happened after we left the Emerald City. All signs point to the fae hiding something. The mystery fae she brought with her, and how long she took to get to Hellius after promising Nat she’d only be a day—both things weigh on my mind.

I sighed. I couldn’t go there now. I needed to focus on finding Nat.

I watched Marina from across the room. She was acting strange around the new fae—kept him at a distance, but couldn’t stop staring. He was definitely a warrior—his stance and build gave it away. White hair stood out against tanned skin, and his armor didn’t hide the muscle. But it wasn’t Spring Court or Summer gear. Then it hit me. He was from the Winter Court.

I hadn’t met anyone from the Winter Court in over a decade. They’re fiercely private, savage warriors, loyal to their court. Why washehere, following around the fae princess? My mind was racing. Gabe and I would love to fight this guy. My Alpha was raging, and a fight sounded just fine to me.

The Winter fae’s head snapped up, locking eyes with me. Assessing me.Huh… maybe he’s a mind reader.

His eyes narrowed at my glare and he squared his shoulders. A figure suddenly stepped between us—Marina, hands on hips, glaring. I rolled my eyes at her and gave a bored look, turning back to the alphas still arguing. She relaxed and moved to join them, but her eyes kept darting to the fae.

I laughed. I know that look. Longing. I wondered what had kept her from coming to Nat’s side—and now I knew. The little fae princess had found her mate. The thought of mates made my chest clench.

I turned to find Henry organizing the warriors. He was talking with the other alphas, calm and steady. I was proud of how my pack had come together for their Luna. Henry was my rock. He knew I was on the edge, and that anything could tip me over.

I watched Caleb, Joseph, and his father—old Alpha Philip—argue over where to search next. Philip had known Nat since she was a child, and he’d been here the second we called. He was seething too, and the glares he sent Caleb and me told me I needed to stay back—keep control.

Behind them, Alpha Joseph’s twin sons paced like caged wolves. One kept glaring at me, itching to start something. I could feel his alpha energy building—strong, but untrained. The room was heating up with all the alpha presence. Anyone walking in would sniff the air and bolt in the other direction.

A noise outside broke the tension. Nat’s aunts swept in, followed by the witches, Faye and Emily. Marina smiled in greeting.

“Woof,” Laura snarked. “Smells like a pack of dogs pissed everywhere.” She waved her hand dramatically.

“I’ve told them to rein it in,” Marina said, tired, her voice lined with guilt. I kept that thought to myself.

Then—I felt it. Faint, but unmistakable. She washed over me like cool water on a burning day.

Nat.

“Nat!” I gasped. Everyone froze, turning toward me.

“I know where she is.”

Aston (continued)

Coming back to the present, I burst into the clearing and froze at the sight before me. Henry had shifted back and was talking to Nat—no, pleading with her.

She stood barefoot, like a goddess, covered in blood and mud. I scanned her from head to toe, assessing the damage. Her dress was torn, clinging to her body, revealing too much. I growled at the thought of anyone else seeing her like this. At first, I thought the blood was from the mutts—but one inhale told me the truth. It was hers, too. She was hurt. Badly. Her hand clutched her side, blood dripping between her fingers.

It took a moment to register that she was standing in front of a portal. I was too focused on her injuries, too relieved she was real. But then it clicked—what was she doing in front of a damn portal?

I shifted back and stepped toward her. She stepped back.

That’s when I understood. My gaze met hers, and I saw what was there—pain, brokenness. Not just physical. Her soul was bruised. She was conflicted. Hurting. She’d taken lives.

She shouldn’t have been put in that position.

I watched in horror as she stepped through the portal. She was struggling to walk, barely holding herself together. I sprinted forward, hoping to catch her before she vanished—but the look on her face stopped me cold.

“No…” I whispered, as the portal closed.

Gabe howled in my mind, and I dropped to the ground.

The bond between us went silent.

I searched—nothing. Not even a pulse. It was like she was… dead.

But she wasn’t. I knew she wasn’t. What the fuck kind of place was strong enough to block a mate bond?

Henry stepped up beside me.

“Sorry, Alpha. I tried to stop her,” he said quietly.

I stared at the ground, forcing myself to breathe. Everything felt muted, like time had slowed. Then I saw it—a thin trail of blood on the grass. I followed it until it led me to—

“Malakar,” I whispered.

His body lay limp, black clothes soaked with blood. A gaping hole in his chest. His heart—discarded a few feet away. His scent was fading. Nat’s lingered.

I rose, fury replacing the sorrow. I kicked his body. Undignified? Sure. But I wanted to kill him all over again. He thought he could take what was mine and live.

Behind me, I heard Henry speaking. I turned and saw Marina’s shocked face. The fae male trailed behind her, eyes darting everywhere, assessing threats. Then his gaze fixed on Henry—watching him closely. As Henry reached out to comfort Marina, placing a hand on her shoulder, the fae moved closer, scowling.

I stalked over and stood beside Henry, glaring at the fae. I could direct my rage at him no problem. Henry glanced at me, eyebrows raised. I couldn’t hear anything over the roar in my head—Gabe howling, the bond gone. My chest was caving in.

Henry grabbed my shoulders and shook me.

I growled, and he dropped his hands instantly.

“Alpha, are you okay?” he asked gently.

I just stared at him.

“Why did she leave?” Marina cried. “I don’t understand! She’s safer with us!” She began pacing, hands on her hips. “What happened to her?” she asked.

Henry looked to me, concerned. He rubbed the back of his neck before answering, eyes never leaving mine.

“When I arrived, Nat had already taken down some mutts on her own. She was fighting Malakar.” He paused, scanning our faces. “She was badly injured. I think she was stabbed.”

My rage grew corrosive. I clenched my fists, swallowing it back. Ihadto stay in control.

“She fought him without any magic...” Henry continued.

My head whipped around to face him. “What?”

“Until the end,” he said. “She used her magic to hold him up. When I found her, she was about to deliver the death blow. I offered to do it—but I could tell she needed to finish it herself.” He bowed his head.

Marina looked at me, eyes full of sorrow. She knew what that had cost Natasha. We’d both taken lives—but we were trained for it. Nat wasn’t.

Silence stretched between us. We all knew what she must be feeling.

Finally, Marina spoke.

“We need to find her. She has no idea what’s coming.”

I studied her face. Worry etched deep in her frown.

“What’s coming?” I asked.

Marina didn’t answer.

The fae stepped forward and spoke for her. His voice was deep and dangerous.

“Hell.”