Prologue
Warning: This chapter contains violence and scenes that might trigger some of the readers.
It all started when Evangeline found herself inside her favorite novel... as the villain’s mate…
…
His name is Ares Atlas.
He is the only son of the richest surname in the city. He is a werewolf and has the looks that no one could compare. Basically, his life is almost perfect. The only problem is that… it’s not.
“Why are you so stupid?! How could you spill a drink on her? don’t you atleast know how to respect my guests?!” a loud shout echoed through the hallways of the Atlas mansion. The booming voice came from the master’s bedroom but despite the fact that there are countless servants working there, no one dared to approach the scene.
“I-im sorry, lucas....” Olivia, the wife of Lucas Atlas, said with a trembling voice.
“It’s fine Lucas. Although this is my favorite dress, I wouldn’t dare get mad at Ms Olivia” The woman beside Lucas said. One look from the way she presses her body against Lucas’ arms and you would know what kind of relationship they have. They seemed so close to each other that you would wonder whether it is really Olivia that is Lucas’ wife.
“You don’t have to be so kind…” Lucas murmured as he started to wipe the stain on her dress, not caring about the fact that his wife is watching him touch another woman’s body.
This is the scene that the eight year-old Ares witnessed when he peeked through the door of his parent’s bedroom. It’s already eleven at night and way past his bedtime but the usual loud voices from his parent’s bedroom kept him from falling asleep.
Although he’s still very young, he is a bright kid that could understand the situation in front of him. It’s been a while since the first time that his father brought home another woman and although his mother always tells him that everything is gonna be ok, he knows that their family is slowly falling apart.
“Aren’t you and dad mates bound by the moon goddess?” Ares asks her mother who is currently singing him to sleep. It’s been a while since the last time his mother was able to sing him to sleep but he couldn’t help but ask the question that’s been bothering him for a while.
He was taught by her mother as well as the other werewolves that every one of their kind has a mate given by the moon goddess. It was said that your fated mate is supposed to be the other half that completes you. It was also said that once bound by the moon, you would naturally fall in love with each other but seeing the way his father treats his mother made him doubt whether it is the truth.
Before answering, Olivia smiled as she gently caressed her son’s cheeks. “Yes we are, sweetheart”
“Then why is he bringing another woman home? Aren’t mates supposed to be loyal to each other?”
Olivia was taken aback by her son’s blunt questioning. It took her quite a while to compose herself. It was evident in her face how painful the question was for her but the boy was too young to notice.
“Don’t worry about the adult’s stuff sweetheart, your father and I are mates… so everything’s gonna be ok soon” Olivia whispered before kissing Ares goodbye. No one else but her knew whether she was saying it to Ares or to herself.
Despite the vague answer, Ares bids her mother a warm goodbye as she walks out his room. He too hopes that everything will be ok soon. Unfortunately, the universe wasn’t too kind to bestow their wish.
Soon after, Lucas’ behavior worsened. Other than the fact that he is having an affair in broad daylight, he soon started to cause physical harm to Olivia.
“Stupid b*tch!” Lucas shouted as he threw an empty wine bottle on the ground. The smell of alcohol reeks and the floor was covered with shattered glass. “You’re so useless… all you know is to look pretty and seduce all bastards around you”
“I-i never did… L-lucas… please believe me” Olivia begged despite being covered with bruises and wounds caused by the man standing in front of her. She couldn’t even stand anymore as her legs were sore from all the beating she got but she couldn’t stop the tears from falling as she saw the disgusted look her mate was giving her.
“Stop looking at me with those eyes, you’re disgusting” Lucas shouted angrily but before he could smash another bottle, the door burst open and a 9-year-old Ares came running towards his mother.
He has been warned not just by his own mother but also by their servants not to approach the master’s bedroom when his father is drunk for his safety. But how could he not do anything after hearing the loud noises and cries of pain from his mother?
He tightly hugged his mother and cried as he saw her miserable state.
“Ares, get out of here” Olivia said as she tried to push her son away but was too weak to even stay conscious.
Ares shook his head and cried harder as he tightened his grip on his mother’s shoulders. It was then that his father’s anger was transferred towards him. “Shut up you son of a b*tch”
It was the first time that his father hit him but it will definitely not be the last time.
It was later that Ares found out the real reason for his father’s wrath. Their family business was depleting and it seems that one of his father’s business competitors wants to help in exchange for a taste of his mother.
He was only 9 years old when all of that happened. He knew so little of the world but was already exposed to how evil humans can be. He couldn’t do anything as his father’s abuse worsened as time went by. He couldn’t do anything as his mother slowly fell apart.
“Let’s leave this place, mother” The now 12-year-old Ares said to her bedridden mother. Bruises were still visible on his face yet he seemed more worried about his mother lying on the bed in front of him.
There are countless tubes connected to Olivia, her face is pale and her breathing is shallow as if any minute from now, her body would collapse.
“He’s my mate... You know I can’t leave your father-”
“You can’t leave him because he is your mate… right..” Ares cut-off his mother’s words with the usual answer he gets from her every time he asks her to leave. “But can’t you see yourself now mother? This is what staying with him caused you”
Olivia smiled sadly, her eyes unfocused as she stared at the ceiling. As if remembering some bitter-sweet memories she tearfully said “It was not just this… there are so much more… happiness…”
Ares stared at her mother as her voice slowly faded and the light from her eyes dimmer. His face was emotionless but his fists were clenched tightly. No tears were wasted from his eyes but the pain was visible to his furrowed brows.
He stood up from his seat before looking at the moon outside the window. “Mates bound by the moon?” He laughed. “More like cursed by it”
He said before walking out of the room, no one else but him could feel the pain of a million needles piercing his heart.
***
*Sniff
Evangeline couldn’t stop herself from crying after reading the backstory of Ares Atlas.
“It’s just a book… It’s not real…” She whispered to herself repeatedly only to find herself crying even harder than before.
