The God She Rejected

Chapter 3: Anika's POV

f**k, I didn't get a wink of sleep because of what happened yesterday, and now I feel like s**t.

"Let's hope he feels the same way," Thethys snarled. That was the other thing: my wolf was seething, and because of that, she hadn't stopped moving inside my head, causing me a throbbing headache.

I rub my temples to ease the pain. "Doubt it, and since he is a god, I'm sure he has lived for long."

"That doesn't help with my anger," She grumbled and continued pacing around like a caged animal.

I pressed the heels of my hands harder against my temples, as if I could physically shove her agitation back. "I know, but what can I say. When you live long enough, you perfect the art of not giving a shit."

A low, displeased growl was her only answer.

At least we haven't felt any cheating pains so far, which means he is still waiting until I get a solution for those before he starts cheating on me with that woman.

I pushed myself out of bed, my body feeling heavy and uncooperative. Stumbling to the mirror, I winced. The reflection staring back was a mess. My usually vibrant blue eyes were dull and shadowed by deep purple smudges. My riot of curls was a lost cause, a chaotic cloud around my pale face.

"Wonderful," I grumbled, grabbing a hair tie from the nightstand. I viciously yanked the curls into a high ponytail, not caring about the few rebellious strands that escaped. The sharp pull on my scalp was a satisfying counterpoint to the throbbing in my head.

I needed air. I needed to move. I needed to do something, anything, to shake the restless energy Thethys was pumping into me.

I stalked over to my bag and pulled out a simple black swimsuit. I came here to have some fun and clear my head, and I was not going to let God asshole mess with my vacation.

As I changed, Thethys finally stilled, her attention focusing outward."He is here," She whispered.

Of course he was. My luck was just stellar.

I finished tying the straps of my swimsuit and wrapped a light sarong around my waist. I didn't have a plan for what to say to him. I tried rejection, and that didn't work. I don't want to be mated to him, so perhaps I can find a loophole in this bond.

After all, I'm a Hills, part of the first tribrids in history. There must be something I can do.

Taking a deep breath, I yanked the door open and marched downstairs, my flip-flops slapping against the cool tiles. The scent of coffee and baking bread filled the air, mingling with that ever-present, maddening hint of lime. It was stronger down here. Closer.

I stepped out onto the sun-drenched terrace. And there he was.

Leaning against the railing, looking out at the sparkling sea, was Zephyrus. He held a simple ceramic cup of coffee, and he looked… hot.

Not f*****g fair.

I looked like a hot mess while he looked like he’d just stepped off the set of a pantheon-themed calendar. The morning sun gilded his sun-streaked hair and highlighted the defined muscles of his back and shoulders. He wore only a pair of low-slung linen trousers, and every line of him spoke of effortless, ancient power. It was obscenely unfair.

Thethys let out an appreciative rumble. "He is… aesthetically pleasing."

“Shut up,” I hissed internally, my own irritation spiking.

At least he should look bad, that way I wouldn't feel so angry.

He must have felt my glare, or more likely, the storm of annoyance coming through our bond, because he turned. His moon-pale eyes swept over me, taking in the dark circles, the haphazard ponytail, the defiant set of my jaw.

“Anika,” he said, his voice a low rumble that did inconvenient things to my spine.

"Leo," I replied, my tone flat.

Nobody else knew about his true name, so it was better to call him by his fake one.

"You are not using my other name?" He pointed out.

I rolled my eyes. "Want me to call you like that?"

He chuckled, and the noise he made must be f*****g criminal. I hate the fact that the bond pulls us together, even though he clearly doesn't want it.

"Nobody would know who you are referring to if you use that name."

"Precisely," I shot back. "And since the goal is not to be tied to you, advertising your divine resume to every supernatural with ears seems counterproductive."

His chuckle faded, but a faint, wry smile remained. "A practical choice. Leo will do." He took a sip of his coffee, his eyes never leaving me. "You did not sleep."

It wasn't a question. It was an observation that felt irritatingly intimate.

"Astounding deduction," I said, turning away from him to look pointedly at the sea. My planned escape. "Your powers of perception are truly god-like."

I heard the soft click of his cup being set down on the stone railing. "Anyone with eyes would see the dark circles under your eyes. Was it because of me?"

I scoffed, still not looking at him. "You wish. Don't flatter yourself. I have too much work to worry about the bond."

"Is that so?"

I rolled my eyes. "Do you work here? How do I get a nice breakfast around? I want to enjoy my vacations while they last."

"And the thing we talked about?"

"Will keep," I said, my voice clipped as I finally turned to face him fully. "I'm on vacation. My schedule is: beach, food, maybe a nap if someone's incessant divine brooding doesn't keep me up again. Crisis management is penciled in for... never, if I'm lucky."

His lips twitched, that infuriating almost-smile back. "A nap. An immortal tribrid, and you schedule naps."

"Even gods probably need a f*****g nap after dealing with you," I shot back. The exhaustion was winning, sandbagging my anger. "Now. Breakfast. Where does a girl get some food around here that isn't seasoned with existential dread?"

He gestured with his chin toward a small, rustic building adjacent to the main inn. "The taverna. Eleni will have already laid out bread, cheese, fruit. The coffee is... acceptable."

"Acceptable," I repeated flatly. "High praise."

"It is not ambrosia," he said with a shrug, as if that were a perfectly reasonable comparison.

"Right. Well, I'll manage with mortal-grade caffeine, thanks." I made to move past him, but his next words stopped me.

"I do not work here," he said, his tone shifting, becoming more serious. "I only help from time to time. I've known Eleni and her family for a while."

I paused, looking at him.

"And I care because?"

"You do care."

"You will shut up."

He quirked an eyebrow. "Weren't you just asking if I work here?"

"That part, yes," I replied instantly. "The other was unnecessary. I don't need you to explain your relationship with your current f**k buddy?"

"f**k buddy?" He asked.

I nodded. "I'm guessing you don't do relationships, but if you do, I hope you had a good life with her. She seems nice."

The words were out, sharp and coated in a bitterness I hadn't meant to reveal. The moment they left my mouth, I wanted to claw them back. I sounded jealous. Petty. Everything I’d sworn I wouldn’t be.

The easy amusement vanished from his face, replaced by a look of stark, genuine confusion. "My current... what? Anika, what are you talking about?"

I rolled my eyes. "Leo, you don't have to lie. I am a wolf, I can scent these things, and to be honest, it doesn't matter. I just ask you to stop having s*x until I have some potions for you. Later on, you might need to find another witch to do them. I won't be returning here once a year to help you out with that."

"I'm still confused."

"Eleni. The one with your mark on her neck. I know she is human, but the way your scent rolls from her shows you two were very... intimate."

He blinked twice, almost as if he couldn't understand what I was referring to.

"Don't play dumb. It's beneath you."

For a long moment, he just stared at me, his moon-pale eyes wide with disbelief. And then, something incredible happened. A deep, rich laugh burst from him, a sound so unexpected and full of genuine mirth that it seemed to startle the very air around us. It wasn't a chuckle; it was a full-bodied, unrestrained laugh that made his shoulders shake.

Thethys, in my head, went completely still. "He finds this... funny?"

I stood there, frozen, my arms crossed, my face a mask of fury and confusion. "What," I bit out, "is so f*****g funny?"

He wiped a thumb at the corner of his eye, still grinning. "You think... You think Eleni and I are...?" He shook his head, another laugh escaping him. "Anika. Eleni is like a sister to me. The mark you saw on her neck was not left by me; I was helping her get rid of it."

I must have 'stupid' written all over my face if he thinks I will buy this bullshit.

"And you have never had s*x with her?" I questioned.

Leo's cheeks burned a bright red just like I had suspected they would.

They might not be in a relationship, but something clearly happened between them. Perhaps she is in love with her childhood friend, or perhaps he is just an asshole who enjoys playing with everyone's feelings.

Either way, I don't care.

"Doesn't matter, and don't worry. I'm not angry. Keep in mind what I told you, and we shall be fine."

With that, I turned and walked to the tavern. I wasn't particularly fond of the idea of seeing the woman my mate has had s*x with, but I need to eat something if I want to find a way to destroy the bond.