The Alpha's Exchanged Mate
The Alpha’s Exchanged Mate – Chapter 174

Authors POV…

Athena wondered why John wasn’t picking up her calls; he had only said he would use about twenty minutes or less. Her skin pricked at the thought of the s*x they had just had before he left to see Sonia. It was the most intense s*x she had ever had.

She was practically screaming her lungs out, not caring that anyone around would hear her.

She had let John in through the secret back door most maids use to sneak out of the packhouse. And as promised, he had brought the money and his d**k along, fully prepared to make her feel good. The s*x had been so wild that she couldn’t resist the sleep that eluded her after her bath.

All Athena could remember was John telling her he wouldn’t take long to return. She thought that maybe she could make him stay for the rest of the night since everyone in the packhouse was busy with jubilation at the newborn’s arrival.

She woke up about twenty minutes later, it was a brief sleep but the best she had ever had. When she couldn’t get through to him after waking, she headed out of her room to check if John was still in Sonia’s room.

Getting to the door, she realized it was locked from the inside, which was very unlikely. Sonia never locks her door. Thoughts of if John had been the one who locked it came to her mind, and she panicked.

He wasn’t supposed to lock the door. Running back to the main floor where other maids and guards were, Athena called out for help for the door to be opened.

“How did it get locked in? Aren’t you her maid?” One of the guards directed at Athena as he followed her towards the room.

Athena snorted at him discreetly, “it probably got keyed in. Just help me out.”

The door seemed harder to open with just a mere kick. A running foot won’t just go it. Needing a chisel, the guard finally got through to the door.

Athena almost passed out at the sight of Sonia on the floor. She ran towards the lifeless body.

“Ma’am! Ma’am!” She called out shakily.

“Move aside!” The guard pushed Athena, bending down to have a look at Sonia. Feeling her pulse, he shook his head. “What the f**k happened here?!” He spat out.

Panicking,” what is wrong with her?” Athena asked, her breath unsteady.

“She is dead!” The guard responded almost in a whisper.

Athena gasped, falling to the ground, “how did that happen?”

Standing up, the guard gave her a stern look. “That would be for you to explain when you get taken in for questioning. Don’t move an inch from here!” He glared at her, leaving the room.

Moving stealthily towards the bed, Athena stared at Star, tears falling from her eyes. She couldn’t understand what had happened right under her nose. The only thought that occurred to her was to call Becca. Picking up the phone used just in case of emergency, Athena breathed hotly into the phone.

The packhouse had never felt so lively and exciting as it was tonight. Becca grinned widely at the joke Caleb threw at Edwina, teasing her if she would like to have three cubs at the same time.

Xander had been the one to react with a heavy cough. The moment they had returned to the packhouse, Edwina had been sending maids back and forth to make some additions to the room Sonia was to move into. When Xander had told her not to worry and leave it to Becca, she had insisted anxiety would get the best of her and prevent her from having a restful sleep. Her insistence had kept the others with her as she chatted on excitedly.

Xander seemed like the most amused of all; he had never seen Edwina so excited and full of life.

Becca got distracted when her phone rang. Excusing herself, she picked on the second ring.

“Is everything alright, Athena?” She asked, her voice laughing

“Ma……ma….” Athena stuttered. She sounded weak.

Becca’s senses peeked as her wolf stood on alert. “What happened?”

“Sonia, ma’am!” She breathed heavily.

“Sonia?” Becca whispered, trying to reduce her voice to prevent the others from hearing. “You know what, calm your nerves. I am on my way now.”

Because Becca’s hand shook against the phone, she hoped her hearing had gone bad, and she didn’t quite hear what Athena had said. Her gaze turned towards Edwina, who looked over the moon. Calming her breaths, she took a step forward to call on Caleb.

A guard burst in, almost running out of breath. Bowing his head, he rasped out. “An unfortunate incident has taken place, dear alpha.” He began looking deeply solemn.

Xander raised one of his thick brows, “what’s the matter?”

The guard sighed like whatever he had to say was just too heavy for him. When he noticed Xander giving him an impatient shrug. He eventually let it out.

“I just found miss Sonia’s lifeless body a few minutes ago.”

Silence dropped like a warning bell into the room. Everyone stared with wild looks on their face. Most especially Edwina, who had a screwed-up face trying to decipher the guard’s message.

Caleb seemed like the only one with the guts, “what do you mean?” He sounded a bit distant and shaky.

Gulping hard, the guard looked around, his palms becoming super sweaty. “the Lunas sister is dead, beta!” He repeated.

Edwina let out a loud shriek like her tongue would pull out of her mouth, jolting up like she had been pricked with sharp objects. She dashed out towards the guest quarters. As fast as the others were, they couldn’t seem to keep up with her as they dashed after her.

Panting hard like she had run a thousand miles, Edwina burst into the room, her eyes scanning it real quick. It caught sight of Athena carrying Star in her arms. And on the floor next to the wall lay Sonia looking cold like she had been dead for a while.

“F**k!” Xander muttered softly, with Becca gasping for air.

Moving like a zombie towards her sister’s lifeless body, Edwina hadn’t gotten too close before her legs failed her, and she passed out.