Atlas paced back and forth in his small office. The books and lamp laughed from their places along the wall as the room swirled around him, melting into one blob of color. His ears rang with their high-pitched squeals of delight and mockery. He set his jaw and flexed his fingers, a pitiful attempt at blocking out the noise around him.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the door swing open, and a short female figure walked through hesitantly. Immediately, his heart raced and pounded loudly against his ribs, echoing their excitement through his bones.
"Atlas." The feminine voice spoke to him quietly, hesitantly. "What are you doing?"
Atlas spun toward the voice and charged forward. He grasped the woman's shoulders tightly, almost crushing her bones. The woman froze at his touch. Her scent was familiar but just out of reach. It was never fully there but always right under his nose. It wafted up and away.
"I've been working. Any news on Serena?" He pleaded with the woman for answers. This woman had to be Venus. Or someone who knew of her whereabouts. Otherwise, she would never have dared enter his study while he was in it.
The world around him spun with the scent of the woman. He lifted his gaze to examine her face, only to find it was blurry. Her features were smeared and muddled. Her hair was a mass of various colors, and her eyes were blobs of the ever-changing rainbow. Her clothing was white, as pure white as he had ever seen. Her dress glinted like moonlight even in his dimly lit office. He squinted his eyes, hoping for her features to be distinguished. But the squinting didn't work. It only blurred the lines of her face even more.
Atlas shoved her away, disgusted by what he was holding.
"Who the hell are you?" He breathed out slowly, entirely baffled by the human before him.
The words the woman spoke next were not of her voice but of many voices acting as one. The deep undertones of her voice were overshadowed by a light-hearted soprano.
"You know who I am. I am your destiny. I am your future." Atlas stumbled backward, falling against his desk. He rubbed his eyes, hoping never to see this being again when he opened his eyes. He was sorely mistaken. She was still there, but instead, she was towering over him. A condescending tone played in her voice. "Think of all the clues Serena gave you. All the history she told you and all the personal tales. Think of the man you grew to become beside her. Tell me that you don't know where she is."
Atlas fisted his hair and pulled, his teeth clenched tightly together.
"I don't know." He seethed. "Venus isn't telling me even though I know she sees her on occasion."
"Why wouldn't your own sister trust you?"
"I don't know." Atlas released his hair and rest his head against the desk.
"Have you been honest with your pack? With your family?"
The woman paced back and forth in front of him, her dress trailing behind her.
"No. I can't tell them. It would break their hearts to hear how their Alpha failed them."
The woman stopped and knelt before him. She clasped his hand in hers. Her touch was almost nonexistent, like a cold wind brushing against the skin.
"Would it break their hearts? Or would it break yours?"
"I can't tell them." Atlas cried. He was in utter agony. His heart was broken, and it was his fault. "They will never forgive me."
"Or have you not forgiven yourself for what happened?" The woman asked, her tone upended and mysterious. She sauntered toward the door, grasping it firmly. She turned back to Atlas. He was still seated on the floor, his back pressed tightly against his desk. "Sometimes, we must first seek the forgiveness of others in order to forgive ourselves. That is if we truly are sorry for what we have done to have caused someone else pain."
The woman left the office, shutting the door quietly behind her. Atlas shot up from the floor and raced after her, but she was nowhere to be found.
The entire house was silent. Everyone had gone to their rooms or their homes.
Atlas walked back to his desk and flopped down into the chair. Her words rang in his mind, echoing their honest words. He stared into the grain of the wood as his mind worked through every word of the conversation.
Was he sorry for having killed James Clell? Was he sorry for how things had gone with Serena?
He shook his head.
His actions could be justified. He only wanted what was best for his family and his pack, just like his Father wanted. Everything he had done was for the family. He saved Serena so he could finally have that someone to lead his people with and to have children. He was going to be a better father, but was he? He shook his head and traced the scar along his face. It burned as his finger grazed the scarred tissue.
He closed his eyes, and immediately, his vision was flooded with memories and conversations with Serena. Her laugh, her smile, and her voice replayed before his eyes.
"I-" Atlas whispered to himself, hoping she would hear him, wherever she was. "I-I'm sorry, Serena... For everything that I have done."
A soft knock came from his door. Startled, Atlas shot up from his desk, only to find that he was in his bed. He was covered in a cold sweat that had soaked through the sheets. The pillows and blankets were tangled into knots and strewn about the floor.
He sighed and clutched the remaining sheet tightly.
Another knock, this time louder.
"Come in." He grumbled as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and ruffled his hair.
Venus opened the door slowly, poking her head through the crack.
"You were shouting in your sleep." She said timidly, her eyes directed at the floor.
"I'm sorry." Atlas rubbed his eyes.
"It's nearly dinner time, would you like a plate?"
Atlas strode toward the door and swung it open. Venus tumbled into the room, alarmed.
"No. I will be joining everyone for dinner. We have a lot to discuss." He brushed past her and waved a hand. "Call the Elders."
He descended the stairs, leaving Venus alone at the top, still stunned by the sudden change in her brother. His head poked over the edge, and his eyes were serious and determined.
"Thank you, Venus."
She cocked her head.
"For what?"
"For never giving up on me. It's time to make things right."