#Chapter5

Second Phase

It was how my name rolled off his tongue. This is the first time he called me by my name, and I'd be lying if I said I don't like it one bit.

I only smirked up at him as I limped my way to reach my phone. I swiped on the screen to answer the call, a smile was permanent to my lips, "Yes, Athena?"

Athena didn't miss a beat, "We have a problem."

"Good morning to you, too."

"Dione!" Athena frantically answers, pleasantries were gone, "It's Atlas! He's gone! I don't know how he did it, but he unbinded himself and fled. Dione, we have to find him. He's in his second phase. That's—"

"—the worst, I know."

"He could kill himself!" Athena continued on with her word vomit, "I already sent a group of omegas to search for him, but there are still no updates. I had to call you."

"Don't worry about Atlas," I said, looking at Atlas in front of me who narrowed his eyes at me, "I don't think he's killing himself. Wherever he is."

"Dione, you know full well how female omegas can't handle the stress, let alone a male." She says, her tone says it all: how I handled my stress. How I handled my second phase.

"Yeah, yeah," I said, dismissing the topic, "But I have a huge gut feel that wherever Atlas is, he's perfectly safe and alive." I gave Atlas a sweet smile as I said these words.

He scowled at me.

I rolled my eyes, but my smile never faltered, "Maybe a little on the grumpy side, but alive."

There were a couple of beats where Athena didn't say anything. There was complete silence on the other line, and I thought she hung up on me. That is, until she said, "He's there, isn't he?"

I laughed. Omegas think alike, they say. "Maybe?"

I heard Athena let out a sigh of relief, "Good. We'll fetch him there."

"No!" I said, almost instantly. I blinked, "I mean... no, it's fine. Got it covered."

"Dione," Athena says in a warning tone. What's with everyone warning me? "What are you planning to do?"

"Nothing," I laughed, and Atlas frowned at me, "Just trust me on this."

"Okay, just don't kill him," she says, and my laugh boomed on a four walls of my bedroom, "I'm serious, Dione."

"I'm not promising anything," I playfully answered before I hanged up. I tossed my phone on my bed behind me and looked at Atlas with an amused expression on my face, "I have a proposal for you."

"I'm not interested," he says before he turned his back to me, motioning for the door.

"Oh, leaving already?" I cooed and he snapped his head at me with a scowl, "Too bad. You won't hear how I came up with a brilliant idea on claiming my soul mate."

He fully turned to face me, "Tell me," he hissed before harshly grabbing my arm.

I smirked at him, leaning forward so we could be at close proximity. Just for added effect. Not that the sparks on my arm wasn't an effect enough. "If I help you, you have to help me too." I smiled.

His grip on my arm tightened. "Just tell me!" He bellowed.

Before I could say anything, there was a knock on my bedroom door. Then, I heard Phoebe speak on the other side, "Dione? Are you okay there?"

"Peachy!" I answered back, covering Atlas's mouth with my free hand. If it weren't for a certain omega who has throat issues, Phoebe wouldn't come up to my room and check.

Atlas was about to bite my hand but, unfortunately for him, I have quick reflexes. I reached for his nose and pulled, silencing him with my eyes. There's no way Phoebe will find out Atlas came in my bedroom to kill me.

Or World War Wolf would happen.

"You sure?" Phoebe asked one last time.

"Yes, I'm sure," I said, my hand still on Atlas' nose as he wiggles his face free from my grasp, "Can't wait for your breakfast waffles. I'll go down in a bit."

I could sense Phoebe's hesitation. She sure feels something is wrong. She's not stupid. "Okay, whatever you say."

Then we waited as her footsteps faltered and went down in the kitchen. I let go of Atlas' nose, "That was close." I sighed, "Get out of here." I said, pushing him towards the nearest window.

His grip on my arm went tighter, "The plan, Dione."

"Tonight's their mating ceremony," I started off with a sharp pang on my chest from my own words. I could see how Atlas' eyes looked hurt, before it got clouded with anger, "How about a grand entrance?"

We looked at each other. There were no words that were spoken, but we understood each other. He nodded before he let me go and ran towards the window. I watched him get ready to jump. But before he could, he turned to look at me, "Pick you up at seven." Was all he said before he left.

I silently went down the stairs. Sad that Kratos and Eris are having a mating ceremony. But happy that Atlas agreed to help me get back my mate. Or at least I assumed he agreed. He didn't really say yes, but his eyes had hope in them. And I knew my eyes mirrored his.

I was hopeful, too.

Reaching the kitchen, I saw Phoebe with her back on me. She's making her best waffles, like every morning. I smiled and hopped, "Good morning." I greeted.

Without turning to face me, she said, "So, care telling me what Atlas was doing in your room?"