CHAPTER 3: Second Phase

Normally, waking up in the morning means actually waking up alive. Waking up means having waffles for breakfast. Waking up means seeing Phoebe again. Waking up means bad breath and ugly pyjamas. Waking up means watching Kratos and Eris together. Waking up means facing another twenty four hours of heartbreak. Waking up means not wanting to wake up at all.

Wow, that's depressing.

However, this morning begs to differ. I mean, Kratos and Eris are still together. And I'm still going through a heartbreak. But today, there were no waffles and Phoebe. There were only bad breath, ugly pyjamas, Atlas on top of me, and his hands trying to strangle me to death.

"I'm going to kill you," he seethed, as his hands circled around my neck.

"How romantic," I deadpanned.

For a second chance mate, he sure knows how to sweep a lady off her feet. Or strangle her, for that matter. Glad to know he's progressing really fast in the rejection period. Based on the situation we are in now, he's in the second phase.

The second phase of rejection. Where a reject would hurt himself. Or would rather hurt others to hurt himself. Or would hurt others and hurt himself. He's going to be impossible to tame. As if his thrashing and screaming yesterday wasn't enough.

"Any last words?" He says, his muscles flexing as he tries to tighten his grip on my neck. However, his eyes looked hesitant. Just by touching me, there were sparks. The skin in my neck is tingling. I'll call it bull if he says he doesn't feel it.

I smirked up at him, "Kill me."

He must've been confused why I look so calm and composed as if dying wasn't a bad idea. Not that it isn't a bad idea, but I've dealt with wolves in their second phase of rejection more than the times I took a bath. This is as normal as it can get.

Atlas didn't move an inch. He continued to stare at me as I raised a brow at him in question, "Can't do it, mate?"

He growled lowly at me, and that's when his grip actually tightened. I think my pharynx just got squished. "You are not my mate. You're pathetic."

I laughed out loud, before I started to sputter. Never knew I needed oxygen so much. Or that I ever needed a pharynx before. It's so cute how you appreciate small things when you're going to die.

"What's funny?" He gave me a warning growl, his face a mere inch from mine.

I didn't know what happened next. All I know is that I flew in the air, towards my bedroom wall. There was a really loud thud as I collided with the wall, then slided my way on the carpeted floor. I think I just broke my arm. And my ribs. For an omega, Atlas sure is strong.

Oh, I think my collar bone snapped.

Nonetheless, I laughed. My body was shaking as I let out a bitter laugh with Atlas watching me like I've gone crazy. Maybe I am. Maybe he is crazy, too. We're just the same, anyway. We're both rejects.

My lungs became greedy for air, wanting oxygen to enter my system. I looked at Atlas straight in the eyes, "You think killing me will make Eris come back to you?" I snorted.

In one swift movement, his hands were on my neck again. He lifted me off the floor until my feet weren't touching the ground anymore. He lifted me up until I was looking down on his angry pair of gray eyes.

"Kill me, Atlas. Spare me the heartbreak. Finish me," I challenged him, mentally preparing myself for death. At least there'll be no bad breath and morning bed hair for me anymore.

But then Atlas decided to punish me; he lets go of me. I immediately fell on the floor, still alive. Shame. I looked up at him, "Didn't know you have a soft spot for second chance mates, Atlas," I smirked at him.

"You're pathetic," he spat at me so hard I almost flinched. Almost, "If only you fought for Kratos, he wouldn't be with Eris right now. If you aren't a weak piece of sht this wouldn't have happened!"

I tilted my head at him, a small smile to my face, "I'm assuming you fought for Eris, unlike me?"

"I fought for Eris. I'm still fighting for Eris," he looked at me dead in the eye, "I'll always fight for Eris."

"Yet she still didn't choose you," I shrugged my shoulders. The sides of my lips twitched upwards as I saw the hurt in his eyes, "Whether you fight for your mate or not, either way, they wouldn't choose us. I just saved myself the trouble. Nice try for you, though."

His fists clenched, and I admired how the muscles in his arms are bulging. For an omega, he sure has a lean and muscular built. I'm not eye raping him, no. I'm merely stating facts. He's my second chance mate, after all.

"So, tell me," I went on as I tried to get up by myself. A heard a bone crack. Guess that's my other arm. "What have I done for you to grace me of your presence? Something good, I assume?" I smirked at him.

He scowled at me, "Glad to keep you entertained, but I don't find anything amusing in our situation."

"Atlas, Atlas, Atlas," I tutted as I made my way towards my bed. He watched my every move as if I'll start attacking him any second, "Sometimes, we just have to look at the bright side."

He was about to say something, but then my phone on the side table started ringing. By the sound of it, it was an incoming call. Both our heads snapped towards it, and my smile broadened when I read Athena's name flashing on the screen of my phone.

I looked at Atlas who slowly looked at me, "Don't say anything you will regret, Dione." He says, a warning. But it wasn't the warning that laced in his toned that got my attention.

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?"