Artemis Lupine- The Complete Series

by Catherine Banks

  The wolf snarled, and I pulled back my hands. The words seemed to come out even though I wasn’t sure of their meaning. “I only meant that you are so beautiful in wolf form that I have no doubt that you are gorgeous in your other form as well.” The wolf stepped back and stood up on its hind legs. I scooted backwards to get farther away from him and watched in amazement as the wolf’s body rippled like water and became human. The man before me smiled and walked forward. I couldn’t help but stare at his naked perfection, although I kept my gaze above his belly button so as not to offend him. “What’s your name?” I asked.

  The man smiled and held his hand out to me. He spoke with a voice like honey and said, “Ares.”

  The dream ended as quickly as it had started. I sat up and stared at the wall in front of me. I slowed my breathing as I focused on reality, and then sighed heavily. It was the same dream I had been having for the past week. I wished it wouldn’t end in the same spot every time. I wanted to know what happened next.

  Bret knocked on the bathroom door. “Are you alright, Artemis?”

  I inhaled one more long breath then called back, “Yes, I’m fine. Just fell asleep in the tub.” I climbed out of the now lukewarm water and dried off quickly.

  Bret sighed. “Well, hurry. I’m starving.”

  My stomach growled in agreement, and I groaned. “Alright. Sorry.” I threw on a pair of jeans and a low-cut t-shirt then ran my brush through my shoulder length black hair before throwing it up into a ponytail. I pulled open the door and ran into Bret’s chest.

  He stumbled backwards and smiled at me. “Shit, you caught me off guard.”

  I smiled back. “Don’t lie. You know I’m just stronger than you.”

  Bret rolled his eyes. “Yes, you, a five foot two, hundred and ten-pound girl, are stronger than me, a six-foot, hundred and eighty-pound guy. Not likely.”

  I shrugged. “It’s okay that you don’t want to admit it. I know the truth.”

  Bret sighed and motioned towards the door. “Let’s go eat.” I hurried out into the hall to find Darren, who stood against the opposite wall waiting for us. He acknowledged us with a smile and then started walking down the hall towards the elevators. I tried to listen to the guys’ conversation, but all I could think about was the wolf-man of my dream.

  Darren interrupted my thoughts by pushing me into the elevator. I frowned at him, but ignored his taunting. Could the man be real? I shook my head. Of course not. There aren’t men who can turn into wolves or vice versa. That’s all just fantasy. Wait… wouldn’t he be a werewolf then?

  Darren cleared his throat making me look up at him. “Are you alright?” he asked.

  I nodded. “Sorry. I fell asleep in the tub and I’m still trying to wake up.” Wrapping my arms around myself, I kept taking slow, deep breaths to calm my fear of being in the elevator.

  Darren rolled his eyes. “I was thinking we would go to a steak house.”

  I licked my lips. “Steak sounds great!”

  Darren frowned at me, and Bret laughed. “I swear if we took red meat away from you, you would end up eating one of us just to get your fill.”

  I wrinkled my nose in disgust. “I don’t think you would taste very good.”

  Darren rubbed his temples. “Let’s not discuss eating each other.” He walked out of the elevator as soon as it opened and led us through the now crowded hotel. A line of at least thirty people formed at the steak restaurant, but Darren strolled up to the front and the hostess nodded as he spoke to her. She darted into the restaurant. Bret and I walked up to Darren who stood, looking smug. The hostess came back and waved us in with a smile. Darren followed her and sat down at the largest booth. Two waiters came up and handed us menus and took our drink orders without even asking for ID.

  I turned to Darren. “Why are they treating you like royalty?”

  “The owner is a longtime friend of mine,” he said.

  A short, very muscular man with a three-inch-tall, bright green Mohawk walked over to our table. His very nice, very expensive looking suit fit every curve of his body.

  Darren smiled wider, but it seemed to almost look like a grimace. “Koda! I didn’t think you would be here. I thought you were still in Germany.”

  Koda smiled wide, flashing perfectly white teeth. I stared at his face and guessed him at about twenty-five, but that made no sense to me since Darren was close to forty. “We came back from Germany a few weeks ago. I’m sure you know why.”

  Darren smiled slipped down into a frown. “Yes, yes I do.” Darren’s sudden mood change made me stare at Koda longer. He was very handsome and looked strong. Darren shook his head and smiled again. “Where are my manners? Koda, I’d like you to meet my daughter, Artemis, and her friend Bret.”

  Koda turned his attention to me, and his brows lifted. His bright blue eyes pierced through me as he stared into mine. He slowly reached his hand out towards me, and I took it, shaking hands like Darren had taught me. His skin was extremely warm, and I felt a small tingle rush up my arm and to my head. Koda smiled and shook my hand back with an equally firm, yet gentle shake. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Artemis. I have heard so much about you.”

  I frowned. “Unfortunately, I cannot say the same. But it is nice to finally meet one of Dad’s friends.”

  Koda dropped my hand abruptly, making the tingling disappear, and turned to Darren. “She hasn’t heard about me?”

  Darren swallowed hard and he couldn’t meet Koda’s gaze. “I have not told her of my past life.”

  Koda’s lip twitched in a snarl. “That is very interesting indeed.” Koda turned to me, smiling again. “If you want some time away from your father and friend please feel free to find me. I am always around this restaurant and, if not, my staff can reach me at any time, day or night.” He took my hand again and kissed the back of it. “And I would be more than happy to show you around.”

  Bret stiffened beside me, and I smiled nicely at Koda. “Thank you, Mister…”

  Koda shook his head then winked at me. “Call me Koda.”

  I smiled wider. “Thank you, Koda, but we are only here for one night and I’m sure the guys have a lot planned.”

  Bret relaxed back against his seat, and Darren let out the breath he had been holding.

  Koda shrugged. “As you wish, but the offer is open any day.”

  Koda smiled at me then stepped closer to Darren and whispered into his ear. Darren’s face fell, and he nodded once, very short and quick, as if he were afraid to make any other movement. Koda walked away without glancing back. The waiters came by and took our orders. Darren smiled again and shook his head. “It has been too long since I’ve seen him. So, how does gambling for a few hours, then a trip to the hottest dance club in town sound?”

  Bret smiled. “Awesome!”

  I groaned. “A dance club? Why don’t you just stab me in the eye with this fork?”

  Bret and Darren talked in about the night to come, but I couldn’t listen to them. I stared in the direction Koda had disappeared and wished I could find a way to speak to him further. I remembered the strange tingling and wondered what had caused it. My ruminations ended as our food came and I ate my medium rare steak quickly. I ate the fries and salad as fast as my steak. Then downed my beer. I looked at Darren and Bret. “I need to use the restroom. I’ll be right back.” I started to get up then realized I had no clue where the bathroom was.

  Darren noticed my problem. “Straight back and to the left.”

  I walked in the direction he had told me and felt butterflies as I realized it was the same way Koda had gone. I turned right down a dark hallway and ran into Koda’s wide back. I hadn’t seen him in the darkness. He spun around, and his surprised expression turned into a warm smile. “Hello, Artemis. Get tired of your friend so soon?”

  I laughed. “Hi, Koda. Sorry. I was just going to the bathroom and wasn’t paying attention.”

  Koda shrugged. “No harm done.”

  He stepped to the side to allow
me to pass him, but I stayed still. “Koda, what did my dad mean about not telling me about his past?”

  Koda’s eyes squinted in anger. “I’m sorry, Artemis, but it’s not my place to discuss your father’s past with you. Your father will have to tell you.”

  I sighed. “Alright.”

  I continued past Koda and into the restroom. I went pee then washed my hands and walked out of the bathroom. Koda stood in the same spot as before, talking quietly on his cell phone. I hurried to the table where Darren and Bret had already finished their food. “Time to gamble?” I asked.

  Bret nodded. “Let’s go!”

  Darren rolled his eyes. “So eager to waste my money?”

  “It was your idea.” I lifted a brow at him.

  Darren laughed. “True, very true.”

  We started to walk out of the restaurant when I felt someone’s hand on me. A quick rush of heat raced up my arm, making me gasp. I spun around and stared at Koda. He dropped my arm and the heat stopped. “My apologies, Artemis, I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

  I smiled. “It’s alright. No harm done.”

  His smile widened at my reminder of his comment. He held out a small piece of white paper. “Take this. If you ever need anything feel free to call me.”

  I slowly took the paper and nodded. “Th-thanks.”

  He winked at me. “No problem.”

  I couldn’t help but stare at his backside as he walked away. Darren cleared his throat, and I hid the piece of paper in my hand and turned to him.

  Darren asked, “What was that about?”

  I shrugged. “He was just saying bye.”

  Darren stared at me for a second then shrugged. “He’s a nice guy.” We started walking out of the restaurant again, and I put the piece of paper in my pants pocket. There were so many questions about Darren that I wanted answers to. Maybe I would call Koda and see if he could answer them. Darren stopped in the middle of the gambling area and turned to us. He pulled out his wallet and made three piles of bills. He handed one pile to me and one pile to Bret before pocketing the third pile for himself. “Now make this last at least two hours.”

  “I’m sure I can do that, but Bret will probably spend it in ten minutes,” I said with a laugh.

  Bret rolled his eyes. “You only spend it slowly because you play slots.”

  I shrugged. “I think slots are fun.”

  Darren laughed. “Play nice, kids. I’ll meet you back here in two hours.” He started towards the blackjack tables.

  I turned to Bret and smiled. “See you in two hours.”

  He rolled his eyes again. “Have fun with the slots.”

  “I will,” I said. I strolled towards the slot machines when the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. Was someone staring at me? I rubbed the back of my neck and looked around, but couldn’t see anyone. I shrugged it off and walked faster towards the five cent slot machines. I felt a warm tingling sensation spread over me and turned to my right.

  Koda stood a few feet away, talking to someone whose back was towards me. Koda’s eyes widened when he saw me, and he whispered something to the man he was with. I smiled at Koda and waved, starting to walk away when the man turned around. I gasped and stopped moving. The man with Koda smiled politely at me, but I stood dumbfounded. He was the man from my dreams, the werewolf man.

  Koda walked quickly to my side and whispered, “Breathe!”

  I inhaled a big breath and then stopped breathing again as the man walked towards me. I started to ask his name when Darren, appearing seemingly out of thin air, grabbed my arm and yanked me behind him. The man snarled softly at Darren, and I gasped at his wolf-like growl. I shook my head, clearing my thoughts. I’m just projecting what I want to hear.

  The man seemed angry and stood in a loose fighting stance, like he was preparing for an attack. “What are you doing?” His voice was tinted with anger as he glared at Darren.

  “Leave my daughter alone,” Darren said with menace in his voice as he pushed me farther behind him and away from the man.

  The man smiled. “I haven’t done anything and you know I would never hurt our kind, especially not one as beautiful as her.”

  My cheeks instantly flushed. What did he mean by that, though?

  Darren’s lips twitched up in a snarl. “Are you here for what I think you are here for?”

  The man frowned. “Darius sent us here to continue our mission, yes.”

  Darren sighed then walked backwards and grabbed my arm. “Come on, Artemis. We’re leaving.”

  I shook my head and stared at the gorgeous man in front of us. “I don’t want to leave.” I could feel the man’s dangerous potential and yet I could tell he was good. How did I know this? I had no idea.

  Darren looked from me to the man and then back again. He shook his head and dragged me away by the arm. “We are leaving.”

  I grabbed at my stomach so that I wouldn’t reach out towards the man from my dreams like I wanted to. The man blew a kiss at me, and I felt my blush intensify. I forced myself to turn away from him and followed Darren. Darren grabbed Bret, and we hurried to our rooms. We walked in silence until we reached our rooms, and then Darren turned to us suddenly. “I can’t explain this, Artemis, but you two need to trust me. We have to leave, now.”

  I nodded and hurried into the hotel room to pack my bag. Bret grumbled about being on a streak as he packed his bag, too. I turned to walk out of the room and stopped dead. Koda stood at the end of the hallway by the elevators staring at me. I dropped my bag and hurried to him.

  He frowned. “I wanted to make sure that you did as your father says and leave. Do not come back.”

  “Who was that man? I-I’ve had dreams about him,” I said while wringing the bottom of my shirt.

  Koda’s eyes widened, his jaw dropped, and then he shook his head. “Just leave. If you want to call me later you can, but do not try to call me for at least two days.”

  I started to ask him why, but the elevator opened and Koda hurried inside, staring at the back of the elevator. The elevator doors closed a few moments before Darren spoke from his room. “Where’s your bag?”

  I turned around and smiled. “Sorry, I was trying to catch the elevator and dropped it by the door.” I rushed back down the hallway and grabbed my bag as Bret followed me out, shutting the door and handing Darren the keycard. Darren watched me curiously, but didn’t say anything. We took the elevator down and Darren paid the front desk clerk. I walked quickly towards the doors which led to the valet area, but I felt someone looking at me again and turned around, raising my gaze to the second story of the lobby. The man from my dreams stood on the upper level staring at me. He started to move towards the escalators, but Koda and another man grabbed him and held him back. I hurried out the door and inhaled the cool, refreshing night air. Darren walked out just as the valet brought the truck up.

  I threw my bag to Bret and climbed into the truck, slamming my door and putting on my seatbelt. Darren climbed into the truck and started it, sighing as the motor started up. I looked back in the hotel and saw the man and Koda inside the lobby. Koda was holding onto the man’s arm and talking sternly to him. The man was yelling at Koda, but he stopped mid-rant and turned to look at me. I stared into his beautiful blue eyes and wanted nothing more than to have him hold me.

  Darren yelled, “Artemis!”

  I stopped moving and realized that I had unbuckled my seatbelt and was opening my door. I slammed the door and put my belt back on and faced forward. Darren put the truck in gear and raced away from the hotel, leaving Koda and the mystery man behind. We drove in silence for an hour, and then Darren pulled into a small diner. We got out, and I numbly followed them into the diner. Darren ordered a burger for me and shoved a soda under my chin.

  I drank as I thought about the mystery man. Who was he? Why did I feel so strange when I was near him? The news chiming on the television brought my attention back. I stared at the news reporter as his sad face told me that it was
n’t going to be a happy report. “We know you all have heard of the devastation that is sweeping the Orient. It started in Japan and spread through China at an alarming rate…”

  Darren yelled, “Can we change the channel?”

  Our waitress came over, smiling politely. “I’m sorry, Sir, but there are more people here that want to watch it than those who don’t.”

  Darren sighed loudly and stood up, dragging me with him. The news reporter continued. “We just learned that Russia has been…”

  Darren shoved me out of the diner so hard and fast that I fell on my face on the concrete outside. Bret rushed to my side and picked me up in his arms. Bret growled. “What the hell is wrong with you, Darren?”

  Darren shook his head. “Get in the truck!”

  Bret set me down in the truck and got in the backseat. I stared at Darren, eyes wide. “What’s happening? Why won’t you let us watch the news? What’s going on?!” I screamed at him, knowing he was up to something.

  “Just do what I say.” He started the truck and took off out of the parking lot, spraying gravel from his tires as we raced to the highway again.

  My anger rose at Darren and my body began to heat up. I turned to yell at him then felt my body starting to twitch. I grunted in frustration as I had a seizure.

  Bret screamed, “Darren!”

  Darren pulled over and Bret held me down against the seat so I wouldn’t thrash around and hit my head. Darren grabbed a cold water bottle, unscrewed the lid and splashed it on my face. I closed my eyes and focused on the cold feeling, willing myself to calm down. My body slowed its convulsions and then stopped altogether.

  Bret sighed. “I wish I knew what the hell caused those.”

  Darren just stared at me with anger and worry filling his eyes as I regained control.

  I whispered, “You can let go, Bret. I’m fine now.”

  Bret sat back in his seat and Darren started driving again. We listened to the radio in silence the rest of the way to town.

  We hurried home, and I climbed straight into bed. Bret followed me in and closed the door behind him. He set our bags down and sat on the bed next to me.