He picked me up in his arms and looked back over his shoulder. "You coming, Bret?"
"No, I'm going to stay here to help guard the kids," Bret answered.
I leaned over the top of Koda's shoulder to look at Bret. He smiled at me and I shook my head. "Bret, you don't have to. You can come with us." A loud explosion made me jump in Koda's arms.
He shook his head. "Koda can protect you. I'll help the kids."
"Thanks, Bret."
He nodded and pushed Koda. "No problem, Chicky. I'll see you soon."
My throat was dry and it was becoming difficult to get words out. "Alright."
Koda whispered, "Now tuck into as small a ball as possible against me and hold on."
I wrapped my arms around his neck and did as he asked.
He wrapped his arms around me and ran out of the warehouse through the door Bret held open.
I gasped at what I saw as we came out. All of the houses were on fire and bodies littered the ground. Most were thankfully ogres, but there were some werewolves.
Koda pushed my face down and started running as fast as he could. The air whipped around us as we were going much faster than humanly possible. The sound of fighting and screams slowly died away until the only sound I heard was the beating of Koda's heart. His heartbeat did not speed up as he ran, but stayed a constant steady thrum. I felt my eyes beginning to close and shook my head, but it wasn't enough. Slowly, sleep won and I slept without dreaming.
Chapter Six
I opened my eyes slowly and found myself lying on top of Koda in a parallel line with him, with my head on his chest and the rest of our body parts lining up. I lifted my head up slowly and looked around. We were lying in the middle of a forest in the dark of night. The forest was too dense to be able to see any stars as I looked up.
Koda whispered, "The ground is really hard and this was the only way I could think to keep you comfortable."
I smiled at him. "Thanks, but you really didn't have to do that. It's not fair that you are uncomfortable."
He shrugged. "I'm fine. I'm used to sleeping on the hard ground. Although it would have been better in wolf form, but I didn't want to scare you."
I laughed at the image. "That would have been interesting. Would you like me to get off you now?"
He smiled at me seductively. "Only if you want. I'm pretty happy." I smiled back at him, unsure what he meant until I felt him flexing under my lower body.
I hopped up off of him and turned away as the blush spread over my entire face.
Koda laughed. "Wow. I didn't expect that reaction out of you. Hasn't that ever happened with Bret before?"
I groaned and stayed facing away from him. "Yes, it has, but you aren't Bret. You're Koda, and I barely know you."
Koda sighed. "Well you better get to know me fast because we are going to be spending the rest of our lives together."
I turned around and stared at him. "What do you mean by that? Did something happen to Ares?"
He smiled. "Calm down. Nothing happened to him. I just mean that I am Ares' pack and guard and I'm guessing yours, too, and that I will be alive hopefully as long as you, which is going to be hundreds of years."
I stared into his blue eyes and whispered, "Are you only protecting me because you are afraid of Ares' discipline?"
He stared back into my eyes and whispered, "No. I'm protecting you because I can see what you will become, and I have spent time with you and I couldn't bear the thought of you being hurt or...or dying. I fear it would tear me apart as much as it would Ares."
He sat up, pulled me down so that I was now sitting in his lap with my legs around his sides, and stroked the side of my face softly. "I promise to protect you from whatever tries to cause you harm, whether it be another person or even Ares."
I nodded, unable to speak.
He leaned forward and kissed my lips. I felt a spark flare up in the core of my body, but ignored it, suddenly overwhelmed with a strange sensation.
I kissed Koda back, forcing his mouth open with my teeth.
He groaned in pleasure and wrapped his arms around me, pressing us together as he deepened the kiss. He leaned forward, making me lie backwards on to the ground and pressed himself against me.
I moaned and bit his lip playfully. I pulled back from him and lay on the ground catching my breath.
He smiled back for a second and then turned his head to the side. He started to stand up, but was suddenly flying through the air with a wolf on his back.
I started to go after them, but Matt grabbed my arm. "Love, you better just wait here."
I shook my head as I realized Ares had tackled Koda. "No, Ares might hurt him and it wasn't his fault. Someone is messing with our emotions; I can feel it." I pulled away from him and ran through the forest after them. I yelled, "Ares! Please stop. It's not his fault. Someone is messing with our emotions."
I ran toward the sound of snarling and found Ares growling over Koda who was lying in human form on his back with his hands to his sides. I ran up and reached toward Ares, but he turned to me and snapped his teeth. I stopped walking and stared at him. "Would you really hurt me, Ares?"
Ares' wolf face softened, and he walked backwards off of Koda.
I whispered, "Someone is manipulating our emotions Ares. I can feel it."
He changed back to human and stood perfect and naked in front of me.
I licked my lips and fought to keep my eyes above his chest.
He snarled. "Why were you kissing him?"
"I just told you that someone is manipulating our emotions and I'm not lying. I swear Ares that I would not have kissed him under my own volition."
"Thanks. I guess I'm just chopped liver,” Koda said playfully.
Ares growled. "Don't push me, Koda!"
I laid my hand on Ares' arm and whispered, "I'm sorry I kissed him. I promise it won't happen again."
Ares turned to me and for the first time I saw the pain in his eyes. "Don't promise something you can't keep."
I shook my head and wrapped my arms around his upper body. "I promise, Ares. I am sorry that I lost control."
He sighed and hugged me back. "It's alright. I know you're telling the truth. Matt, go find who has been manipulating them."
Matt ran off into the woods without a word.
Koda stood up and walked toward Ares. He dropped to his knees and said, "Please forgive me, Prince Ares. I did not know what I was doing and I swear it will not happen again. I will work to gain more control over myself."
Ares spoke in a stern voice, "You are forgiven. Stand."
Koda stood and smiled. "Thank you."
Ares looked down at me and smiled. "And of course, I wouldn't hurt you. I was just upset at finding you eating each other’s mouths."
I cringed. "I already apologized, and you don't have to rub it in."
"I'm sorry. Are you alright?"
"Of course, I am. I mean, we had a little issue, but—"
Ares interrupted me. "What issue?"
Koda groaned. "You couldn't have waited, Artemis? I mean shit, I just got his forgiveness and now you are throwing me under the bus again."
"Sorry," I said sympathetically.
Ares spoke through gritted teeth, "Someone better tell me what happened."
Koda dropped to the ground on his hands and knees in front of Ares and said, "I failed you my Prince. When the ogre smashed through the wall, I was not fast enough to turn away. A piece of wood pierced her lung, collapsing it."
Ares looked down at my body just below my bra and traced the scar with his fingertip, making me shiver.
I was suddenly very aware of the fact that I didn't have a shirt on.
"It's alright Koda. You got her out of the village as quick as you could and that was the best thing to do."
I gasped. "Oh, my God. Bret and the children—are they okay?"
Ares nodded. "Bret was actually very helpful in protecting the children. They are all calling him their protector. I don't thin
k he is going to be leaving with us."
I smiled, but felt a twinge of sadness at the news. "That's great." I turned away from Ares and started walking through the trees.
He grabbed my arm and stopped me. "I'm sorry he won't be coming with us."
I shrugged. "'S alright. It's better for him this way."
Koda stood beside us. “When did you get that tattoo?”
Ares glared at Koda. “How have you seen it when I haven’t yet? Is that something else you did before I came?”
I could see the anger building in Ares and sighed. “You just didn’t pay attention to where it was or you would have seen it already, too.”
Ares’ frown evened out and a twinkle of intrigue returned to his eyes. “Can I see it?”
I shrugged and turned my back to him. He traced his fingertip across the snarling wolf head in the center of my lower back. Ares asked, “When did you get this?”
“Two years ago.”
“Did your father see it?”
I shook my head emphatically. “No, he would have killed me for getting a tattoo.”
Ares smiled. “It’s actually very nice.”
I blushed. “Thanks.”
Koda shook his head. “I can’t believe your father never said anything to you even though you had such a fascination with wolves.”
I shrugged. “My fascination with wolves was normal compared to other girls’ fascinations with horses or whatever other animal.”
"I think we should find some clothes before we leave," Ares said quietly. I realized I was staring at Ares’ lower body and blushed, looking away from him. He hugged me tightly, "I love that you blush. I hope you always do it."
"I don't."
Matt ran back through the trees and frowned. "I couldn't find anyone."
I sighed. "Great. Well, let's get back. I'm still hungry."
"Sorry about that. Those damn ogres attacked without warning. Lucky that you got scared in time for me to change," Ares said.
I remembered the vampires and asked, "Are Victor and Maurice alright?"
Ares nodded. "Maurice managed to get to cover before the sun got him. Both were a big help in defeating the ogres actually. From now on, all werewolf posts are going to be assigned two vampires. We're going to be taking a vampire along with our group as well."
I frowned. "Why?"
Ares answered instantly, "For better protection of you. Plus, he wants to observe our relationship anyway."
I groaned. "Great. Now I'm an experiment? Why don't you just hand me over to the humans?"
Ares snarled. "I would never do that. Those monsters would torture you worse than you could imagine."
I stared at him and wondered if he had been tortured by humans. I almost asked, but knew it would probably just make him angrier. "So, what's the vampire's name that is joining us?"
"Victor."
My throat felt dry again. "Great. Well let's go."
I started walking, and Ares cleared his throat. "You're going the wrong way." I giggled and followed behind him, staring at his muscled back and butt as he walked. I felt proud of myself that I had managed not to stare at his crotch while we were talking. I could hear Koda and Matt whispering behind me, but couldn't understand what they were saying. I tried to ignore them, but curiosity got the better of me.
I turned around, stopping in front of them. "What? What are you two whispering about?"
Koda and Matt stopped walking and stared at me for a full minute. Matt finally sighed. "Love, we would appreciate it if you wouldn't make us tell you."
I growled. "Why? Because Ares is here and would get mad?"
I felt Ares beside me, but didn't look over at him. Matt groaned. "Alright. We wanted to know why it is that you say you have never been with a man before, but you are so comfortable walking around in your bra and with Ares being naked if that's true?"
I stared at them for a minute as I added up what they had said. Why am I so comfortable being in my bra around them? And why am I not blushing with Ares walking naked in front of me? I shook my head. "I...I don't know why I'm comfortable. I mean Ares being naked might be because of our weird connection thingy, but I've never even worn a two-piece bathing suit in front of anyone before. I...I should be embarrassed, but strangely, I'm not."
Ares smiled. "You're probably just adjusting to being around us. Also, wereanimals generally like to wear as little clothing as possible. You know, the whole shapeshifting thing? We lose a lot of clothes the first year because we end up shifting while dressed and human clothes don't fit very well on large wolves."
Koda rolled his eyes. "Tell me about it. I've shredded more jeans than I can count."
I wrapped my arms around my stomach. "Well whatever it is, now you boys have your answer." A blush rushed up my cheeks, and I groaned. "And now I'm properly embarrassed. Can we go?"
Matt smiled. "We didn't want to embarrass you; we were just wondering if you might have been lying to us."
I shook my head. "I'm only eighteen for crying out loud."
Koda laughed. "Shit, eighteen was the beginning of my man-whore days."
Ares groaned. "Don't remind me. You weren't very discreet about it either. I still haven't forgiven you for screwing that girl in my room while I was sleeping in there."
"Ew," I said wrinkling up my nose. "This is why I tried to hide from everyone. Girls are catty and cynical and guys are gross and only think about one thing."
Matt said, "Food."
Ares said, "Hunting."
Koda said, "Fighting."
My mouth gaped open at them for a moment. "Seriously? Sex! All men think about is sex. And obviously Koda is a prime example," I said, pointing towards him.
Koda rolled his eyes. "Don't ask about Ares then."
I looked sideways at Ares and wondered how many women he had slept with.
He is really old. Probably best not to ask.
I shook my head. "Let's go guys. I'm hungry."
Ares smiled. "If you would change, we could take you on a real hunt."
I shook my head. "I'm not going to change."
Ares groaned. "You'll have to change eventually Artemis. Just because you don't change doesn't mean you aren't a werewolf."
"Whatever. I'm not changing yet."
Ares snarled. "You know; I could force you to change."
I snarled. "Don't even try it."
Matt stepped between us. "Calm down. Everyone, calm down. Let's get home and find some food."
Ares stopped snarling and shook his head. "Whoever is messing with us is very powerful. I'll need to speak to Victor right away."
I squatted down in an attack stance as Ares took a step towards me.
He sighed. "Artemis, I promise I am not going to try to change you right now. I just wanted to carry you so that we could get back to the village faster."
I shook my head. "Let Matt carry me if you are telling the truth."
Ares snarled. "Would you rather Matt or Koda carry you than me touch you? If I hadn't come when I had, would I have found you and Koda doing other things?"
I stopped snarling and stared at him, seeing the hurt in his eyes. I straightened and shook my head with my hands on top of my head. "I'm sorry. This isn't like me. You're right, we need to get back soon because this person is screwing with me really bad."
Ares picked me up in his arms and ran without another word. He ran through the thick forest, dodging trees and jumping over fallen logs like it was a flat surface. I enjoyed the feel of his hot naked flesh against my arm and face.
I rubbed my face in the crook of his neck as he ran.
He shivered and slowed down.
I kissed the point where his neck and shoulder met and kissed my way up his neck to his ear. He moaned and grabbed my face with the hand that had been holding my legs. I dropped to the ground and he snarled at me making me lie flat on the ground, waiting for my punishment.
He growled into my ear. "Do not tease me. I understand it is hard to control these emo
tions, especially since you have not had them before. My control is waning though, and I do not want to try to finish what you are starting if that is not what you want. So, stop teasing me and sit still until we get back."
I glanced down his body and saw what he meant about his waning control. I swallowed hard and looked back up at him. "I'm sorry." I leaned up and licked his cheek, short and quick. I gasped and lay back down, shocked by what I had just done.
Ares smiled. "Don't worry, that's a submissive apology that wolves do to each other. It's natural that you would do that to me in this situation." He licked my cheek back and said, "You're forgiven." He stood up and turned to Matt. "You need to carry her. I fear that my control has been extremely diminished."
Matt laughed. "I can see that." Matt walked over and held out his hand to me. "Come on, Love. I'll carry you the rest of the way."
I took his hand and let him help me stand. He picked me up in his arms and ran faster than any of them had carried me before. The wind whipping my hair and face excited me, and I suddenly had the urge to run. I tore his arms away and fell to the ground on my feet. I started running as fast as I could, blowing past Ares and Koda. I yelled in joy and felt a burst of energy and began running even faster.
I could hear Ares, Koda and Matt behind me, but I didn't care about anything except running. It was the freest feeling I had ever experienced. I dodged around the trees, which I could see surprisingly well for how fast I was going. It was more like I could sense them. The night air spilled around me, and I could suddenly smell everything. The birds and small animals in the trees, the three men/wolves behind me and the larger animals a few miles away. I had no idea how I knew everything, but I did.
We ran into the clearing of the village and I gaped. Houses were burned to the ground and the warehouse had a gigantic hole in the side of it big enough to fit a whale in. I ran to what was left of Gregory's house. The living room was now nothing more than a covered patio and the kitchen was completely gone. I screamed, "No!" And ran to where the kitchen used to be. I found the fridge on its back a few feet away and pulled it open. Meat and various other groceries lie on the back of the fridge defrosting. I reached in and grabbed as much meat as possible and pulled it out. I looked around for the microwave and found it under what used to be the kitchen sink. I looked at Matt. "Can you grab that?"
Artemis Lupine- The Complete Series Page 17
