I blushed and tried to step out of his arms. “Ares, don’t tease me.”
He licked my cheek, holding on tightly to me. “I believe I was just saying that to you.”
Ulger parked the car inside the barn and then returned to us, cracking his neck from side to side. “Ready?”
Ares nodded, smiling wide.
I asked, “Ready for what?”
Koda pulled his shirt and pants off, and then dropped to his hands and knees, shifting forms flawlessly in seconds. His wolf form was more beautiful than I remembered. I fought the urge to run my hands through his fur and turned towards Ares, who was taking his shirt off.
I sighed. “Fine, but I’m not changing back until we’re somewhere I can get dressed. I don’t want to parade around naked.”
I took my shirt off slowly, noticing Ares watching me, and folded it nicely on the ground. I slowly pulled my pants off, wriggling my butt excessively.
Ares took a step towards me, and Koda stepped between us, whining and barking.
I stripped my underwear off quickly and changed shapes. It felt good to be a wolf again. My wolf felt ecstatic at being let out and we stretched from head to tail.
Ares sniffed my shoulder and I wagged my tail. Let’s run!
Koda’s tongue lolled out the side of his mouth. Loser has to run around the house naked?
Matt snorted. No one wants to see you run around naked, anymore than we already have to.
Ares whined. Loser has to give the winner a back rub!
We all ran down the dirt road, kicking up dust behind us. My muscles stretched and my blood pumped harder as I ran. The boys were lengths ahead of me when a familiar scent tickled my nose. I jumped into the forest to my right and ran through the trees towards the smell. Mom.
I could hear Ares, Koda, and Matt barking for me, but they could wait. I had to find my mom.
Ares spoke through my head. Where are you going? What’s wrong?
I ran faster trying to follow the scent before it disappeared. My mom’s here. I can smell her.
I jumped over a fallen log and the forest quieted. I strained my ears to listen to Ares’ approaching barks, but not even the wind whispered through my ears. I changed back to human and crossed my arms over my chest. “Hello?”
A bright light darted through the trees, coming towards me. I lifted my arm to cover my eyes and the light dimmed.
A man with pale skin and blue vines etched in his arms and across his chest walked towards me. He wore only a pair of pants and was sleeker muscled than Ares, built more like a runner or swimmer.
I swallowed in fear. “Who are you?”
He spoke and the leaves rustled. “I am Achilles.”
“What are you?” I asked in the silence.
“I’m Sidhe.” The leaves rustled again as he spoke making me shiver involuntarily.
“What do you want? Why are you here?” I asked, growing more and more nervous and wishing Ares was here.
He smiled and held out his hand, his body glowing slightly as though a light was turned on inside of him. “I’m here for you. I’m your fiancée and I’m here to take you,” he said in a soothing voice.
Ares touched my shoulder and the sounds of the forest crashed into my ears deafening me. I dropped to the ground covering my ears with my hands and moaning in pain. Ares voice boomed like thunder, “You’re not taking her anywhere!”
Chapter Two
My ears still rang as I knelt on the ground beside Ares. Koda and Matt finally found us and moved to stand behind Ares in protective stances.
“What are you doing here, Sidhe?” Ares asked between clenched teeth. I’d never seen him so mad before. His hands were balled into fists at his sides as he glared at Achilles.
Achilles glanced from Ares to me. “What is this?”
My ears finally stopped ringing, so I stood up, slightly behind Ares, and placed my hand on his shoulder. The skin to skin contact allowed some of his power to seep in and heal the damage to my ears. “It’s alright, Ares. He hasn’t hurt me,” I said softly.
Ares’ fists loosened and he grabbed one of my hands in his. I could feel his anger and worry as if they were my own. Koda whispered, “Ares.”
Ares looked at my face and exhaled. The anger and worry disappeared, allowing me to breathe. When had I stopped breathing?
“I’m sorry,” Ares said softly to me.
I kissed his cheek. “It’s alright.”
Achilles began glowing again and he clenched his teeth as he said, “Do not touch him.”
I glared at Achilles. “I don’t know who you are, but I’m not in the mood. State your business.”
Achilles’ eyes widened in shock for a moment, but he quickly recovered. “Artemis, I’d appreciate it if you would step away from Ares.”
Ares growled. “Not going to happen. State your business.”
Achilles stopped glowing and rubbed his temples, looking weary. “Of all of the werewolves in the world, why did it have to be you protecting her?”
I looked Achilles over while he was babbling and felt a smile tug up the corner of my lips. He was incredibly handsome, very close in competition for most handsome with Ares. Achilles’ blue vines were beautiful and throbbed like veins. His face looked familiar, but I couldn’t remember where…
Achilles spoke, interrupting my thoughts. “Artemis, I’ve come for you. You’re mine.”
I looked at him and then at Ares. “There’s a lot of that going around lately. Why do you think I am yours?”
He smiled making my knees wobbly. “You’re my fiancée. You were betrothed to me at birth.”
I shook my head. “I can’t be your fiancée. I already have a mate.”
Achilles glared at Ares. “Mate? She’s your mate?!”
Ares smirked. “She’s my passt genau.”
Achilles shook his head. “You’re lying. You just don’t want to give her to me.”
Ares snarled and his anger returned. “She’s my match, Achilles. She’s my mate. She’s MINE!”
Why was he so easily upset by this Sidhe?
Achilles narrowed his eyes. “I will not give her up simply because she’s your match! I was promised the first of her mother’s children. I’ve waited seven hundred years for her and I will not just let you have her.”
Ares rubbed his face, and his anger dissipated just as quickly as it had come. “I don’t want to start a war between us, but if neither of us is willing to give her up, what do you suggest we do?”
“I do not have any suggestions as of yet, but we may be able to come up with something,” Achilles said softly.
Ares looked at me. “Do you have any ideas?”
I laughed loudly. “Me? I just met this guy, the first of my mother’s kind, and he tells me I’m his fiancée, but how can that be since I’m already yours? He says he won’t give me up, yet he doesn’t have me. What do you want me to say? Kill him? No, we can’t do that because for some reason that would start a war. Give me to him? Hell no! No offense, Achilles, but I love Ares and my pack. I’m not going anywhere. So, I have no ideas.”
Matt spoke for the first time, making me jump. “Maybe you could cut her in half, like that story of the children fighting over the doll?”
Ares growled at Matt, who raised his hands in the air and took a step back with his head lowered submissively. “I was just kidding.”
Ares closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm himself. “Artemis, don’t worry. Achilles is the Prince of the Sidhe, so a war won’t start, unless we tried to kill him, which we won’t. Let’s get to the village and we’ll discuss it more there.”
Matt growled and asked, “How do we know he’s telling the truth?”
Achilles looked insulted. “I’m not a pixie, and I wouldn’t lie about this. Besides, I didn’t know she was Ares’ match or mate.”
I held up my hands. “Stop. Can we please just get to the village? I’m hungry.”
Achilles nodded. “Alright. How far is it? Shoul
d I fly?”
I gasped. “You can fly?!”
He frowned and looked at me as though I’d asked what a nose was. “Of course I can fly. You should be able to as well. Though, I suppose it depends on how strong your wolf is.”
He was looking over my body, which made me realize that I was naked. A blush rushed to my cheeks instantaneously. “Enough talk. Let’s go,” I said as I tried to hide my embarrassment.
Achilles laughed. “She blushes? How endearing.”
Ares, Koda, and Matt started running towards the village, leaving me and Achilles to catch up with them. Achilles ran beside me, watching me closely. I tried to ignore his stare, but my body began itching. I turned to him and was about to ask what his problem was when a tree appeared in front of me. I tried to stop, but couldn't slow down. At the last second, I dodged to the right.
"The trees are very interested in you," Achilles said from beside me.
"What do you mean?"
"The trees are alive, Artemis. That one that you almost hit was determined to get closer to you. I have not seen one do that in quite a while."
I groaned. "Great, now trees are out to get me. Why does my life have to be so strange? A few days ago, I was just another teenage human going to school and worrying about boys. Now I'm a half-werewolf, half-fairy, Sidhe, thing that is the mate of the Prince of the Werewolves and engaged or whatever to the Prince of the Sidhe. And now trees have decided they find me interesting. I would ask if it could get weirder, but I'm betting so."
We reached a clearing, and Ares growled at us in his wolf form. I dropped to my hands and knees and changed forms, rushing over to him and rubbing my head against his chest.
Don’t let him touch you. Ares whispered through my mind.
Matt and Koda, also in their wolf forms, came to stand beside us. Darius, King of the Werewolves and the most frightening man I’ve ever met, walked towards us from around the side of a nearby house. The presence of him rose my hackles and made me back up underneath Ares until my head was below his chest and his body completely hid mine from sight.
Ares cocked his head to the side and looked at me questioningly, but Darius spoke, making him look away from me. “What is he doing here?” The hate was evident in Darius’ voice as well as his defensive posture.
Ares looked at Darius intently for a moment and then Darius snarled. “You should have told me that he was coming with you.”
Ares’ body was completely still as he looked at Darius. I realized after a moment that he was communicating with Darius telepathically.
“Fine. Come meet with me in an hour,” Darius said angrily before walking away from us.
You can come out now. Ares said to me.
I crawled out from under him and sat on my haunches. He scares me.
Ares sat beside me. You don’t have to be scared of him. He wouldn’t dare hurt you now that you’re my mate.
Now? I asked in shock.
Achilles spoke softly, “Could you please stop communicating in wolf form? It’s rude.”
Matt growled softly at Achilles, his lips pulled back in a threatening snarl. Ares grunted, and Matt stopped, but I could still see the hate in Matt’s eyes as he stared at Achilles. Ares nodded once and started walking. I followed close to Ares’ side as we made our way through the town of log cabins. Men and women looked at us from the porches and from windows. Koda stayed close by my other side, scanning the houses as we passed them. Matt walked behind us with Achilles behind him.
We continued down the dirt road and past shops selling clothes and food. A small group of children stood outside one shop with ice cream cones. I stopped and stared at the cluster of toddlers and elementary-aged kids. Children? I mean, I knew they had children. I’d seen the ones at the first werewolf village I’d been to, but so many young ones, just walking around?
Did Ares want children? Would he want me to have a child? A werewolf child?
Artemis?
I looked at Ares and shook my head. Nothing.
He looked towards the kids and lifted his lips in a wolfish grin. Yes, we do have children here, just like at the other village.
I moved away from him. Can we just get to wherever it is that we’re going? I want to change.
Ares shut his mouth and looked upset, his tail tight against his body. Alright.
He led the way in silence as we passed more houses and more people. I couldn’t believe there were so many werewolves in one place. If the humans knew about this, it would be chaos. Of course, with the preternaturals taking over the world, the humans already had plenty of chaos to deal with. Ares finally stopped at a two-story log cabin with a wraparound porch on both floors. It was beautiful, warm and inviting.
Ares changed forms and signaled for me to do the same. Koda and Matt changed forms and walked into the house without looking back at me. Achilles stepped onto the porch and spoke to Ares over his shoulder, “I’ll wait inside.”
Ares watched him walk inside with a fierce look on his face. He turned to me and his face softened. “Come on, Artemis.”
I closed my eyes and pictured my human body. My body rippled, and I stood up in my human form. It still amazed me how easy it was to switch between forms. It also made me wish that I’d known about it sooner.
“Welcome to Lyngvi,” Ares said.
“Lyngvi?”
Ares nodded. “That’s the name of this town.”
He picked me up in his arms and started walking up the stairs. “Ares!” I gasped.
He smiled and stopped in front of the door. “I want to carry you over the threshold.”
“We’re not married.” The words left my mouth before I thought of the repercussions.
Ares’ smile vanished and he looked at my face with pain pinching the corner of his eyes. “Artemis, you’re my mate. That means we’re married. How many times do we have to go over this?”
I had to fix the pain I’d caused him. I took a minute to plan out what to say before starting. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant that taking me over the threshold is only done when humans get married.”
“This is my house, well ours now. You accepted my last name, ‘Lupine’, like a human married couple would have. Why can’t you accept this?”
“Alright. You win. Take me into our house,” I said quietly.
He kissed my cheek and smiled victoriously. “I always win.”
He stepped over the threshold and then ran up the stairs, to the right and into a bedroom. He set me down on my feet slowly just inside the door. A large bed with luscious purple silk sheets took up most of the bedroom. A door across the room led to the bathroom with his and her sinks. A second door to the left led into a walk-in closet. The room was so welcoming and warm, that I instantly felt safe. I walked to the bed and ran my hand along the sheets. “It’s beautiful.”
He was still standing in the doorway, but was smiling, the full smile he so rarely wore. “I had the sheets sent from Paris specifically for you.”
He started to walk into the bedroom when someone called from downstairs, “Ares.”
Ares sighed loudly. “He’s going to be a pest.”
I walked quickly to him, feeling his irritation. “Ares, I love you and…”
Ares shook his head and kissed my lips, stopping me from continuing. “Don’t worry, Artemis. It’ll be fine.” He rested his hand against my face and gave me his full smile again. “You’re so beautiful.”
A blush covered my cheeks, which made him laugh. He kissed my cheek and then yelled, “Koda!”
Koda bounded up the stairs, taking them two at a time. He stopped at the door. “You rang?”
Ares stepped away from me slowly and stared at Koda. “You’ve been reassigned.”
Koda’s eyes widened and his voice rose a few notches higher. “What? You’re reassigning me! What did I do?”
Ares placed a hand on Koda’s shoulder and smiled reassuringly. “Brother, calm down. I’m reassigning you to be Artemis’ guard.�
�
Koda exhaled and put a hand against his chest. “Oh, thank the Mother. I thought you were kicking me out of the pack!”
Ares shook his head. “I couldn’t kick you out of the pack. Besides, I trust only a few with her. Guard her while I speak to Achilles.”
Ares kissed my cheek one more time and then walked quickly down the stairs. I watched his naked backside as he took the stairs. Koda cleared this throat. “Earth to Artemis.”
I blushed again. “Sorry, Koda.”
He walked into the bedroom and hopped up onto the bed. “They’re going to be talking for a while.”
“Why does Ares hate Achilles so much?” I asked as I sat down next to Koda on the bed.
Koda leaned back against the pillows and headboard. “That is a long story that Ares is better to tell you. I’m not trying to hide anything from you, but there’s a lot to the story that I don’t know.”
“Is he bad?”
Koda laughed. “Bad? Well, it depends…he’s not evil, if that’s what you mean.”
“What do you think they’re going to decide?” I asked as I leaned back against the pillows next to Koda. His closeness was comforting, his scent, a mix of wolf and forest, was relaxing.
“I don’t know,” Koda said honestly. Koda stood up off of the bed and walked through the door that led into the closet. “You seem to be adjusting quickly,” Koda said from inside the closet.
I looked down at my naked body and shrugged. “It just seems natural. I mean, I’m not going to walk around town naked or anything, but you, Matt and Ares are going to be seeing me naked a lot and, well, I just feel different now. It’s like the connection with Ares has made me more mature in some ways. I’m not saying I’m completely mature, but in some aspects, I think I am. I don’t know, you probably think I’m being ridiculous.”
Koda walked out of the closet and tossed me a fluffy white robe. “I don’t think you’re being ridiculous. I think you’re right. It may be your connection, or it may just be Ares.”
I raised an eyebrow at him as I slipped the soft robe on. “Ares?”
“An alpha male has an intense effect on those of his pack. The alpha who cares for you after your first change, shapes you. Ares is a supreme being. He’s kind, loyal, sympathetic and good. Sure, he can be intense, angry and scary at times, but overall he’s smart and level-headed and very mature.”
Artemis Lupine- The Complete Series Page 30
