Artemis Lupine- The Complete Series

by Catherine Banks

  Selene was average height and build for a woman, but the incredible amount of power she possessed made her seem bigger and more intimidating. She had black hair that looked like it was streaked with blue in the sun and the deepest brown eyes I had ever seen.

  She stood up from my bed where she had been sitting and placed her hand on my face. I closed my eyes as she closed hers and then she chanted magic words, which weaved a spell to replay the day’s events in our heads for her to see.

  Selene removed her hand and gasped as the last image of Blu diving into the lake finished. “No. No it cannot be true,” she said in disbelief as she stepped back from me.

  I fell onto my bed, tired from the changes and the magic which had been used against me. “What is it? Who is he to me? Is he really my mate?”

  She shook her head, refusing to answer and then hurried from my room, closing the door behind her. The pain was intensifying so I closed my eyes and let myself sleep in an effort to try to heal myself.

  “Chandra. Chandra, wake up! You’re going to miss story time!” a young female yelled at me from beside the bed.

  I opened one eye and looked at the seven-year-old girl standing with her hands on her hips beside me. She was small for her age, but what she lacked in height she made up for in attitude.

  Once I had been rehabilitated, Selene decided that helping children find their powers would help calm the anger and despair that she insisted surrounded me. So, I taught the younger witches and the young girl in front of me, Juliana, was one of my favorite students.

  I showered and dressed quickly so as not to keep the impatient child waiting too long. When done, Juliana grabbed my hand and dragged me down the stairs to one of the common rooms already filled with witches. This room was carpeted with soft blue shag ideal for lounging on. Many of the older witches smiled and bowed respectfully to me. I returned the salute and then sat down among the young children who crowded closer as I situated myself on the floor.

  It’d been a long time since I’d come out of my room without my talisman on and many of the children ran their fingertips along the designs on my arms. I relaxed as their touch soothed the pack animal within me, but another part of me felt like a wire pulled taut. Somehow, I knew that this feeling wouldn’t subside until I was near the werewolf prince again.

  Selene stepped out in front of the room and the crowd instantly hushed their chatter. She sat in her chair with her head in her hands. “We will not be having story time tonight,” she said softly. The children groaned and the adults looked at each other nervously. Selene began talking again and everyone silenced to hear her. “I am calling an emergency council of all fully realized witches to begin immediately. Jessica will be in charge of the teens and the children. Jessica, please take them to their rooms now. Everyone else please pick up a chair and form a semi-circle facing me.”

  I reassured the children and then grabbed a chair from the stack in the back. I started to set my chair beside one of the other witches, but Selene looked up at me and ordered, “Sit in the center, Chandra.”

  I swallowed the fear I felt and set my chair in the center. I waited until all of the other witches were seated before taking mine. I could feel the nervous energy around me and heard it in the shifting of chairs and the quickened breath of the witches.

  “I have seen something which I need verified. I have seen something which may tell Chandra her true identity. The problem we are facing is Chandra herself.”

  I stared at Selene in shock. “Me? I’m a problem?”

  Selene smiled. “Your powers are the problem. I think, as a group, we may be able to help you suppress your powers long enough to find your true self, but I am not certain.”

  “What about the dragons?” asked Angelina, one of the witches of whom I was most fond.

  Every eye turned to me and I forced myself not to fidget. “Draco-Blu left earlier to speak to the dragon council and see if they would allow me an audience.”

  Selene tapped her chin with one long finger. “I’d like to hear all of your thoughts. My fear is that if we try and fail, we may permanently injure Chandra or ourselves. However, the dragons are a much older and much more powerful race and may be able to do it.”

  “Do you have her real name?” asked Silvia.

  Selene avoided looking at me and simply nodded. “I have her first name.”

  I stared at her in utter disbelief. “You know my first name? My true first name?!” I asked, glaring at her.

  She looked at me and licked her lips nervously. “Yes. I have not revealed it to you for fear of harming you. If you learned your true first name, but could not uncover the rest of your name on your own, it could destroy you.”

  “That’s ridiculous!” I yelled, my hands forming fists.

  “She’s right,” said the softest spoken witch in the coven, Mauve. “If you hear your first name and accept it as true, but cannot uncover the rest of it, the memories of your past could overwhelm you and cause you to go into a coma.”

  Every witch looked down at their hands in silence. I’d heard about the story of Mauve’s sister, but hadn’t believed it was true. Until now.

  I looked at Selene. “What about the prince? Can’t he help me?”

  Selene sighed. “I do not know whether the prince is who he says he is or not and even if he is, I have no way of knowing if he is strong enough to assist you.”

  “So, either I have the prince and the coven help or the dragons?”

  Selene shook her head. “The dragons will need the prince to help them as well. So, either the coven or the dragons will help you and the prince.”

  “Which prince?” asked Silvia.

  “The werewolf one,” I said quietly. “I forget his name.”

  Silvia opened her mouth and Selene placed a silencing spell on her before Silvia had uttered the first syllable. “No one is to reveal his name!” The room quaked with Selene’s command and all of the gathered witches bowed in submission.

  I stood up against her power and glared at her. “This is ridiculous! I want to know who I am and who he is! I’ve been alone for too long! I can’t stand it anymore, Selene!”

  “You won’t have to,” said a quiet male voice.

  I’d never seen so many witches use the same spell so quickly. Before I’d even turned toward the voice, the speaker was off the ground and imprisoned in an invisible grip in the air. He was handsome, looked to be in his early twenties with black skin and white patterns down his arms. I could guess what he was instantly, but held my tongue until I knew for sure.

  Selene walked towards the intruder slowly, her skin sparkling with magic. “Who are you and how did you get into my coven unnoticed?”

  The intruder smiled. “I am a friend of those who have been looking for the woman you are protecting. I have come to offer her solace from the pain of loneliness that she has been enduring, until such a time as she can be reunited with her rightful pack.”

  Selene nodded and all of the witches released their spells and allowed the man to drop to the ground. He landed on his feet as though they’d dropped him one foot instead of twelve. “Come, we shall speak in my office,” Selene said softly.

  The man bowed his head respectfully and then walked slowly towards me. I inhaled, and my body quivered in excitement. He stopped in front of me, towering over me at more than six feet tall, and inhaled loudly. “What do they call you?” he asked.

  I smiled up at him and inhaled again. “Chandra.”

  He looked into my eyes and asked, “Are you alright, Chandra?”

  I kept eye contact, refusing to accept him as dominant over me. “I am better with your presence. What is your name?”

  He dropped eye contact and recognized me as dominant. “My name is Theseus. I will return as soon as I am done speaking to your coven leader. Can you wait that long for a run?”

  The scent of his wolf was stronger the longer he stood by me. I opened my mouth a little wider to catch more of his scent. “Yes, I will prep
are myself mentally while you are speaking to Selene.”

  He smiled happily and followed Selene to her room. I dropped to my knees on the ground, smiling happily. A halfbreed wolf! I’d never thought I’d find another halfbreed wolf.

  It was strange that I wasn’t interested in him. Why wasn’t I? He was attractive, yet I wasn’t intrigued by him in any other way than for a pack mate and for our similar lineage.

  Silvia dropped down next to me and looked in my eyes. “Are you alright, dear? Did he hurt you?”

  I laughed and shook my head. “No.” I looked up at all of the concerned faces of the witches around me. “You don’t know?”

  They all frowned in confusion. Silvia asked, “Don’t know what?”

  I smiled. Of course, they didn’t know they couldn’t smell him like I could. “He’s a halfbreed wolf like me. He’s the same mixture as me.”

  They all looked at me in shock as what I said absorbed and then they all started asking me questions at once. I raised my hand and silenced them. “I don’t want to talk about it. I know what he is because I can smell it and feel it. If you want to know more, ask Selene.” I stood up and hurried to my room before they could ask me any other questions.

  I was finally going to run with another wolf! I brushed my hair until not a single knot could be found and then sat on the floor to meditate and calm my nerves. He wouldn’t appreciate it if I bit his head off when I changed.

  Just as I calmed myself enough to relax, someone knocked on my door. “Come in,” I said softly.

  Selene stepped into the room and closed the door behind her. “What he says is true,” she stated simply, “He was sent here to be a companion for you until such a time as we can figure out who you really are. He is waiting out in the garden for you.”

  Standing up slowly, I watched Selene. She was hiding something. “What else did he say?”

  She sighed. “He told me what he knew of your past and if what he says is true, you’re in more danger than I originally thought. I hope Draco-Blu comes for you soon.”

  I followed her out of the room and out of the main building. “You are afraid. For me or the coven?” I asked.

  She smiled at me. “Your ability to read me is a testament to the amount of time we have spent together. I am afraid for both. If you are who he says, the vampires will stop at nothing to get you before your true mate does. The vampires are powerful and I’d prefer they not view me as a threat.”

  “I will stay within our boundaries until Blu returns,” I promised as Theseus came into sight.

  Selene smiled. “Go on. Enjoy your run and your new friend.”

  I hugged her once and then changed forms before running to him. He was twice my size and a dark red color. Are you ready for our run? He asked through my mind.

  I bobbed my muzzle up and down. Yes, but we must stay within the boundaries of the coven.

  He sneezed. As if you needed to tell me the dangers out there.

  Before I could ask what he meant, he took off at a full run. I yipped excitedly and chased after him. I pounced on top of him, knocking him to the ground. He rolled and jumped at me, but I dashed out of his reach and then dashed back to nip at his tail. He growled and snapped at me, but I was already ten feet away with my front half down on the ground and my bottom half up in the air. I wagged my tail happily. You’re pretty slow for a halfbreed.

  He lifted his lips in a wolf smile. I haven’t shown you my true speed yet. I’ve just been letting you enjoy yourself.

  Likewise.

  His back paws dug into the ground as he prepared to charge me, and I sprang forward, darting right past him and nipping his flank before circling him and returning to my original spot. In truth, I had no idea how fast other werewolves or halfbreed wolves were since I’d never been around them, but I knew I was fast.

  In a blink of an eye he dashed forward and nipped my flank. I spun around, but he was behind me again and nipped my tail. It was time not to hold back anymore. I followed his movements and then leapt up and over him when he tried to nip me again. He slid as he tried to stop and then I smacked into his side, slamming him to the ground and stood over him. You’re fast, but not fast enough. I darted away and yipped happily. Catch me if you can!

  For two hours, we ran and played in wolf form, stopping only to drink from a shallow stream which wound its way through the center of the coven’s property. I watched the fish swimming through it, going with the flow of the current and wished for a free life to swim where I wanted.

  After I had quelled the burning in my throat from our vigorous play I took off running again, but the beat of wings and the pressure of wind alerted me to the presence of a dragon.

  “Run, Chandra!” yelled Fira, Blu’s son.

  I spun around just as Fira gripped Theseus in one of his front red claws. I changed forms in less than a second and shot Fira in the nose with my fire, stopping him just as he was preparing to toast Theseus. Fira dropped Theseus, and I ran forward to catch him, but he changed forms and released his wings just in time to soften his landing.

  Fira roared at me. “Why did you do that?!”

  “He is a friend, Fira, not an attacker. Besides, my fire does not hurt dragons so stop acting like I’ve harmed you.”

  Fira dropped to the ground and shook out his body. “No, your Sidhe fire does not harm us, but it is never pleasant to have unfamiliar fire touch your body.”

  “I had to stop you from killing him. Thank you for your protection and concern, but Theseus here is a friend.”

  Fira looked at Theseus a moment and then snorted. “A wolf-Sidhe halfbreed like you, Chandra. How interesting.”

  Theseus looked from me to the dragon and then back at me. “You know dragons?”

  Fira dropped his head and allowed me to pet him. “Yes. I am friends with the dragons. Well, at least Draco-Blu and Fira here are my friends,” I answered.

  Theseus started towards me, but Fira growled.

  “I do not trust him, Chandra,” Theseus said.

  I stopped petting Fira and looked at Theseus. “I do not care if you trust him or not. Fira is my friend and has been protecting me for the past several years. You will have to learn to accept the dragons or you will have to leave.”

  Theseus gaped at me. “You would send me away? You would live in solitude again?”

  I shuddered and whispered, “I would not like it, but I love the dragons and I will not dishonor their protection of me just for companionship. Besides, you are only coming to me now while they have been protecting me for a decade. Who would you trust more?”

  Fira yawned. “I need to return to the nest. Will you be alright for tonight?”

  I nodded and placed a kiss on the tip of his nose. “Thank you, my friend.”

  Fira growled once more at Theseus and then took to the sky. I watched him, longing to fly with him and then turned to Theseus who was watching me with an intense curiosity. “I am sorry if I offended you,” I said softly.

  Theseus smiled and then wrapped his arms around me in a hug. “You are loyal, which is a wonderful quality, especially in these dark times.”

  I relaxed into his hold and inhaled his scent loudly.

  “Well, isn’t this cute? Two halfbreeds comforting each other,” snarled a menacing voice.

  I spun around and growled at the vampire standing before me. “How did you get in here?” I cast a Monitum spell, which created a butterfly that flew to Selene to notify her that I was in trouble and quickly moved back from the vampire, pushing Theseus backwards with me.

  “I have my ways, female. So, you found her at last, did you Theseus?”

  Theseus growled. “You know that I have to kill you now, right? I can’t let you report back to Maurice.”

  The name Maurice sounded familiar and a headache began in the front of my skull. I rubbed at it and took a step back, hiding slightly behind Theseus instead of standing protectively in front of him as I had been.

  I felt Selene’s presence growing cl
oser and hoped she would be there in time.

  “Has she found herself yet?” the vampire asked.

  “It seems we are all full of discoveries tonight. One of which is that I have a break in my barrier,” said Selene as she finally arrived. The vampire hissed at Selene, but she only laughed and said, “Oh, you poor stupid vampire. Did you really think you could come into my coven and threaten one of my sisters? I think your kind has grown cocky.” She raised her hands and then sunlight covered the vampire. He screamed once and then disintegrated into ash.

  Theseus gasped and stared at the pile of ash. “I’ve never seen that spell before.”

  Selene smiled and put her arm around my shoulders. “Chandra discovered it.” She looked at my pinched face and her smile disappeared. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  “My head hurts,” I said softly.

  Selene looked at Theseus. “You swore you wouldn’t reveal anyone’s name!”

  He swallowed. “I did not mean to. It was a name I thought she would have heard already.”

  Selene looked at him. “Who?”

  “The vampire king,” he said softly.

  “Maurice,” I whispered and then screamed in pain as my head throbbed and an image of a large winery in some foreign place and a handsome man whose smile was pure evil clouded my vision. “Why does it hurt when I say his name?”

  Selene placed her hands on my head and started chanting. Theseus picked my hand up in his and then placed his wrist under my nose to distract my senses. Ten minutes later the pain was finally gone. Selene glared at Theseus. “You will remember next time. We cannot afford to lose her nor have her powers released.”

  Theseus bowed. “I apologize. I will remember.”

  Selene walked briskly away without looking back. I started to stand, but Theseus picked me up instead. I looked at his face and frowned. “You look familiar, like I’ve met you before.”

  He shook his head. “That’s not possible.”

  “Maybe I know a relative of yours then?”

  Theseus shrugged. “Perhaps.”