Artemis 

The sudden clap of thunder shook me from my slumber the following morning. Shooting up from my bed I slowed down my heart and stared out the window. Watching as the rain began to hit the window. 

I got up from my bed and walked over to the window, look up at the clouds, I could tell there would be a storm coming. 

Turning away from the window I tightened my grip on my sweater sleeve and bit my bottom lip. 

I hated the rain. 

I hated the crackle of lightning. 

I hated the shakes of the thunder. 

It was as if the heavens were giving a reminder of their power. But I guess it was also my own. 

One that I could never use. Ever again. 

Shaking the memory from my thoughts I went to the bathroom and freshened up before heading downstairs. 

As soon as I opened my door I could hear shouting from downstairs. I recognized that bickering from anywhere. Letting out a sigh, I quickly pulled my hair into a messy bun with the hair tie I had on my wrist. 

I decided to stay at the top stairs to hear what the argument was about before going down.

"What the hell's your problem Apollo?" I could hear Athena shout. 

"What do you mean what's my problem you're the one with the problem," Apollo yelled back.

"You're so annoying just let me sit there. There's a perfectly empty seat next to your Mate so I don't know why you don't just sit there" Athena growled out. 

"This seat has the best view of her" Apollo said smugly. 

"Apollo move from the damn seat. Now." Athena said sternly. 

"Make me." I heard Apollo challenge. 

I went down a few steps so I could see the full situation. 

The table had been set for breakfast and some pack members, along with Serena and Franco were seated around the table. 

It appeared that Apollo chose to take the only seat available next to Ezra, when there was in fact an empty seat next to Serena. 

The people around the table visibly sank lower in their seats, watching the two dominant wolves stare each other down. All waited for one of them to make the first move. 

It would be Athena. She was never one to wait. 

'I should stop this.' I thought. But before I could go down the rest of the steps, Athena quickly picked up the pitcher of orange juice that was sitting on the table and dumped it on Apollo's head. 

He was drenched. Pulp now covered his hair and fresh-cut orange slices slid slowly down his face. 

I stifled a laugh. 

Athena just stood over him with a satisfied smirk as gasp echoed across the table.

Apollo glared up at Athena. "You're done for," Apollo said with a deep voice. 

Apollo quickly stuck his hand in the bowl that was next to him and pulled out a glob that looked like oatmeal, smearing it all over Athenas face. 

'Yup I'll stop this now' I thought as I walked down the rest of the stairs making my presence known. 

Athena looked ready to pounce and Apollo was now standing looking down at her ready for her to make her next move. 

"That's enough," I stated firmly. 

Everyone's eyes shifted to me. Except for Athena and Apollo who continued to stare each other down. Bad idea ignoring me.

I walked up to them and grabbed both of their ears. 

"I thought I told you two to handle this yesterday now I have to take it into my own hands," I said with annoyance laced in my voice. 

"Art-" Both began. 

But the time for talking was over. 

"I told you two we are guests here now you have them thinking we're crazy. So since you two wanna fight so much take it outside! I call Muddy Mary." I whispered harshly into their ears. 

I dragged the two to the back door that was in the kitchen. Opening the door quickly I pushed them outside having them fall into the mud that had formed from the rain that had now begun to pour down harder.  

The snow from the day before had melted and only left the chilling breeze in its departure. The backyard was a fighting area for training, Serena had shown us yesterday. The ground was clear of grass leaving only a muddy layout, perfect for this fight.

"Go ahead you know the rules!" I shouted from the pouch.  

Everyone from the table was either watching from the window inside or on the porch with me. 

Serena, Franco, and Ezra stood next to me, all carrying worried expressions. 

"Are they about to fight?" Serena asked me with concern in her eyes. 

"Haha don't worry about them, some times they need to blow off some steam," I said folding my arms. 

"They're just gonna be throwing mud at each other not actual punches. A few trips, slips, and tackles will do them some good. The only catch is they have to have a question, answer, or reason behind every throw." I explained as they looked at me confused. 

I chuckled "Just watch." I said turning my head to see the two both get up from the ground. 

"Come at me Sis" Apollo taunted. 

Athena suddenly let out a war cry and charged at Apollo, tackling him down into the mud. 

She quickly grabbed a pile of mud and rubbed it right into Apollo's face. 

"Why do you have a problem with Ezra?"Athena asked smearing the mud deeper into Apollo's face. 

She was quickly flipped so she was under Apollo. 

"Because you don't need someone else in your life that will just disappoint you in the long run!"  Apollo yelled running mud throughout her hair. 

Athena pushed Apollo's chest but he didn't budge. 

"Bullshit Apollo! Why do you want me to be so dependant on you? I'm not that little girl you had to look after any more! I can make my own decisions!" Athena shouted slapping a mound of mud on his head. 

She tried to crawl from under him, turning on her stomach, but as she began to get up Apollo grabbed her ankle dragging her face right back into the mud. 

 "You're still my baby sister! I'm responsible for you! I'm here to protect you! Why can't you see that?!" Apollo yelled out, stand up still holding her ankle. 

Athena twisted her ankle, making Apollo lose his grip, causing her to be on her back again. After freeing her ankle she quickly swept Apollo's legs causing him to fall on his butt. Athena stood up and hovered over him. 

"Is that all I am to you? A chore?" Athena began to laugh. I could see the tears beginning to spill from her eyes. 

"Athe-" Apollo began to speak, reaching his hand up to Athena but Athena cut him off. 

"Why do you think its fair that I get to feel like shit while you fool around with your damn Mate and forget about me? Then the one time I try to find happiness for myself you want to take that away from me?! I don't understand Apollo!" Athena shouted running her hands through her muddy hair. 

"So that's your problem with Serena?... I think all of this" Apollo gestured to the messy field and their muddy attire. "is proof that I always see you, Athena." 

Apollo stood up and looked down at Athena staring at him, with tears slowly running down her cheeks only to be mixed in with the rain and mud.

"No, I don't see you as a chore. I see you as my baby sister that I had to sing to sleep every night because you thought the monster behind that damn red door would come out to get you too." He said pushing his messy hair out of his face.

" I see you as the girl that would cry because the kids at school never wanted to talk to you because you were the socially awkward girl with crazy red hair."  He said gesturing to her dirty red locks.

"I see you as the girl that closed off her emotions from the world because she thought no one would understand her anyway." He said walking up to her and grabbing her hand. 

"Look I'm sorry for overreacting. I know I have no control over who you want to hang out with, but I won't apologize for looking out for you. Because Athena I will always be there for you, and that's a promise."  Apollo said rubbing the mud and tears from her cheeks. 

"I-i knows Apollo, but you have to trust that I can make decisions on my own. You can't protect me from everything." Athena said with a shaky voice. 

Apollo let out a chuckle "Hmph that's what you think."

Athena gave him a glare. 

He scratched his head sheepishly "Well I can always try." 

Athena laughed and punched his shoulder. "You're an idiot" 

"Maybe but you should really try getting to know Serena, I think you two would have a lot in common," Apollo said. 

"Psh me having something in common with that Princess?" Athena said crossing her arms. 

It was Apollo's turn to glare. 

"I'm kidding I'm sure she's great, she's your Mate after all," Athena said, holding her hands up defensively. 

"You better believe it you punk," Apollo said grabbing her head and giving her a noogie. 

I smiled to myself and laughed. "I'm glad you losers finally made up. Gosh, y'all give me a headache" I shouted from the porch. 

I saw the two of them look at each other and before I knew it a glob of mud hit my chest. 

Everyone on the porch gasped. I could hear a few try and hide a laugh. 

"Hey, Sis I just didn't want to leave you out of the fun!" Apollo shouted at me as Athena laughed beside him. 

I let out a chuckle and took the mud from my shirt. "Now you've done it," I said running off the porch and out into the rain.  

"Don't try to run now!" I shouted as they tried to run away from me. 

I successfully jumped onto Apollos back, taking him down to the ground. 

"Apollo!" Athena dramatically screamed as she turned around to face us. 

"Go its too late for me," Apollo said breathlessly. 

Just when I was about to drop a butt load of mud on Apollo's head, something hit my back. 

"Sorry, Artemis but I can't let you do that to my Mate." I heard the voice behind me say. 

I dramatically turned around slowly to see Serena with a muddy hand. 

Sure enough, Apollo flipped me off of him and we began to wrestle on the ground. 

Finally untangling myself from him I saw that Franco and Ezra joined the fun. 

I snuck behind Franco before he could strike his sister and pushed him on the ground. I laughed as he turned to look at me with a muddy face. 

I then heard a scream and quickly turned my head to the sound. Only to see that Ezra had picked up Athena. She was laughing and squirming her legs to break free. 

Soon enough we all began to chicken fight with Serena on Apollo's shoulders, Athena on Ezra's shoulders, and me on Franco's. 

We tried to wrestle each other to the ground while trying not to fall off the guy's shoulders from laughing too hard. 

The rain had slowed to a drizzle now and the sun had begun to show from behind the clouds. 

We were having the best time acting like children playing in the mud on a rainy day. 

It was only when I caught the scent of lotus and chocolate everything froze. The rain stopped and I stopped wrestling Athena.

Losing my train of thought I began to fall backward's, off of Franco's shoulders. He quickly shifted and grabbed my arm before I fell on the ground. 

That was until a voice boomed throughout the backyard making Franco drop me on the ground. 

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON BACK HERE!!??" A voice so slick and deep yelled. 

"Alpha..." I heard Franco say straightening his posture. 

'Alpha?' I thought as I slowly stood up and turned around. 

I could hear Franco begin to ramble,  trying to explain the situation, but his voice slowly became muffled when I caught sight of Him. 

He stood there on the porch staring right into my eyes. The sun seemed to recognize his beauty as it hit him perfectly, showing off the brown highlights throughout his short cut, curly, black hair. His complexion radiated a milky brown, his button-down blue shirt fit nicely as I could see his muscles hidden beneath the fabric. 

I felt myself walking closer to him. I needed to get a closer look. Even if it was only for a second. 

I was then face to face with him. 

He smiled. Making my knees shake. If his smile wasn't enchanting enough the two dimples that presented themselves on each cheek were enough to make me want to jump on him right then and there. 

His dark gray eyes gleamed with joy as he looked down at me making the speaks of black and white in them shine like a gem. 

It took a moment for either of us to speak but when he did I felt my heart warm and my stomach fill with butterflies. 

"Hello, I'm Aaron Celest. It's nice to meet you...Mate." He said with a cheeky smile. 

He looked like a schoolboy that was first to the monkey bars. Simply adorable. I wanted to chuckle but decided against it. 

"Artemis," I said blandly forcing my eyes away from his. 

"So you're the healer?" Aaron asked. 

"So you're the Alpha?" I asked sizing him up. He was tall at least 6' 4'', compared to my height of 5' 3'' he was a giant in my book. 

"That I am," He said as I felt his eyes roam my body.

"Your gonna be trouble, aren't you, Mate," Aaron said offering me a smirk. 

"Depends what you mean by trouble, Alpha" I teased. 

He just stared at me as if my muddy face was the most captivating view he had seen in ages.

I cleared my throat before speaking again.

"Look, I know what you think I am to you, but you're wrong. I don't have a Mate." I said not leaving any sense of emotion in my voice. 

I saw the wave of pain from my words wash across his face making me look away from him. 

"I'm not wrong. I know you feel it too," he said tilting his head to the side trying to look at my face again. 

"You will be mine," Aaron declared as I felt him move a strand of hair from my face. 

"No. I won't," I said grabbing his hand and moving it away from my face. 

I ignored the shocks, of what felt like electricity run through my hand and let go of his hand. 

I saw his eyes roam my face and search my eyes for hope or playfulness, and when he couldn't find any he squinted his eyes; as if it was so small he had to adjust his sight just to find it. 

But what he doesn't know, is that I've been practicing this mask for a while now. There were no cracks. 

"Trust me. You would regret it if I was." I said brushing past him to walk back into the house. 

I heard my wolf whine with every step I took up the stairs, farther away from him. And once I closed my door, I let my body slide down to the floor.

 The rain that had gone away began to hit the window once again as I let the tears fall.