Artemis

The car grew quiet once again, after Shawn's question. I could hear his fingers impatiently tapping against the armrest between Aaron and I, awaiting his answer.

I didn't want to answer it. It was none of his business what our relationship with each other was.

I could feel Aaron's eyes shift to me a few times before looking back at the road. Even though the answer to this question was no, deep down I knew Aaron wanted me to answer so he could finally confirm what we were to each other. How I felt towards him. If I was ready to claim him.

The answer was simple and yet weighed tons.

If I were to speak I would hurt Aaron. I would say we were allies fighting to protect the ones we love. That I respect him as I would respect any Alpha. That when this was all over I would leave and the likelihood of seeing him again would be slim to none. And I would make sure it would stay that way.

Acquaintances. That's what we were. And that's how it had to stay.

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat and licked my lips readying myself to speak until I heard Aaron clear his throat beside me.

"No, we're just acquaintances. Slowly becoming friends." He said offering me a small smile.

I sat there in awe.

Did he do that for himself? So he didn't have to hear my answer, to save himself the pain? Or did he do it for me? To save me the pain of saying it at all, to save me from seeing the pain in his eyes.

Except I did see the pain at which made my body shiver. The pleading in his eyes spoke a thousand words nonetheless, only to disappear as fast as it came.

Shaking my head slightly I quickly nodded my head in agreement before turning back to the window.

"Hmm, so what I'm hearing is that you totally want to bone her but she's playing hard to get!" Shawn said hitting Aaron's shoulder before leaning back in his seat.

"Don't worry dude just wait for your Mate maybe she'll like your scrawny ass! Of course, she won't be as great as my Dawnlight!" Shawn exclaimed.

"Hmph yeah, maybe" Aaron mumbled.

'Nice going Art' I thought to myself.

I could hear Shawn unsnap his seat belt and move closer to where Dawn was sitting. Soon her giggles could be heard followed by the sounds of their kisses filled the car.

'Oh my moon goddess get me the hell out of this car!' I internally yelled.

Suddenly, Aaron stepped harshly on the breaks causing Shawn's head to hit the back of my seat.

"Oops, Oh look we're here!" Aaron exclaimed with slight amusement in his voice.

I chuckled a bit before stepping out of the car.

Looking around the layout of the pack, I recalled some details from the vision such as their pack emblem on the sign in the front.

I'm glad to see it still whole.

The community seemed to have already begun packing. Women were running around with bags as the men carried luggage to some cars they had parked out front.

From what I could see the pack had to have roughly 70 members compared to Aarons pack of almost 1,000. As we predicted we had enough room for them to stay.

There was a cul-de-sac of small cabins surrounding a slightly larger lodge in the middle that I assumed as the Packhouse. There was a barn just beside the entrance, with chickens and goats and a beautiful garden surrounded the packhouse.

They were living comfortably.

And the Rouges want to take that from them, but why?

If they take down the monarchy then what? They create totally anarchy in the werewolf community, that will risk the secret of the supernatural world altogether.

Is that what they want? There would be a wolf hunt, hunted by humans and the rest of the supernatural creatures for breaking the balance. Exposing our secret would put a red target on all supernatural beings. So it wouldn't end well for the rouges either so what's their end game?

I was taken from my thoughts when I felt blowing by my ear.

"Ugh, Apollo you're such a weirdo!" I yelled pushing his head away from my face.

He laughed.

"Haha I'm sorry Arty you just had your serious face going on, don't want you to develop frown lines am I right?" He said shoving my shoulder.

I sighed and slammed the car door.

"You guys can stay in the packhouse and wait or walk around the pack, we shouldn't take too long," Shawn said walking ahead with Dawn at his side.

We all gave him a thanks before following.

"What's wrong?" I heard Apollo ask beside me.

I looked up at him before looking back in front of me.

"You want to go see if we can help some people pack?" I asked looking up at him.

He gave me a questioning look before agreeing.

"Hey, Shawn where would you think would need the most help packing?" I asked smirking when I saw the irritation on his face since I refrained from using his title.

Swallowing his pride he spoke, "Most likely the infirmary we have maybe two or three patients there one being pregnant they will need the most help." He said letting go of his bad shoulder to point to a cabin not too far from where we were.

I chuckled when the movement made him wince in pain.

"Ugh I guess we wouldn't want you to take up time trying to pack with a broken shoulder so, I'll heal you now," I said shrugging my shoulders.

"You're a healer?" He asked looking at me suspiciously.

"Nah I just like going around saying that to give people false hope!" I said cheerily.

He rolled his eyes.

"Just stand still," I said walking over to him.

Hovering my hands over his shoulder I closed my eyes and pushed the bone back in place.

"There, try to move it around," I said stepping back from him.

"Thanks, so if you're a doctor shouldn't your mission be to save lives not threaten to take them away," He asked squinting his eyes at me.

Eying him I folded my arms and spoke.

"If you're an Alpha shouldn't your mission be to ensure the safety of your pack not shut everyone out to the point where you don't even know what the hells going on?" I asked moving closer as he moved closer to me.

"Haha alright, that's enough we all have things to do so let's get going! Chop Chop!" I heard Apollo say before grabbing my shoulders.

I stood still.

"Now Artemis." He whispered firmly into my ear.

"Hmph, whatever," I said turning away from the asshole and began walking to the infirmary, Apollo hot on my trail.

"Art slow down!" Apollo yelled behind me.

I stopped upon reaching the door.

"Hey what happened in the car ride? You've been aggravated since you got out." Apollo asked finally catching up with me.

I sighed.

"Shawn just asked an inappropriate question about Aaron and I, basically asking what we were to each other. And-and I'm just realizing how hard this all is. He just deserves so much better an-and I can't give him that! It's times like this I just wish it was me that died in that car crash..." I said running my hands through my curly hair.

"Hey! Don't you ever say that!" Apollo said grabbing my arms firmly.

"How would that make anything better for Aaron, for anyone? Aaron would have felt you die and live with the thought of never meeting you. At least now he gets the chance to get to know you!" Apollo exclaimed looking into my eyes.

"But what good is that Apollo if I'm slowly breaking his heart? In both scenarios we don't end up together, at least Aaron could skip the heartbreak of knowing me and the Moon Goddess could grant him a Second Chance Mate! But now because of me, he's in pain, I excepted a long time ago that I wasn't born for happiness, but he was! Everywhere I go I cause pain Pollo and I just can't keep doing this to him. No, not him..." I said turning to open the door.

Apollo followed me through the door and grabbed my wrist.

"Apollo let go!" I yelled in a whispered tone.

"No! Artemis you have so much life ahead of you! Everyone deserves their happy ending! We can try and fix this, we don't even know if she was telling the truth! Don't you want to fight for what you and Aaron have?" Apollo asked.

"Apollo I've been fighting for the majority of my life I won't put him through that pain when I can prevent it by ending his," I said yanking my wrist away.

"He at least as the right to know Art," Apollo said tiredly.

I paused.

"...Maybe but I just need more time." I said closing my eyes.

"Okay...just don't wait until its too late," Apollo said walking past me down the small hallway.

Sighing I followed him to one of the rooms.

When we entered I could see a pregnant woman struggling to pack a bag while the two other patients were being tended to.

We both walked over to the women as she frustratedly threw clothes inside of her suitcase.

"Hi, Ma'am would you like some help with that?" Apollo asked flashing her a warm smile.

She looked up from her bag, her brown eyes squinting into a bright smile that livened up her tired face. She had black wavy hair and a milk chocolate complexion. I would guess she was in her 20's though the bags under her eyes made it look like she was in her early 30's.

"Oh, that would be great!" She said in relief.

Sighing she sat back down on the bed.

"Gosh, this is the worst time to announce that we're possibly going to be attacked! My baby can come at any moment, I wished for it to be brought into the world at least in my home! Especially with the complications already." the woman said running her hands through her hair.

"Hi Ma'ma my name is Artemis and this is my brother Apollo, we came with the Celestial Eclipse Pack. I'm sorry to hear you won't be able to give birth in your home but I can assure you we will make sure you give birth comfortably." I said nicely.

"Hello, my name is Ella, and thank you I appreciate it," She said giving me a small smile.

"So are these all the things you need?" Apollo asked as he zipped up the small suitcase.

"Yes and that small bag over there for the baby." She said gesturing to bag laying on the nightstand beside the bed.

"Ella if you don't mind me asking what are the complications you mentioned about your pregnancy?" I asked timidly.

"No it's fine, I don't mind. I suffer from high blood pressure and due to the pregnancy, it's only gotten worse. I was admitted into the infirmary about a week ago because I had trouble breathing, I'm about 8 months pregnant and the doctors are saying I might have to have an early delivery for the baby's safety." She explained.

"In case the baby begins to get less oxygen and fewer nutrients into its system," I mumbled.

'She doesn't need this stress right now where is her Mate at a time like this?' I thought to myself.

"Yes, are you a doctor?" Ella asked curiously.

"Yes, I'm a healer," I confirmed.

"Oh well, that's great! I know this is a lot to ask for but when I go into labor-" She began to ask timidly.

"I'll make sure to be available to help," I said happily.

She nodded her head with a smile.

"Now Ella is there someone we can take you to so we can get you ready to leave?" Apollo asked helping her stand up.

By now the other two patients were taken out of the room with the nurses.

'Their injuries better be bad if they just left the high blood pressured pregnant lady to fend for herself! Idiots.' I thought as I turned up my nose.

"Oh um you can take me to my mate I guess, though I doubt he would like to see me..." She said trailing off.

"Oh okay well do you know where he would be?" Apollo asked as they began to walk out of the room.

I quickly grabbed the baby's bag and followed.

"Um, I would think the Packhouse," Ella said timidly.

"Cool that should be where our friends are too!" Apollo said cheerfully.

She chuckled.

I walked behind them silently as Apollo went ahead and made some small talk with Ella making her laugh the whole way to the packhouse.

'Leave it to Apollo to cheer up anyone's mood.' I thought smiling to myself.

We walked into the packhouse seeing Athena and Serena laughing together on the couch.

"What are you two doing and where is everyone else?" I asked from behind them while Apollo sat Ella down in the love seat in the corner of the living room.

"Nothing I was just talking to her about Apollo," Athena said with a smirk.

"What about me?!" Apollo exclaimed looking up from Ella.

"Oh, you know just the good stuff," Athena said with a smile.

"Athena we went down the list of things we would never tell anyone, please tell me you didn't break our pact!" Apollo said seriously.

"Ugh Pollo you worry too much, I would never break one of our pacts," Athena said waving him off.

"Yeah don't worry she was just telling me about Captain Samuel," Serena said with a chuckle.

"Oh... well why the heck were you two laughing that's a sad story...he was my best friend!" Apollo exclaimed.

"Well, Romeo it's just the fact that you took him with you literally everywhere..." Serena said warily.

Apollo just looked at her confused.

"I don't get your point, Love," Apollo said tilting his head in confusion.

"Well I mean it's not really normal to do that with a goldfish, Hon" Serena explained.

"Psh listen Captain Samuel wasn't just some goldfish he was a very intelligent fish who helped me through some really tough times! He listened to all of my songs and problems with a smile and his eyes closed as if he was thinking." Apollo said sadly.

'Yeah, Serena this is an argument your just not gonna win here.' I said to myself as I leaned on the back of the couch.

"You mean his eyes were always closed?" Serena asked skeptically.

"Well yeah! Art said he was a special fish breed that was sensitive to light so he had to keep his eyes closed. Gosh, he always did this belly up trick in his bowl! He was really advanced for a blind fish!" Apollo exclaimed.

"I was really sad when he had to return back to the pond to join his family, but Athena said she could feel that he was homesick, so Artemis took him back," Apollo said sadly.

"Umm babe I think-" Serena began before I pulled a strand of her hair.

She turned to look at me and I just strained my eyes silently saying no.

I'm not gonna let her tell Apollo that his fish was dead the whole time! He had the thing for two weeks when we were 8 years old. He stole it from the pond by our house and killed the thing the first day he brought it home, by feeding it a peanut butter and jelly sandwich...outside of its bowl.

Not to mention he would take it to school with him in a ziplock bag. I had to tell the teacher it was his emotional support animal. Once she stopped falling for that she threatened to call our mom and that couldn't happen. Apollo would get in trouble and I would endure an even worse punishment since I was responsible for the two of them. Anything bad they did was somehow always my fault, so I had to do something. He was really attached to him and I couldn't crush his little heart at the time so I made something up.

I was a little girl trying to protect her baby brother, the fact that he fell for it is amazing. He's not dumb just really naïve. That was the only time I lied to him but that was the pond he and dad always visited. So when he found out we would be moving he just wanted a piece of that memory with him. Too bad he doesn't know much about taking care of pets.

"So where did you guys say the others were?" I asked changing the subject.

"Oh well, Aaron-" Athena began.

Just then we heard laughing coming from the hallway and then entered Aaron and Dawn.

'Shouldn't she be I don't know packing' I thought to myself resisting an eye roll.

I cleared my throat.

They both stopped laughing and looked around the room.

"So is everything packed?" I asked curiously.

"Oh umm yeah Shawn and Wyatt are just bringing the bags to the trucks, they should be back soon!" Dawn explained.

"Okay well, we brought Ella over to see her mate do you know where he is?" I asked.

Dawn turned to the pregnant woman looking a bit surprised.

"Oh, Ella I didn't expect to see you here!" Dawn exclaimed with a wary smile.

"Why not Luna Dawn I am still the Betas Mate," Ella said with confidence.

Dawn looked to the side before looking back at her.

"Yes well like I said Wyatt will be back soon." She said.

"Great," Ella said.

A few minutes past before the Alpha and Beta returned announcing that everyone was ready.

The man Wyatt was the sad-eyed man that stood beside Shawn at the plains.

'Why would a man with a Mate and a baby on the way look so miserable?' I asked myself.

Upon his entrance, I saw Ella struggle to stand up from her chair only for Apollo to rush to her aid.

She gave him a small smile before wobbling over to sad-eyed man trying to walk past her and further into the house.

I saw the man visibly sigh as Ella called out his name making him stop and turn to her.

"What are you doing here Ella?" He asked her tiredly.

This caught everyone's attention.

'What's up with this guy?' I thought, listening to the conversation.

"I think I have the right to be with my Mate especially at a time like this, don't you think?" Ella asked tilting her head trying to make eye contact with him, but it didn't seem as if he wanted to look her in the eyes.

"What Ella? Darian too busy being a coward to take care of you and his baby?" Wyatt asked looking down.

"How many times do I have to tell you this baby is yours, Wyatt! Do we mean nothing to you anymore?" Ella asked touching his hand only for him to pull away.

"No Ellie. We don't. You made sure of that when I caught you two together. Trust is earned and I just can't trust you anymore." He said quietly.

"But Wya-" Ella tried to say.

"No Ella I'm done talking about this with you. It's time to go." Wyatt said before walking out the front door.

Everyone in the room began to move outside as Ella just stood there looking down at her hands.

'No wonder her blood pressure is so fragile, she cheated on her Mate,' I thought as I walked over to her.

I touched her shoulder making her look up at me.

Her eyes were watery and full of regret.

"So now that you know about me...do you hate me like the rest of my pack?" She asked with a chuckle.

"No. Everyone has their reasons, but this can't be good for the baby." I said wiping her tears.

"You can ride with us," I said taking her hand.

"Thank you." She said with a small smile.

When we got outside I walk us over to Aarons Jeep only to see Apollo hanging out the sunroof waving at us.

"Heyyy! Guess who gets to ride back with you! Oh Ella are you joining the party too?" Apollo exclaimed making Ella giggle.

I chuckled and shook my head.

"Sit down you dope!" I said opening the back seat for Ella. Serena was sitting in the middle with Apollo on the other side.

Once Ella was comfortable I hopped in the passenger seat. Looking over to the driver's seat I noticed Aaron wasn't there.

Searching out the window for him I saw him outside of Shawn and Dawn's car talking with Dawn while Shawn fixed the luggage in the trunk.

'Yeah, I don't think so.'

I stood out the sunroof and slammed my foot on the horn making it make a long ear ringing honk grabbing everyone's attention.

After I was satisfied I took my foot off the horn and spoke.

"AYE DRIVER WE WOULD LIKE TO NOT BE KILLED IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS SO CAN YOU HURRY THE HELL UP!" I yelled making Dawn look out the window at me as if I was crazy while Aaron just smiled.

He put his hands in his pockets and began walking over to the car.

I hit the horn two more times and yelled. "Chop Chop Dimples!"

He laughed before picking up his pace.

"Yeah yeah, I'm coming Snowflake!" He yelled back.

I sat back down in my seat with a smirk.

Aaron opened the driver's side door and jumped in.

He stared at me with a smile.

"What are you smiling about dummy?" I asked.

"Was that really necessary?" he asked.

"Yeah, it was. Not my fault you want to take up time talking with some girl!" I said rolling my eyes.

"Oh sounds like your jealous Snowflake," He said giving me a foxy grin.

"As if!" I said folding my arms.

He laughed.

"Don't worry Snowflake I'm here now and I'll give you all the attention you deserve. Just you and me!" He said happily quickly tapping my nose making me chomp at it.

"Yeah me, you, and the three extra passengers," I said pointing to the backseat.

He turned his head and looked at them having them all wave.

"Oh hey. My name's Aaron nice to meet you." He said holding his hand out to Ella.

"Hello, I'm Ella," She said shaking his hand.

He looked back at me.

"You knew they were here," I said narrowing my eyes at him.

"Oh, I'm sorry Snowflake it's just when I'm around you everyone else just seems to disappear." He said giving me a wink.

"Hmph, cute. Just drive the damn car!" I yelled turning away to hide my blush.

"You were totally jealous." He said starting up the car.

"I was not!" I exclaimed throwing my hands up.

He just laughed as we began our ride back home.

'Hmph, Idiot.'