Artemis

The next morning I was woken up to the sound of my T.V and loud crunching. Unable to ignore the noise anymore, I opened my eyes and turned to see Apollo and Athena eating bowls of cereal. Apollos' eyes were glued to the T.V while Athena's were set on her computer in her lap.

Sitting up I looked at them both sleepily.

"What the heckermuffins are you guys doing?" I asked grabbing their attention.

They stared at me as if it was an obvious answer.

"Umm eating?" Apollo said simply.

"I can see that but why are you eating in my room?" I asked gesturing to their bowls.

"Well, no one was up when we went downstairs so we just made ourselves a bowl of cereal and came back in here," Apollo explained.

"You guys are such weirdos. You act like you aren't used to eating breakfast by yourselves." I said rubbing my eyes.

"Well yeah but we've gotten used to everyone around the table and the noise," Athena said with a shrug.

I sighed and laid my head back on my pillow.

Apollo and Athena have always been early risers so they usually ate breakfast together and let me sleep in.

I turned so I could see what Apollo was watching so intensely on the T.v and I wasn't surprised when it was Spongebob. It was one of his favorite shows, Athena never liked it proclaiming it as stupid. Even as a kid she enjoyed watching the News and Soap Operas, she'll never admit it but she totally learned Spanish by watching those Soaps. Let her tell it had everything to do with the 4-year Gifted Spanish course she always bragged about in elementary school.

After laying in bed for a bit longer I decided to get ready for the day. I walked to my bathroom and washed off my face. I began brushing my teeth dancing to the little jingle I made up in my head. Suddenly I heard a scream come from downstairs, with toothpaste still foaming from my mouth I ran out the bathroom only to see Apollo and Athena already running out the room.

I quickly followed them out of the room and downstairs. Once we reached the kitchen, it seemed as if everyone woke up from the scream as they looked like they just rolled out of bed.

Everyone was surrounding one area of the kitchen and Apollo pushed his way past Franco, Aaron, and Ezra. It must have been Serena who screamed.

"What happened?" I asked but it came out a little funny since my mouth was still full of toothpaste.

Aaron turned around to face me. As he stepped away from the crowd I was able to see that Serena was sitting on the counter and Apollo was examining her.

"Good morning Snowflake, how'd you sleep after last night?" Aaron asked amused.

I rolled my eyes.

"You act like something happened," I said.

"Oh, you don't remember? You totally confessed your love for..." as he spoke my eyes widened.

"My dimples." He finished with a wink.

Letting out a sigh of relief I directed my concern back to Serena.

Moving past everyone I went over to Serena.

"Hey what happened?" I asked getting tired of my foamy mouth.

Serena let out a sigh before speaking.

I took a second and spit out my toothpaste into the sink behind me.

"Well I came downstairs to start breakfast but when I went to the fridge I slipped on a puddle of milk and Reese's Puffs!" Serena exclaimed.

"Oh really?" I asked looking at Apollo and Athena who were looking away.

"You two explain!" I yelled.

No one spoke until Apollo nudged Athena.

Huffing at Apollo she looked back at me meekly and spoke.

"It was all Apollo's fault!" She yelled pointing at Apollo making him gasp.

Smacking her finger away he threw a glare at her.

"We agreed you would clean it up!" He said folding his arms.

"No, you said that! Even though I won rock, paper, scissors!" Athena yelled.

"Rock beats paper!" Apollo exclaimed.

"No, it doesn't you idiot!" Athena yelled.

Looking between the two of them I let out a sigh. This was an old argument from when we were 12 years old. Even though we've explained it to Apollo a thousand times he still can't understand how paper beats rock. And honestly, he put up a good case but that was just the rules of the game.

"We tested it before and before your paper could even reach my rock I threw it straight through your paper. Boom the paper is dead!" Apollo explained exaggeratedly moving around his arms for demonstration.

"Both of you shut up!" I yelled.

They stopped and looked back at me.

"You know what I don't care what happened just apologize. You guys never clean up after yourselves and now look Apollo your mate got hurt!" I said gesturing to Serena.

Apollo growled at me at the mention of Serena getting hurt.

"Don't growl at me Apollon," I said sternly.

He let out a huff and looked away.

He hated when I used his full name but he had no right to get angry at me because of something he caused.

"You guys aren't children anymore start cleaning up after yourselves!" I said as I walked over to both of them and grabbed their ears.

"Now apologize," I said as I pulled them to Serena.

"But Apollos the one that-" Athena began to whine.

"I don't care!!" I said pushing both of their heads down.

"We're sorry." They both said softly.

Serena let out a chuckle and patted both of their heads.

I rolled my eyes.

Letting them go I began to walk back to the stairs before shouting.

"And your crap better be cleaned out of my room BEFORE I get up there!" I yelled as I made my way to the stairs.

Apollo and Athena ran to the stairs both slipping on the residue of milk and cereal on the floor. Once they got their footing they passed me quickly and hurried up the stairs.

Afterward, everyone got dressed for the day and a proper breakfast was served.

Aaron had invited Shaw and Dawn over to join us explaining that he wanted to go over everything after breakfast.

So while I hoped to enjoy my breakfast in peace I was busy shooting daggers at Dawn as she and Aaron chatted throughout the entire breakfast.

Of course, Shawn was engrossed into the conversation too but Dawn was too friendly for my liking.

The three of them reminded me of the popular kids at lunch.

The ones that would laugh carelessly and joke around as if nothing was bothering them.

I was never one of them.

That was Apollo, the only difference being that I knew a lot of things were bothering him at the time, but school for him was just another stage that he had to put on his best performance at all times.

I was taken from my thoughts when I felt Apollo pinch my hand. Shifting my head from my empty plate I sent him a glare while he rolled his eyes and pointed to the end of the table where Aaron sat.

"Gosh, you were in some daydream huh? I called your name like three times Miss.Snow." Aaron said with a smirk.

"Oh hush you sound like every teacher I've ever had," I said rolling my eyes.

"Ha well, maybe you should have listened to them and paid attention more," Shawn said.

I snorted.

"Well if I did that I wouldn't be where I am today," I said resting my head on my hand.

"Oh, and where is that?" Shawn asked quizzingly.

"Other than being smarter than you, I'm a doctor how about you?" I asked with a smirk.

I saw his face form a frown before speaking.

"I am an Alpha." He stated sternly.

"Yeah only by blood. No form of intelligence required there huh?" I said with a shrug. 

He let out a low growl and his grip on his fork tighten.

"Listen little girl didn't your mommy and daddy teach you not to mess with the big bad wolf?" He said through his teeth.

I stiffened a laugh and spoke.

"Hard to teach someone what they already know they are," I said looking at him right in the eyes.

"I can see right through you, you know? You only think you're tough. I bet you're just a scared little girl waiting to cry home to mommy. You'll piss your pants when things go to shit around here." Shawn said waving around his hands dramatically.

This time I let out my laugh causing him and the rest of the table to look at me as if I was crazy.

I knew Apollo and Athena were ready to hold me back if I decide to lunge at this idiot. While the rest of the table was probably waiting for me to break down and cry because this Alpha just tried to put me in my place.

But their both wrong. I don't care what this piece of garbage has to say about me nor do I care what he thinks about me.

He knows nothing.

Nothing about me.

Nothing about what my parents taught me.

He especially doesn't know a damn thing about my 'mommy'.

Taking a deep breath after laughing I focused my attention back to him.

"You're right. I am a scared little girl. Only thing is that I handle shit when shit needs to get done. I carry my own weight, everything I have; I worked for myself. Don't try and tear me down just to boost your own self-esteem." I said as I played with the fork on my plate.

I heard his fork slam down on his plate while he stood him from his seat.

"You-" he began I didn't even bother looking up at him. I was tired of this conversation.

"Okay everyone just settle down." I heard Aaron say.

I looked up to see that he had his hand on Shawn's chest.

I rolled my eyes and got up from the table.

"Excuse me," I said as I took my plate.

I felt my hand be grabbed as I walked past the table.

"Snowflake?" Aaron said sweetly. It was as if he was begging me to turn around to look at him. And I couldn't decline.

I turned around and gave him a questioning look.

He simply pointed down to his plate that still had two out of three waffles and sausage on it.

I gave him a look asking if he was sure and he smiled and handed me the plate.

Taking the plate I walked over to the sink and put my own in the sink.

"I'll be in your office," I said as I made my way to his office.

I made myself comfortable on his couch and began scarfing down the syrupy waffles as I heard the door open.

"You know breakfast is pretty boring without you there." I heard a smooth voice say.

"Oh, really it seemed like all you needed was Dawn and everything would be dandy," I said as Aaron layed down on the couch his head laying close to my thighs.

"Aww Snow don't tell me you're jelly," he said mockingly as he looked up at me.

"Oh no, I'm not just stating facts to show you your statement was false," I said as I put the finished plate on the coffee table.

He sat himself up and looked me right in my eyes.

"Hey. You're are the only person that is running through my head. Only you." He said moving a curl from my face.

"Hmph. I shouldn't be." I mumbled looking down.

I chuckled.

"I wish I was running somewhere else if I'm honest," I said.

"Come on a run with me tonight!" Aaron said excitedly.

I snapped my head back up to look at him.

"I've actually never run with anyone besides my siblings," I admitted.

"I've never run with anyone besides my pack. I guess we're both trying new things!" He said with a shrug.

"Huh, we've been doing that a lot haven't we?" I said with a chuckle.

He let out a small laugh before he began playing with a small curl behind his head.

"Well I mean I-I wanna experience everything with you." He said sheepishly but his eyes told me he was serious.

I gave him a smile.

"I-" I began but the door swung open again.

Everyone came into the room interrupting us.

I sighed and stood up with Aaron.

He gave me a small smile before walking behind his desk.

'I would love that too Aaron.' I thought to myself and for some reason, I felt like he knew as he gave me a wink.

We began discussing the next approach to take on the Rouges.

We didn't know if they had reached Shawn Pack yet or where they would attempt to attack next.

"Actually I have a solution for that," Athena said stepping from beside Apollo.

"You see while you guys were playing house at the Phoenix pack I was actually doing something that would keep us a step ahead of these damn Rogues," Athena said.

"Umm, we were all helping-" I began but she threw up her hand making me hush.

"Now as I was saying I set up cameras and microphones in the trees and around the pack." She said with a smirk.

"Wow, that was actually pretty smart!" Aaron said.

"I know. Now using this we can see when they step on their land, see how they were planning to attack, see how many there are, and hopefully see a leader of some sort with them. Though I doubt the leader would show their face just to take down some small pack." She explained with a shrug.

She materialized some kind of tablet along with a remote.

"Holy crap how did you just do that? Are you a witch??" Shawn exclaimed taking a step behind Dawn.

Athena rolled her eyes.

"No birdbrain and don't hurt your head too much trying to figure it out either. We still need you partially functioning." Athena said turning away from him.

I saw Shawn let out a huff but Dawn quickly grabbed his hand calming him down.

'Why couldn't she do that when he was going off on me' I thought as I rolled my eyes.

"Okay as you can see no one is there currently. I have 5 cameras placed around their pack entrance and around the forest." Athena said as she showed the tablet to Aaron making us all crowd around his desk to see.

"So what's the remote for?" I asked pointing at the remote she held carefully in her hand.

"Haha, I'm glad you asked my dear sister. This here is our next move on the board." She said with a smirk.

"What board?" Shawn asked confused.

"It's a chess reference. Anyway, this remote detonates the bombs I placed underground in the forest and entrance of their pack!" Athena said proudly.

"Bombs!?" Shawn exclaimed.

"Athena! You know you have to ask either Apollo or I if you can play with your bombs! How many did you make this time?" I asked crossing my arms.

"This time?? You mean she's done this before?" Shawn exclaimed only to be ignored.

"Only 5," Athena said with a shrug.

I sighed and Apollo flicked the side of her head.

"I honestly don't know how you had the time to do all of this," Apollo said.

"It actually didn't take that long," Athena said with a chuckle.

Before they could get into a full conversation Aaron interrupted them.

"We can't bomb them."

"What the heck do you mean we can't?" Athena asked.

She didn't like being told no. Spoiled brat.

"They have members from the packs they have taken over with them. We can't risk killing them." Aaron explained.

Athena sighed.

"Look, I thought about that but most likely they aren't taking the new recruits out with them until they are broken in and deemed trustworthy. They wouldn't want to risk them trying to escape or help refugees escape. Gathering members is an important task when building an army so only trustworthy people would be sent to deal with that." Athena said.

"But you don't know that for sure those are just assumptions we could be killing or hurting innocent people," Aaron said.

"If their smart which they are, they would use that strategy. This is all we have in war. We can't see or know what the enemy is thinking all we have is the ability to trust our instincts and the knowledge that we have. There are casualties in war, innocent lives will be taken and it's not always fair but remember why we're doing this. To protect our own." Athena explain.

Aaron shook his head.

"But we don't have to become killers. We shouldn't be the ones deciding who lives and who dies. Yes, we protect our own but then what? We just go to bed knowing that we may have just taken a child's parents away from them or someone's mate. No." Aaron said holding his head in his hands.

"So it's right for them to decide? Because that's what they're doing. They want to tear down the monarchy and don't care who they have to kill to do so. We survive today to do better tomorrow. We work on trying to find their hideout. So we can save the ones that have been forced into their army and we protect the Royals and end this war." Athena said sternly.

She sounded like a war general. One that's won way too many wars in her lifetime.

Aaron let out a sigh and looked up at her.

"Do you have any ideas on how we can find their hideout?" Aaron asked tiredly.

"I'm glad you asked," Athena said with a smile.

"I spaced out the bombs in areas where I thought they would be. While I could have laid them out so everyone felt the full impact I surprisingly have a heart. I want there to be survivors so they can lead us right back to their hideout. And they can tell their leader just how awesome I am." Athena said proudly.

"Um, sis I don't think they will really know it was you," Apollo said.

"They'll be talking about my bombs and they're apart of me so technically they're talking about me," Athena said confidently.

"Got it," Apollo said rolling his eyes.

"Any way I could send a drone out to follow the survivors. They will most likely be traveling through the woods so my drone will only be able to see so much through the trees so once it loses sight of them I would suggest you send out a group of trackers to track their scents. And if my bombs work as nicely as I know they will, there will be a pretty trail of crimson to follow along with their scent." Athena said with a smirk.

"Well, I guess we have a plan. Athena keep the monitor near you and tell us when you see any movement." Aaron instructed.

"Aye," she said playfully saluting him.

She picked back up her remote readying herself to leave when Aaron stopped her.

"I'll hold on to that," Aaron said taking the remote from her.

"Haha, I'm the only one that can activate it it's password-protected," Athena said smugly.

I rolled my eyes.

"I know the password. You're quite predictable when you're not trying to be an evil genius." I said patting her head.

"Well, I'm glad you're finally knowledging my intelligence." She said happily.

"Oh shut up you're still a brat. Plus Apollo and I can take most of the credit for that big brain of yours. So honestly you're left with only 25% of your intelligence being actually your own. Right Apollo?" I asked.

"Yup sounds right to me!" Apollo exclaimed.

"You two are terrible at math and psychology," Athena said as she walked towards the door.

"That is so not true we're basically proof that 1 plus 1 equals 1. And we have a psychological connection! You know how many scientists would love to do test on us?!" Apollo exclaimed as he followed her to the door.

"Exactly!" I yelled agreeing with Apollo.

"They would kill to do test on all of us we're werewolves, you morons!" Athena yelled as she walked out the door.

"But we're special!" Apollo and I whined as we left the room with her.

Authors Note
Hello my Loves! I hope all is well and that you enjoyed this chapter.

What do you think about Athena's plan?

Does anyone agree with Aaron?

Do you believe rock can beat paper?

Lol let me know in the comments!

Thank you!
Much love!
-Niya