Athena's POV

Sisters can be so cruel.

Here I am sitting in the passenger seat of Serena's car listening to her sing her heart out to Adele.

Considering her mate is literally a pop star you would think she would be able to carry a tune. But as I push my head further into the window I contemplated who would break the glass first, me or her screeching.

I sighed in relief when the screeching stopped along with the car.

I looked over at the now flushed Serena probably coming down from the high of her imaginary killing spree I mean performance.

She smiled at me sweetly making me turn my head from her and opening the car door.

We were at an outlet mall not too far away from town. It was full of people grabbing last-minute gifts for the upcoming holiday this following Thursday. I watched as they scrambled about trying not to drop any bags. Some trying to fend off their nosey kids dreading not being able to find a babysitter.

Around this time of year, two emotions are always oozing off the human population.

Stress and love.

I have a system for gift shopping to have no stress involved. I move from person to person down my list with minimum breaks, ensuring nothing but success.

"Alrighty what shop do you want to go in first?!" an excited voice boomed from beside me.

Shit, I forgot about the princess.

I sighed and turned to her.

"Listen I have a plan and a schedule Apollo, Raven, Hazel, Ezra, and Artemis," I listed seriously.

She looked at me surprised.

"Oh you're getting something for Ezra huh?" she said moving her eyebrows playfully.

I rolled my eyes.

"Yup don't make it a thing," I said before walking off into the Plaza.

"Okay okay I'm not but why Apollo first and Artemis last?" She asked as we stood in front of the outlet map.

"Because Apollo is easy to please and interested in almost everything while Artemis is complicated and never wants anything."

Which reminds me.

"What are you getting for Apollo?" I asked with a smirk.

She looked to the side sheepishly before speaking.

"Well umm, he said-"

"It doesn't matter, I'll cherish anything you give me!" I mocked using my best Apollo voice.

"Yes! Exactly, but what does that even mean!? I've gotten everyone a gift except him and Artemis and it's killing me!" she said dramatically.

I began to laugh.

Gosh, the twins cause stress without even knowing it.

I shook my head.

"Come on I'll help you."

After finding the shop I was looking for on the map I grabbed Serena's hand and began to walk through the crowds of people.

Finally reaching the music shop the door chimed as we walked in.

I went up to the bald man behind the counter smoking carelessly as he read a magazine.

"Hey, Sal didn't my sister tell you about that smoking habit. It will lead you to an early grave you know?" I said approaching the counter.

Sal quickly put out the cigarette and looked around frantically.

"Calm your tits she's not with me today," I said leaning on the counter.

I saw him relax and let out a deep breath.

He flashed me a smile and looked behind me at the curious Serena looking at all the art and instruments in the shop.

"Hey, there you're just in time! I'll go and grab it from the back for ya," he said before disappearing into the back of the shop.

"wait you've been here before?" Serena asked.

I nodded my head.

"Yup about a week ago with Artemis. She gave him a pretty stern talking to about the effects of smoking. He obviously didn't take her that seriously. Anyway, what he brings out is the key to what to get for Apollo." I said with a wink.

"Alright, little lady what do you think?" Sal said bringing out a gold guitar with graffiti all over it.

"It's perfect," I said looking at its beauty.

"Woah what-" Serena began.

"It's a gold solid-body electric guitar the outside is made of solid gold but the base is covered with graffiti paintings of all of the diners we visited on tour. Artemis designed the drawings from the pictures I took and then we brought it here for them to make it." I explained.

"That must have costed a ton!"

"I guess," I said with a shrug.

"Alright, Sal 4,000 right?" I asked taking out my wallet.

"How about I drop it to 3,000 if you promise not to tell that sister of yours I picked up another cigarette," he said with a weary smile.

I chuckled.

"Fine but she also wanted me to tell you you've only got a good 5 years left of that lung if you continue," I said looking as his face dropped.

"Shit..." he mumbled.

I quickly swiped my card and locked the guitar in its case.

"I don't get it, Athena. Does this mean Apollo likes expensive gifts?" Serena asked.

"No. He enjoys receiving gifts that come from the heart. He collects guitars and we have happy memories connected to the diners. He's a real sucker for photos and memories." I said with a shrug.

"So do you have anything that holds meaning to the two of you?" I asked as I began to walk around the shop.

"Your dad." She said softly.

I turned around quickly.

"Our father?" I asked.

"Oh, shit no I mean he said he remembers him always playing records and that was when he fell in love with music."

"Did he tell you the song he made for him?" I asked turning back around.

"One more time."

"Yup! Have you listened to it since he told you? It's the only song he refuses to play live, he cries every time." I said laughing to myself.

"Yeah...I can see why now. His songs, do they all have a deeper meaning to them?" She asked curiously.

I chuckled.

"Well I wouldn't call them all a 'deeper' meaning but they're always about something. Hell one of his most popular songs is about him throwing up on the swings one day."

"Took me for a loop?" She guessed.

I shook my head.

"Too high to fly," I said as I thumbed through the records on the shelf.

"So are you gonna buy something from here or what?" I asked getting bored.

"Yeah, I think so. A record player and a vinyl." She said walking to the rows of record players.

I watched as she looked at each one trying to find the perfect pick for Apollo, I wonder what he got her.

She rushed back over to me carrying a box and a vinyl.

"Stevie Wonder huh? Which song did he sing to you?" I asked as we walked to the register.

"For Once In My Life," She said with a blush.

I laughed.

Figures.

"Alright, Sal ring her up chop-chop," I said waving him over from the other side of the counter.

He shuffled over and began ringing up Serena's items.

"You know if you want we can put an engraving on the record player, free of charge!" he said happily.

I could just feel the testosterone running off him as he eyed Serena up and down, his eyes taking a liking to the bit of cleavage showing out of her sweater.

"Slow down baldy this is my brother's girl so don't even think about it. She'll take the engraving no perverted glances needed." I said firmly slamming my hand down on the counter making him jump.

"Oh umm alright then just write down what you want on it and I'll have it ready within the hour, so you ladies can finish the rest of your shopping and come back." He said sliding a piece of paper over to Serena.

I shook my head as we walked out of the shop. Men can be so disgusting.

We made our rounds gather gifts for the little ones along with Ezra's now the only person left to get was Artemis's but we were famished so we stopped at a small cafe for lunch.

The cafe was small but the line was almost out the door, full of people trying to grab a snack for the go and quickly get back to their shopping. This left the seating area clear, so pushing past the line of people we placed our bags down by our table and our feet finally got the first rest they had in the past hour.

I heard Serena let out a sigh as I looked down at the menu.

"We'll be late picking up the record player at this rate." She said quietly.

"Not late. All he said was that it would be ready in an hour not pick it up in an hour. Their store doesn't close until six and right now it's two so don't worry. Besides he'll wait, his perverted ass can't wait to see you again." I said not bothering to look up at her.

I heard her hmm in agreement and I focused my attention back on my menu. Out of habit, I began to look for meals Apollo and Artemis would like since they can never decide for themselves. I swear their such children sometimes.

I just rarely go anywhere without one of them by my side so this was different but Serena's presence was comforting.

We soon ordered and after debating in my head if I wanted to feed Thing one and Thing two at the house I went ahead and ordered them something to go.

As we waited I scrolled through my emails on my phone looking over the details for the charity event we host every year. For the past five years, we've been hosting several charity events in States that have the lowest adoption rates.

So every Christmas people from my company use half of the funds we get in profit to buy things the children need. Along with finding trustworthy people to adopt them especially the older kids. Apollo and Artemis donate a large sum of money too. This was something we all wanted to do as a family after all.

I let out a deep sigh deciding to deal with the pair of eyes that have been burning into my forehead for the past fifteen minutes.

"Okay I'll answer five of your questions and that's it. Then the rest you can ask Apollo about, deal?" I said placing my phone down on the table.

She looked at me surprised but nodded her head.

She took a breath before speaking.

"Why did she do it?" she asked vaguely.

I rolled my eyes.

"You're gonna have to be a little more detailed with that question Princess. Why what? Why was she a terrible mother? Why was she abusive? Why did she hate us? Why did she abandon us? Pick one she's done a lot of things." I said playing with my straw.

I could feel how nervous she was and her anger slowly rising.

"All of it...why'd she do any of it? You three were and still are her children so I don't understand why!" she said her voice raising a little bit.

I smirked.

"And you think we do? Listen your guess is as good as ours but I would have to say it had to do with the death of our father." I said with a shrug.

"After that, all she focused on was her image, she was the mayor of our town you know?" I said laughing at the shocked expression on Serena's face.

"It's true. The town loved her, she seemed to love them too but if you ask me she just liked the feeling of power and authority. She only used us to show how perfect of a widowed single mother she was raising three kids on her own."

Serena cleared her throat before asking her next question.

"I know Artemis had to go through her... But did she ever touch you or Apollo?"

I smiled sadly.

"Only a handful of times, but Artemis was always there to stop it. You see Apollo and I were seen a 'valuable' to her..." I said cringing at the word.

"Why?" she asked simply.

"Well, I was intelligently gifted, always forced to take part in the academic clubs and competitions. While Apollo was in every club, class President, chorus, band, everything. He was her Golden child." I said smiling bitterly.

"That's one of his songs...that song always brought me to tears."

I nodded.

"But I don't understand. If she loved her image and she only had you and Apollo helping that, how was Artemis seen to the public eye?" She asked confused.

I looked at my half-empty glass and watched as the ice floated around in the water.

"S-she was labeled as 'sick'" I said quietly. 

"Sick?"

"Yeah...Physically...Mentally. It was a nice lie to explain her frail state, the bags under her eyes, any bruises or bandages, why she missed so many days of school and the fights she would get into." I said gripping my glass.

I hated it. She labeled my big sister as crazy, she wasn't crazy just in pain and she caused it, taking advantage of it.

"How did anyone fall for that? Was she ever seen at the hospital or anything!?" Serena asked loudly.

"No. Mother claimed we had an in house nurse taking care of her. And it technically wasn't a lie but Art was her own nurse." I said looking up at the now teary-eyed Serena.

"D-did you guys ever try and go to the police?" She asked wiping away the tears that threatened to fall.

I chuckled.

"It's a little hard when your mother hears about every that happens in town and works hand and hand with the police station, but yeah we did...once," I said.

"What-"She began but was cut off by the server bring us our food.

I began to dig into my food but Serena only pushed her plate to the side.

I sighed.

"I answered more than five questions, Princess. Save the rest you have for Apollo. Now eat up I don't want to hear Apollo nagging about not letting you eat and shit," I said before taking another bite of my taco.

I felt her gaze on me still waiting for me to crack but I guess she hasn't learned that I don't give a crap.

Giving in she placed her plate back in front of her and began to eat.

I smirked.

I win.

The waiter soon came with Apollo and Artemis's food packed up in containers in a bag and then we were on our way.

"So where are we going to get Artemis's gift?" Serena asked as we walked out of the shop.

"Well, this is kinda half Aarons gift. You know his cat, Shadow right?"

She nodded her head.

"Well, she's been staying with Aarons parents for a while now because she just had a litter of kittens! Unfortunately only two out of the four survived the birth so Aaron thought to leave one of them at his parent's house and give the other one to Artemis. So now we're just picking up some supplies for the little guy." I explained.

"Oh wow I bet Artemis will love that! I'm surprised Apollo didn't tell me about this plan."

"That's because we didn't tell him. He'll shut the whole thing down! Art has a really bad track history with cats so Apollo refuses to let her get another one. With that being said don't tell him anything about it." I said sternly.

"Got it, my lips are sealed! But won't he just tell her she can't have it when he sees it?"

I laughed.

"No. Apollo is a sucker for seeing Artemis happy," I said.

"She deserves it," Serena said sadly.

"I know," I mumbled.

We reached the pet shop soon after, I threw the items Aaron said to get into our basket along with other items I thought were cute for the kitten.

By the time we were done, we decided to stop at the car to drop off all of our bags before going back to the guitar shop.

"Okay I have another question and wait before you cut me off this is one I've already asked Apollo and he said he honestly didn't know the answer. So I'm asking you." She said as we walked through the parking lot.

I sighed.

"Fine. What is it?" I asked tiredly.

"Apollo's last girlfriend...what did Artemis do to her?" Serena asked timidly.

I gripped the straps of the bags I was holding remembering that backstabbing wrench.

"No one knows. She didn't tell us." I said picking up my pace to the car.

"What does that mean? Do you think she hurt her?" Serena asked behind me walking faster to catch up with me.

"Look I don't know, but that girl broke my brothers heart. Once we found out what she did to him Artemis said she would handle it and in my eyes she did. We never saw her again after Artemis left to meet with her."

"Why do you want to know Serena? Do you plan on breaking my brother's heart?" I asked turning to face her.

She looked shocked as if I just slapped her in the face.

"No, I would never." She said with confidence.

"Good, then you have nothing to worry about."

"Yeah, Artemis is scary though." She said with a nervous chuckle.

"You have no idea," I said to myself.

We quickly threw our things into the car and headed back to the guitar shop.

Sal was still there at the counter lazily toning a guitar not even bothering to look up when the chimes of the door rang.

We walked up to the counter and I knocked loudly on the glass.

"Hey, can we get some service over here!?" I yelled making Sal drop the guitar on his foot.

I rolled my eyes.

"Shit hey it's about time you two came back!" He said limping over to us his eyes never leaving Serena.

"Yup we're very busy women so if you could.." I said waving to the back. 

"Oh, yeah right!" He said before rushing to the back.

I turned to Serena.

"Looks like it's not only Apollo you've got in a trance Princess. If he stated any longer I'm pretty sure he would have started drooling." I said laughing.

She laughed.

"Well, there's only one man I have eyes for." She said subconsciously reaching for the mark on her neck.

Cute.

Sal came back with our things and even offered to walk them out to our car for us. Which we politely turned down. At least Serena did all I did was walk away.

We were finally on our way back to the house. The radio played softly and I silently thanked the Moon Serena wasn't singing again.

"Hey," I said getting Serena's attention.

"Thanks for hanging out with me today. I enjoyed myself. I don't hate your company. I'm glad your Apollo's mate you're good for him." I said smiling at her.

"T-thank you Athena that means a lot actually. I enjoyed hanging out with you today too!" She said happily.

The car ride was quiet until we got back to the house.

I told Serena to leave both Apollo's and Artemis gifts in the backseat. Since they're most likely waiting for us at the front door. Apollo being the nosey person he is will try and snoop and even when we insist we have everything from the car he'll go and look in the trunk anyway.

Upon opening the door we were greeted with two identical faces running towards us.

"You're finally backkk! We missed you, ya chump!" Artemis said bringing me in for a hug.

Apollo ruffled my hair before bringing Serena in for a hug and kiss.

"You two are so clingy get off!" I said pulling away from Artemis making her pout.

"So did you still need help bringing stuff in because i don't mind helping," Apollo asked shamelessly peeking in some of the bags.

"Nope, we got everything don't worry," I said.

"Really because-" he began again.

"I bought you some food, come and eat," I said holding up the bag.

"Aww, you were thinking of us!" Artemis awed.

"Sure whatever helps you sleep at night sis," I said walking to the kitchen.

"Art you got a burger and fries, Apollo you got chicken fingers and fries," I said pointing to each container as they both looked over my shoulder.

"Apollo, can I have one of your chicken fingers?" Artemis asked.

"If I can have a bite of your burger then yea," Apollo said walking over to the table with her.

I shook my head.

Why they always have to pick off each other's plates I'll never know. Eventually, I saw Artemis take her food inside of Aaron's office with a smile.

I don't think she realizes it yet but she looks like an adorable schoolgirl waiting to see her crush by the lockers. She has the worst temper but it's amazing how he can blow it out with just a touch.

I sighed thinking of the inevitable.

Taking out the last container in the bag I made my way upstairs passing by the newly mated couple talking about each other's day on the couch.

Reaching upstairs I knocked on the door of the room I was looking for.

I was greeted by a shirtless Ezra. His hair was a mess and his sweatpants hung low on his slim waist.

"Hey, there little red." He said with the nickname I've come to accept.

"Hey brat, I brought you back some food," I said holding up the container.

He stepped aside letting me come into the room.

"Gosh Ez, did you stay in your room all day or what?" I asked looking around his messy room and sat down on his bed.

"Well yeah, when I woke up you weren't here so what was I supposed to do?" He said flopping beside me on the bed.

"Umm, I don't know maybe what you did before you met me?"

"Umm strangely enough I don't know what that was." He teased moving his face closer to mine.

"Cute," I said rolling my eyes and pushing his face away from mine.

Opening his container of Teriyaki wings he took one out and put the container between us.

"So how was your day with Serena? You didn't give her too much of a hard time did you?" He asked me.

"It was fine. I got everyone's gifts and she was nice company." I said grabbing a wing from the container.

"That's good. I heard what happened this morning. I overheard my brother scolding Dawn. How's your hand?" He asked placing my hand in his.

"It's fine, Artemis healed it. No need to worry." I said as his thumb began to caress the top of my hand.

"Oh who said I was worried?" He said giving me a cheeky smile.

"Ha I can read you even without using my powers," I said with a smirk.

"Hmph always so cocky, Red."

I shrugged.

"What you call cocky I call confidence, deal with it, chump," I said sticking my tongue out at him.

He chuckled.

"So does this mean I have you to myself for the rest of the day?" He asked

"Depends on what you have planned for us," I said fixing myself so I was now laying my back on his lap our hands still connected on my stomach.

"I don't know Red something tells me you would stay with me even if I didn't have anything planned." He said with a smirk looking down at me.

"Oh, now who's the cocky one?" I said letting out a laugh.

"I made you laugh so I must be doing something right." He said pushing a strand of my hair out of my face.

"You know you still remind me a lot of Strawberry Shortcake." He said playing with my red curls.

I scoffed.

"Oh please her hair was a lot redder than mine!" I exclaimed.

"Alright alright, always so fiery little red." He said pinching my nose.

I slapped his hand away quickly with a pout.

I looked at him as he laughed making me smile.

This has been our relationship for the past three weeks. We've gotten so close to each other in such little time that I surprised myself. I was just so comfortable around him like there's this force telling me that I can be completely myself with him. We would find ourselves laughing at the most silliest things, things that I would usually never find funny if one of my siblings showed it to me. With him, everything felt new and exciting and I looked forward to hanging out with him every day.

"Alright, how about we go for a run? I'm excited to see how your wolf looks!" He asked excitedly.

I chuckled seeing how my wolf enjoyed hearing his excitement to see her.

Unlike me, my wolf is quite the bubbly sweetheart and very talkative. 

Nodding my head in agreement I got up from his lap and looked at him.

"Fine I'm down let me just-" I began only to be cut off by someone busting into the room.

"Athena we need your help!" A frightened Serena said frantically.

Well shit.

Hey Loves! I hope you liked this chapter! Thank you so much for reading!

How do y'all feel about getting that information about their mother?

What do you think of Aarons gift for Artemis?

What did Artemis do with Apollos last girlfriend?

Keep reading to find out! Thank again!

Have a beautiful day!

-Niya