Authors Note
Warning this chapter does have mention of abuse.

Again the music is just for some spice lol leave suggestions at the end!

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Artemis POV

He looked at me with such disbelief in his eyes.

"I-I don't understand...Artemis you were five" he said to me look for the punch line in the story.

"We werewolves mature faster than humans Aaron it's only natural-" I began only to jump as he raised his voice.

"She was your mother! There's nothing natural about this Artemis!" He shouted.

"I know and I'm sorry-" I tried to say.

"We can fix this we just have to find the witch right?" He asked frantically.

"No. The only way to break the curse is by the will of the one that signed with blood. My mother. It will end when she dies. When that happens so will I."

"W-what that hell do you mean?!"

"It was the price of the curse she said. To be forever bonded with her. Our blood is intertwined. My last breath will be hers and hers will be mine." I explained slowly.

He sat there quiet for a while processing everything most likely trying to figure out a way around this but there wasn't one.

This was our tragic love story.

"What happens if we spend all three months unmated?"

"The closer to the end the more we'll be drawn towards each other. It's already unheard of mates being so close and not mating within the first month of meeting. That's why we go into heat. It's the moon goddess way to push along the mating process."

"So rejecting each other is the only way?"

"It's the only thing I could think of to counteract it. It most likely wouldn't last for long I would have to leave. Or perhaps the curse would still be active and the count down would be still continue on." I said sharing my thoughts.

We sat in silence letting him gather his thought before I spoke again.

"I-I never wanted to meet you...I never even wanted to tell you. I just never wanted to have to see that look on your face." I said quietly.

"Don't say that."

"I don't regret meeting you for a second. I deserved to know the truth. You've had to carry this burden on you for so long... I wish you would have told me sooner." He said with disappointment laced in his voice.

"What would it have done? We're destined for tragedy! For heartache! For destruction! The day I walked into your life was the day the clock started ticking. We're a walking time bomb ready to explode why can't you see that?" I exclaimed.

"I see that and so much more. You say we were destined for tragedy? For heartache? For destruction? No all I see is that we're destined to love one another. To stand by each other's side. To stand against the odds. The day you walked into my life it felt like my life finally began. You say it was when the clock startes ticking till my end but no it was our beginning. We can get through this because there's no way in hell this how our story is supposed to end." He stated.

"And if it is?" I asked quietly.

"Than I'm glad I got to spend it with you Snowflake."

"You mean that don't you." It wasn't a question it was a statement because there wasn't a shred of doubt in his eyes.

"With every part of my heart."

"I'm scared. And I've never been able to tell anyone that before." I admitted with a slight chuckle.

"I would be lying if I said I wasn't." He said with a small smile. "Do you mind telling me the rest?"

I nodded and continued.

"I was branded. From that day on I was considered her pet." I spat out like venom.

I moved so he could see the words written in Latin along my hip.

"Memento mori?" He pronounced in poor Latin.

"Remember that you will die." I chuckled.

"She-"

"She made me learn Latin"

"Told me that every day until I finally got it. So I tattooed 'Vive ut vivias' over the top." I said lifting where my hand covered the rest of the quote.

"Live so you may live. It's a double-edged sword like the first one. I live so she can or I live so one day I can finally live. Live a life I've always wanted with you." I said squeezing his hand.

"I passed out during the branding. I woke up in the car and she explained the curse to me. I remember just laying in the backseat numb I didn't want to believe her. Nothing made sense. When we made it back to the hotel I learned she had drugged our dinner the night before so we would sleep in that morning. I cried into Apollo's chest the entire night. The next day we went back home and I told Apollo everything. From that day on he promised he would find a way to break the curse."

"He's always been protective over me...would get furious if I turned away his help," I said beginning to play with my fingers.

"You do it to protect him don't you?"

"I've always felt the need to shield him it only increased after dad passed. Mom got abusive...she became the mayor of our town and we had appearances to uphold. She expected a lot out of Apollo and Athena she rarely laid her hands on them and any time they did do something I would take their blows. That didn't help them mentally though."

"By the age of seven, she told reporters that I was sick."

"Sick? Sick how?"

"Mentally...physically. She would send me to school with bandages and something there were too much to cover up entirely so of course people talked and asked questions so she said that I was getting treatment that's why I had the bandages and missed school on the days she would leave me bloody on the basement floor. It also explained my "episodes" in school... I got into fights often. Kids were mean. Even if I was the mayor's daughter I had "problems" so they thought it was okay to talk about me. I honestly tried to ignore them but when they spoke poorly about Apollo or Athena I defended them. It also became known I disliked being touched. Even now I don't like too much physical contact from those I don't know that well. I think it came from being in that helpless state during the branding not being able to do anything." I said looking into the fire.

"So Jenny Boats?"

"She called me mummy girl because of the bandages then said that my mother hated me that's why she beats me." I chuckled.

"I mean she wasn't wrong and that's why I lashed out. I always had a reason. I hate to admit it but I have a bit of an anger problem. Diana is the one that harbors all of my anger that's why she gets full rain when we shift."

"They said you shifted when you were ten...protecting Apollo." He asked cautiously.

I nodded my head.

"We had tried to tell the police," I said pulling my knees closer to me.

"It was a stupid idea but Athena was getting worse she couldn't control her powers so she was constantly flooded with emotions and thoughts that weren't her own. This caused her to get fevers. I tried to help her the best I could but it didn't help that because of my mother's anger towards me it made Athena lash out at me often."

"So I waited for when she laid her hands on me again this time it had been an interview I screwed up. They were asking me questions and I refused to answer them I just glared. They were asking about my treatment and mental health asking if I should even be attending school. I refused to ever admit that I was as crazy as my mother made me out to be. So when we got home she reminded me just why I hated attending interviews."

"She left me down in the basement that night and Apollo snuck down to see me. They weren't allowed to go down there it was our place. It was one thing we could agree on. I didn't want them to see me down there. Behind the red door, I was a weak girl trying to summon the boldness that got me there in the first place. When he found me I was tucked away underneath the stairs." I chuckled.

"It was a pathetic hiding place but it gave me time to fix myself before having to face her. I was surprised to hear Apollo calling out my name. I didn't want him to see me like I was I never wanted him to see the full extent even if he could feel it. When he found me I tried to muffle my sobs even though no tears would fall maybe I was just trying to muffle my screams. I wanted it to stop. Apollo was so angry he just kept pulling me into his chest tighter and tighter as if he could smother it all away. Then he said we would go to the police and it would be over. We'll get a new mom. One that loved us. He said we'll be able to be happy again. In that moment I believed it. Nothing told me not to. It was dumb thinking it would be that easy."

"The next day instead of going to school the three of us walked to the police station. I didn't wear any bandages that day just a hoodie. I wanted to be able to show proof. I figured my black eye, busted lip, and the bruises covering my stomach would be enough. When we got there and they thought we were looking for our mom. Maybe it was then. When they saw the fear in Apollo's eyes at the mention of her or maybe it was the flinch my body made or even when Athena hid behind Apollo's legs that hinted something was wrong. Apollo asked to talk to the Captain.

"The Captain wasn't there. They gave us a random sergeant instead. Sergeant Higgles Athena laughed at his name said it sounded like Giggles...he said he got that a lot. He took us to the back an empty room it was cozy. He asked if we wanted some hot chocolate it was winter and I was shivering it was in fear not from the cold. But I said yes and he told me that he liked to put peppermint candy canes in his cocoa. I thought it was weird but he said it soothes his nerves and that sounded like exactly what I needed at the moment. So he left and when he came back he was on the phone. He apologized said it was his fiancé she was in the navy and would be coming back next month for their wedding."

"He was young maybe 26, still liked his job, looked like he was in love with his fiancé as the smile never disappeared from his face as he spoke of her. At that moment I decided I wanted to be as happy as him one day. He was chatty and even answered Athena when she asked if they would have babies. His eyes gleamed as he said he wanted to adopt like his parents did for him. His parents sounded like good people. Another thought came to mind I wondered if he would adopt us. In those few seconds, I imagined being Artemis Higgles army brat with a mom saving the world and a dad that liked peppermints in his hot cocoa and smiled a lot." I said smiling at the thought.

"Apollo wasn't having it though we came there for a reason and it wasn't to play make-believe. So Apollo said bluntly that Our mother was abusing us and that made Higgles jump from his seat and eyes bulge. He began stuttering and in his eyes, I saw confusion not disbelief and I was grateful for that. I pulled down my hoodie that had been covering most of my face. I then stood up and pulled up my shirt so he could see the extent of the bruising. I told him I wasn't sick just had a sick and twisted mom. He was speechless for a moment but then jumped into action grabbed the station's nurse to treat my wounds. He didn't seem like he wants to leave us in the room with her but he said he had to get the right paperwork. The nurse wasn't nice. Put on the bandages too tight and didn't speak or look me in the eyes once." I said picking at my nails.

"Higgles came back and said he had called the Captain and needed us to tell him in detail what happened. I started to tell him and everything was going fine... too fine for me, and something in me told me to stop. That something was wrong and this was a mistake. I wanted to leave didn't want to talk anymore I started to tug on Apollo's sleeve because what were we thinking our mom was the mayor it couldn't be this easy they couldn't just arrest her they wouldn't just arrest her. Apollo gave me a look though that said to stop. That it was fine and we had to do this, but then the door opened and it was the Captain. For a moment Higgles looked relieved I think he really wanted to help us, but then my mom walked in behind him and she wasn't in handcuffs."I said shaking my head.

"She was in her red stilettos and not a hair was out of place. We froze. Or maybe only I did in that moment she was talking but I was drowning. My ears were flooded with water and I continued to watch her red lips move and the frown in between her eyebrows deepened. I don't know how much time had passed but when I focused back in the room the Captain was gone and Higgles was standing protectively in front of us. Mother was laughing though. She crossed the room so quickly too fast for a mere human to react so it wasn't much of a shock when she had Higgles by the throat feet dangling off the ground. Athena screamed and my mom shushed her. Her other hand still held onto her purse as she dropped it onto the table she swiftly grabbing my arm dragging me in front of Higgles. She placed me in front of her so I had front row seats watching him try and pry away her hand while tears ran down his cheeks." I grimaced.

"I told her to stop and she told me to beg for his life. And I did because he was kind because he believed that I wasn't crazy because he was in love because he was going to adopt because he gave me hot cocoa with peppermints to calm my nerves and because he had a future in being happy with his soon to be wife." I rambled.

"He began to gasp and loosen his grip on her hand so I closed my eyes I didn't want to see this but she told me to open my eyes open them or she would make Apollo and Athena watch as well. So I watched and I screamed and begged and she said you know pet, sometimes you can beg all you want in life and you still won't get what you want. I learned that the hard way and now you will too. And then she broke his neck I watched as he took his last breath as his body fell limp on the floor and his head angled just right so he was staring directly at me.  I tried to go to him to heal him but it was too late and I knew that but I needed to try. She yanked me around and told me he was dead there was no point. I yelled at her you killed him you did this he didn't have to die. And she said Yes he did everyone you come across will die eventually because all you do is cause disaster and misery. His death is on you." I recited shaking my head to rid the negative thoughts.

"She told us it was time to go and Apollo and Athena walked behind us quietly maybe they were in shock or they knew what was good for them was to stay quiet. I refused I pulled and screamed my head off as we walked through the police station everyone turned away from us even as I screamed for them to help. I screamed that she was crazy that she was hurting us and that someone needed to help Higgles. I begged and pleaded for help but like she said it didn't matter and no one listened." I frowned.

" Mother stopped at a women's desk it was the nurse she said thank you for notifying me Ms. Boats tell Jenny I said hello. She then grabbed something from her hands and before I knew it I felt pressure on my neck and I wasn't fully unconscious but I was drowsy and calm. I could hear her calling it another episode with fake sorrow in her voice. She made Apollo hold me up and once we reached the car I laid my head across his lap. I tried to focus on the steady strokes Apollo's hand sent through my hair instead of the crack of Higgles neck in my mind. The drug would wear off by the time we got home it was made for humans after all."

" As soon we got through the door she grabbed me by my hair. She was screaming asking whose idea it was to go to the police. I said it was mine and told Apollo and Athena to go to their rooms and I would check on them later. Apart of me felt like I deserved to be punished. For not thinking of the consequences. For underestimating my mother. For letting her kill that nice man." I said squeezing my eyes shut.

"Apollo and Athena had run off to their rooms and mother continued yelling and slapping me. Suddenly I heard Apollo's singing, it was a soft melody, it was supposed to calm her down but it seemed to just piss her off. I was on the ground and watched as she walked across the room and swiftly grabbed Apollo by his throat lifting him from the ground. In that moment I saw Higgles I thought she was going to kill my twin as she did to him and at that point, I snapped. It was painful but at the time I didn't focus on that at all. Next thing I knew I was watching through Diana's eyes as she was on top of our mother. I got a good scratch across her face covering her cheek leaving a scar before she turned into her wolf. I put up as much of a fight as I could until I could do nothing but submit she ended up leaving the house didn't come back for an entire week. My guess would have to be to get her wounds treated. Cause I was sure as hell wasn't going to heal her. Meanwhile, Apollo wasn't able to talk for days she had damaged his windpipes I healed it just enough that it wouldn't have lasting effects." I looked at Aaron who seemed to be contemplating which question to ask first.

"How'd she explained the scar?"

"Family camping trip gone wrong. Protected her three children from a wolf attack this single mother can do it all aren't we lucky to have her as a mayor?! At least that's what the newspapers read." I chuckled.

"She didn't touch me for weeks. I don't think she was scared though perhaps just being cautious."

"And you and Apollo..."

"We were drugged weren't we?" I asked already knowing the answer.

"Yes that's Athena's theory"

"He returned to the house then?"

"Yeah, he's a mess, Snow. He says he didn't mean it."

"I know," I said letting tears fall.

"How does it feel...when you turn it off."

"Numb. Incomplete. Unbalanced. It's like missing a limb something that's always there isn't anymore and your brain has trouble comprehending that."

"That explains the weather than"

"Yeah," I said simply.

"How come you did it the first time. Athena mentioned it had something to do with his first shift."

"Yeah, he lost his debate costing his team the national title. It was his first time losing anything really. Apollo knew our mother's expectations for him and he carried them out almost flawlessly. But that day he was off his game I assume you can relate that the day of your first shift your restless and tense. It showed in the debate and it cost him the win. It didn't help that mother was in his head telling him if he didn't win he wouldn't be let out that night so he was scared and worried."

"Mother was livid. Something to do with the national title helping with her reelection or something. Apollo was shaking the whole car ride home and once we got home she dragged him down to the basement and chained him down there. He was down there for hours waiting while I counted down until the moon would rise. I could feel his fear his anxiety. When evening came Mother came to my room telling me to get dressed she said we had a dinner party to attend. I tried to ask about Apollo how he could go with us, he always went to dinner parties with her. He and Athena were her trophies while I was her sympathy card. She ignored me and Athena and I ended up sitting at a table with all the town representatives with no Apollo."

"I watched as she smiled and laughed with the townspeople like her son wasn't in her basement suffering, panicking, because now he was there alone. He wasn't going to be able to properly shift even if he was able to break out of the silver chains he wouldn't make it past the silver door keeping him locked in. Apollo didn't deserve to suffer he was always good trying to do his best for our mother and yet that still wasn't enough."

"So I excused myself to the bathroom and snuck out the window and ran home. Once I got home I unlocked the basement door using the password I knew by heart. When I got down the stairs Apollo was curled up sobbing and rocking himself back and forth. I went to him calmly once he notice my presents he begged for my help. My baby brother thought he had to beg for my help..." I said buying my lip.

"I had gotten the keys from my mom's office to unlock his chains and helped him get outside. The moon was out now and I helped him ease into the shift. That night we ran together and it's one of the fondest memories I share with my brother." I sighed.

"Mother was there when we got back we were only able to get back on our undergarments before we were yanked into the house and thrown down the basement stairs. She was screaming about disobeying her and saying that I humiliated her. Supposedly the townspeople at the party didn't think kindly about her losing her sick daughter. She told Apollo that he should know better than to disobey her. Her word was law and when laws are broken then theirs always a consequence. She chained me by my neck and wrist facing the wall while Apollo stood across the room pleading and apologizing to deaf ears."

"I could hear her grab the whip from the wall and then began pouring something into a bucket. It was wolf bane she soaked the whip into the poison and told Apollo to count each strike and if he stopped she would start over. Through our bond, we can indeed feel each other's emotions and pain but if the bond is strong enough you can share wounds especially if they're nearby. I remember telling him to turn the other way that he shouldn't see this. He just kept apologizing to me and mom then she strikes. I remember the burning sensation as my skin split into two and the acid seeped into the wound mixing into the blood. He didn't count the first time so she did it again Apollo screamed that time in pain though. Something shifted in me I focused on Apollo's scream and the need to protect him and i was able to turn it off. I don't think he noticed it at that moment I wasn't completely sure what I had done. She said she would go to fifteen but we didn't stop until thirty-five because Apollo kept choking on his sobs. I could hear what was happening but I was completely out of it. I laid there limp and then I ended up passing out."

"Apollo said he thought I died once he realized he couldn't feel me anymore and began to panic his screams ended up shattering the windows in the house. He thought I was dead for nearly thirty minutes. Obviously, in his panicked state, he didn't bother checking for a pulse even if it was faint. When I came to I explained what I had did to him and I said I didn't regret it. In his eyes, I wasn't being fair. He said it was supposed to be his punishment in the first place and I shouldn't have had to suffer for him. I disagreed and he told me to turn it back on but I refused I didn't want to risk it. He didn't talk to me for three days and then it was too much for us we had to reunite because our bodies reacted negatively to not having its other half. He made me promise not to do that to him again. So tonight- I had to respect his wishes- i- we're not supposed to use our powers on each other. That's what dad always said but... I don't know what I'm doing anymore Aaron!" I exclaimed.

"I've never known what to do. And they look to me when times are hard when they need advice, but I've been drowning ever since we fell in that water." I rambled

"Hey look at me. You're not drowning anymore okay? I've got you. I'll be your life jacket for you to float. I'll be your floaties. I'll be your ears when the water makes everything muffled. I'll be your eyes if you can't see. I'll be everything and more for you Snow. All that matters is that we'll be there for each other. No more secrets. Don't hide from me Snow, please. Because I'll go above and beyond to find you again. Your worth the journey because your worth fighting for." he said wiping away my tears.

"Thank you."

"No more secrets," I said holding out my pinky.

"You and me against the odds," he said linking our pinkies.

"Until our dying breathes."

"And for years to come," he said resting our foreheads together.

"There's one thing I've never told Apollo or Athena. About the night mom left us."

"She left you?"

"Yeah. We were fifteen Apollo and I while Athena was twelve. She took us on another vacation just along the border of California. Whenever we went out of town I could never sleep and I never ate any food she offered us. I didn't want what she did to happen again so I stayed guarded. Apollo hated it and would try and sing me to sleep some nights and he'd promise to keep watch."

"That night I told Apollo I would be fine and of course as soon as I closed my eyes I heard the door close. We were staying in a two-bedroom motel us three in one room and my mother in the other. I looked over to Athena and Apollo only to see them deep in sleep still. Usually, if I moved at all Apollo would wake up and check on me but as I slipped out of the bed, he didn't move an inch. That's when I knew she did something. I ran outside only to see her leaning against the car sipping on a smoothie."

Flashback

"What are you doing out here?" I asked.

"I knew you would find me, after all, you didn't eat dinner did you?" she said with a smirk.

"What the hell are you doing out here," I said firmly.

"Now what have I told you about that mouth of yours," she said shaking her head.

I stayed quiet deciding to wait for her response.

"I'm leaving. The real question is are you coming with me?"

"What do you mean you're leaving? And why would I leave with you!" I exclaimed.

"Because your life is mine.-"

"My life is my own! I'm not your damn pet." I growled.

"We both know that's not true. You live for those two, don't you? That's why you won't come with me."

I tightened my fist. "Trust me there's a multitude of other reasons to not be with you for the rest of my life," I said as she simply rolled her eyes.

"It's your choice," she said with a shrug.

"You can't leave them. They have a future they can go places. They need-"

"They need me?" she said smugly.

"They need your money," I said sharply.

"Here," she said shoving cash into my hand and her smoothie.

"I taught you how to survive now don't disappoint girl."

"You taught me how to survive you! Not the fucking world! You're just gonna throw us away because your bored?! You're supposed to be our mother!" I yelled.

"The world is tough it'll knock you down, bruise you, spit in your face, and still have the sunshine down on you the next day as if nothing happened. You have something to live for so let that help you get through the rainy days because the world's not gonna pity you when you fall down." she lectured.

I shook my head and looked down at the pavement.

"Did you ever love them?" Us... I asked looking back up to see her face.

She was looking down at the golden charm bracelet she never took off. It had exactly six charms on them each of them a different letter with moon phases none of them reached the full moon many stayed the crescent moon while two were half-moons. I remember asking about it when I was little she "accidentally" slammed the car door on my fingers and watched as I screamed in the supermarket parking lot. She pulled me into her chest for anyone watching and she whispered harshly into my ears to never ask about it ever again. And I made sure I never bring it back up again especially since my middle finger never healed properly. Adding a slight bend to the finger.

She turned away to face the driver's side door and upon opening it she said "Take care of them."

"Fuck you. We don't need you! Leave! I can take care of them without you or anyone! We don't need shit from you or anything else." I screamed as she got into the car and even after she pulled off.

Once I was done I went back into the motel and put down the smoothie and cash onto the counter. I looked at the receipt that was still attached to the smoothie cup on the back it said Good luck.

At the time all I did was laugh. I looked at Apollo and Athena sleep peacefully and I knew they were my everything. I vowed to make sure they got every single opportunity they could obtain. We didn't need her this was a blessing in disguise we'd survive this.

Present time

"So that's why you dropped out of school?" Aaron asked.

I nodded my head.

"I tried to go for the first year. We were able to forge our paperwork and I got a little job cleaning up hair at a salon. We ended up having an accident though our first year by out selves Athena had just turned 13 and had her first shift that was hell. We ended up having to move. We decided to go to Los Angeles, I decided it would make more sense to drop out and get a full-time job especially since Apollo and Athena we're able to get a scholarship at some preppy school." I explained.

"Why'd you decide not to tell them?" he asked.

I shrugged.

"Apart of me didn't want them to feel as if they weren't wanted. Even though we were all abandoned I think that would have been another sting. Another part of me didn't want them to have any doubt in their mind. I didn't want them to ever think that I would leave them that I always had some kind of backup plan if they got too much to handle. I didn't want them to feel like I didn't need them. Because every part of me needed them by my side their smiles, laughter, jokes, and teasing kept me going. I don't regret my decision at all. I did the best I could and-"

"You raised them well," he said confidently.

I chuckled.

"I wouldn't go as far to say I raised them. Trust me those two took care of themselves they just had my support."

"But they did that by watching you," he said.

I looked at him confused.

Hs chuckled.

"You just don't know how much of an impact you have on people do you? Especially your siblings," he said pulling me closer into his chest.

"Turn it back on, Snow. Stop punishing yourself, trust me you don't deserve it," he whispered into my ear.

"But Ap-" I began.

"Needs you like you need him. Forgive yourself because I'm sure Apollo already has," he said pulling me away to look at my face.

"...okay." I closed my eyes and focused on finding Apollos energy just behind the door I stored it behind. Once I opened it I was flooded by emotions and pain.

Pain.

My eyes snapped open finding Aaron's worried face.

"Somethings wrong we have to go."

Apollo

I was awake that night. When she left.

Your superstition got to me and I only ate half of my dinner. When I woke up you weren't beside me and I freaked.

I watched from the window as you screamed at our mother. I watched as you screamed on the pavement as she drove away. And all I could do is watch as you collapsed. I'd never seen you crack before and I felt like you needed that moment to yourself because if I went to comfort you you would have tried to be strong for me.

I ran back into the room once you headed back inside.

How many times has this happened? You could never tell when I was really sleeping or not and I would just listen to all of your worries you were too afraid to tell me in the light of day. So I would listen as your laughs turned into cries and your anger into thunder then as your anger turned into fear. Fear of yourself.

You would hold my hand so tight, just like now. I want to squeeze back like always. I want to be there for you. I want to apologize to you for always leaning on you when my anxiety got too much. For letting you make such stupid decisions by yourself.

I'll make it back to you using my own strength this time Sis. Don't worry. I'll come back to you.

And we'll laugh again. Together.

Authors Note

Hey Loves! That was....a lot huh? You now know about the trio's past well the important parts at least. Trust me they have so many other stories about growing up with their mom and especially after being away from her.

Sooooo any thoughts?

Can you see why the trios are so close and why they act the way they do? Especially Artemis...

Any theories?

Music that describes this chapter?>>

Let me know!

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