Artemis wasn't happy and Sol knew it. It was written clearly on her face.

He was sure that he would be getting the silent treatment on the ride home. Either that, or she would leave him at the pack and would attempt to drive herself back to the cabin despite never having got behind the wheel before.

He hadn't told her that she would have to see the pack doctor again on this visit, and now he was sure to pay for it.

She had changed the subject every time Sol had even attempted to bring up the topic of her seeing Clark's pack doctor. Sol didn't miss the way her eyes would simultaneously flash with fear and then confusion, almost as if she herself didn't know why she was so scared about seeking medical attention.

Sol was worried about her and had brought her to Clark's pack under the ruse of visiting his friend when in reality, he had wanted to get her checked out by the doctor.

Artemis had skilfully avoided the matter for a little over a week now and every day, Sol's worry for her health and well-being only multiplied ten-fold.

He wanted...no, needed to know if she was okay, if she

Sol wasn't sure if he would be able to handle someone else being snatched away from him.

He had grown fond of Artemis in the little time that they had spent together, and he was determined to keep it that way, even if it meant lying to her and bringing her to the doctor.

He had no idea what those humans had injected her with, why she had spent so long stuck in her wolf form. He also wondered if she would ever gain her memories back, so far, she knew nothing but her name and the day she was born.

She couldn't even remember her family...if she had any family.

Sol's pack and family had been wrongly snatched away from him. He wouldn't let the same thing happen to Artemis. She deserved to much better.

If there was something wrong then he was determined that they would work through it together but for now, they needed to find out first, even if it meant that she would kill him in his sleep.

That was a risk that he was willing to take. As long as she was alright.

Turning off the sink after having washed his hands with antiseptic handwash, the doctor dried his hands with a paper towel. "I'm going to start off with the standard checks."

"Standard checks?" Artemis asked immediately, her eyes wide as she sat on top of the stretcher, her hands braced on either side of the leather seat.

The doctor pulled out some gloves from a cardboard box and began pulling them onto his hands.

Sol could practically hear Artemis' heart beating erratically from within her chest.

Standing up from the sofa in the doctor's room, Sol moved closer to Artemis so that he was now standing next to her. Rubbing a hand down her back in attempt to calm her down, Sol's heart skipped a beat when she unconsciously leaned closer to him. As if he would protect her if the doctor were to do something.

Artemis had insisted that Sol be present when the doctor while the doctor checked her out. Naturally, the doctor had advised against it but when Sol saw Artemis' face fall in disappointment, he sent one glare to the doctor who then rather eagerly, one might add, ushered the pair into his office.

Sol had the impression that the doctor wanted this appointment over with nearly as much as Artemis did. He was sure that it had nothing to do with her but everything to do with him.

Sol didn't care though.

Once all the regular checks had been carried out, the doctor pushed his chair away from his desk and towards the pair, with Artemis still sat on the bed and with Sol stood stiffly to the side, his arms crossed over his chest, staring at Artemis intently. It was almost as if he was trying to catch something that the doctor had missed.

When the doctor coughed, Sol snapped his head in his direction, his eyes questioning him.

The doctor sat down in his swivel chair and opened up his notepad, taking swift, short notes as he started to question Artemis.

"How are you feeling lately?"

Artemis frowned and turned to face Sol, looking at him expectantly. She didn't say a word and she didn't look at the doctor, she just looked at Sol.

This confused both of the men in the room.

"Artemis, he asked you a question."

Looking away from Sol, she swung her legs that were dangling from the bed, gently back and forth, staring down as she did so. "Alright." She muttered under her breath.

The doctor didn't say anything. He just scribbled it down as he carried on his incessant questioning.

Sol was still confused. Why had she turned to look at him before answering the question? It wasn't like she had ever asked his permission before doing anything before, so why as little as answering a simple question?

"Are you in communication with your wolf after you shifted back into human form?"

Sol noticed how Artemis glanced at him from the corner of her eyes briefly before answering. "No."

Artemis continued to do the same thing during the whole time that they had spent at the doctors, despite how simple and innocent the questions were.

Sol could only imagine that she had a negative experience with a doctor in the past. Sometimes he wished that he could just read her mind to know what she was thinking.

"Can you tell me a little about your family?"

Artemis' long legs stopped swinging at that. She didn't glance at Sol but rather, she looked up from the ground and stared at the doctor. Her frown seemed deep set now. "I don't remember my family. I'm not even sure if I had one."

"You don't remember them?"

She shook her head. "No."

"Well, if you can't remember them then you can't be sure that you don't have a family."

"Why can't I remember them?"

The doctor paused briefly, sneaking a glance towards Sol quickly before he answered, not wanting to over step his boundaries by upsetting the young female wolf. "Sometimes the brain blocks out certain memories due to too much pressure or a difficult situation."

"But I can't remember anything."

"What was the first thing you remember?"

"Sol."

"What?" The doctor asked, surprised with her answer.

"Sol is the first thing I remember."

Sol didn't want to get his hopes up but his heart had skipped a beat when she had first said his name. But he had assumed that he was just hearing things however, after having repeated her answer as per the doctor's request, Sol's heart sorted no matter he willed for it to not.

She needed to heal, and she deserved much more than he could offer her.

She was too good to him.

Sol pushed himself up from the bed so was standing straight and braced one arm down by her side so that he was now towering over her. "You don't remember anything before me?"

Artemis thought silently for a moment. "Everything before you is fuzzy."

It was almost as if the doctor's ears perked up at that. "Can you remember anything before Alpha Solomon? Even if it's something small, it might be important." The doctor urged her, so engrossed in watching Artemis that he missed the glare that Sol sent when he had referred to him as Alpha.

Artemis frowned again. "Apollo."

"What?" Both men sounded out, confused.

"I remember Apollo."

"Who is Apollo?" The doctor was the one to ask the question. Sol stood quietly and just assessed the situation.

Artemis shrugged. "I don't know."

There was something familiar about that name, but neither of them could put their finger on it. Both men shared a look briefly, as if thinking the same thoughts before the doctor went back to questioning Artemis.

-

It was late when they had gotten back to the cabin so Sol had made a quick dinner of pot noodles why she headed upstairs for a shower. They ate quietly in front of the TV before heading upstairs for bed.

When Sol walked out of the shower in just a pair of PJ pants, rubbing a towel through his wet, dark strands of forever unruly hair, his eyes landed on the female buried under his covers, her back facing him.

It had been very strange and uncomfortable at first, having to share everything with Artemis, especially a bed. But now, now it was the norm. He couldn't picture himself being able to sleep without having Artemis by his side, mumbling incoherent slurs in her sleep.

They had both fallen into the routine of Sol checking up on his emails and the hotel business that he owned in the city while Artemis lay beside him on the bed. He would have his laptop propped up on his knee and his back resting against the headboard. Some nights, Artemis would peer at his screen and watch him work silently with her head resting on her shoulder. She would fall asleep like that. Other nights, she snugged into his side and would allow the heat from his body and the sound of his fingers tapping away at the keyboard lull herself to sleep.

She always fell asleep before him.

It was hard to work when she had fallen asleep, as he couldn't keep himself from glancing over at her every other second.

Sol sighed a deep sigh and headed back into the bathroom to dump the damp towel in the laundry basket.

When he returned, he turned off the lights and walked over to the bed. Making sure not to scare her, he slid under the covers slowly. At first, he remained on his side of the bed, lying on his back, just feeling the sound of his own heart beat and listening to the quiet inhalations and exhalations as she breathed softly.

A few seconds later, he found himself shifting under the blankets, his body moving towards hers almost unconsciously. He was like a moth attracted towards the light, the situation relatable since that's exactly what she was.

Artemis had come barrelling into his life unexpected, but not unwanted despite his first thoughts. She had flipped the tables and despite how much he would deny it if he was ever confronted about it, he had really come to care about her.

Pressing his lips against the back of her head, he revelled in the feeling of her silky strands brushing against his face. Pressing his nose into her neck, he inhaled, his wolf jumping with joy at the action.

She smelled like him.

Tightening his arm around her waist and tucking her head under his chin, he placed one last kiss on her head before closing his eyes and allowing scent and feel of her to gently lull him to sleep.

-

Layla Knight 

07.07.18