Days off of school back in primary school and the early days of high school never really mattered. However, in Year Eleven - they matter. After my doctor's appointment, I spent all day drowsy on legal drugs trying to keep up with the work my teachers were sending me, despite my mum's obligations to sleep. 

A knock on the door at midday distracted me from my work. I stood up weakly and walked into the entrance hall as Mum called, "Can you get that, Emma?!"

I pulled on the doorknob and looked from the floor up. Leather school shoes. Black school pants. Untucked white boys' shirt. Pale face. 

Jace Collins. 

I gave him an awkward smile, "Hi. Can I help you?"

He nodded, "I saw you yesterday."

"What?" I took an involuntary step back. Was he in the tree?

"At lunch, at school," he clarified quickly, "Well, actually I heard you."

"Oh... that," I looked down, "I'm sorry for bringing it up."

"No, that's not it at all," Jace hurried, "We wanted to thank you for standing up for us... sort of."

"We?" I repeated, looking back up at him.

Jace glanced over his shoulder. Past him, on the pathway, a fair distance from the house, stood Tommy James. Relaxed with his hands in his pockets. 

I looked back to Jace when he did to me. I nodded slowly, "It was nothing. I started it in the first place anyway."

"You just asked a valid question," Jace shrugged, "No harm in that. Still, thanks."

He offered me a genuine smile before walking away. I began to close the door before Jace's voice stopped me, "Wait, Emma!"

I opened the door back open, "Yeah?"

Jace glanced to Tommy and then back to me, "Would you possibly like to come to Rosie's with Tommy and I?"

Frozen. Now, I was finally thankful for the stupid stomach bug.

"Sorry, I'm actually sick," I said, yawning, "Maybe another time."

I closed the door. 

I'd just been asked to Rosie's by two werewolves? How...? More importantly; why?

***

"You're alive!" a high-pitched voice shrieked and a small person wrapped their arms around me, two days later.

I sucked in a breath, "Get off, Bella."

She held me at arms' length, "You're not contagious, right?"

"No," I confirmed.

Bella grinned, "Perfect. You up for Rosie's this afternoon?"

No.

"Sure," I shrugged reluctantly, "I'll have nothing better to do."

Bella scowled, "You should be coming because you want to, Em. I'm not forcing you into anything."

"I know," I smiled lightly at her. 

Bella's expression transformed, "Come on! Justin's been pestering me all week about you!" She tugged me in the direction of his group.

Sure, he has.

I faked a smile, "I'm coming."

My eyes trailed to the detention block. 

Jace's eyes were friendly on mine. I held his eyes for a long moment before he grinned. I smiled back.

***

I'd never seen this girl before. She had short brown hair that just reached the bottom of her ears. Her green eyes had yellow flecks and were lined with thick rings of dark blue. Her lips were coated in dark purple lipstick. She was as a pretty as Aphrodite, with a small angelic frame. 

How had I never met her before?

She repeated, "Emma Evans? I have something important to tell you."

"I'm so sorry," I spurted, "What's your name?"

She answered stiffly, "Diana Redfern. Like I've said twice already, I have something important to tell you."

"Yeah?" I raised an eyebrow, "What's up?"

She took a deep breath, "You've been away most of this week, right?"

"Y-yeah?" How did she know I've been away when I didn't even know who she was?

She glanced around us and then took a step in closer, "Are you dating Justin Ambrose? You best friends with Bella Welsh?"

"Yes and yes," I shifted my weight from foot to foot.

"Look, um..." she swallowed, "Emma, yesterday, I, uh..."

A thick hand wound around my arm, startling me. It tugged me gently behind the newcomer. I looked up at Tommy. He had his eyes narrowed on Diana, "You said your name was Diana?"

"Yes, Thomas," she said with a small, knowing smile.

Tommy let go of my arm and straightened up, "Diana - the Roman goddess of the Hunt?"

Werewolf. 

Diana pressed her lips together tightly and then nodded, "You guess right, Thomas."

I saw his breathing quicken and his stance tighten, "W-what are you doing here?"

Diana's eyes fell on me, "There's something important I must tell you, Emma."

I nodded slowly. I murmured, "Bella and Justin... Justin's cheating on me, isn't he?"

Tommy's eyes snapped to me in confusion. 

Diana let out a sigh, "I'm so sorry, Emma... I just thought you'd want to know."

"Thank you," I said quietly.

"Now," Diana continued, "Let me reintroduce myself. I'm Lady Artemis, Greek Goddess of the Hunt. And there's a reason why they cheated on you."

***

When the werewolves were revealed to the world, they spoke about their belief in Greek mythology - you wouldn't believe how many swapped religions because of this - and, more importantly, about Lady Artemis. She was the one to create werewolves. Apparently.

But now, she's in front of me in the flesh. 

We were all crowded in the detention room - Artemis, myself, Jace and Tommy. 

I remember something clearly when werewolves were revealed - Artemis has never appeared physically in front of a werewolf. But instead of wanting to worship the ground she walked on, Jace and Tommy looked like they wanted to throttle her. 

I raised an eyebrow, "How did I get involved in this?"

Diana - or Artemis - cast me a small smile, "I said there's a reason why they cheated on you."

"Yeah?" I shrugged slightly. Isn't that why they'd have cheated on me in the first place?

Diana continued, "Do you know much about Bella's family?"

I nodded. We were tied at the hip as kids. 

"How's her uncle?"

My eyes snapped to Diana, "He's fine."

"Does he have any children?" Diana asked.

"Stop asking me questions when you can just tell me the answers I want," I snapped.

Diana chuckled softly and then answered, "I do that often, I'm sorry. Her uncle's a werewolf, you know?"

"Th-that's impossible," I scoffed.

"He was bitten by the Red Tribe pack and survived," Diana continued talking, "Turned him into a werewolf. He married a druid. They decided not to have any kids of their own."

"They aren't wolves," I shook my head, "I've known them my whole life."

"People are good at keeping secrets, aren't they?" Tommy murmured, frighteningly dull. His harsh eyes were focused on only Diana. 

She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, "They are wolves. And since they decided not to have any kids... the only way to keep that generation of wolves going was to give the power to the next kid in the extended family to be born."

"Bella?" I whispered.

"Yes," Diana nodded, "Bella's powers haven't awakened though," she hurried to explain, "Since her parents aren't able to show her the ropes... she doesn't even know she has them."

"Bella," I repeated, loudly, "The girl that despises werewolves."

"Hypocritical, right?" Diana smirked, "And Justin's her mate. They wouldn't have even been able to attempt staying away from each other."

I flinched. To be told that my boyfriend - soon to be ex-boyfriend - and best friend - soon to be ex-best friend - couldn't have even tried to keep their hands off of each other really stung.

"Whilst I'm talking about mates," Diana's face grew into a grin. 

Jace's eyes flashed to hers, "Am I right?"

She nodded slightly, "Your presumptions are... startling. But you're the smartest werewolf I've met in three thousand years. Yes, you are correct."

Jace allowed himself a small smile and leant back in his chair without revealing anything. Tommy exchanged a glance with him, confused. Tommy crossed his arms, examining the pair, "Care to explain to the two who don't know what's going on?"

It took me a moment to realise he'd included me. I was stuck in the middle of this. Last week, there hadn't even been any known werewolves in Crestview. Now? There are three and one doesn't even know. Yet, I've been tossed carelessly into this because my boyfriend decided to cheat on me with my best friend. 

Diana glanced at me and then to Tommy. She smiled gently, "What a coincidence I have the three of you here, huh?"

"Excuse me?" Tommy repeated darkly.

Diana turned straight-faced and serious, "At this moment I would like to reinstate the Blue Heart pack in Crestview. Alpha Thomas, do you agree to the laws-"

"Wait," Tommy stopped her, "You mean to say-"

"I told the two of you to run so your pack could be rescued? Exactly."

"You..." Tommy whispered, "You took my family's lives so that the pack could be saved? The pack is nothing without the family."

"Which is why you'll be such a good Alpha," she pressed on.

"I will not dishonour my sister's name like that," Tommy urged, "She was the born leader of the Blue Heart pack. Not me."

"But she's not here. Do you dare disobey me?"

Tommy's face instantly paled. He reluctantly shook his head, "Sorry, Lady Artemis."

"You will become the next Alpha," Lady Artemis whispered, "Alpha Thomas, do you agree to the laws created by the werewolf council and the human governments?"

"Yes," he murmured unwillingly.

"Beta Jace," Lady Artemis turned her eyes on him, startling him, "do you agree to the laws created by the werewolf council and the human governments?"

"Of course," Jace nodded quickly, awestruck.

She turned to me. I completely dreaded ever getting involved. She asked, "And finally, Luna Emma, do you agree to the laws created by the werewolf council and the human governments?"

I fell off my chair. In shock, I stared up at her from the ground. 

How the fudging hell did I become the Luna of a werewolf pack?

***

Song: Uma Thurman - Fall Out Boy.

AND HERE COMES THE BOOM!

Do you love or hate me right now? 

xx Sharky.