Artemis

Chapter Three

(Photo of new character you will begin to meet this chapter, for now, "the man outside the door")

When I finally regain sense of reality after my taunting sleep full of tosses and turns, I realize Alpha Zeus still has not returned to what I am assuming is his home. I decide to not waste away the day because I will for sure get to thinking and thinking will do me no good right now.

After my brief morning ritual I pad down the hard wood stairs, the coolness seeping from my toes upwards, goosebumps forming on my legs. I poke my head around one corner and find a lounge room of sorts, with leather couches and ottomans.

I mosey around and find many extra bedrooms, all very eloquent, and many rooms you would expect in a home, all very standard-exceeding like the bedrooms.

Without warning, my stomach lets out a low moan. Werewolves are not a species to go without food for long. Nourishment is key to keeping up our exceedingly good stamina and strength.

As I search for the kitchen, Hera and I converse.

I can tell you're trying to avoid me, Hera deadpans.

Well...yes. All you remind me of is our mate, and I can't seem to fully except that predicament, I explain.

Hera starts, He's our mate. Rival or not, you know I need him. I roll my eyes, having heard this whine dozens of times already this morning. You know you need him, Hera finishes.

Just leave me to decide for myself. You're the animal in this, I snap, feeling immediate guilt but not giving in an apologizing. I felt Hera withdrawal to the back of my mind.

I finally snoop out the kitchen and run my fingers on the cool Quartz countertops. As I'm about to open the fridge to search for some needed protein, I pick up a hint of Alpha Zeus' scent. The small hairs on the back of my neck prickle and I slowly retreat from the fridge and wait casually.

A heartbeat later, a set of double doors on the opposite side of the kitchen swing open.

"Did you eat?" His deep voice asks curtly.

Surprised that Alpha Zeus even addressed me, I hesitate before answering. "No, I just was going to cook breakfast....Would.. Would you like any?"

"There's no need to cook. I will have one of our cooks make you a meal," Alpha Zeus stated, ignoring my previous question. My wolf was feeling the pressure of him being our Alpha and me not formally addressing him, mate or not, so I did just that, with a bow of my head.

"Yes, Alpha Zeus."

When this was said I couldn't help but notice his eyes flashed with anger and me having a minuscule panic attack because of the mood swing.

"Don't. Don't call me that. Call me Zeus," Alpha Zeus gritted out.

This was very strange to me, but dare I go against this cruel mans wishes. "Yes, Zeus," I clarify.

My tone was still very stiff, formal, and hinting at frightened and his eyes deepened in color.

Zeus took an almost non existent step towards me causing me to flinch back. He set his chiseled jaw and turned to leave.

I thought my mate was going to leave without a word, so I was shocked when I heard his voice as the double doors slammed.

"Let the cook know how you like your eggs."

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My belly was now full and happy, after the delicious breakfast made by Zeus's personal chef. It was an older man, with a layer of chub but an angry face. He furiously cooked and spoke no words to me except his name which was Spurgeon, and asking what I liked. I couldn't catch a break with my new pack mates, for they seemed to all be cruel people.

A pang of sadness hit me as I thought about Kristina. My best friend. As good as I know her, I know she is sulking around also. We need each other.

I'm still stuck in the dingbat stage, not accepting what is. It hasn't sunk in that I am destined to be mated to Alpha Zeus, the man with the cruelest rumors surrounding him, and the man with a demeanor to match them. I have accepted the fact that I am now a member of his pack for the naive Andrew, my previous Alpha, relinquished all his power to Zeus. But his mate? My brain is in over-drive processing this life-altering news.

Currently sitting Indian-style on a loveseat in the lounge, it is all starting to hit me.

I am supposed to be Luna of this, my, pack. Negative thoughts swirl, like how on Earth did the Goddess pick ME to be a Luna?, but Hera quickly squashes them, reassuring me that fate doesn't mess up an there is a reason. You can't argue with fate. But what kind of sin did I commit to deserve such a man as Zeus? A mate who is very well incapable of love, something mates are supposed to provide each other.

This new thought causes anger within me and I itch to go on a run. I hadn't attempted to exit the mansion yet, and I figure I have nothing to lose.

When I twist the front door knob and fling it open, I am met with the back of a vicious looking male wolf. I give him a once over, his chocolate skin sprinkled with scars.

"Luna, you are to stay in the home until Alpha says you may leave at your own free will," the man states in a tone that would put the grinch to shame.

I suppress my anger and ask why.

"There are dangers in this territory. You shouldn't be loose on your own, Luna," the wolf hisses, emphasizing Luna with no respect.

"This man can't keep me here like a dog!" I counter, tiring of these cruel people. They didn't even know me.

"You are a dog, bitch," he sneers.

I gape and get a burst of anger and slam the door. How dare Zeus trap me? He doesn't even acknowledge me as his mate, doesn't seem to give two shits about me, but locks me up for safety?

Maybe this is his twisted way of showing he actually does care. As this thought enters my mind, Hera yips in agreement.

The thought that there may be a sliver of emotion in the sadistic mate of mine causes a split-second quirk of my mouth before I sigh, defeated, and slink back to my room to nap it out.

Tomorrow I decide, I will try to have a conversation with my oh so lovely mate.