The Protected Luna

She Frays And She Snaps.

Artemis

"So you're pregnant huh?" Lana asked giddily as she, Bria, Beatrice and I gathered around Everice on my bed.
Everice blushed and nodded her head. "My period was late and I was getting a bit of morning sickness so I took a pregnancy test. I found out just the other day. Todd was ecstatic! And just a little worried. With all the things that have happened with Adeline, Rupert and Marcus he's worried for his pup. I am too."

"Hey, you don't have to worry about anything," Bria assured her. "We're not gonna let anything happen to you or your pup."
"Absolutely," Beatrice chimed in. "We'll protect you Everice. After all you're not just the female Beta, you're also the only one out of the five of us who mastered the art of applying Egyptian makeup."

We all nodded in agreement and Everice smiled before placing her hand on her stomach. "My pup is lucky. He has not one, but four aunts who already love him so much. Thank you girls."
"No problem. Now let's go back down before Todd thinks we're monopolizing his mate and pup," Lana giggled. "Come on Art."
"Go on without me, I'll catch up. I just need to pee," I told her.

They nodded and walked out of the room white chattering excitedly. When they left I quickly did my business and washed my hands. As I did I felt beads of sweat gathering on my neck and face. It must be from the summer night heat. Sitting on the edge of the bed I switched the AC to a lower setting and tilted my head up to the vents.

Within minutes I felt myself cooling down and closed my eyes, enjoying the sensation. But after a while I started to shiver and my pores raised on my arms. Now it was too low. Opening my eyes I picked up the remote and turned it back to twenty six degrees.

Hearing the sound of pups' laughter outside I got up and went to stand at the window to gaze into the courtyard where the pups could be seen, running around and playing with each other while some wolves danced to the music with their mates. I smiled at the sight. This was my pack. Mine and Dimitri's. And those were our wolves. We were responsible for their care and protection and they respected and adored us as their leaders.

In all my wildest dreams—or horrific nightmares—I never imagined this is where I would be one day. A Luna, a mate, a daughter and sister-in-law and now an aunt. I felt so blessed, so fortunate, so... happy. I've never been afforded much happiness in my life. Every time something good happened to me something bad would inevitably follow, like stormclouds after a sunny day.

When I met Bria and Lana and became friends with them Tali and Barbara betrayed me. When I reconciled with my father and found my mate I was rejected the next day and tormented for two years by him. When I met Dimitri I was unable to accept him right away because the pain and suffering I went through left such a big impact on me I couldn't open my heart to anyone else.

Then when I was finally starting to live my life and be happy Presha comes and brings a new problem with her. In the quest to retrieve the amulets I was humiliated by Deidre and Lisa, Dimitri and I fought and drifted apart. And after we reconciled I was kidnapped, held captive, tormented and raped.

So yes, with every sliver of happiness comes a whole chunk of pain.

"Artemis where are you? The fireworks are about to start," Beatrice said in the mindlink. "Also Dimitri is looking for you."

"I'll be right down," I said as I turned to leave my room.

Now that Dimitri was back I was going to make him talk. He knew something. My father and Grandma Kristen knew something too. Whatever it is they talked about had something to do with me, I just know it. And I was going to find out if it killed me. Just as I opened the door I gasped and took a few steps back. "Y..you? Wh..what are you doing here?"