Artemis

Chapter Five

I look at Gabriel's back and curse in my head. I hate fighting. All I can hope for is that I'm able to take care of myself.

We eventually reached a field groomed with short grass.

"Line up, little girl." he spat at me, throwing in a subtle push.

I obtained my footing and took a couple steps north towards two other wolves I saw. Both male, and both big. As they bowed in respect, I glowered.

"Pup, you will fight... him." Gabriel pointed at the larger of the two wolves with too much enthusiasm. 

"You're not going to show me anything?" I inquire.

"Let's see what Bluegrass is all about," the beta says.

As we begin to circle each other, I realize I am screwed, but I have a wolves' pride and I will not back away from a fight.

"Fight," Gabriel commands calmly. His demeanor is joyous.

The wolf rockets towards me and delivers a blow so hard to my chest I can't breath. I stagger, but I don't fall. I try to use my basic fighting skills I was taught, but they are no match for an Olympian wolf. Blows, kicks, body slams, and snarls later, I am on my back bloodied and bruised. I don't feel anything for the pain is numbing.

"Cease," Gabriel commands as the wolf goes in for a final slam that surely would have left me unconscious.

He stops his molestation and gives me a grim look, but who am I to blame? He is following his superior.

I try to stand up when they trio walks away leaving me behind on the grass. I stumble and get dizzy, realizing I lost a lot of blood. My vision is impaired from the swelling of my face and my left arm is surely broken.

I suck it up and walk back to the mansion having to tap into Heras energy. That was no training session. That was a mugging. I'm not going to show them how weak I am. I heave myself into a cold bath and watch the water turn red. Sleep seems so peaceful.

I wake up with a splash to hear the door slam. I scramble as fast as I can and see my arm is still very crooked. Just as a slip on a enormous shirt I was provided, steps are echoing outside the bathroom door.

"Dinner?" Zeus's gruff voice calls.

"No, thank you," I call back.

I hear a growl, me thinking he was mad I refused the offer of food. Then the door rips open.

"Why does it smell like bloo-" he starts, until his eyes swing to me and the red bath water. "What the fuck happened to you?" he bellowed.

"I trained," I cooly replied.

"I never gave that order! You look like shit!" Zeus bellowed at me. I clearly showed the hurt on my face when he mentioned my physical appearance. As if he cared a fraction, his face softened ever so slightly and he said, "I mean your injuries are awful. Who took you training?"

Not wanting the beta to hate me more I just avoided the question.

"WHO?" Zeus growled at my indifference.

"Well, Beta Gabriel, but he-" I began.

"Brother," Zeus snarled out and stormed away. I looked down at my feet and soon heard a door slam.