Apollo's Wolves

Chapter Eighteen -- Delta

After Amari came back with Brindin, she introduced me. I actually liked him, although I did warn him that if he was bad to her, I would come after him. Then, as a group, we decided to stay overnight again, just so we could rest.

Breakfast finished up, and we all left the mess hall. I wandered the camp, just looking at everything. They had a small town, which I was rather uncomfortable in; there were so many people! I veered off and headed for less populated areas.

Reyna caught up with me as I was leaving the village. "How do you like Camp Jupiter, Delta?"

I gazed at my surroundings before answering. "It's big."

She smiled. "It is a Roman city." We continued walking through the village.

"I prefer the nice, peaceful, quiet woods."

"You grew up there, didn't you? In the woods?" I nodded. "Your mom was a ..." The praetor trailed off.

"Werewolf," I finished for her. "I'm not ashamed of it, no matter what other demigods think."

She smiled again. "That's good! Don't be ashamed of your heritage."

"I'm learning that. I've always been proud of my werewolf blood, but it was my father that I was disappointed in."

"The Greek god Apollo, correct?"

"Yeah."

"And you're ashamed of that?"

"My mom hated him, so she taught me to hate him. I never wanted to embrace the fact that I'm a demigod because that would mean accepting him."

Reyna nodded. "I see. That makes sense. What changed?"

"I talked with my sister." Why am I spilling my guts to this girl?

"Ah. So you stopped trying to kill her?"

"Yeah."

We walked in silence for a ways. "Can I buy you a hot chocolate?" she asked suddenly, turning tome.

I blinked and raised my eyebrows. "Uh ... what's a hot chocolate?"

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You've never had it?" I shook my head. "Right. Raised in the woods. Come on, then." She led me to a little cafe, and we sat down at a table outside.

A waiter waved to her. "Two, Reyna?"

She waved back. "You got it!" Resting her arms on the table, she leaned forward a little. "I hope you don't mind my questions, I'm just trying to make sure you're not a threat to my people."

I shook my head again as the waiter came out carrying two steaming mugs. "No. I understand. Lyacon would do the same to new wolves." I looked down at the mug of hot brown liquid. "Is it really that good?"

Reyna nodded, already sipping hers. "Yeah, it really is."

I steeled myself, picked up the mug, and took a careful sip. My eyes widened. "Oh, wow!" I sipped some more.

When I put the mug down finally, having drained it, Reyna was smiling once more. "What's next for you, Delta?"

"I don't have a pack to go back to, now that's Mom's dead."

"She died? How?"

I looked down at the ground and kicked at a loose cobblestone. "Lyacon received orders from Gaea to go attack the demigods in the ancient lands, and she went along. One of them killed her."