Of Demigods and Monsters (Leo Valdez x Reader)

XL

You

"Wolves," I said.

"They sound close," Piper commented, looking a little wary.

I immediately stood up and took the clasp from my necklace, watching as it transformed into a sword. Jason flipped his coin, which happened to turn into a sword. Piper tried to follow us to stand, but she seemed a little wobbly on her feet.

"Stay here," Jason told her. "We'll protect you."

I gave Piper a putting glance, I know she wanted nothing more than to feel useful.

Yet, when I saw the red eyes that appeared at the edge of the cave, I kinda wished that I was sitting back like Piper.

They were wolves. At least a dozen of them that were huge. With thick coats of fur that ranged in colour from blacks to greys. Their sharp canines dripped with saliva as the snarled at us. Yet, the worst thing was the glowing red eyes, full of more intelligence than should have been expected.

One wolf made its way to the front, nearly towering over me. This one has to be at least the size of a horse. It's mouth was stained red, as if it had just made a fresh kill.

Jason took a step forward and said something in Latin. "Mane reversus, aut ego impetum." Somehow I knew he said something along the lines of Stay back, or I will attack. The thing is, I had no idea how I knew that.

The alpha wolf curled his lip. The fur stood up along his spine. One of his lieutenants tried to advance, but the alpha wolf snapped at his ear. Then all of the wolves backed into the dark.

"Dude, I gotta study Latin." Leo's hammer shook in his hand. "What'd you say, Jason?"

Hedge cursed. "Whatever it was, it wasn't enough. Look."

The wolves were coming back, but the alpha wolf wasn't with them. They didn't attack. They waited—at least a dozen now, in a rough semicircle just outside the firelight, blocking the cave exit.

The coach hefted his club. "Here's the plan. I'll kill them all, and you guys escape."

"Coach, they'll rip you apart," Piper said.

"Nah, I'm good."

I kept my sword ready, shifting closer to the others. I didn't want this to turn messy. Soon enough, a dark figure started to come into the cave. None of the other wolves attacked.

"Stick together," Jason said. "They respect a pack. And Hedge, no crazy stuff. We're not leaving you or anyone else behind."

I moved in a little closer to the others, standing in a defensive state. It seemed we all had the same idea and formed what was like a shield around Piper. I tried to focus on the details to stop my nerves from takin over. No matter what I could say, I was terrified.

The wolves parted, and the man stepped into the firelight. His hair was greasy and ragged, the color of fireplace soot, topped with a crown of what looked like finger bones. His robes were tattered fur—wolf, rabbit, raccoon, deer, and several others I couldn't identify. The furs didn't look cured, and from the smell, they weren't very fresh. Yet, I couldn't necessarily say fresh was any better. His frame was lithe and muscular, like a distance runner's. But the most horrible thing was his face. His thin pale skin was pulled tight over his skull. His teeth were sharpened like fangs. His eyes glowed bright red like his wolves'—and they fixed on Jason with absolute hatred.