Olympus' Biggest Mistake

Chapter 8

"Hello lady Artemis. It's good to finally see you." The wolf bowed his head.

Artemis visibly flinched, her eyes focused on the wolf before her, her hunters looked at her with curiosity. Usually, talking animals don't really surprise her, but animals that can talk telepathically is a different story. None of her hunters seemed to have reacted to the wolf greeting a goddess, at least not to her knowledge.

Artemis lowered her bow before taking few steps closer to the wolf just behind Thalia and Kayla. "What is the extent of your abilities?" she questioned catching her hunter off guard. "Is it because I am a goddess that I can hear you but the others cannot?"

The wolf shook his head, "No. I choose who can hear me and who can connect to me telepathically."

"No, that's not possible." Artemis argued. "Monster or guardian beast, those abilities are not within your power."

"What do you mean 'guardian beast'?" the wolf asked tilting his head. "I mean yeah, I look like your average Greek wolf. Guardian beast just sounds weird." he stated oblivious to his own appearance.

"Are you blind, oblivious, or just really testing your luck with sarcasm?" Artemis asked growing frustrated with his answers.

The rather large dark wolf stepped closer causing all to step back except again for Thalia and Kayla. "I can prove it." he said. Artemis nodded her head in approval.

Kayla stared at the wolf with fascination while Thalia couldn't help but feel a sort of attraction towards him. She felt a longing for him and yet she felt that ice cold chill coming from him in waves. She finally brought herself to the real world when she suddenly felt warmer. The wolf had gotten closer to Kayla and herself. Realizing a conversation was happening between Artemis and him.

"Tell your hunter to prepare herself and to think her words instead of speaking them." The wolf looked directly at Thalia, staring into her eyes.

Artemis nodded, commanded her hunters to lower their weapons, and out her own weapon away. "Thalia." Her lieutenant snapped her eyes to her goddess as she spoke. "This wolf would like to prove the extent of his abilities. What ever words you may have, relay them in your thoughts. Understood?"

Thalia could only nod as she looked into the eyes of the wolf once again. "Understood, my lady." Then she heard it. A voice that was both young yet masculine and authoritative spoke a simple hello. "Who are you?" She quickly asked.

"Jack." he responded in a husky amused tone. "You can call me Jack. Your name?"

"Uh, Thalia Grace." Thalia answered distracted by the sheer size and beauty of this black wolf with white strips. "I'm the lieutenant of Artemis and her hunters."

"You seem distracted by something. Could you tell me what it is, I would rather avoid peeking into your mind."

"You. Your just so... so huge."

Jack chuckled at her loss for words. "So that's why Artemis thought I was being rude. I guess this is what happens when Lady Lupa blesses you."

Thalia finally regained her composure after his revelation. "Wait a minute. You were blessed by Lupa?" Jack simply nodded at her question. "The wolf goddess of New Rome?" Another nod before her last question shocked him. "Why would she bless a lycanthrope?"

"Ah, actually, I wasn't always a wolf." Jack responded sheepishly. Would you mind telling your goddess what you've learned for me?"

Just as Thalia explained what she was told she learned that while she was distracted Artemis was accusing Jack of lying about his abilities. Artemis nodded and apologized for her rude accusation.

"Listen up." Jack declared to all of their minds. "This will be the only time I speak to all of you unless absolutely necessary. I have decided to be fully linked to the mind of your lieutenant, Thalia Grace." Gasps were heard as Kayla finally snapped out of her own trance. Honestly, she was a bit jealous of Thalia being linked to this... very attractive wolf. "I hope you can all accept me into your hunt and swear on the Styx to do my best to protect and serve you."

"Wait a moment." Phoebe spoke up. "I thought you were the guardian of this forest."

"You must be the reason no monsters enter this area and the gods cannot peer into it." Artemis stated.

"I was only blessed by the wolf goddess. I don't have the power to shield myself from the eyes of gods." Jack spoke through Thalia. "He says he can understand us but will only talk to me or Artemis." She said although a bit quietly.

"Very well" Artemis responded pleased with a new large wolf added to her pack, "I only have a handful of wolves with us, it would be nice to give them a powerful alpha. However, you will not command the wolves in whatever you wish." Her voice grew commanding and threatening.

"Jack says he only wants to fit in, find a new home and protect his family." Thalia voiced for Jack. "He says we can set up camp here in this clearing and he can lead us out when we're ready."

"Very well, Jack. Then if you don't mind, please catch us some game for dinner. Better than losing my hunters in this forest." Artemis asked understanding how powerful the forest is.

"May I take my partner, my lady?" Jack asked within Artemis's mind. "Just so she can tell me how much would be enough."

Artemis nodded. "Understood. Thalia, go with him, you know how much we need depending on the game."

"Yes, my lady." Thalia bowed.

"Oh and Thalia." Artemis called before they began walking. "Take the chance to form a strong bond with Jack. You two could lead to a deadly duo."

Thalia nodded as she walked beside Jack. His large size towering over her slightly. Jack's body reached up to her shoulder, but his head gave him the extra two feet to cause everyone to look up at his face.

"Want a ride?" He asked as he lowered himself for her. "I promise I won't let you fall."

Thalia hesitated for a second before she thought about how crazy Percy was to ride a hellhound. "Sure. Sounds like fun actually, and cool." she laughed.

"Wrap your legs around my ribs and just get fist full of fur to hold onto." Thalia did as he said and was surprised by his small chuckle. "Your legs have a tight grip." he mused, pulling a smile from Thalia before they took off.

The next morning shocked the hunters and Artemis herself as the witnessed the deer meat ready to be cooked for their breakfast. Skinned, cut, somehow all seasoned, and portioned for all the hunters. The wolves that Artemis summoned that night had their portions of deer meat laid out for them as well. When they all looked at the campfire off to the edge of the campsite they saw the reason for their shocked expressions.

On the grass near the empty fire pit lay Thalia Grace cuddled into the fur of a sleeping Jack with his body curled around her protectively. His tail brought up to cover Thalia's legs like a blanket.

Unbeknownst to them all, Jack had gone out early to fetch them breakfast with the new found knowledge of their needed portions. Thalia was still out late into the night talking with Jack getting to know him. Even though they both technically knew each other already, it was nice for Jack to learn about all the hidden sides of Thalia he didn't already know.

They all ate with small chatter and a couple of laughs once the new duo woke up after the hunters yelled out their gratitude for the food. Artemis told Jack about their mission to locate Percy Jackson and set to their task for the better part of the day.