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He was mine and I was his. That was all I needed to know. We lay breathing heavily on the floor, as our bodies tried to calm down. I turned my head and stared at his handsome face. He smiled at me, making his eyes shine with the happiness he felt. It was the first full smile I had seen on him. I asked, “Will it be like that every time?”

He shook his head and I frowned. He laughed and pulled me against his body, proving

that he could go again if I wanted to. He said, “It’s better, the longer you are together.”

I smiled at him, then Koda cleared his throat. I looked over the top of Ares’ body at him and frowned. “How long have you been there?”

Koda smiled. “Do not worry, we just came in.”

Ares sighed. “Koda, what is it?”

Koda blushed a little and spoke in a voice barely above a whisper, “I do not mean to

interrupt, but we too have craved the attention of our pack mate.” I stared at Koda in shock. He shook his head and waved his hands back and forth, “Not like that! We just want to sleep with you.” I opened my mouth in shock and Koda groaned. “Artemis! To sleep with you, you know

SLEEP!”

Matt tossed two robes at us. Ares quickly put his on and faced his two pack members. I

slipped mine on and stood beside Ares. “Are you asking for me to come to bed so we can sleep in our pack?” Koda and Matt nodded their heads in unison. I smiled. “Very well.” We walked quickly to the bed and I hopped up in the center. Ares climbed in on my left side and I laid my head down on his chest, while Koda climbed in behind me and molded himself to my back. Matt lay down at our feet and wrapped his arms around my legs. I smiled happily and closed my eyes.

“I love you all.”

Koda kissed my cheek softly. “I love you as well.”

Matt kissed my foot. “Me as well.”

~~~~

We left France early in the morning, but without Victor or Jean Pierre. They were forced to stay behind to discuss some impending threat, which I assumed was regarding the attacks on the other countries. The connection between Ares and me was stronger than ever. I needed to have

constant physical contact. We grabbed the first flight and I felt my worry ease as we left France.

“Where are we going, Ares?” I asked as I relaxed against the seat.

Ares smiled happily. “My home, in Germany.”

I stared at him in shock for a minute and then smiled. He did have German features as did Koda and Matt.

My smile left as a thought came to mind. “Great. Big, German, werewolf women. You

couldn’t have come from a country with small women, could you?”

Ares kissed my cheek. “You’ll be fine.”

I smiled evilly. “Maybe I’ll just toast them with a fireball.”

Ares shook his head. “You aren’t allowed to use your sidhe powers unless absolutely

necessary. No one must know that you have them.”

I groaned. “Great. I finally get powers and now I can’t use them.” After a little accident this morning, where I’d torched a hand towel, we realized I was able to use my sidhe powers.

The plane touched down and we walked through the airport to the waiting vehicle. A

man, standing at least seven feet tall, leaned against the hood of a strange European vehicle. He smiled at Ares and bowed at the waist. “Greetings Ares.”

Ares bowed. “Greetings Brother.”

The man turned to me and smiled as he spoke to Ares. “I see your taste in women has

improved.”

My lip twitched in a snarl and Ares wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “This is my

mate, Ulger and your Princess.”

Ulger dropped to one knee in front of me. “Forgive me, Princess, I had not heard that

Prince Ares took a mate.”

I looked at Ares for help, but he just smiled. “Uh, you’re forgiven,” I said awkwardly.

Ulger stood up and kissed the back of my hand. “Thank you, Princess.”

Ares cleared his throat and Ulger turned to him. “Darius wanted me to tell you that

Darren has escaped our trackers. We aren’t sure where he has gone, but we’ve sent additional trackers to pick up his trail.”

“My dad got away? He’s still alive?” I asked in shock.

Ares wrapped his arm around my shoulders and whispered, “I won’t let him hurt you.”

His words and touch calmed my nerves and I relaxed against his side. “I know.”

Ares opened the back door and smiled brightly. “Are you ready to meet more of our

kind?”

I shook my head. “No, but what choice do I have?”

We drove in silence for a few hours and my mind began wandering.
What were these

women like? Were they all as beautiful as the ones I had seen?
Ares tried to pull me into his lap and I resisted, pulling away from him. He frowned. “What’s wrong?”

I saw the look of concern on his face and forced the words out before I lost my nerve. “If I let you, would you leave me, for these women?”

Ares smiled, his blue eyes sparkling. “Not a chance. Artemis, I love you. I thought you

were over this?”

I shook my head. “I’m sorry. I’m just nervous.” I leaned against him and closed my eyes.

He whispered, “You are the only woman for me. Whether you feel the same for me or

not, I will always love you.”

I looked up at him and saw the pain in his eyes. He thought I was trying to tell him that I didn’t truly care for him. I whispered, “I do love you, Ares.”

Ares whispered, “It’s our destiny to be together. Are you rehashing old issues because

you don’t want to discuss the new ones with me?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said indignantly and looked out the window

to my left.

Ares whispered, “I know it’s hard to deal with the fact that you aren’t a virgin anymore, but isn’t it satisfying to know that you’ll be with the one that you gave it to, the rest of your life?

Not many humans can say that.”

I turned to him and kissed his lips. “I love you Ares. I’m just insecure.”

He shook his head. “You have no reason to be insecure. I only have eyes for you.”

Koda groaned and turned around from the passenger seat. “That was so cliché Ares.

You’re how old and you couldn’t come up with something better than that? I mean, you did work with Shakespeare!”

Ares frowned. “I was trying to be cute. Thank you for ruining our moment.”

Koda winked at me. “Just here to help.”

We drove for hours through a thick forest on an unmarked dirt road, until finally coming

to a small gate with two male guards. Ulger rolled down his window and spoke in a foreign language, I assumed was German to the guards. The guards opened the gate, bowing to our

vehicle as we drive past. The trees began thinning and we came to a large wood barn. Ulger stopped the car and we all climbed out. I stretched my arms up over my head, squealing as I stretched.

Ares wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed my cheek. “You keep doing things

like that and we won’t make it to the village.”

I blushed and tried to step out of his arms. “Ares, don’t tease me.”

He licked my cheek, holding on tightly to me. “I believe I was just saying that to you.”

Ulger parked the car inside the barn and then walked back to us. “Ready?” he asked as he

cracked his neck from side to side.

Ares nodded his head, smiling wide. I asked, “Ready for what?” Koda pulled his shirt and

pants off, and then dropped to his hands and knees shifting forms flawlessly in seconds. His wolf form was more beautiful than I remembered. I fought the urge to run my hands through his fur and turned towards Ares, who was taking his shirt off.

I sighed. “Fine, but I’m not changing back until we’re somewhere I can get dressed. I

don’t want to parade around naked.”

I took my shirt off slowly, noticing Ares watching me and folded it nicely on the ground.

I slowly pulled my pants off, wriggling my butt excessively. Ares took a step towards me and Koda stepped between us, whining and barking. I stripped my underwear off quickly and

changed shapes. It felt good to be a wolf again. My wolf felt ecstatic at being let out and we stretched from head to tail. Ares sniffed my shoulder and I wagged my tail.
Let’s run!

Koda’s tongue lolled out the side of his mouth.
Loser has to run around the house

naked?

Matt snorted.
No one wants to see you run around naked, anymore than we already have

to.

Ares whined.
Loser has to give the winner a backrub!

We all ran down the dirt road kicking up dust behind us. My muscles stretched and my

blood pumped harder as I ran. The boys were lengths ahead of me when a familiar scent tickled my nose. I jumped into the forest to my right and ran through the trees towards the smell.
Mom.

I could hear Ares, Koda and Matt barking for me, but they could wait. I had to find my

mom. Ares spoke through my head.
Where are you going? What’s wrong?

I ran faster trying to follow the scent before it disappeared.
My mom’s here. I can smell
her.

I jumped over a fallen log and the forest quieted. I strained my ears to listen to Ares’

approaching barks, but not even the wind whispered through my ears. I changed back to human and crossed my arms over my chest. “Hello?”

A bright light darted through the trees coming towards me. I lifted my arm to cover my

eyes and the light dimmed. A man with pale skin and blue vines etched in his arms and across his chest walked towards me. He wore only a pair of pants and was sleeker muscled than Ares, built more like a runner or swimmer. I swallowed in fear. “Who are you?”

He spoke and the leaves rustled. “I am Achilles.”

“What are you?” I asked in the silence.

“I’m Sidhe.” The leaves rustled again as he spoke making me shiver involuntarily.

“What do you want? Why are you here?” I asked growing more and more nervous and

wishing Ares was here.

He smiled and held out his hand, his body glowing slightly as though a light was turned

on inside of him. “I’m here for you. I’m your fiancée and I’m here to take you,” he said in a soothing voice.

Ares touched my shoulder and the sounds of the forest crashed into my ears deafening

me. I dropped to the ground covering my ears with my hands and moaning in pain. Ares voice boomed like thunder, “YOU’RE NOT TAKING HER ANYWHERE!”

###

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