Storm's Pov.
"I think we've broken him."
"With what exactly did you use to think? hmm?"
"My brains. "
"You have those? Hmm must have missed it because of how tiny it is."
"You little-
"I suggest you hold your tongue before I remove it for you Oliver."
"It's Ollie."
"No one cares."
"You see why I didn't want to get her because then I'll have to deal with-
"Shut up the both of you." Artemis snaps. I can hear them speak but I don't think I can fathom what is going on. Artemis waves her hand in front of my face. "Storm are you okay?"
"Of course he's not okay just look at him. Dude is frozen, I don't even think he can hear us." Ollie says pointing towards me.
"You're a witch." I whisper.
Artemis sighs in relief when I speak. "Oh thank the moon goddess, you're fine." She hugs me but I just stand stiff as a board.
"You're a witch." I whisper again.
"Uh guys maybe we should help him-
"You're a freaking witch!" My sudden outburst makes them jump back in fright. What! I did not want any of this heck I didn't sign up for any of this but who cares life just likes to play cruel jokes on me right.
Artemis raises her hand up taking slow steps towards me. "I know this is a lot to take in-
I turn sharply at her and she freezes." A lot to take in? a lot?" I say laughing but there's nothing funny about the situation. "It's more than a lot. First I find out that werewolves exist and now you're telling there are witches too." I point to Esme.
"Sup bro." She nods giving me a thumbs up.
"I understand what-
"No you don't!" I cut her off. "No you don't. I had a normal life before you, before any of this but then I learn werewolves exist and I'm chill with it but you're telling me there are witches too and what next vampires?? Oh better yet you're gonna tell me that Pig foot is real too." Throwing my hands in the air emphasizing just how crazy the whole thing sounds.
"Pfft don't be silly, pig foot doesn't exist." Ollie states as a matter of fact and everyone turns to glare at him. "What it's the truth anyway."
Artemis sighs and shakes her head at him, she looks at me with a sympathetic smile on her face. "I'm sorry you have to deal with all this and I wish I could make it easy for you but I can't Storm."
"I-I need to think." I mutter heading straight for the door but soft hands grab my wrist stopping me, I don't even need to look back to know who is holding me judging by the way my body is reacting.
"Be careful okay and don't go far." Without glancing back I gently pry her fingers from my wrist and walk away from her. It's dark when I step outside, stuffing my hands in my pocket I take the path that we used to go the training grounds. The silence makes it easy for me to clear my thoughts as everything rushes back in. The moon casts a gentle glow lightening up the whole forest, I stare at the moon waiting for something but it just stares back at me. I don't know how long I was walking for but I end up in a field of flowers. The wind blows gently swaying them from side to side as I take in deep breaths allowing myself to feel the wind on my face.
"What are you doing here?" A gruff voice speaks startling me.
"Jesus Christ." I gasp placing my hand on my beating chest as I try to make out the figure standing there. "Damien?" I ask.
"What are you doing here?" He says and I shrug completely ignoring him. It's completely silent and I sigh in relief thinking he has finally gotten the message to leave me alone.
"You're a strange human." A voice says beside me and I squeak jumping away from him. He stares at me weirdly making a tsk sound with his tongue. "Very Strange indeed." He muses and I glare at him.
"Fucking make some noise when you're walking, nearly gave me a heart attack." I breath out clutching my chest and taking deep breaths. Dude scared the shit out of me. He stands stoic staring straight ahead and I take slow hesitant steps towards him but putting enough distance between us.
Well this is uncomfortable, feeling awkward all of a sudden I glance in his direction briefly wondering why he is still here but look away when he turns his head. I repeat the same process all over but this time when I look at him he's already staring right back at me. My eyes go wide at the sight of being caught but he's face remains passive just staring. The intensity of his stare has me sweating a bit even though the weather is cool and I cough hoping that will deter him but he just keeps on staring. The scar across his eye makes him look even more intimidating plus the way his figure cast a shadow over me. I bet the grim reaper will even feel scared if it was in my position.
I cough again, still nothing and I look forward just to avoid his watchful eyes. This proves to be a good idea because little twinkles of light appears, flickering off and on and I watch in awe as the spread all over the field. This moment would have been perfect if Artemis was here, I sigh when I remember everything that happened.
"Why do you think I'm strange?" I blurt out but I'm rewarded with silence. Turning to look at him, he raises his brow at me but doesn't say anything. Releasing a harsh breath knowing that I'm talking to a robot, I continue to watch the fireflies.
"I think it's time for you to go back." He says suddenly, turns and walks away.
"Guess so." I mutter to myself and head back to the house. Getting closer, I see a figure sitting on the porch, staring at the phone whilst tapping the feet on the stairs. Why is she outside?
"Artemis?" I say. She raises her head when she hears my voice quickly jumping from the stairs and running towards me.
The air gets knocked out of me when she jumps, hugging me tightly to herself. She wraps her legs around my torso burying her face in my neck as she breaths in my scent and I wrap my arms around her back, stroking her hair and she squeezes tighter. Okay if she squeezes anymore I'm definitely going to die.
"What's wrong?" I whisper trying to pull away from her but she shakes her head.
"I thought I'd lost you. It was getting late and you weren't coming back so I thought you might have left until Damien mind linked me and said he was with you." She whispers.
Frowning I remove one hand and gently tug on her hair. "Look at me." She shakes her head at me and I chuckle. "Don't be stubborn Artemis else I'll flick your forehead again."
She quickly takes her head from my neck and pouts at me. "That was not very nice."
"I know." I grin but a serious expression takes over my face as I cup her cheeks. "I won't leave you well not on purpose anyway and I'm sorry I lost track of time so please don't ever think that okay."
She searches my eyes for any sign of lying but smiles resting her forehead on mine."Carry me."
I watch in amusement at the childish look on her face. "Well I am carrying you but I've got to say you're extremely heavy." I say in mock seriousness and she gapes at me.
"Take that back."
"Nope."
"Fine then put me down." She says unlocking her legs around my waist but I grab her thighs securing them around me again and the action causes her to squeal a little.
"I never said you could get down." I toot and she furrows her brows at me.
"B-but you said I was-
"You belong in my arms Artemis don't forget that." I watch intensely as she bites her lips and nods her head at me. I pull her lips from between her teeth ,rubbing the pad of my thumb on it as I stare at them before bringing my gaze back to hers. "These are mine to bite." I mutter.
Her violet eyes glow a little and I walk back inside whistling as if nothing happened but something happened and I know I'm going to need a cold shower. I shut the door behind me once I'm in and stop in my tracks when I notice that the whole place looks spotless.
"What happened here?"
Artemis turns to look around. "Oh Esme did this. Well she does this everytime she and Ollie fight. They tend to erm destroy the house a lot. "
I nod absentmindedly. "Right, the witch." I murmur.
"Let's go to the kitchen I made pasta for you." Placing her on the counter when I enter the kitchen she points to the microwave and I open it, taking the bowl out, grabbing a fork and walking back to her. Placing the bowl beside, I stand between her legs putting one of my hand on her thighs. She blushes and I smirk at her, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear and I tilt her chin.
"I love your blush."
"Yeah well I don't." she grumbles and I chuckle at her. Twirling the pasta around the fork I bring it to her lips. "I've already eaten some." She says pulling away and I frown.
"So you don't want to eat with me?" I pout at her.
"Wait! Of course I do but I've had some already." She reasons but I keep up the charade faking sadness.
"F-first you ate without me and now you wouldn't even want to share my food." I sniffle quietly bowing my head for emphasis. Her expression changes from confused to panicked in a few seconds and it takes everything in me not to break out laughing.
"Oh my gosh Storm! Don't be sad, look here see." She grabs my hand and brings the fork to her lips eating the pasta on it. "I'll eat it just don't be sad okay." She says hurriedly and I raise my head grinning at her.
"Good." I reply taking some for myself when she gasps and gives me an accusing look.
"You tricked me." She says and I chuckle winking at her. Suffice to say she didn't talk to me till I had finished eating even after I tried apologizing she ignored me, went up to her room and slammed the door in my face.
Laying on my bed that night the door to my room creaks quietly and I stare in amusement as Artemis tries to quietly close the door without making noise but it creaks again and she huffs at it. "Shush we don't want to wake him up." I bring my hand to my mouth muffling the laugh that wants to escape me. While she is busy trying to not make noise, I sneak behind her.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Eek!" She screams headbutting me in the process. I groan rubbing my jaw, fuck talk about metal head. She turns abruptly eyes wide clutching her chest. "You scared me Storm! Don't ever do that again." She scolds.
"Yeah lesson learned." I tell her rubbing my jaw and wincing slightly when pain flares up.
She notices it and gently grabs my jaw rubbing it with her thumb. She frowns when I wince a bit and purse her lips at me. "I'm sorry Storm, didn't mean to headbutt you." I wave it off as nothing but she doesn't seem to think so because she stands on her toes and places a feather like kiss on it.
The pain goes away and I stare at her in shock. "H-how did you-"
"Haven't you heard that kissing a boo-boo makes it go away." She says and I give her a flat look.
"Why are you here? I thought you were giving me the silent treatment?" I tease. She frowns at me and sighs fiddling with the hem of her shirt.
"I just wanted to make sure you were okay." She says softly looking everywhere but my face. I lace our fingers together and tug her towards the bed, putting my hand on her shoulder I gently push her on the bed crawling and hovering over her. Her hair spreads across the pillow, the soft light streaming through the window cast her shadow over her features making her look like a goddess. She brings her arms around my neck, running her fingers through my hair and I wrap my arm around her back pushing her flush against my chest as I lean closer to her.
"The real reason Artemis." I whisper burying my face in her neck trailing my nose along the soft skin of her flesh. She breaths harshly and tugs on my hair when I nip her collarbone.
"Storm." Her voice shakes when she says my name and I smirk at how much I'm affecting her. I blow air on her skin and watch as goosebumps appear, she shivers and drags her hand across my back as muscles tense up but relax again.
"I- I just- I." She stutters and I raise my head to look at her seriously.
"If you don't answer me I'm gonna stop." I state bluntly and she huffs at me clearly getting frustrated.
"Fine." She says and pushes my head back to her neck. I place butterfly kisses along her throat, dragging my tongue across it, tasting her and fuck she tastes so good.
"I don't hear talking." I murmur nipping her jaw.
"I- I got scared." She breaths out tightening her hold on me when I bite the skin between her neck and collarbone.
I bring my lip to her earlobe, sucking on it as I whisper into her ear. "Why?" Pinning her hands above her head I stare at her flushed face as her chest rises and falls rapidly. "Keep them there." I order and she nods. I go back to her neck biting, sucking and placing kisses all over it no doubt leaving a hickey.
"Continue."
"I got scared because I thought if I woke up I wouldn't find you because of everything that has happened so far with you learning about our existence and now with the witches on top. I thought you might feel overwhelmed and just disappear and I don't think I'll be able to handle not being with you because the past five months have been hell for me." She says and I pause my actions to stare at her.
"Why did you stop?" She says furrowing her brows at me and I frown at her.
"What do you mean by hell?" I question and she sighs.
"I need to have a clear mind if I'm gonna talk so do you mind?" She points at the non-existent space between us and I nod moving to lie beside her. She turns on her side facing me.
"Ever since I turned 16 I have dreamt of having a mate and as alpha of my pack it was expected of me to have one. To be honest I thought my mate was going to be a werewolf but well we both know how that turned out." She says pointing to me. "You see this bond that we share it's indescribable, It's strong and intense that's why it's usually between werewolves because they can handle it, feel each others emotions but the bond between a werewolf and a human well it's equally strong but stronger on one side, the werewolf side. The tingles, the sparks, the unquenchable thirst and need to be around you it's ten times for me and since I'm an alpha it makes it even worse.
What you think you're feeling doesn't even come close to what I'm feeling so the months that we were away from each other, my heart felt like it was being ripped apart. I've had to restrain my self from chasing you down and dragging you here." I gape at her when she says that.
"And here I thought I was suffering." I mumble and she smiles at me. I pull her closer to me tucking her head under my chin and tangling our legs together. She puts her arm across my torso pull herself closer to me and I kiss her hair. "I'm sorry you had to go through this but I'm here and I'm not going anywhere okay. It might take time to adjust to all this but I'm here." I assure her.
"I know you are but I don't think I can stay away from you even for a second Storm." She murmurs sadly and I tighten my hold on her.
"Hey remember what I said, you belong in my arms okay." I whisper into her hair and she sighs her body finally relaxing.
"Always." She slurs falling asleep and I kiss her hair before closing my eyes.
****
"Oh my gosh they look so cute together." A voice says excitedly and I hear the click of a camera going off.
"Meh I've seen better." Another voice says in a bored tone.
"Don't be jealous Oliver I bet your pillows make great cuddle buddies." A soft voice drawls out.
"It's Ollie. O-L-L-I-E." He snaps. "Should I always correct you or does your brain not- mmmmmmhhhm"
I groan taking the covers and throwing it over Artemis and I as I pull her closer to me. She sighs burying her face in my neck breathing evenly.
"You'd think they'd shut up and let us sleep but nope." She murmurs sleepily and I nod my head in agreement. I open my eyes slowly only to see Artemis staring at me with a smile on her face.
"Hi." I mumble
"Hi." she whispers and her eyes lit up.
"Let him go Esme seriously!" Selena yells and the smile slowly drops from my face, annoyance seeping in. Artemis giggles at my annoyance and I narrow my eyes at her.
"You think it's funny?" I say and she shakes her head pressing her lips together.
"He needs to learn to hold his tongue around me." A person who I can guess is Esme snaps. This time it's Artemis looking irritated and I give her a smug look.
"Not so funny now is it?"
"Shut up." She mutters removing the cover from our head. My jaw drops when I stare at the picture in front of me. Ollie has his tongue sticking out with his mouth pressed firmly on them keeping his tongue in place and Esme staring smugly at him.
"Oh my God." I whisper grabbing their attention.
"Mmmmhh mmm." Ollie panics looking at me for help and I shake my head pointing to Artemis. His eyes go wide staring at Artemis and she purse her lips at him.
"It's too early to deal with this. I need coffee." She murmurs walking out of the room leaving Ollie looking like well whatever Esme made him look like. Artemis comes back with a cup in her hand as she sips the coffee observing them.
After staring at Ollie who at this point has tears streaming from his eyes Artemis sighs. "Esme I'm going to ask you to release my beta."
"No."
"Oh well I tried." She says shrugging at him and sitting beside me.
"Mmmmh mmmmh mmmmm hmmmm!" Ten bucks says that Ollie is yelling and cursing at Artemis. I raise my brow at her and she freezes.
"What?" I give her my best "really look" and she groans. "Fine. Only because I need him to tell me what happened with jerk face Alex." She hands me her coffee and I sip it, mmm it taste nice. She stands in front of Ollie and digs her thumb gently underneath his chin, he inhales sharply hitting his chest as he controls his breathing.
"What the fuck Artemis!" Esme yells. "I wanted him to suffer a bit."
"Sucks."
Ollie stands on his feet, glaring at Esme who is glaring right back at him. He points a finger at her. "You'll regret this." He says coughing. Esme rolls her eyes at him and walks out of the room with Selena on her trail.
"Get out." Artemis says. He narrows her eyes at her but leaves the room closing the door behind him. I drop on the bed sighing in relief.
"Is this what you deal with everyday?" I ask. She leans over tracing my jaw with her finger.
"More or less. Anyway freshen up and I'll make us breakfast." She pats my chest and also leaves the room. I check my phone to see if I have gotten any text and what do you know I have one from Lyle telling me buy him gifts and one from Jay. I press my lips into a thin line when I understand Jay's message. It has a picture of peach, with an eggplant following after and a tongue.
Stupid fucker.
I stop in my tracks when I reach the kitchen to find Ollie's head under the tap with water pouring on him and Esme cackling. Selena stares at them with a bored expression on her face as she eats her cereal and Artemis without even glancing at them places an omelette in front of me. I raise my brow pointing at the two of them.
"Don't even ask." She says and I nod my head. She sits beside me grabbing a fork and eating from my plate. I watch her in amusement and she raises her brow at me but I shake my head at her eating as well.
"Okay fine you win!" Olle stutters spitting water from his mouth, taping the edge of the sink repeatedly and Esme smirks before releasing him and sitting down acting as if nothing happened. Ollie grumbles under his breath pushing his wet hair back, grabbing a towel and wiping his face. He dumps the towel, grabbing a plate with about ten pancakes on it.
"Pig." Selena murmurs.
"It's called growing." He fires back shoving a mouthful into his mouth. She rolls her eyes at him and Esme smiles drinking only God knows what from the cup, eyes changing colour.
"Ollie what happened with Alex?" Artemis questions after some time and a serious expression takes over his face.
"He refused to set it up. Said that he had important guests coming over and that he doesn't have the time to entertain us." He says.
"Oh really." Artemis says clenching the fork in her hand, her eyes glowing vibrant violet. "Get the car ready in 3 hours we're going jerk face hunting and after breakfast Selena, Esme you're with me." After saying that she releases the fork and gets up. I gape at the now bended fork picking it up and staring at the awkward shape. Just how strong is she?
She comes back to the kitchen, fully clothed in a white summer dress ending above her knees, feet adorned in a black sandal and hair left in lose curls.
"Is that a hickey?" Ollie questions squinting his eyes to stare at Artemis neck and I smirk at her.
"Yeah so?" She states flatly surprising Ollie who looks taken aback by her straight forwardness.
"No reason. Wait does that mean you have mark-" Selena slaps her hand on his mouth glaring at him and Artemis narrows her eyes at him. Esme just rolls her eyes, turning and washing her cup.
"What is he talking about?" Feeling confused when Artemis turns smiling sheepishly at me.
"Another time." She states and I frown at her. How long is she going to keep me in the dark with all these secrets. She notice the sullen look on my face because she sighs. "I promise Storm I'll explain okay now come on let's go." She beckons for Selena and Esme to follow her and they do.
"Ollie meets us at the border with Damien and the car." He nods his head. She opens the front door and Esme walks ahead leaving us behind. I watch as she picks certain flowers and leaves, sniffing them before stuffing it into her cloak. She hums a tune and the wind picks up speed, she grins acting as if they've whispered something funny to her.
Staring at her weirdly, I nudge Artemis and she looks at me. "What is she doing?"
She looks at me confusingly and I point to Esme and she grins. "She's a nature witch. She draws energy from nature and in return she helps them with what they need. " Artemis explains and I watch as Esme touches a flower and it blooms suddenly.
"Wow." I murmur and she nods. Esme stops in her tracks, inhales deeply and exhales her eyes turning black as she murmurs some foreign words underneath her breath.
She opens her eyes again and they go back to changing colours. She walks in a different direction and we follow her until we reach an oak tree. She places her palms flatly against it and her body jolts. "This is where they come through." She says and Artemis frowns.
"The broken barrier?" She questions and Esme shakes her head.
"Not quite. If the barrier was broken you would have felt it because after all you made it Artemis." She states and Artemis presses her lips into a thin line.
"That was a long time ago but if it's not broken then how come the rogues keep on coming?"
Esme shrugs circling around the tree. "I can sense something dark coming from this tree but I need to be sure. In the meantime I'll perform a spell that will create another barrier around your pack but I must warn you it will only be temporal."
"Do what you need to do. Selena I need you to stay with Storm whilst I go with Ollie and Damien to Alex's pack." She says and I frown at her.
"Wait I want to come with you." I retort and she gives me a small smile.
"Not this time Storm. Take care of yourself and the pack whilst I'm gone. I'll be back either late or tomorrow morning." She says and kiss my cheek before whispering something into Selena's ears. Her eyes drift over to me before she nods her head.
I bend down pulling her into my arms. "Be safe okay." I whisper in her ear and she nods. She steps back smiling one last time at me before she turns, running and disappearing from my sight.
A hand squeezes my shoulder gently. "Don't worry she'll be back before you know it." Selena assures me and I nod my head.
A/n :Â Super long chapter.
Next chapter is going to be in Artemis pov.
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peace out;)