Mate Bond (1)

Artemis's POV

Yawning, Artemis placed the kettle on the stove, turning the gas on to heat some water for morning coffee. She then opened the cupboard above the stove, grabbing the box of cereal and coffee, her morning routine kicking in.

Placing the items on the counter, she walked across the small kitchen, grabbing two mugs from the drying rack. Sunlight beamed through the window above the sink as dawn approached. Seeing the dense forest through the window made her inner wolf crazy, wanting to run and play among the thick pine trees.

Her wolf wanted to run through her childhood playground, heading straight for the waterfall where the thick grass grew. Where she had played hide and seek with the other pups when she was younger. She could watch the fish swimming in the lake and maybe try and catch a few.

Luckily the sound of the kettle whistling brought Artemis back to reality. She quickly placed the mugs down on the counter and switched off the kettle.

After making two cups of coffee, Artemis grabbed a bowl and made herself some cereal, eating it as she scrolled through her phone. The house was peaceful, the sound of birds and other creatures roaming the forest being the only things Artemis could hear.

After finishing breakfast, she swiftly washed her dishes, placing them on the drying rack. As she did, the sound of the front door opening caught her attention. The familiar scent of sandalwood soon entered the house and Artemis smiled softly, her tense body calming down.

"Morning Artemis." A deep voice called out as a stool chair scrapped against the tile floor.

"Morning Xander." Artemis greeted back.

She turned around and walked over to the counter. There leaning over the counter was a tall, bronze skinned man who was wearing nothing but blue sweatpants hanging dangerously low on his waistline. His black hair glittered with drops of morning dew and his golden eyes stared intensely at Artemis, like a predator stalking its prey.

The muscular man before her was Xander, alpha leader of the Moonsan Pack and her current guardian. However, Artemis' wolf seemed to want to change that relationship, something stirring inside of her. Shaking her head, Artemis took a seat opposite him and smiled.

"So, how was patrol?" She asked, sliding the mug of coffee he had made earlier across to Xander.

"Same as usual." Xander replied, taking a sip of the coffee. "Border was quiet and there wasn't any fighting."

"That's good…"

For the past two years, the pack hadn't been facing any trouble with territory but Artemis still felt a little anxious. Her parents had died in the last territory war against the Tasis Pack and Artemis knew their rival pack wasn't one for staying quiet.

She had a feeling that Louis, alpha leader of the Tasis Pack, was up to something, but didn't want to say anything fearing Xander would see her as a scared little girl.

He had been nice enough to take her in after losing her family and she didn't want to dump her worries on him too. Because of her, Xander had quit looking for a mate, focusing on helping her get her back up on her feet and being her guardian.

She was enterally grateful for everything and didn't want to be a bigger burden. It was one of the reasons she had decided to study at the university in the next town. The other was so when she came back, she could help the pack as the newest healer.

"What are you thinking about so deeply?" Xander said, interrupting her thoughts.

"Nothing much. Just college stuff." Artemis laughed awkwardly, not wanting to say the truth.

"Do you really have to go study at Saint Crest? The one here is just as good as their program." Xander asked. "And it's closer to the pack. You don't need to live in another town."

Artemis sighed inwardly. Ever since she told him she was applying to Saint Crest, Xander had been questioning her about it. It was true that the university here had a great program too and she'd be close to the pack, but Artemis wanted to get away from the pack and give Xander some freedom to find a mate.

It wasn't that she was worried about his age, Xander only being twenty six, but she knew that if she stayed, he wasn't going to look. And she didn't want to be the reason for his unhappiness. Not after he helped her find happiness after her parents died, helping her deal with her grief and trauma.

The pack also needed a Luna, the alpha leader's mate, to balance out the dynamics of the pack.

"I know but I want to see the world outside the pack. Travel a little you know." Artemis lied. "Besides, the apartment I'm staying in is quite safe. Becky's cousin owns the building."

Becky was a middle-aged witch who owned the local bookstore downtown, neutral ground for all supernatural beings. She was also Artemis' boss and one of the only people Artemis trusted besides Xander.

She had helped Artemis where Xander couldn't, like a second mother to Artemis.

"It's not that I don't want you to not travel. I just don't want you to feel lonely or pull away from the pack. You know we're all here for each other. We take care of our own." Xander said.

"I know." Artemis smiled nervously. "Anyway, I need to get dressed and leave for work."

She got up as she said the last part, quickly hurrying to her room to change before Xander could say anything else. Pulling off her oversized tee, Artemis changed into a pair of blue shorts and her work t-shirt.

After tucking her t-shirt into her shorts, she went to her bathroom, quickly brushed her teeth before putting on some macrasa and red lipstick. Finally, she brushed up her long brown hair, deciding to let it down.

When she was done, she walked back into her room, grabbing her handbag which held her phone, keys and wallet. Heading to the front door she spotted Xander in the kitchen washing up his mug.

"Xander, I'm heading out now." Artemis called out as she put on her black ankle boots which had been lying by the front door.

"Okay." Xander replied, appearing by the door. "I need to make a stop downtown later so I'll come pick you up."

Artemis nodded her head in understanding and opened the door, heading out the house. She took her red bicycle which was leaning against the wall and got on it. She put on her pink helmet which was hanging on her bike's handlebar and rode down the driveway, passing Xander's silver pick up truck.

Xander and some of the other males in the pack were lumberjacks, using the job as a way to hide the real reason why they lived so close to the forest.

Artemis rode down the road, waving goodbye to Xander who was standing at the door, making her way to downtown. She passed several homes where most of the other pack members lived.

The fresh air on the warm day made Artemis happy as she smelled pine and werewolves almost everywhere. However, as she made a turn, the smells changed with her edging closer to the town center.

Soon, she was at the bookstore, a few minutes before her shift started. Parking her bike on the corner of the small brick building, Artemis took off her helmet and pulled out the store keys.

Becky had a coven meeting yesterday, so Artemis had taken over opening the store knowing Becky would only get back in the afternoon. She wasn't sure what exactly went on in those meetings, not being a member of the cover, but she knew that it somehow always involved some drinking.

Opening up the store, she took out the advertising board before she went back inside, the smell of old books and coffee filling Artemis' nose. She then opened up the blinds and set to work dusting some of the old, musty books in the back of the store.

****

Artemis greeted the old witch who had bought some spell books, placing them carefully into a brown bag. The witch thanked her before leaving, the bell ringing as she closed the door behind her.

Artemis sighed, leaning her head on the counter. Today had been a slow day, but at least she could go home earlier today. It seemed Becky had gotten sick so couldn't come when Artemis' shift ended. So, Becky asked Artemis to close up when her shift ended, knowing that the middle of the month was their slowest time.

At least my shift ends in an hour. Artemis thought. Becky was nice enough to give me two hours off as an apology.

Hearing the bell ring, Artemis straightened up to see who had entered, the scent of pine filling the store. As she looked at the man who had entered the store, she grasped in shock, her inner wolf going into a frenzy.

She stared at the deep blue eyes and sandy brown hair. The familiar lean body and pale skin. Everything was the same as two years ago, when she fearfully watched him destroy everything previous to her.

Artemis was staring at none other than her parents' killer.