Chapter 5

After another week Artemis' heat cycle was finally over with. Grandma Shuu, Kasper and Apollo were relieved and could finally breathe. They still have to keep an eye out for things but at least Artemis won't be in heat making male beastmen go crazy over her. They are harder to fight off when influenced by a female's heat. After Artemis' kidnapping incident she really didn't bother to leave the house much. She would go do her farming chores and then run back inside then she would spend her time in the house doing things like sewing and pottery. The only other time she went outside was to spar with Kasper and Apollo. They were always surprised that Artemis knew how to fight very well and practicing with them made her even better.

Today while doing farm work Apollo and Artemis were approached by a young female Wolf with a male wolf following close by. Apollo and Artemis could sense that this female and male were unmated and unmarked, which was a quick giveaway of the reason for their visit. "Hello Female My name is Jenny and I'd like to be your friend" the female Jenny said sheepishly "friend?" Artemis asked, confused. She knew what a 'friend' was but never really had one. "Well yes. Would you and your mate like to be friends with me and my brother?" Jenny asked again. Artemis looked over at Apollo who suddenly looked like he was gonna throw up and then she started laughing right in Jenny's innocent little face. "Jenny my name is Artemis and this is my BROTHER Apollo" Artemis said when she stopped laughing. "Oh I see I'm sorry for misunderstanding" Jenny said blushing while looking at Apollo. "It's ok Jenny. I don't mind being friends though" Artemis said smiling. "Great!!" I'm so excited to have a friend. The other females are mean and I don't like them" Jenny said to Artemis, almost looking saddened. "Oh really," Artemis said, putting her hands on her hips. "Yes. Let's take a walk and talk about it!" Jenny beamed. Artemis suddenly turned sour remembering the last time she was away from the cabin. Apollo noticed immediately and came to the rescue.

"No offense but it's best if Artemis stays close to home. She has just come of age and already almost got taken away by an Eagle beastman" Apollo said. Artemis sighed and smiled inside while Jenny gasped and became terrified. "My brother is right. It's best if I stay close by" Artemis agreed, nodding. Kasper came over to them to see what was going on. "Can I help you two?" Kasper asked authoritatively "I was just wondering if Artemis can come out to play" Jenny asked innocently. Her brother was getting noticeably aggravated standing around while his sister talked the day away. "I don't see why not. But you do have to stick close by please" Kasper said, looking down at all of them "Go ahead and take a break Artie" Kasper said, patting her back gently. "What are you a Princess or something?" Jenny's brother remarked visibly annoyed now.

"Actually yes. This is the last princess of the royal Wolf family" Kasper said highly authoritatively. "If you do not wish to respect my rules as her uncle when it comes to where she can go, then you have no business with her and you can leave" Kasper added. Jenny gasped again and took two steps back pulling her brother with her who was now hanging his head daring to look up. "You mean you're actually a Princess? Excuse my brother. He can be a little mouthy sometimes" Jenny said formally bowing to Artemis. "Don't mention it" Artemis said. "You know what. Let's just try this again tomorrow. See you later Princess Artemis!" Jenny said, pulling her brother away and waving goodbye. When Jenny and her brother were finally out of eyesight Apollo looked over at Artemis and Kasper and said "Those two were quite weird". Kasper chuckled but then he replied "Yes. Quite weird. Maybe they'll do better tomorrow" he suggested. "Also her brother really has an attitude problem," Apollo added.

(Back inside Jenny's home)

"Mother!!" Jenny yelled running into the house. "Mother, I tried making a new friend today and Danny screwed it up being mean. He disrespected her but she's a Princess so he mocked her!" Jenny ranted "A Princess!!" Jenny's mother Valeria gasped. "Yes mom, a Princess. An actual Princess" Jenny answered. "Daniel!. How could you behave so recklessly around a female to begin with" Valeria scolded him. "You have probably messed up a great opportunity as well. To mate with a Princess and become part of the royal family is a blessing from the skies during a drought" Valeria ranted "but mother i didn't know she was a Princess or else I would have tried to shut my mouth" Danny argued. "Well that doesnt help you now does it" Valeria retorted.

"Now we have to find a way to apologize. You better hope they don't all come chop our heads or tails off" their mother stressed. "Mother, I offered to come back tomorrow. They only live up the road and I don't want to bring Danny this time" Jenny stressed to her mother. "Now, now Jenny dear. There Is always a way to fix things. Momma always has a way" she said, stretching her arms to the ceiling. "Danny boy. You go clean yourself up. And gather your best furs!" Momma said waltzing around brainstorming. Meanwhile Danny had actually snuck out when his mother started dancing around. "I have to get mated to her?" Danny asked himself. Danny cursed and kicked up dirt not even sure why he was so angry. Suddenly he heard fighting noises from not too far away. He became alert and started surveying his surroundings finding nothing in sight. When he was sure the fighting wasn't close by he decided to follow the sounds and see what was going on.

Danny's instincts led him to a clearing Kasper made for Artemis so that she can practice fighting. There she was with her brother and uncle sparring with the utmost grace and skill that Danny has ever seen let alone in a female. 'Wow' Danny thought to himself as he watched Artemis duck and dodge her opponent's blows. 'She is so beautiful' Danny thought to himself 'how can a female do all of those things we males can do' he asked himself. " Very well Artie. I'm proud of how much you improved" Kasper said, smiling and admiring his niece's strength" if you hadn't grown up in the Human world i wouldn't have believed you were either human or beast sister" Apollo praised "your just spouting nonsense" Artemis said bashful "No really. These beastmen won't know what hit them trying to force your hand" Kasper said happily. "If it weren't for the fact that you're a Princess. I would let you fight your own battle to watch these men get thrown on their asses'' Apollo smirked. "Ok ok i get it. Let's head back home" Artemis suggested, leading the way before Kasper and Apollo hopped in front of her.

Danny stood there dumbfounded for a while. He had never seen a female with such talent in fighting. Such an attitude either. The more Danny thought about her the more his feelings for her blossomed. Danny's heart started to speed up and his breath caught in his throat. "No way I care for her already" Danny said out loud to himself clutching his chest where his heart is. "I have never felt this way before, not with any of the females that I have come across in this entire Wolf Kingdom" Danny marveled…

(Back in Grandma Shuu's cottage)

"Nana, Artemis has an admirer" Apollo blurted out to Grandma Shuu as they sat at the dinner table and ate some type of wild bird together. "APOLLO!" Artemis gasped. She was afraid Nana would take it seriously and try to get them two together but she seemed pretty amused. "I apparently have a new female friend who lives close by. Her brother was quite rude and she couldn't keep her eyes off of YOU Apollo" Artemis told Grandma Shuu. "Oh really now" Grandma Shuu said, looking in between her two grandchildren. "Apollo you do know that your sister is ready for a mate at this age right. You should be paying close attention to her admirer's. What did you think of him" she said to Apollo "nana!" Artemis exclaimed. "With a little bit more guidance and training he would be the perfect mate for my niece. He already is taking a liking to her. He watched her practice with us today hiding behind the trees" Kapser interjected "Artemis didn't even notice. He must have been really watching you" Grandma Shuu commented.

"Nana, I don't want to mate. And I don't want multiple partners. It makes me uncomfortable, '' Artemis said shyly. "Don't worry I won't push you. But you should still keep thinking it through. What will you do when your brother and uncle get married and they can't be your guardians anymore? '' Grandma Shuu suggested. Artemis hadn't thought about it that way. The idea completely caught her off guard. "Don't worry Artemis. I promise not to get mated until you become mated and stay by your side always" Apollo said, sensing her pause and running a hand along her back for comfort. Kasper and Grandma Shuu looked at each other and shared some silent secret messages to each other through their eyes. Artemis smiled at her brother and went back to eating. "Even though you're uncomfortable and you're not quite ready yet, Artemis. You should heed Nana's words and try considering any male wolf for your mate" Kasper said firmly. "Your uncle is right, Artemis. Although I raised you in the human world you are by all means a royal Princess. Not having a mate is kinda out of the question. You need to establish a household and have cubs of your own to be happy and filal" Grandma Shuu warned Artemis. Artemis set her food down and got up from the table to go sit in her nest. She was obviously done talking and obviously pissed.