Pertemis: A Wolf’s Tale novel Chapter 25

Artemis’s point of view

The first sound of the birds came into Artemis's ears the next morning. She still felt his arm around her waist, that warmth and muscular body against her back.

She recollected what happened yesterday. It was a moment when she'd notice the step she made, that had changed them perhaps forever. She'd allowed him, more open with him and she had realised she couldn't be anywhere without him.

A groan came from Perseus as she turned around only to have her nose touched by his.

"Good morning Artemis!" He said in his sleepy state, an idiotic grin.

"Look who's awake" Artemis said in a sarcastic voice. "What's made the sleepy prince to wake so early today?"

"Uh....Because my right arm numb?" He responded, looking down at his arm that was being crushed under her weight.

She rolled away from him as he collected the arm.

"What happened last night?" He asked.

"None of your concern" she replied coldly, making her way to the closet.

"At least it had you shaking like a rabbit" he smirked only to make Artemis turned her head to him. Her face gave out that murderous look.

"I wasn't shaking you moron!" she yelled at him. "It was the blanket that itched me. So I had to scratch myself, thus the bed shook"

"And I thought you goddess scared of the dark" he laughed out at her. "But you have to admit that you like my warmth"

"And why would I have to admit it?" she crossed her arms.

"Because...." He paused for a moment trying to think of something. Artemis just shook her head at his stupidity. He always tried to win her in something, even though he knew he would lose eventually.

"Because you won't be able to sleep without me hugging you" he pointed his finger up."

"Oh really." Artemis raised her brows as she leaned closer. "How about we test it out tonight by you sleeping outside then?"

"How about not trying it out?" Perseus said.

"So shut up and get out for me to change before I forcefully kick you out with my arrows." Artemis grumbled as Perseus couldn't do anything more but listened.

They were late for breakfast again, and Artemis would just blame everything on Perseus. He would frown and protested, but since Artemis was in the favour of the hunters, his words were never considered.

He served them well and as usual, they dug into the food like there was no tomorrow. Artemis missed the taste of it, the sweet, salty and sour. She missed everything he cooked.

Occasionally she would glance at him, only to see him messing around with the young hunters. They played and threw breads around sometimes. The breakfast form well with laughter filling up the pavilion. Artemis smiled at his return had changed everything.

Most of the time, she kept recounted in her mind every time they spent together. Their relationship had turned intimated. It was much more closer than an actual brother and sister, even though they argued almost 24/7. But about the sleeping and accidental kisses, her cheeks fluttered as the memories came back.

Lingering mortification over what she'd done, what had ... changed between them had her skulking out of the camp after breakfast, fleeing for the sanctuary of the woods for some fresh air—and to study the light and colors. She brought her bow and arrows for hunting, along with the wolfsbanes jar that Zoë had given her. She was careful not to let Perseus notice it, and it was safer for her to carry it than to leave it at camp. That idiot might start discovering and digging through stuff and would eventually find it out.

She crept through the trees and brush for no more than an hour before she felt a presence behind her—coming ever closer, sending the animals running for cover. Artemis smiled to herself as she snapped her finger at the ground and settled in the crook of a towering elm and waited.

Brush rustled—hardly more than a breeze's passing, but she knew what to expect, knew the signs.

A snap and roar of fury echoed across the lands, scattering the birds.

When Artemis climbed out of the tree and walked into the little clearing, she merely crossed her arms and looked up at the werewolf, dangling by his legs from the snare she'd laid.

Even upside down, he smiled lazily at her as she approached. "Cruel goddess."

"That's what you get for stalking someone."

He chuckled, and she came close enough to dare stroke a finger along the silken raven hair dangling just above her face, admiring the many colors within it— the lie of dark blue of ocean, dark purple to galaxy and mysteries. Her heart thundered, and she knew he could probably hear it. But he leaned his head toward her, a silent invitation, and she ran her fingers through his hair—gently, carefully. He purred, the sound rumbling through her fingers, arms, legs, and core. She wondered how that sound would feel if he was fully pressed up against her, skin-to-skin. She stepped back.

He curled upward in a smooth, powerful motion and swiped with a single claw at the creeping vine she'd used for rope. The was about to shout that his wound hadn't heal, but he flipped over and landed smoothly on the ground.

"Try to show off and the wounds reopen wouldn't be my fault." Artemis huffed.

"And you will tend to it" Perseus said, swirling his brows that annoyed her. Yet his grin made her knees buckled.

"Like I care!" She scowled and walked off leaving him.

"I was just trying to lighten the mood" he exclaimed behind her.

Artemis paced for few steps until she came into a halt. Right in front of her, just few yards away was a wild deer enjoying its meal from the green grass by the stream. It didn't notice her, just simply stood on one spot, chewing the grass. Artemis crept a smile as she notched an arrow. Just then....

"Uh what are you doing" the idiot came up from behind.

"Quite you idiot!" She whispered out loud and smacked his head.

Perseus frowned at her and rubbed the spot her hand landed until his eyes followed her gaze and realised it.

"Artemis is that..."

"Yes it's a deer No Brain" Artemis rolled her eyes. "First time seeing it?"

"Can you make the shot?" He turned to her. "I mean it's pretty far from us"

"Well for you" The moon goddess sighed. "It's impossible to hit it, but with me what do you think?"