Artemis' Gift

PENNY

I was once again by the lake, engrossed in my painting, so the noise was only in the background. Painting was slowly soothing me, and I wasn’t thinking about that fucking moron anymore. Almost.

Kyle was napping next to me, and sometimes, it truly seemed like he was a lap dog, or wolf, in his case.

He reminded me of a dog in front of a fireplace during the winter’s night because he was all curled on his side.

The wind was making it difficult to use the watercolors because it was drying them so quickly.

I was trying to mix them right to find the exact color of the king’s fur, and I had some trouble finding the perfect shade.

Not too dark or it would look black, and not too clear or it would be light gray or worse. Once I was satisfied, I applied it, following each line of my pencil. It was starting to really look like him.

I touched the tail with my fingertips and wondered for the first time if his fur was as smooth as Jake’s or Kyle’s. What would it feel like to ride on his back?

I hated it, but something was telling me I wouldn’t hate it with him.

It would be…hot to feel him between my thighs as he ran through the woods. If only he’d never open his bad mouth, he’d be perfect…

“Hmm… Yeah. That’s the right shade of gray,” I heard a deep voice say behind me.

I whipped my head around so fast that I’d have fallen if he hadn’t caught me in his powerful arms. Again, I felt the same warmth I could feel through my power. So good…

It felt so good that I blushed. He narrowed his eyes at me, and I parted quickly from him before he could yell at me.

“Thank you,” I mumbled. “I’m sorry I had to impose my human self on you.”

“Don’t be snarky now. I came to apologize,” he said, visibly amused.

“You did, Your Highness?”

It made my jaw drop. I looked into his eyes, and there was a hint of remorse but also something warm in them. What could that be? ~

“Yes. Your parents have invited me, and I insulted you. It’s not very royal of me to do so; therefore, I apologize,” he said contritely.

“Apology accepted.”

He nodded and offered me a small smile. I sat back down by my easel, and he sat next to me, looking at the lake.

I realized that Kyle had disappeared to leave us alone. I didn’t know why he’d done it, but I was grateful right now. It felt good to be just the two of us, somehow.

I took my brush back in my hand and resumed what I’d been doing before he’d surprised me. Now that I could look at him in his human form, it also deserved a painting. His features were manly, but they had a gentleness to them.

His golden hair shone in the sunlight, and it looked so smooth that I repressed the urge to run my fingers through it.

He was beautiful, but I already knew that. Everyone could see how beautiful the king was.

“Do you come here to paint often?” he asked.

“Yes. It’s quiet and peaceful here. I love the wolves, but sometimes I like to be alone too,” I said honestly.

“I understand. People can be overwhelming.” He nodded.

“I suppose, but I’m not king or anything, so I can’t imagine how it must feel to have everyone looking up to you to find a solution to all their problems.”

He chuckled, and I must admit I liked that deep sound. He was fine for a jerk. I couldn’t deny that.

“You’ll give me anxiety talking like this. It’s not so hard.”

I giggled at those words. “True, I was a bit harsh there. Sorry. It must be lonely, though,” I said.

“I’m not alone. I have all the alphas and my advisors to help me, as well as an entire pack.”

Since he was being so talkative without insulting me, I decided to push my luck. There was something that I really wanted to know.

“I see… Can I ask you something?”

“Sure,” he said. His voice was neutral.

“Are you really going to fight the vampires?” I asked before biting my lower lip in anticipation.

“I hope we can avoid it,” he said, narrowing his blue eyes. “War is never my first choice.”

“I hope so too. I’d be very grateful.” I sighed in relief, thinking that maybe my friends would avoid it.

“You care about them,” he said, looking at me, scrutinizing me with his cornflower-blue eyes. It felt like he was scanning my soul.

“Yes. They’re my family. Even if I’m not a wolf and I have…different skills, they always treated me like family. I hope they care about me as much as I care about them,” I explained.

“I see,” he said, lost in thought.

“Can I ask why you hate humans so much?”

He looked at me, and his gaze was intense. I couldn’t quite decipher it, but there were so many emotions in those eyes right now. It made him feel vulnerable but not any less dangerous.

I could clearly see his strength, and I understood why he was king.

It just made him more…human, for a lack of a better word. Accessible.

“That’s a long story and one I’d rather not share with you,” he said finally.

“Because I’m human?” I asked, holding his gaze.

“Because you’re one of hers,” he said.

“Hers?” I was puzzled. I hadn’t been expecting that answer.

“A Huntress.”

I widened my eyes. I hadn’t expected that at all. I looked at the mark on my arm and sighed.

Yeah. That thing right there was the blessing of Lady Artemis. I’d never thought of it as a blessing, though. It just made me feel different. Not human and not wolf but something in between.

“I don’t like it very much either…,” I sighed.

He looked at me, puzzled all of a sudden. I didn’t want to be scrutinized by those piercing blue eyes anymore, so I packed my things to leave.

I looked at the wolf in the painting, and it was almost entirely finished. I’d just have to add the eyes and scenery if I wanted. Maybe I should give it to him before he leaves. ~

“I’ll leave you to enjoy the lake alone. You look like you need it, Your Highness,” I said, standing up.

Without waiting for an answer, I walked away. It felt incredibly hard to do so, but the man was in constant company and probably needed some time alone. I got that.

Somehow, I didn’t think of him as a jerk anymore. He could be saved.