Artemis' Gift
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M. Syrah
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Mark of Artemis
Erotic Content Ahead
Dear readers, this is an erotic story featuring many steamy situations and themes. Please use discretion while reading.
PENNY
My father always told me I was blessed with Artemisâ Gift.
But to me, it felt like a curse. A curse that forced me to live among wolves as a human.
Forever an unmated virgin, cast aside and alone. As my friends found their mates and waltzed off into the sunset, I resigned myself to my fate.
And then I met him. The Lycan king, my greatest enemy.
Yet as much as we loathed one anotherâŠ
We were drawn together, as if by Artemis herself.
I guess the Moon Goddess has a twisted sense of humor.
And I guess I will soon be a virgin no more.
***
I was in the forest to draw the wildflowers in bloom. I loved to draw. It was my passion. It was also a means to express my feelings and enjoy the quiet.
I wasnât an introvert per se, but I liked to be on my own.
I focused on the petalsâ different shades. The sun was shining brightly on the flowers, casting different shades of blue.
Thankfully, I had brought everything I needed to do them justice. I took out my pencils and my crayons and got to work.
I was so absorbed in my sketch that I almost didnât hear the sound of paws on the forest floor. A wolf came behind me, and I smiled at him.
It was a sandy-blond wolf that I recognized as my best friend, Kyle. Weâd grown up together in the pack, even if I was only human.
The alpha of the pack had adopted me when I was just a baby and raised me like one of them because, according to him, I was blessed by Lady Artemis. Yes, the Goddess of the Hunt herself.
I had a stag head looking toward a crescent moon tattooed on my arm, and according to my father, it was a blessing from the Goddess.
Thanks to this mark, I could mind-link and call all lycanthropes to me, even those who werenât wolves.
How did I know that it worked? Well, letâs say that, as a baby, I hadnât had full control of it, and some other lycanthropes would find themselves drawn to me.
That had occasioned many troubles for the border patrol, but theyâd forgiven me. Mostly.
âWhat is it, Kyle?â I asked the wolf behind me, but I was still sketching.
âAlpha Richard is asking for you. He has some big news.â
I turned my light-green eyes to his yellow ones. This was unexpected. What did my dad want?
âWhat kind of news?â I asked, curious.
âHe made me promise not to tell. Come on. Hop on my back. Weâll be faster.â
âFine, but you know I donât like it,â I said, frowning.
He chuckle-growled and lowered the front of his body so I could jump on his back. I hated to climb on their backs because it was harder to ride a wolf than a horse. They werenât as well balanced.
I held his neck for dear life as he ran through the woods.
I trusted Kyle with my life, but that didnât mean that I wasnât scared.
Iâd ridden on his back as a child, and my father had always said that I should stop doing it because it was such an intimate gesture, but Kyle had no mate for now and didnât care.
As for me, Iâd probably never have a mate, even if my father was persuaded otherwise.
Heâd said that my mark was proof of the Goddess choosing me for some big purpose. Right. As if. Who would want a human as a mate?
Kyle stopped in front of our pack house.
It was a huge house where the wolves could live. You could also find the offices of the leaders as well as a huge kitchen where we could all eat together if we wanted to.
I got down from Kyleâs back to enter the house. My stepbrother and future alpha, Jacob, greeted me at the door.
He was the copy of our father, and he always treated me like his real sister, even if we werenât blood-related.
He was tall at about six feet one, and his chestnut-brown hair, the same color as mine, was in a skater cut. He was muscular because he trained a lot, and he had all the she-wolves at his feet.
He wasnât mated yet either, so that gave them hope.
Kyle smiled at my brother as he too entered the house and put a hand on my shoulder, earning himself a glare from Jacob. He hated it when Kyle touched me, because he was very protective of me.
He landed his hazel eyes on me as I walked to him and smiled a loving smile.
âPenny. Come on. Father is expecting us.â
âRight, Jake. Do you know what he wants?â
âNot really, no.â
âGreat.â
He laughed and gave me one of his killer smiles, the one that had all the unmated she-wolves of the pack swooning.
âYou know he hates it when youâre sarcastic,â he said.
âHe knows that I canât help it.â I shrugged.
âRight,â he chuckled.
We entered the alphaâs office, and there stood an older version of Jacob. My father was behind his wooden desk, and I instantly felt happy. I always felt safe and good when he was around.
Such was the power of the alpha.
Alpha Richard lifted his hazel eyes and smiled. He straightened up in his chair before motioning for us to sit down. We did, and he looked between us.
âAlpha King Sirius will be visiting us shortly.â
I widened my eyes, and so did Jake next to me.
The Alpha King of the werewolves was actually a lycan. They were bigger and stronger wolves with a form of half beast, half man that the werewolves didnât have.
I knew that the Alpha King hated humans and saw it as a bad sign that my father had taken me in, so the news made me uncomfortable for a moment.
âDonât worry, Penelope. Heâs not coming because of you,â my father said reassuringly. âThereâs been some problem with the vampires around here, and thatâs why I asked for his help.â
âShould I...stay away while heâs here?â I asked, uncertain.
âGo to college as usual and donât change your plans. Youâre my daughter, and this pack is your home.â
I smiled at him, and he smiled back. I knew he always had my back, but Iâd still try to stay well away from the king. That would be best for everyone.
***
A week passed before the day of his arrival, and I was walking home from college. I was alone tonight because Kyle was already home to greet the king.
My father had organized a party for him, his beta, and some members of the royal pack. I hoped theyâd like it.
I was walking through the woods as I neared our territory. I could feel the leaves crunch under my feet. I liked that sound. I liked walking in the forest.
Being raised by werewolves was definitely a plus for me. I hummed to myself as I passed the trees.
The moon was casting enough light so I could see my path. The stars were also out, and that almost made me want to draw the scenery, but I was expected home, and I couldnât delay more.
I was almost there when I felt a presence behind my back. Who could that be? I strained my ears to hear a sound, but I couldnât hear a thing.
It was no wolf because theyâd always make their presence known to me, since I couldnât use my sense of smell like them.
I used Artemisâs mark to try and feel them through the mind-link. But instead of the warm fuzzy feeling I got when I mind-linked Jacob or Kyle, my mark turned icy cold.
Whatever was following me was no wolf.
I felt panic surge through me, and I hastened my pace.
The border was marked by a sycamore, and I just had to pass it to be safe.
I could use my power to call for help, but I didnât want to do that unless I knew I was in danger.
I wanted to run, but that could incite my stalker to rush me. I breathed out until the presence was right behind me. My mark turned blinding cold.
I was too scared, so I shot my power out and hoped Jake would hear me.
Just then, icy cold hands closed around my throat. The creature turned me to face him, and I could see his eyes. He had no pupils.
He was a vampire. He leered at me, showing pointed white teeth.
âWhatâs a human like you doing here? Donât you know that the big bad wolves live just right there?â
He scrutinized my face and laughed as he recognized me. The sound was chilling me to the bone.
âOh! I recognize you, bloodbag. Youâre Alpha Richardâs daughter. The little human he took in because she was abandoned in the woods. Well, well⊠Iâm going to have some fun with you.â
I wanted to cry, but I wouldnât give him the satisfaction. I tried to kick him, but that only made him chuckle.
He brought my neck to his fangs. I closed my eyes. This was the end.
And then something happened I had never experienced before. A searing white hot warmth exploded across my mark. At the same time, I heard a mighty roar.
The vampire looked behind me and his eyes bulged.
He dropped me on the spot and I held my throbbing arm.
The moment I was on the ground, I looked up to see the tallest dark-gray wolf I had ever seen. He was baring his fangs at the vampire and growling menacingly.
As he growled, I felt my mark burn hotter.
âWhat theâŠ,â the vampire said.
The wolf jumped between us and stood protectively in front of me. The vampire made a run for it, but the wolf didnât give chase. Instead, he turned his gaze to me, his teeth still bared.
I rubbed my sore mark as I looked up into his beautiful golden eyes, which had a purple halo in them. There was something about this wolf. My mark was still throbbing.
It was like the warmth I felt in the mind-link to Kyle or Jacob but one thousand times more powerful. It hurt.
I tried to imagine what his human form looked like. I pictured ripped muscles and a perfect jawline. Alpha material, through and through.
I felt pressure and wetness in my core.
Oh my gods. Was I turned on?
