the golden wolf

Artemis

The sound of screeching tires followed by the smell of burning rubber filled the air. 

“Romeo November” my father said frantically looking around as he turned up the radio.

Nevaeh wake up, wake up, princess it's just a dream.

I woke up to my uncle shaking me, it’s been a little over six years and I still have nightmares of that night. I looked up at my uncle and could see he was worried about me.

“What time is it?” I asked.

“It’s 3am you woke half the house screaming” he replied.

“I’m sorry uncle, I really am trying I’ll get up and go and start my workout early you guys go back to sleep” I told him.

“Ok happy birthday princess, if you need me come wake me” he said kissing the top of my head before going back to bed.

My uncle recently found his mate. Her name was Serena and she was only nice when my uncle was around. And the nights I had a nightmare like tonight only made things worse since he would leave her to come and be by me. So I tried to always rush him off and keep to myself.

I got dressed and started to run my laps and I could feel someone watching me. I stopped and stretched a little more and looked around, but I didn’t see anyone. I continued on with my workout, and when I finished I still felt a little uneasy. I decided I’d go to the waterfall and try to meditate. 

I was starting to finally relax and feel my mind going clear, when a bag went over my head. There were multiple people there holding my arms and my legs while someone hit me repeatedly. When they finished punching and kicking me they pulled me into the water nearly unconscious and pushed and held me under. I blacked out, it must not have been long but long enough for them to leave. I ripped the bag off my head and started to pull myself out of the water.

That’s when I started to feel the most intense pain. I quickly undressed and got back into the water as my bone started to break and shift hoping the cold water would help ease my pain. This isn’t possible I thought to myself, I’m not supposed to shift until I’m 16. But because of the trauma of being attacked and nearly dying I’m shifting on my 13th birthday by myself. I whimpered as my face elongated for my snout and I grew claws. Soon all the pain subsided and I was sitting in the water in my wolf form when she spoke to me. 

Nevaeh I’m sorry you went through all that and I couldn’t help you my name is Artemis, and I will make sure Serena and her gang of she-devils never hurts you again. 

I should have known she would retaliate for what happened this morning but to nearly kill me over it. This is a new low even for her. I swam to the edge and pulled myself out shaking the water from my fur. I turned around so I could see my reflection, I had ice blue eyes that were almost white and my fur was slightly golden. Am I the wolf from my uncle’s story, is that why my parents had us on the run?

I couldn’t let anyone know that I had shifted already and what I think I was. I started to think of my long dirty blonde hair that went to my lower back, my hazel doe eyes, my tanned arms and legs. When I opened my eyes I was in the woods naked, I grabbed my soaked clothes and put them back on and headed home. When I got to the pack house Serena was at my uncle's side waiting for me. She looked shocked to see me walking up to the pack house.

“I fell in the water. I'm going upstairs for a shower” I said as I ran past them.

“We need to talk when you're done,” he said, looking at my body covered in bruises.

Artemis you can heal my broken bones but I need the bruises to last, I have to look like I’m healing without my wolf to keep our secret. She protested at first but finally agreed. I showered up and put dry clothes on, just throwing my long wet hair in a messy bun.

I went downstairs to meet my uncle, to find him still outside on the steps. He had the look that he was about to deliver bad news. I sat down beside him and laid my head on his shoulder, we sat in silence until I noticed he was crying. When he regained his composure he looked at me and told me our Beta, his brother, was killed. My uncle Max has been out dealing with a hunter and rogue problem not far from here, and was due back today for my birthday. Everyone else returned to their families except him; they were able to bring his body back for a ceremony and for us to say our goodbyes. Being that he had no children uncle Steven is next in line for the Beta position and has to leave tomorrow. Leaving Serena to take care of me while he’s gone. He asked how I got the bruises and I lied saying I training didn’t go so well after how my morning started, not wanting to face the wrath of Serena since she was going to be my caretaker now.

Nova came out and hugged me. She had heard the news and wanted to be with me. We went upstairs to my room and talked until I fell asleep, she woke me up a little while later and dragged me outside. She threw a small party together hearing it was my birthday hoping it would cheer me up, but I wasn’t in the party mood. First chance I got I snuck out to the woods to sit by the waterfall that until earlier had been my sanctuary.

Listening to the water, the smell of nature always helps me find my center. The moon and stars shining so bright I almost didn’t hear someone sneaking up behind me, key word almost. I draw my bow and point it in the direction I hear someone coming and it’s Noah, out of all people why did he have to follow me. Over the years we have grown to tolerate each other like we were siblings but I still tried to keep my distance.

“How bad is it this time?” He asked looking at my bruise covered arms.

“I slipped earlier when I was here, I’m fine it’s nothing” I said looking back to the waterfall.

“It’s not fine you need to tell your uncle or I will as future alpha, I will not tolerate this” he glared.

“I have a plan to move out of the pack house when I’m 16, so I can avoid her for 3 more years if it’s for my uncle’s happiness. He wanted for so long to find his mate. I'm not going to be the reason he loses her.” I almost yelled walking away.

I know he means well, but my family has lost a lot and I don’t think my uncle can lose her. I heard Noah jog up beside me, he talked the rest of the way back. I just listened, he agreed not to say anything as long as no new marks showed up. 

We got back to the party and Nova wasn't happy with me for sneaking off, but she held back from yelling at me. that just mad it worse because I knew I hurt her feelings but that's not what I saw in her eyes, I saw pity in her eyes. Noah told her what happened today, then me losing my uncle that I've only seen a few times over the years since he was always gone trying to track down who is all after me, and then its my birthday which is always hard since I miss my parents so much. I grabbed Noah's hand and pulled him on the dance floor, so we could talk and maybe get Nova to smiles at the same time. I asked him to keep an eye on Nova for me, I didn't like her being sad and promised again if Serena and gang of she devils came after me again I would tell him. I enjoyed the rest of my night at my party, and spent a little bit of time with my uncle before he left in the morning. It was getting late and I had training in the morning like every morning so I excused myself and went upstairs. 

When I got to my room I went over to my window and looked to the stars talking to my parents like I did every year. I wished they were with me, in a way I feel like they are. my birthday always has a full moon and not a cloud in the sky, with a shooting star for me to wish on. I changed into my pajamas, grabbed my wolf and laid down. It didn’t take long and I was fast asleep, ready for a new day.