Achilles Heel

Safe and Sound

'These sheets are heaven,' Skye purred.  

'What are you talking about?' 

'Can't you feel them?' she asked, I looked around.  I was laying on a rock, enjoying the sun. 

'What are you talking about, Skye?  We're sunbathing on a rock!' 

'Silly girl,' she laughed, rolling over and looking at me, 'how would we both be here if this was the real world?' 

I looked around, slowly beginning to notice certain things were off.  There wasn't a skyline...nor was there actually any sun.  

'What's going on?' 

'You are dreaming,' she smiled, 'we are officially one.  We completed our first shift, so  now I'm entirely open to you, and vice versa.' 

'I have never seen you in my dreams before.' 

'Call it a perk,' she laughed. 

"ARACHNE, GET OUT OF THERE!" 

'What was that?' 

'Oh.  That is Achilles,' she huffed, 'You fell asleep after we shifted back and he carried us back to the pack house.' 

'THE PACK HOUSE!' 

She nodded, 'Don't worry, he's not mad.  He didn't seem it anyways.  While you rested I was making sure there were no threats.  He's not too terrible, I guess.' 

'Skye, are you falling for Achilles?' 

'He is our mate,' she shrugged.  I laughed and sat up.  She copied my actions, 'Hey I felt the way you were snuggling up to him in that river as he cleaned us off.  You can't say you aren't.' 

"Athena!" 

'You're up, kid,' she laughed.  It felt like I was pushed forward as my eyes opened slowly.  

'Did you really have to do that?' 

I didn't receive a response.  Groggily sitting up, I saw Achilles sisters trying to get into the room.  

"What's going on?" 

"You're awake!" 

Him turning his attention towards me was the distraction the girls had needed.  The three of them burst through the door and into the room.  Each of them were asking me questions.  It felt like I couldn't focus long enough on any of them though to make sense of it.  I looked at Achilles, silently asking for his help. 

"GUYS!" he growled.  I could feel the aura he directed at his sisters and it made me shiver.  

"We just wanted to make sure she was okay," Arachne said, tears in her eyes.  Before Achilles could respond she ran out of the room, crying her eyes out.  The twins looked at Achilles. 

"Good job you jerk," Athena growled. 

"Sh*t," he sighed, realizing that he made a mistake.  Quickly he ran out of the room and down the hall after his youngest sister.  

"So," Athena said, sitting next to me.  Artemis took the other side of the bed, blocking me in.  

"Why'd you run?" Artemis asked, "you beat Athena." 

"She did not," Athena said in a sour tone, "she was just as injured as I was.  She just shifted." 

"Her howl nearly ruined your ear drums," Artemis laughed, shaking her head at her twin, "ignore Athena, she's just a sore loser.  Honestly we knew that we had to test you and the other one to see which one of you were our brother's mate." 

"I don't think-" 

"Don't play that game with us," Athena said, narrowing her eyes at me, "we know it's not Janna.  There's nothing special about that she-wolf.  And the moon goddess would not curse our family with someone who isn't just as special as us." 

"She's also got a superiority complex," Artemis said, pulling my attention back to her, "what my very blunt twin means is that we just wanted to make sure that our future luna is someone that can protect themselves." 

"I'm not Luna material," I said, shaking my head, "honest.  I'm just a pet project for your brother to score some points with the elders." 

The two sisters shared a look and rolled their eyes.  Then Artemis put a hand on my shoulder, "our brother wouldn't have carried you back to the pack house if you were just a pet project.  He wouldn't have Mags watch over you, and yell at us if we tried to speak to you.  He lets that other she-wolf do whatever she wants, but he watches you like it's his life's work. Whether you want to admit it or not, you clearly mean something to our brother." 

Before I could say anything in response the twins looked at one another and walked out of the room.  A few seconds later Achilles came in.  He looked out of breath.  

"Are you okay?" 

"Yeah," I nodded, "why wouldn't I be?" 

He shook his head, "I...I just-" 

"What was it?" 

"I was worried," He admitted, "I've never seen someone so wiped out from a shift." 

"Well I've never done it before," I laughed awkwardly, "So I don't know how standard mine was." 

"It wasn't!" he said, shaking his head, "Did you know you had a white wolf?" 

"No." 

"It-It was beautiful," he smiled, sitting down beside me, "I've never seen a white wolf before.  Only ever heard about them." 

"We exist," I said, trying to make a joke.  

He smiled, "yeah..." 

"Achilles?" 

"Yes?" 

"If I we-" 

"Alpha Achilles," Sam said, bursting into the room.  

I could see the anger in his eyes as he turned towards his beta, "this better be important." 

"Your brothers..." he gulped nervously, "they're here." 

"Brothers?" he asked. 

"Apollo and Ares!'" 

His eyes went wide, "Why?  Was anyone aware of their arrival?  Why am I just finding out about this now?" 

"I don't know," he said, shaking his head, "I just got word from the patrol.  They stopped them until they realized it was your brothers." 

"D*mn it," he growled, standing up from the bed.  He angrily huffed as he looked at his beta, "find out why they are here.  Tell the warriors to be prepared." 

Sam left, and Achilles looked at me.  I was confused, "they're your brothers...why are you acting like they are going to cause trouble." 

"Apollo and Ares never show up together," he said in a solemn tone, "this means that something serious is happening.  I need you to get up.  Are you able to do that?" 

I nodded.  Achilles helped me out of bed and I changed into a pair of jeans and a basic tee.  Even though we aren't mated I could feel the anxiety of the visit looming over us like a dark cloud.  

"Achilles-" 

"No matter what happens, you stay by my side, do you understand?" 

"Yes bu-" 

"I don't have time to explain my brothers to you," he said quickly, taking my hand in his as he led me out of the room and we began to head down the stairs at a quick pace, "but whatever you do, do not mention that you are my mate.  Okay?" 

"Why?" 

"My brothers believe that when you find your mate you kill them." he said simply.