AVA
I shifted straight back when I got to the clearing in front of the pack house, not even paying attention to the crowd that had gathered, or caring about the fact I was as naked as the day I was born.
Callum pulled me into a hug, pressing his lips to my forehead, before checking me over for injuries. He didn’t find any, and instead turned his attention to his mark on my neck. Gone was the bite mark, and in its place was a delicate pattern of the Aries constellation.
“Beautiful,” he whispered as he teased his fingertips over the still sensitive flesh.
I tiptoed in front of him, reaching up to admire my own mark on his neck. Gone were the teeth and in its place was a delicate tattoo of my wolf staring up at the moon.
I pressed a gentle kiss to the mark, enjoying how his body shivered in pleasure at the feel of my lips on his skin. He groaned when my tongue teased over the mark, his hands ending up intertwined around my back.
Artemis reminding me that the rogues were a very real threat that I needed to deal with interrupted my teasing with my mate.
“Ava!” Callum shouted from behind me when I started to walk towards the pack house.
I turned to look at him, my arms crossed over my chest.
“You don’t need to do any of this alone.”
He took my hand, and when our fingers wound together, we both jumped at the sparks. My skin was tingling, and when I looked down, it became crystal clear why. The same sparks that had surrounded Callum now covered my body in what looked like a dress.
My protector was protecting my modesty.
I raised one eyebrow at him, and his eyes were just as confused as mine. “How did I do that…?”
“What were you thinking about?”
He laughed under his breath. “How I’d rather everyone else didn’t get to see you naked.”
I laughed so hard I snorted. “Okay, we need to test this on a training field.”
He nodded, deep in thought.
“However,” my voice became serious. “If you stop me from sparring in training or fighting completely…”
“You can’t command me anymore, little one,” he smirked.
“Perhaps not, but I could command someone else to punch you.”
I didn’t even notice that Oscar had joined us until he laughed. “I’ll punch him for you, baby girl.”
“Go on then,” I smirked.
Oscar grinned, taking a step towards his brother. Just as he got in position to swing a punch, Callum smirked. “Oscar, do not punch me.”
Oscar stopped dead in his tracks, his hand falling down. His mouth fell open in shock.
“Oh fuck,” I whispered. At some point, I’d have to try to get a volunteer to help with an experiment… and that experiment being could any of us override each other’s commands? That could be mission critical in some situations…
“Yeah, just a bit…” Oscar replied, his voice low. Before either Callum or I could respond, Oscar kicked Callum’s legs out from under him, all three of us laughing when Callum hit the floor.
“I guess it makes sense that Callum is resistant to commands because otherwise I could command him to go home when he thinks he should be protecting me… I wonder if that will be a skill you all get though?”
They both shrugged. “Who knows?” Callum replied. “We’ll find out once we’re all mated and marked.”
I nodded. “I don’t know about you two, but I’m wide awake. Fancy a run?”
They both nodded with a smile. I shifted, letting Artemis take the wheel, before turning to face them and cocking my head to the side. As soon as Ares and Dionysus took over, we all sprinted towards the forest, jumping and playing in the trees together.
Artemis was loving life. I might not have marked Oscar yet, but running with two of our mates was exhilarating.
The three of us sprinting through the trees together made me happy in a way that not many things did. It was simply perfection.
“Ava,” Artemis growled.
“What?!”
“I can’t describe it, but I need to mark and mate Oscar.”
I skidded to a halt.
“Why so sure?”
“I don’t know, Ava. Everything in me is just screaming that I need to do it.”
“Ava, are you okay?” Callum’s voice cut through my thoughts.
“Just talking to Artemis, Callum.” I started running again, heading for the lake.
“Is it about the same thing Dionysus just said to me, by any chance?”
“I assume so, Artemis is adamant that I need to mark you as soon as possible, but she’s not sure why.”
“Are you up to it though, Ava?” Oscar’s voice sounded worried. “I don’t want you to feel like you have to do this now if you aren’t really ready for it.”
“I’m good, honest. I’m just not sure what Artemis has found that means she’s so certain it needs to be now.”
As soon as I reached the lake, I shifted back and lay down to watch the stars.
Oscar lay on my left, Callum on my right, both of them holding one of my hands, squeezing reassuringly.
“In seven days, that moon will be full and at its peak in the sky,” my voice was low, calm and collected. “We need to be ready for a rogue attack, but who knows where it will come from or how many it will be, we just need to be ready.”
“We really don’t have long, my Queen. If you are up to it, completing the bond with Oscar might be a good choice,” Callum replied, all business.
I nodded, before tearing my eyes away from Callum and to his brother.
“What do you think, Oscar?”
He didn’t reply, and instead just leaned over me to capture my lips in a passionate kiss.