Chapter 1
POV: ANNA
The bright morning sun spilled through the windows panes, its warmth illuminated golden rays. I extended my arms over my head, generously stretching and blinking my eyes open. My body sinks further into the sheets, soft and inviting, as I felt the heavy weight of my mates surrounding me.
I’m sitting between Ares and Apollo—my life—my mates—my other halves. Luckily, werewolves do not age the same as humans do—even though we are well into our forties after almost 18 years have ticked by—we still looked relatively the same. And the two definitely don’t behave a day past their twenties—especially with their vast appetite in regards to sex.
Ares lies fast asleep to my right, his arm draped over my waist and his chest rising and falling. Even as the years pass, I find that he has remained the same—strong and steadfast and he still ignites something raw and untamed inside me. He’s always been that way—bold, impulsive, passionate. He hasn’t changed a bit.
On my left, Apollo’s hand rests on the other side of my waist lightly. He’s possessive—but nothing compared to how Ares is. His gaze has always been softer, more introspective, but no less intense—his personality is contrasting compared to Ares. Even now, as we lie together, I feel his warmth spreading over me, a soft glow that envelops me whole, that reminds me that I’m safe in his soft grasp.
The morning light casts a soft glow around us. The world outside feels so distant, so unimportant in these moments as we lay together—even though we have a whole life around us. Despite the years and the initial battles that we’ve all faced, I’ve never felt more whole or certain in life.
I glance between the two men—Ares with his quiet intensity, Apollo with his calm assurance—and I can’t help but smile. I’m happy. I’m really happy. These are my mates—the ones who my soul is bonded to.
Together we shared eight children—just as the moon goddess had prophesied.
Artemis being the first and the most powerful child—he has done the unthinkable and had united two kingdoms into one, just by his mere presence alone. And in two days time, he will officially rule as a King over one Kingdom united.
Even though Ares and Apollo lay fast asleep I’m already awake. My mind can’t stop oscillating with thoughts.
Artemis will turn eighteen in two days, and with that, comes a weight of responsibility. He’s been preparing for it for the better half of his life but now it will be real. The mating ceremony will signify his official reign as the one and only Werewolf King. And if the moon goddess blesses him it will also signify the day he meets his mate.
A flashback wades through my mind and reminds me of the mating ceremony I attended and the moment I scented Ares and Apollo. Their scents were distinct—specific—and personal to me. Their mating scents signified a bond—and then the bond signified much much more. It signified change—it was as if my world was flipped upside down when Victor had kidnapped me and tried to force me into mating with him. But the change signified more than just the hard times—it also signified the good times. A change that the werewolf community needed—that they were desperate for.
Artemis was the answer—he was the change the werewolf community needed. Ever since his birth and the show of his powers, the werewolf community has seen considerable change—for the better.
I slipped myself slowly out of the bed, pressing my feet into the ground softly and making sure to be quiet and careful with my movements in order to not wake Ares and Artemis. As I walk through the hallway towards Artemis’s room, the corridors are quiet, free of movement and laughter as I’m usually accustomed to. The palace is never quiet with eight children, even though my youngest is ten years old, and they stopped running through hallways or shifting inside, I was still not used to the complete silence.
The children, all of them—Artemis, Poseidon, Athena, Zeus, Hera, Morpheus, Aphrodite, and Hermes—are still fast asleep, unburdened by the responsibilities of the day. Artemis was the first I watched grow, but soon after, almost yearly, a new child was born—each with a unique gift. However, the moon goddess still gifted Artemis with a combination of gifts instead of a single gift like all the others possessed.
I slipped quietly into his room, tip toeing as I snuck inside and studied him. His cheek rested across the fluffed pillow as his eyes were pressed closed. He looked so peaceful as he slept in his deep slumber.
It’s any mother’s worry watching their child grow—especially when they have such hefty responsibilities to look forward to. Especially when the weight of an entire kingdom rests upon them.
In two days time things would change for the whole.
I stood beside his bed as I gently brushed a strand of dark brown curly hair away from his forehead. Artemis stirs but doesn’t wake, he always sleeps like a rock. I smile at the sight of him. He was raised for this moment. He was raised to become a powerful King.
I placed myself on the edge of the bed, my weight sinking in as my voice was low in a whisper, “Artemis.”
“Mother?” he mumbles, stirring awake suddenly.
“It’s time to wake up, my son,” I responded.
Artemis pressed himself up to a seat on his bed and met my gaze.
“Two days,” I remind him, “until your birthday and the mating ceremony.”
Artemis nods slowly, his lips pressing together into a thin line, his gaze serious. Like any teenager, he’s dreaded this moment, sometimes silently and sometimes expressively but nevertheless dreaded it. It was a lot of weight to carry for a teenager—even though he knew it was a weight he had to bear.
“The mating ceremony,” I expanded. “It will officially mark your reign as king. The pack will look to you for leadership. Your fathers and I will still be your advisors but you will be given more reign in decisions. You need to learn how to rule a kingdom alone—as a true king. Difficult choices will need to be made and at times you will have no one to turn to for answers besides yourself. We will no longer be your crutches as we have been Artemis—we’ve been trying to guide you into your independence.”
Artemis drifts his gaze back up to meet mine. His shoulders are broader now, his frame is developing into something stronger, his stature is more like that of a man now, not a boy. But his eyes—those blue-green eyes of his, a mixture of mine and his fathers still raw look of youth. I know though, his eyes will get rougher with time—as life experience comes.
“I know, Mother,” Artemis replied.
“You’ve prepared for this since the day of your birth. You can bear the weight of the crown. A king is many things, he understands the power of sacrifice, balance, and knowing when to fight and instead when to show mercy—he understands what is necessary for each meeting and for each decision.”
I knew I would not always be here to guide him. He’ll have to make the difficult decisions alone—without our guidance. My other children have their roles to play, too but not like Artemis. He’s the heir. He is the one the Moon Goddess had chosen to lead the dynasties and cause exemplary change.
Artemis’ brow furrowed as his gaze lifted up to meet mine again. “You act like I’m going off to war and never returning to my mother. I know, I know. I understand my coming responsibilities. You and my father have prepared me for this day for nearly 17 years. I could remember father reading the war books to me at bedtime even.”
I couldn’t help but let out a laugh. Ares insisted on doing so. He said it would make him stronger, even if it was only mentally for the while. And he was right. Artemis had inherited both bits and pieces of Ares and Apollo’ personalities thankfully. He was a combination of the two.
“I know but you can’t blame a mother for worrying,” I remind him.
He shook his head and stretched his arms above his head and wrapped the covers further around his body. “Now if you wouldn’t mind mother, I need to get dressed.”
“You forget I used to change your diapers,” I laughed easily before rising from his bed and getting to my feet.
I closed the door behind me. “Two days,” I whisper, half to myself but half hoping he would hear me. Wolf hearing was a magnificent thing, especially in an Alpha.
