Page 11 of Timber Hollow

11

Lone Wolf Girl

J ay leads us through a side door, not the one that the kitchen staff are gathered around after inputting a six-digit code. Saint disappeared inside while Jay was giving me his be careful speech, because when Jay finally lets me step away from the wall, Saint is gone. I don’t have a choice in holding Jay's hand as we walk inside, since he hasn't released his grip on me. I am acutely aware of the amount of pressure he applies, and how loose I keep my fingers.

It’s an internal battle not to white-knuckle grip his hand.

It's been a long time since I've been home, but it's been even longer since I've been in the Packhouse. My brother and sister had both hung out within its walls and used the game rooms and gym much more frequently than I ever had. But then, they were much more popular than I had been in school.

I wonder why, Artemis? My wolf takes this opportunity to snark at me.

Because I spent more time as you within the trees.

Sure, Apollo and Athena had been more popular than me in school, but they could never find me when I didn't want them to. Resident hide-and-seek champion, thank you very much.

The inside of the Packhouse looks almost identical to the last time I'd been inside. Sure, the electronics have all had modern upgrades, but the atmosphere has that same feeling. Like everyone is welcome. The interior walls are also made of brick, tasteful decorations are hung on all the walls. There used to be coin-op arcade games in various rooms, at one time I had a high score on one of them. Maybe I'd go take a peek before we leave.

Jay leads me through the large building, waving and doing the dude head nod thing to members of the Pack. When I'd left, Magnus still hadn't replaced his Beta… my father… since his death. I never imagined that Jay would end up in his position, but maybe I'm wrong.

Everyone seems to respect him here.

"Athena and Apollo aren't here, are they?" I ask, suddenly terrified that I'd not only have to face Magnus but my siblings, as well.

"Nope. Last I knew Apollo was back at college for his masters or something, Athena lives next to your mom though."

"Awesome. And I imagine someone in there is friends with Athena, right?"

"Yup." Jay chirps brightly, and I drop my head back, groaning with despair.

"Well, that's fucking unfortunate." I find Jay's piercing eyes on my neck when I pick my head up, that silver flash of his wolf again. "What?" I ask, my throat suddenly dry as the Sahara.

"You shouldn't make sounds like that while we're in public, Artemis. I might not be able to restrain myself, since you've given me free reign to kiss you whenever I want."

My stomach drops, and my face heats. Jay motherfucking Temple. That lazy smile stretches across his face again as color rises to my cheeks, his attention snagging on my lip caught between my teeth.

"I don't think that an empty hallway counts as public, Jay," I whisper, even if my heart is galloping away.

"No? Not even if at any moment someone could walk through?" Jay replies, pulling me a step closer.

"Nope. Let's go, handsome." I tease, feigning confidence, pulling him down the hallway with me.

Jay Temple is having entirely too much fun with this. The rat bastard. Silently, I remind myself of why I left, of why I disappeared from this town without a trace.

Him .

This hallway, I know, connects to the large banquet hall, in which I can hear dozens of people talking and laughing. The Pack is just through these doors, and if I let myself pause, to think about it for even another heartbeat, I'll bolt. So I just keep charging ahead, Jay's hand in mine. He squeezes it tight as we pass through the archway.

Jay takes the lead right away, somehow sensing I don't know where I'm going anymore. He leads us towards where I can see Alex, and Dante, Saint's big curly head peeking out above everyone at the bar.

I'm going to need a drink, or maybe five.

When Jay’s brother pulls him into a brief hug, Jay doesn't drop my hand, instead returning the embrace with one arm, thumping Alex on the back. Dante gives Jay the head nod thing, giving me a small smile and half wave. I return the gesture.

The 'silent and broody' label seemed to be plastered across Dante’s forehead. How much of it is an act?

"Nice to see you again, Artemis. Last time I saw you, I didn't have the chance to introduce you to my wife, Helena." Alex says, the shorter, brunette beside him smiling softly.

"Hellooo-" I chirp, giving a wave not unlike I'd given Dante.

"So I'm told you've been gone a while?" Helena asks, stepping towards me, pulling me out of Jay's grasp as his brother pulls him into conversation. Helena takes me to a high-top table, resting her elbows on the surface.

"Yeah. I left right before graduation. Why?"

"I'm just curious about you. You're a mystery." Helena proceeds to lay her accusations out efficiently and succinctly. "I know you were engaged not that long ago. Your beau was wealthy. You've parked a fancy car in the driveway of the Grimes place every night. Why are you back, and why are you pulling Jay into your drama?"

Helena looks soft as a kitten, but she cuts to the heart of the matter without any bullshitting. I can at least appreciate that.

"Well. You're a jolly ray of fucking Sunshine." I chortle with false brevity. "I'm back because this is my home. Me and Jay, are me and Jay , not Artemis, Jay and Helena, but thanks so much for your concern." With that, I push away from the table, looking around to see if anyone I actually want to talk to is around.

Of course, everyone in Timber Hollow is practically a stranger to me these days.

"ARTEMIS HUNT." The Alpha's booming voice fills the Packhouse, vibrating through my bones. Well, nothing to it, but to do it.

"Alpha!" I put on my best cheery smile. "Just the man I'm looking for."

"What does the lone wolf want with an Alpha?" Magnus replies, stepping around tables. The focus of the entire hall is upon us, now.

Oof. Okay, there's a sore spot there, apparently.

You don't say? My wolf snarks back at me, awoken by her Alpha's appearance. In the seven years I've been gone, I hadn't once committed to another pack. I'd visited plenty. Hung around probably far past my welcome as a drifter on some occasions, but I never joined. Perhaps that would work in my favor.

"Well, normally people say hi , first, but I was going to come ask to rejoin the pack. I'm home." I shrug, feeling once again like a teenager.

"Hmm. So the lone wolf thinks to come into our Packhouse on the arm of my son—the Alpha's son— and expects to be welcomed back into the fold, just like that?"

"I..what? What does Jay have to do with this? Why does everyone seem to think I came back for Jay? No. I came back because Timber Hollow is my home. The entire time I was gone I didn't submit to any other Alpha. I didn't pledge to any other pack. Not once. It's been years since I've even gone on a Pack run." I admit to the Alpha, and… to my pack.

Silverware clatters as it's dropped, and people suck in their breath. Hushed whispers of she hasn't been on a Pack run in years? rippling around the room.

"So not only have you gone against our ways in going rogue, you've broken your wolf too, and you expect us to welcome you back? A charity case?" Magnus says without feeling, without inflection.

" My wolf is fine " I growl, feeling her rise to the surface of my soul, her fur brushing my fingertips. I could shift right here and prove it, but I think that it might be frowned upon at a baby shower.

"Your wolf is fine, you say? Okay. We'll see about your rejoining the Timber Hollow pack. Sure . But you will earn your place within this Pack again, Artemis Hunt. Blood debt to your father or no— you will not be granted access to this pack's resources without contributing, girl."

I grind my teeth, accepting that I'll have to prove loyalty somehow. It is the way when complete outsiders wanted to join too. Submit to the Alpha's orders, and you're in.

"I didn't expect to access anything, sir ." I retort, only barely concealing the burning anger I feel.

"Do you have a job?"

"Yes." I practically hiss.

"Where." Magnus doesn't ask the question like he's curious. It's flat, like a demand.

"Coyote Bills."

Magnus grunts, considering. "Agnes set you up with it?"

"Yes. And I'm renting Marcus's room while he's away, though I'm sure you knew about that already." Magnus doesn't answer, just crosses his arms and stares down at me.

"Why not stay in the Packhouse?" Magnus asks, and inwardly I groan for not having thought of a better answer when Jay asked in the car.

"Because, I didn't know if I would be permitted to, or if there would be a room. I…wanted to make sure I had my own space." I stammer, my entire Pack silent, waiting for the Alpha to determine my fate while my blood roars in my ears.

"Well, lone wolf girl, if you want to rejoin the Pack here are my terms. You'll work again in the foundry for a week. Anything you make will be sold in the store, but you will not see a penny from the sale. And, since you wanted to be a lone wolf, not even joining on sacred Pack runs, well. You'll go one more full Moon without the comforts of this pack. One month. No one is to join her. Not for a single run, for any purpose. Artemis Hunt, the Lone Wolf, home at last." Magnus hands down my sentencing, addressing the rest of the crowd as he instructs them against running with me.

Like a thousand spiders crawling over my skin, I feel the eyes of each Pack member in the room. Feel them examine me from head to toe, and hear their whispering.

"And, Artemis, go see your mother. She knows you're home." Magnus Temple says before turning on his heel and walking away, presumably to where Dante and Helena are sitting.

I don’t give anyone the time to say anything to me before I similarly spin on my heel and leave the Packhouse. I don't know what happened to Jay, and I guess it doesn't matter. I have my orders.