When they touch me (Shelagh Milano)

Chapter 77 ARTEMISIA

It's funny how my initial anxiety transforms into disappointment as we reach the first checkpoint mid-way where the pups can run around while the drivers get a little break after the long drive.

The moment Fynn pulls his hand back to park and get out of the car, I feel like a piece of me has been taken away from me.

It's getting worse by the minute.

'We have to finally drop the mutts to take on the offer of the Alpha,' Cassy purrs carefully, and I guess she got the right moment as Drake doesn't put her in her place as usual.

Or maybe he has already begun to distance himself from me.

I get out after him, and join Celeste and Astrid in serving the lunch packets as they are already swarming out to reach the playground in the picnic area.

"Incredible that we are still on pack grounds after a four-hour drive," I say astonished, making Celeste laugh.

"Yes, one of the perks of being the strongest pack, right?" She retorts proudly, and I nod with a smile.

I'm just getting my attention on a little boy who is ripping his lunch out of my hands as Fynn's deep voice rumbles over the court. "We are checking the surroundings. Keep them on the playground."

"Yes. Don't worry," Astrid confirms to Fynn before he turns to the two warriors standing at the tree line. I see the smallest of them still drinking his fruit drink while Gregorius just puts the last bite of his sandwich in his mouth.

I take a step towards Fynn, asking him concerned as the little boy is still clinging to me while nipping at his drink. "Didn't you want to eat something?"

"Don't worry about me, princess," the men grin back at me before they take a step into the woods surrounding us and shift into their wolves.

The children scream excitedly, and Astrid turns toward me with a smile. "He needs something a bit... different... when he needs to work properly." "Oh, okay," I say, acting like I understand what the hell she meant.

She walks to the kids playing and Celeste keeps them from running off, and I sigh. Just as I caress the little boy's hair, and want to tell him if we want to join the others to have him play a bit as well, my heart strangely picks up its beat. Even before the children scream again, I sense that Drake is about to barge back out through the trees.

Sighting the huge black wolf, I push the little pup still clinging to my leg closer. I gulp as he stalks directly towards us, and the teachers look at me shocked, Astrid realising that she is too far away from me to get the pup away from me in time. Goddess, he wouldn't hurt him, right?

His deep red eyes are set on me, and I lift my hand slowly, wanting to signal the panicky Astrid that everything is in control. Even if I'm not sure about that, she couldn't keep him from ripping me into a thousand pieces even if she really wanted to. With another slow movement, not to anger him in his hunting stage, I move in front of the pup, shielding him with my body.

"Drake," I shout, amazed at how my voice doesn't shake at all. "Slow down. You risk scaring everyone to death."

My heart flips at the coughing sound the beast makes, and I can see Astrid's eyes widen in the corner of my eyes.

I concentrate on Drake and try to keep my breathing regular as he reaches us with heavy steps which he seems to be taking in slow motion.

As he finally reaches us, I lift my hand instinctively, as if he were calling out to me.

He lowers his head, rubbing its side against the palm of my hand, and I get torn out of my paralyzed state, my fingers moving to slide through his surprisingly soft fur.

"Oh my Goddess," I hear Astrid murmur shocked and I giggle. Lifting my other hand as well, I wrap my hands around his big head, caressing him.

Drake purrs, enjoying me cuddling him, and suddenly moves his snout to my stomach, nudging me slightly.

"Hey," I shout out with a laugh, pushing him back gently. "Stop it now. You have to work."

He gives in to my push, stepping back with a playful growl.

"Good boy," I laugh, and he seems to like the compliment as he shakes his head.

Suddenly, the pup standing behind me, huddles between my legs only to break out to caress him as well. Drake lays down to make him pet his head before he skyrockets up lightly, pushing the little boy with his snout gasp, fearing the boy must have had the scare of his life, but as 14ean down to check on him, he is already sitting up with a big smile. He cracks up while Drake wheezes in what I suppose to be laughter.

With a last snap at my clothes that makes me take a step towards him, he straightens back up, and in the blink of an eye, he is gone. Leaving me behind with a giggling boy at my feet.

'That was fun, mate,' I hear his voice rumble through my mind, making me smile brightly.

Looks like he isn't going anywhere.

"Amazing what a mate bond can do," I hear Celeste praise the Moon Goddess, and my heart feels lighter instantaneously.

Helping the little man onto his feet, he takes up as soon as his feet hit the floor, reaching his friends happily.

"Oh my Goddess, Missy!" Daisy

squeals as she appears next to me.

They must have run for cover on the bus as didn't see them until now. She breathes heavily as she grabs my upper arm, "Are you okay?"

I shrug my shoulders, her touch feeling uncomfortable on my skin, but she doesn't let go. "Sure, why shouldn't I be?"

"I have never seen Drake so close. I

even think no one else, other than his brothers and a few warriors, got to be so close to him." I lift my brow at her gushing, but my gaze gets captured by something else.

Lisa is standing a few steps away from us, a strange expression on her face. "Normally, that would have been a death sentence."

"He is my mate," I force a smile while she continues to stare at me. "Isn't this how it is supposed to work?"

"Absolutely, Missy!" Daisy giggles, clapping her hands and interrupting our conversation.

Bummer, I would have loved to hear her response.

***

After one hour, the warriors return, and we get the pups back onto the bus.

Strangely, even if I like hearing him, Drake is back being his chatty self and something just doesn't sit right with me.

I think back to Astrid's comment, and I look at him in thought as I try to figure out if he got what he needed.

"Something you're looking for, princess?" he mocks me as he catches me staring at me, and I tear my eyes away from him.

Rolling my eyes, I can literally feel him standing next to me with a smug grin. "You wish."

Lisa hugs me before getting back onto the bus, and Fynn laughs as she walks away. "Oh, Logan would have loved to see that. Have you got a threesome scheduled already?"

I slap his chest playfully, while she just ignores him. Pushing down the feeling of his comment bugging me, I wave at Daisy, who follows her onto the bus.

We get into our car silently, and I manage to hold my tongue for a bit before it bubbles out of me. "Why did you say that?"

"What?" he asks back nonchalantly as if I wasn't able to see the twitch at the corner of his lips.

I groan, hitting my head on the leather seat as I lean back against it. "You know exactly what I mean."

"I don't like her," he says, his expression growing serious. "That's all."

"Why don't you?" I inquire further, making him shake his head.

He sighs, clenching the steering wheel. "I don't know. Something bugs me. Wasn't she the one that gave you that stinky brew?" "No," I laugh. "Actually, yes. She and Daisy both."

Shaking his head, he smiles, even if the smile doesn't quite reach his eyes. "I just get a bad feeling when she is around you."

My breath hitches in my throat as he looks at me shortly, his eyes getting fully black. "And it's not Drake telling me that."