It really wasn't our first time meeting, of course.

I mean, this would just be the first time we met in real time — the first not within my dreams. Well, sometimes they feel like nightmares when it involves Artemis.

She quirks her eyebrows at my snarky comment. I'm boiling inside at her audacity to continue to enter my life when she is clearly so not wanted.

However sweet she may seem on the outside, Destiny seems to think she is rotten on the inside. At this point, I'm willing to side with anyone who is opposite of Artemis's

"No matter, I think it is time we talk in a more... realistic fashion," she shakes off my comment and stares at me standing in the middle of my room.

I scoff and brush past her shoulder and my awestruck parents, who were standing behind watching the both of us. They are clearly unaware that I have already been... acquainted with the Moon Goddess. The stairs creaked under my heavy steps as I strut over them. I whipped around once I was in the kitchen— I didn't want to have this conversation in my childhood bedroom.

So much has happened in that room; my first real kiss, sneaking my best friend in at night, the first time I had—

My thoughts are broken off by her ever evading presence entering the room. The people I called mom and dad trailed behind, ashamed and looking as if their tails were between their legs. I didn't even have to start the conversation, she clearly had a lot to say.

"To start, I want to clear your parent's names— they did this because I commanded them to, and I don't believe I could have chosen better. They gave up their lives... vowing to me they would never shift again unless it was to protect you, and they were disowned by their pack— all for you. There is nothing more real than their love, blood or not. I can feel it in the room," She stops and I can feel her gauging my reaction. My parents waiting anxiously in the corner as well.

I feel my heart sink.

I'm conflicted.

I love my parents so much but I just couldn't wrap my head around all of it. I mean, if they truly cared about my well-being they would have told me.

Right?

I decide right now that the best thing to do was to hear the rest of the story. I couldn't react until I knew everything that needed to be said. Hearts were on sleeves, including mine. I just nodded at Artemis as a motion to continue and not saying anything else.

She sighs; this was not the reaction she was expecting I guess.

"When you were born I had to do something, Adira. I have lost everyone. My daughter, my granddaughter, my great-granddaughter. I wasn't going to let you, my great-great-granddaughter be next," There were tears in her eyes but I gazed straight forward, trying to not let it affect me as much as I knew it was.

"It always started at around the age of 18, when they became stronger but also easier to sense. People knew what they were. Living in the supernatural world left them vulnerable— they were hunted until the ends of the earth. None of them made it past thirty."

She's telling me I am in danger.

However, the only threat I saw was her. She continues.

"If you didn't know who you were, you would never have tapped into your abilities. We were so close to saving you— but you insisted on applying to Meyersdale. It was unconscious but your lineage was leading you there,"

I soak everything in that Artemis has told me. But I wasn't ready to forgive and forget. She had been selfish.

I hated selfish people.

I decided to ask her the question that was really on my mind.

"Didn't you want to keep me away so I could never meet Klayton? Because you want him for yourself."

A light but sad laughter filled the air. I was surprised, confused even. Her eyes met mine but quickly turned dark, almost black. I stumbled back slightly in the shock that overcame me. They seemed like they were reaching into my mind, trying to touch my soul. It was the first time I was scared of the Moon Goddess.

"The mate bond can make you so naive!" She shouts at me. Horrifyingly, I watch as she starts walking towards where I stand on the other side of the kitchen island.

"At a point, I did want him. I wanted him before he even stood foot on earth. I was lonely, and knew I could harvest the power of the moon to create something... special." Her words dripped with pride and greed, which made my blood boil.

I could feel myself gritting my teeth together. I wanted to say something but I found my mouth dry and lips stuck together. Feet bound to the ground.

It was her doing; she wanted me to know it was time to listen.

"I designed him for so long. I wanted him to be perfect. But I too was naive at such a young age. The night of that full moon when he came to me, I knew. My first look at him— I could tell he was not for me. I could create vessels, but I had no control over the soul. But that is no matter. For all intents and purposes, I love Klayton. Am I in love with him? No, but he is mine. My first,"

At that word —mine— I try to tell her with my eyes that I want to kill her. She rolled her eyes back and paced around me; as if she was exasperated just telling the story.

"Don't worry, I'm almost done. So, when I found out that I couldn't control soul mates I made more, trying to find the one that was destined for me. Hence the birth of the werewolf race."

She sighed and plopped herself down on a kitchen barstool. It didn't take long for her to continue.

"Yet, when the wolves praised me for their creation they believed I was the one to pick mates and decide their fate. And that is why you are in danger. There are many wolves who did not have a great outcome with their mate —if they were rejected, or their mate was killed, or they are unable to even find them. Those wolves are the ones that would do anything to tear down an heir of the Moon Goddess."

I want to launch myself at her. I have barely heard the rest of her story, I was too focused on what she said about Klayton and creating all these wolves for her own selfish agenda. This sounded pathological. She starts to continue her story, but is interrupted by the last person I thought would appear.

All of a sudden, with the blink of an eye, someone appears in front of the fridge. She swings the door open and finds what she is looking for; popping the grape in her mouth while she turns around. Her pink hair seemingly reflecting the light of the kitchen.

"Yeah yeah, you get all the credit and a little bit of glory, but what about me sis... What about me? I get none of the credit, none of the glory."

I see her pretend to pout, sticking her bottom lip out toward Artemis. I felt my mouth finally release but the only thing I could do was let my jaw fall open... Destiny. All of a sudden, I felt out of place in my own home. Artemis stalked towards Destiny fuming and ready to start screaming.

If I wasn't so disturbed by this whole situation, I might have made popcorn.

"Right. However you get to sit on the sidelines and watch your mess burn everything down!" Artemis screams. The power and pain coming from her is almost choking me in waves and I have to clutch the kitchen island.

Destiny did not back down in Artemis's presence. In fact, she seemed to find joy in seeing her rattled. That's makes two of us.

"You are such a drama queen," Destiny seethes. "I was watching this whole time, and by the goddess, give the poor girl a chance to get a word in. You are the cruel one to subdue her like that." She shakes her head and "tsk'd" at Artemis as if to say a silent 'shame on you'.

My brain whirls and I spit the first thing that comes into my head. I have to clear my throat a little before spitting it out.

"Wait, are you guys actually sisters?" My bottom jaw still hanging slightly open at the scene unfolding before me.

Destiny grabs Artemis and squeezes her, kissing her cheek in one swift motion. I watch as Artemis shift uncomfortably under the touch, her stance ready to grab one of her bows attached to the satchel on her back and stab Destiny with it.

"You betcha!" Destiny winks. "That's why she always goes on and on about how blood doesn't matter, she's not my biggest fan."

Artemis shoves Destiny off of her in anger, for which Destiny feigns being hurt by the action. It's like they've forgotten that my parents and I are in the room.

I glance at the two bodies huddled in the corner; they haven't moved this whole time. I instantly take pity on them. I knew I would forgive them eventually... just not right now.

I find the courage to talk again.

"What about my bond with Klayton? I just want it back! Take this stupid curse off of me!" I look between the two sisters and settle on Destiny, knowing she is my only hope. Artemis will do anything to protect me now; even cursing me.

Destiny glares at her sister due to my words.

"She's the one who messed with my souls, and as much as I am very... unhappy about it, I will not interfer with it again. My souls are paired together for a reason," She continues to glare at Artemis, "But don't worry, you'll figure it out." She smiles to herself, happy with the conclusion she gave and sends a wink my way.

"Well, it seems I've done my duty for the day! I think you'll be expecting some company soon and I don't think I want to be present for that," Destiny says with a side smirk.

She starts to stroll towards the living room but I instantly stop her by calling out.

"So you know how much this is killing me and you are just going to let it play out?"

She responds without even turning around.

"Yeah, that's the whole point of well... me, I guess." And just like that, she vanished, like water vapour rising up into the atmosphere.

I am left stranded in the same position I started.

Artemis, my parents, and me all standing in the kitchen.

That is until a loud banging could be heard echoing through the whole house.

Klayton.