Werewolf AU

Sexual reference (its fine, just mentions the hanky panky)

There was a knock on the door, which pulled Annabeth back to reality from her fictional safe haven. "Lady Annabeth," Annabeth winced. She hated when the maids called her Lady. She placed her book down, open still to keep her page. "The Alpha has requested your presence in her quarters."

Annabeth nodded before remembering there was a door between the maid and herself. She stood and straightened her orange tank top and brushed dirt off her denim shorts that didn't exist. She turned the door knob slowly and upon hearing the click she pulled it back. "Thank you Celina." She regarded the maid.

Celina inclined her head to the 18 -- almost 19 -- year old. Celina was young, maybe 20, she had naturally violet eyes and her hair was twisted into a knot of golden brown. And -- of course -- she had a mate.

Everyone she knew had a mate. Except Thalia. There was an exception, as the birth rate of female lycanthropes was significantly higher than that of males, if a female lycanthrope had not got their mate by the age of 20, it was assumed she had no mate, and almost ninety percent of the time she would join the 8th pack, which were initially a group of all female lycanthropes who didn't have mates (well, there were lesbian lycanthropes among them).

Thalia -- her best friend -- had joined Artemis' pack, not because she had no mate, but because of her mates death -- leaving her a widow, and the fact she would then have to be an Alpha by herself, all alone.

So Thalia left, leaving her position of future Alpha open to her younger brother, Jason.

Thalia and Jason Grace were born into the 1st pack. Alpha Zeus runs the largest of the packs, he looks over all the packs. He's the mortal equivalent of president.

As Annabeth makes her way to her mother's quarters she can't help but to think of what Athena could want. Last time Annabeth was summoned it was about her reading habits, according to Alpha Athena, whilst reading was a educational activity, there was a thin line between reading moderately, and reading like Annabeth.

Wolf guards regarded Annabeth with a curt nod before allowing her access into the Alpha's quarters, which would one day be hers, unless her mate was from another pack -- then it was customary for the female mate to move packs -- or she never got a mate, and decided to join Thalia in Lady Artemis' pack.

"Ah, Annabeth," Athena's smile was thin, and Annabeth knew it was forced. "My favorite daughter." She held her arms out wide, welcoming Annabeth for a hug.

Annabeth, however, stood stock still in the middle of the room, arms crossed against her chest. "I'm your only daughter mother."

Athena lost her smile and her arms fell at her sides. "Yes, I do suppose you are." Athena gracefully walked over to her desk and sat down. Another reason how they were different, Athena was gracefull, Annabeth a fumbling mess.

"So mother," Annabeth threw herself in a stiff brown leather seat opposite the mahogany desk. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Annabeth felt Athena's glare rip right threw her, but she stayed as unmoving as possible. "The new age is upon us," Athena began. "Soon we will have packs with new Alphas as the new generation takes over. So, we Alphas have devised plans for a dinner to take place." Oh no. Annabeth thought. Here it comes. "Alphas, new and old will meet. From all 13 of the great packs. We feast tonight at the common ground."

There was a silence where Annabeth took everything in. Tonight. 24, or even more others.

"Mother," she began. "You should have given me more warning, I have nothing to wear or-"

Athena cut her off. "Nonsense child, I had the maids take you up a dress, it shall be in your room when you return." Athena sighed and rubbed her temples. "I suggest you go shower and get ready as soon as you can."

Annabeth choked back a groan, there was her mother, telling her what to do, as always. "Yes mother." She said as she stood and walked out of the room.

+++

Walking into the room, the first thing Annabeth noticed was the noise. Loud chatter flowed through the room, and she saw people she recognized from previous events like this. Of course, the last event like this she had been to was when she was 12. She saw Hazel Levesque chatting to her half brother -- Nico di Angelo -- and his mate, the so-to-be-Alpha of the 7th pack, Will Solace.

Annabeth remembered a conversation she had over heard Alpha Apollo and her mother having.

"He's a son of Hades." The voice hissed. "Hades. I don't give two hoots about the son bit, but Hades."

"Apollo, I understand. You think they are like two complete opposites-"

"They are two complete opposites." The voice cut Athena off.

She ignored the comment and continued. "But the fates have brought them together, if they are said to be mates," Athena let her sentence hang in the air.

"Athena, think of yourself in my position, put yourself in my shoes."

"Oh, don't be ridiculous Apollo, your shoes are much to big for me."

"It's a metaphor." The voice groaned.

"Yes, yes, Augustus Waters, I do understand metaphors."

"Augustus who?"

Athena sighed. "If I put myself in your shoes, it does not matter, I have no loathing towards Hades."

"No," the voice began. "But what if it was someone you hated... someone, like say, Poseidon."

There was a snort. "That would never happen."

The door clicked and Annabeth ran for cover, not wanting to be caught eavesdropping. "Never, say never Athena."

Jason Grace and his mate, a daughter of Aphrodite, the Alpha of the 10th pack, Piper Mclean.

Frank Zhang, the non-lycanthrope. Occasionally, there was one or two born with shifting powers beyond lycanthropy. Frank was one of those exceptions.

Many people she knew, including Thalia, who would be the Alpha for the 8th pack when Artemis stepped down.

She also caught sight of Perseus Jackson, Alpha-to-be of the 3rd pack. Like herself, he was the work of an affair. After Poseidon's first son, Triton, became disowned because of a vicious act towards the 6th pack, Poseidon didn't like his wife, and decided to... 'do the dirty', with an unmated female. Perseus took his mothers last name, not knowing who his father was until he was 12.

Annabeth almost felt sorry for him. Almost.

If it wasn't for the fact that it was his half brother's fault for her father's death she might have been a bit more lenient. But after Triton's dumb moves, which resulted in her father's death, Annabeth had always felt just a flicker of hatred towards the third pack.

The second thing, Annabeth registered, was the over powering scent of seaweed, saltwater, and overall of beaches.

She sniffed, breathing it all in. Athena looked at her from the corner of her eye. "Smell something good?"

Athena was dressed in a silver dress that glittered from top to bottom, it hung around her ankles and had a slit up the side, up to her knee, which showed off her leg. The neckline, Annabeth thought, was probably a bit low for a woman of Athena's age, but who was Annabeth to judge?

Annabeth was in a tight, fitted dress. It hung around her mid thigh and showed off curves that would normally be invisible underneath her usual get up of jeans and sweaters.

"Yes." Annabeth nodded. "It's very good."

Athena smiled slightly. "Does it smell appealing? Does it... how to say... turn you on?" Annabeth flushed deep red before realizing what Athena meant.

When you met your mate, you would be greeted by your favorite scent. That scent, being what your mate smelled like. "Yes." Annabeth repeated.

Annabeth's eyes scoured the room, searching for her mate. Travis Stoll? No, he was mated to Katie Gardiner of the 4th pack. It couldn't be Frank Zhang of the 5th pack, he was mated to Hazel Levesque. She went through and ticked them all off. Leo Valdez of ninth was mated to a omega from the fourth. Pollux of the 12th was mated to a beta girl from his pack.

Even the majority of females had been mated. The minority being Artemis and Thalia.

There was only one left. "No." Annabeth said. She looked at him.

He looked at her. She glared at him. He gave her a playful smile.

He whispered something in his Father's ear. His father smiled, clapped him on the back and said something.

He responded by nodding his head in Annabeth's direction and when his father looked at herself and her mother, his face turned sour.

He got up, and walked over to Annabeth. "Um, hey." He said.

Athena glared. "What do you want Perseus?" She spat. "Because I'm sick of your packs games."

He ignored Athena. "Annabeth, was it?" Annabeth growled. He smiled. "Listen, I'm sure you blame me for stuff that idiot did, but-"

"Idiot? You mean your brother?" Athena snapped.

He winced. "Half brother." He corrected. "And please, let's refrain from reminding me that I am actually related to that idiot."

Annabeth wanted to smile, but she forced herself to look angry.

"Get to the point Perseus."

He sighed. "I-I don't know what my point is Ms Athena." He stared longingly at Annabeth. "I guess," he sighed again. "I guess the fates just hate me. That's all."

The wolf inside Annabeth clawed at her, 'let me out!' she cried. 'Let me out so I can fix mate!'

'Down Altheya.' Annabeth pleaded. 'Don't make this harder'

'You've hurt mate! Let me fix him!'

Athena snorted. "The fates hate those who deserve to be hated." His head hung lower.

"Yes ma'am." He looked at the door behind the two women. "If you don't mind," he said sadly. "I'd like to get some fresh air." Athena moved to the side to allow him to pass and as he did, he grabbed Annabeth's wrist, sending jolts of electricity up her arm, spread in warmth all over her body. "You look beautiful," He whispered in her ear, before adding as an after thought, "mate." And he slipped out of the room and into the darkness.

Athena stared at Annabeth. "What did he say to you?" Annabeth shook her head.

"Nothing important."

Athena laughed. "Don't worry about that strange boy, your mate is somewhere in the room, that fact cannot go unnoticed. Let's go find them." Athena told her.

Annabeth looked longingly at the door he had just disappeared out of. 'If only she knew who mate was,' Altheya stated. 'Then she would know we didn't need to look very far.'

'There's is no point in telling her, she won't allow it. She'd send me to the eighth pack before she let me be mated to him.'

'Well then, I guess the fates hate her. The fates hate those who deserve to be hated.' Altheya mimicked her.

"Coming mother." Annabeth called before slipping into the crowd after her mother.

+++

Annabeth stared at the medium-rare steak on her plate. It was perfect, just the way she liked it, but every time she looked at it her stomach did a somersault. "Not hungry Annabeth?" Lady Aphrodite asked from across the table.

Annabeth shook her head. Bad manners. She reminded herself. "No, I'm hungry but I just can't bring myself to eat it."

Aphrodite nodded along to her words. "You can't eat the meat? Would you prefer salad?"

"No. I don't think I can eat anything at the current moment." She caught the glances of several lycanthropes around the room. Most concerned.

One was amused. He smiled at her, mesmerized she forced herself to look at her plate. "I think I need to use the bathroom." She excused herself.

She heard several of the girls do the same, but she walked faster to the bathroom. Closing the door behind her, she turned on the tap and splashed her face with cold water. Accidentally washing away her makeup as she did so.

Annabeth didn't care. She needed time to wrap her head around this.

"I'm going to be sick." She said, but saying it only made the sensation to vomit stronger.

The bathroom door opened, cutting away Annabeth's privacy.

Thalia, Hazel, Piper and Katie stood at the door.

"Annabeth," Thalia hugged her. "What's wrong."

Annabeth pulled away and shook her head. "Nothing," the glare she got from Thalia was enough to tell her they all knew she was lieing. She shook her head forcefully again but the tears were already falling. "Everything. Everything's wrong." She faintly heard someone close the door and many arms being wrapped around her.

"Let it all out." Thalia said. "Crying helps."

She felt someone pull away. "So does chocolate, and lucky for you," the voice belonged to Piper. She knew it did. "I have a whole box in here. They were a present from Jason, but, right now Annie, you need comfort food."

Piper was right, chocolate was her comfort food, chocolate was her go to when an author killed her favorite character, so she ate a lot of chocolate.

She pulled away from the arms and wiped her tears as best as she could. "Hand 'em over Pipes." She managed.

Piper gave a small smile and handed over a box of milk chocolate Lindt lindor balls. Annabeth smiled at the box. "Ah chocolate, even when there's no one there for me, I'll have you."

"And us Annabeth," Hazel said. "You'll always have us." Annabeth smiled shyly at the younger girl.

"Chocolate and friends." Thalia said. "The key to a good life."

Annabeth laughed and remembered the problem at hand. "What am I going to do?" She said more to herself than anyone else, but the girls heard.

"Annabeth, what's wrong?" Thalia said quite forcefully. "If someone has hurt you, I'll stab them... in the eyes..."

"With a butterknife?" Annabeth questioned.

"Butterknife? Where'd you get that idea?"

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "A book. And no, its not someone."

"Then tell us." Katie said. "We'll listen."

Annabeth sighed. "When you met your mates, what did you think?"

Piper breathed out heavily. "I don't know. I think it was a lot of shock that I'd finally met my mate."

Thalia shrugged. "Luke and I were friends since we were in diapers. It wasn't really that big if a shock when I found he was my mate. Then he died..."

Hazel looked at her feet. "I thought that he was out of my league, someone like Frank... being mated to him, people like me being mate to people like him, it just doesn't happen. I thought he'd reject me, but he looked he in the eyes and said 'how did I get a mate this beautiful?' And ever since I've been hooked like a fish."

Annabeth smiled at Hazel and turned to Katie. "What about you?"

Katie laughed. "I thought he was a douche bag. An over grown child. But, somewhere along the way, I fell for him, and I fell pretty freaking hard."

Annabeth sighed."well, I met mine and-"

"Yay!" Thalia cried. "You've finally met him."

"I felt like, like it was scandalous, that something like that couldn't happen -- shouldn't happen, but at the same time I want it. But my mother, she won't approve, and-"

"To hell with what your mother thinks." Thalia shouted. "Annie, this is your life, not your mothers. You choose in your life, no one else. Do what you want to do, not what others think you should do. No matter what you do, there will always be someone starring at you disapproving. Who cares what they think?"

Annabeth bit into a chocolate ball. "Its not just that Thalia, we- we're meant to hate each other. Six and three do not get along well."

The girls nodded along with her words when Piper seemed to realize what she said. "Did you say three?!" She shouted.

"Keep it down, please." Piper just stared at Annabeth wide eyed. "And yes, I said three."

Katie shook her head. "Well, don't you have a scandal."

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Don't remind me. Oh," she added. "It gets better."

"How?" The girls reluctantly asked in unison.

"His brother is the reason my father and step mother are six foot under."

Thalia gasped. "Percy? Percy is your mate?!" Annabeth nodded. "Annabeth, what are you going to do?"

She shrugged. "Wing it, I guess."

+++

"Finally." Percy said. "The queens return from the throne room, I was beginning to believe you'd fallen in." His father gives a small laugh as the girls find their seats.

"Oh Percy, I feel so loved." Thalia snaps back sarcastically.

Percy looks at Annabeth, her golden curls, her gray eyes, the beautiful shape of her body, her beautiful scent of lemons, and the thrill he gets when he remembers she is his.

She is his. He is hers. They are each others.

"Why do you girls go to the toilet in groups?" He asks.

Artemis scoffs. "That's stereotypical." She mutters loud enough for Percy to hear.

"Hermione Granger went the toilet alone once," Annabeth began, her voice was soft like silk, but it was as hard as rock, it was strong, like an ox, but it made him as weak as how his mother liked her coffee. "And she, was attacked by a troll."

"Oh, so you girls go together for protection, to kick troll butt?"

Jason snorted. "I think she was taking the piss out of you Perce."

"Aye." He said. "I got that."

They lapsed into a silence that was not quite awkward. Percy starring around the room, but mostly at his mate.

"So, Perseus," Lady Aphrodite said in a polite manner. "Have you met your mate yet." Across the table, Annabeth choked on her drink of water.

"Sorry," she apologized.

"Has it got bones in it Annie?"

She glared at him. "Do not call me Annie."

He shrugged. "Well," he said, regarding Aphrodite now. "As a matter if fact, I have."

Aphrodite awed. "What's she like."

Percy looked across the table, at Annabeth, hopping he was giving off the look of starring into the distance, and not at a certain someone. "Well, she's beautiful, like -- really, really, beautiful. But I feel like she isn't told that much." Annabeth fought a flush off her cheeks. "She's so perfect that it makes Miley Cyrus' song, Nobody's Perfect, seem like a hoax, because my mate is the most perfect thing ever created." He sighed sadly. "But, she's going to reject me, I can tell. Girls like her... they just don't like guys like me."

He watched as Annabeth ran one of her fingers around the rim of the glass in her hands.

"That's sad, Perseus." Aphrodite says. "That she might reject you. What kind of girl would reject you?"

Percy saw anger flash across Piper's face. "One that doesn't like me." He said.

+++

"How about you Annabeth?" Apollo turned to her. "Have you met your mate?"

Annabeth's eyes widened and her mouth was slightly ajar. "I-i uhhh..."

Athena cut her off. "Apparently he's here tonight." She saw Jason from Percy, to Annabeth, then Percy. His mouth formed the shape of an 'O' before promptly shutting.

It seemed Jason wasn't the only one. "Well, the only guy -- or chick," Connor Stoll began. "For that matter -- that's unmated, well kinda, in this room is Percy." Way to stick your foot in it!

Annabeth felt like wrapping her hands around his neck and tightening them until his breathing was completely cut off.

Athena choked on her champagne. Annabeth's face grew hot, and Piper seemed to be the only one able to save her. "Maybe it was that hot waiter." She said. "I saw him sniffing alot!"

It was true, there was a waiter that was sniffing, but he wasn't hot. Nor was he sniffing because he smelt his mate.

"Well," Annabeth finally said. "Whoever he is, he's gone, I can't smell him now." Lies. All lies. Percy knew it too. His scent was strong, and he must have been thinking dirty about her, mate scents were always increased when they thought sexually. The smell of wet sand and salt water burned her nose.

The adults all nodded. Except Poseidon. He knew. From the smile he gave Annabeth, she knew he knew.

+++

The night slowly moved on and music was played, tables moved aside and what was left was a small dance floor.

Annabeth brushed up to Thalia. "I'm going out for some air, okay? Anyone asks, I'm in the toilet."

Thalia nods. "I'll cover for you Annie."

Annabeth slipped out the door on the side into the cool, dark night. She looked at the line of cars and say one that stuck out like a sore thumb.

The cars were lined, expensive cars too -- BMWs, Volkswagens, Porches, even a Ferrari -- but fourth from where Annabeth stood was a car that had practicality written all over it.

Sitting in the tray of the white single-cab Toyota Landcruiser, was the black haired boy that was her mate. Percy. He was wearing a dark gray zip hoodie that reminded Annabeth how much the chill was biting into her. He was gazing wistfully at the stars. He hadn't noticed her.

She slowly walked to the Landcruiser and placed a hand on the tray side. He was still to deep in thought to have noticed her.

"Do you always quote Hannah Montana?"

She smiled as he jumped from fright. "Geez, Annabeth, warn a guy when you're sneaking up on him."

She rolled her eyes. "As if the darn friggin heels on the gravel wasn't enough." He smiled and Annabeth was sure her heart melted.

'Mate!' Altheya screamed. 'Mate. Mate, mate, mate.'

Annabeth placed a foot on the sidestep and hoisted herself up, placing her other foot in the railing that was meant to be used for securing ratchet straps, ropes and gods know what else -- it it was also a good foot hold. When Annabeth was in the tray she seated herself next to Percy, not caring for the fact that the tray was littered with rusted chains, glass bottles and food wrappers alike.

"You know, I could have helped you up," Percy said. "Its what gentlemen are supposed to do. Especially for the beautiful young maiden."

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "That's overrated. And sexist. It makes women sound like invalids, being able to do nothing for themselves."

Percy laughed. "No." He said.

"No?"

"No." He repeated. "I don't always quote Hannah Montana."

She smiled. "Then why did you?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. I guess," he sighed and faced her. "Someone once told me you were a nobody, that nobody would ever love you, and you'd be nobody's mate. They called you Nobody." The corners of Annabeth's lips curled down, into a small frown. 'Then later that day, my mother, she listens to a lot of old Miley music, so later that day, she was listening to her music, and the song was Nobody's Perfect, and I instantly thought of you. Not the message in the song, but I though of you, and how some idiot called you a nobody, and it was saying 'nobody is perfect', it kind of fitted." He shook his head and gazed back at the stars. "Its a stupid story, really."

They sat in silence for a while before Percy started humming. The tune was familiar but she couldn't remember the lyrics, or what song it was, or who it was by. When she eventually asked him, he responded with "see you again."

"Its obviously not the one by Wiz Kalifa."

Percy laughed. "No, its the Miley Cyrus one."

"Oh," Annabeth said. "So you are a Miley fan."

He rolled his eyes and went back to humming the tune. Without thinking, Annabeth sang. "I got my sights set on you and I'm ready to aim,
"I have a heart that will never be tamed."

When she she realized what she was doing, she stopped. But Percy continued, picking up from where she left off. "I knew you were somethin' special when you spoke my name,
"Now I can't wait to see you again."

Annabeth smiled. Percy wasn't exactly that lead guy from One Direction (Annabeth didn't know his name, Callum Irwin or someone?) , but then again, who was? Other than that lead dude from One Direction of course.

"I've got a way of knowin' when somethin' is right,

"I feel like I must have known you in another life." Annabeth sang, probably sounding something like a dying cat, but Percy didn't say anything.

"'Cause I felt this deep connection when you looked in my eyes,
Now I can't wait to see you again."

Percy and Annabeth sat face to face. So close she could feel his hot breath on her cheeks. Starring into his sea green eyes, Annabeth could feel her heart beating hard in her chest, the scent of Percy grew stronger, her longing to touch him even more so.

He leaned forward just that little bit more and pressed his lips to hers. To shocked to register what was happening, Annabeth sat there gobsmacked. When Percy moved away, Annabeth felt a sense of self loathing. She felt alone. Never in her life had she felt more alone.

"Sorry," he said. "I shouldn't have done that." Annabeth sat there. How could she have done that?! How could she have let him turn away?!

'Mate sad!' Altheya howled. Annabeth's heart sunk. Altheya was right.

"Was it true, what you said about me? About you thinking I was going to reject you?" He nodded sadly. "I'd never do that. I fear rejection myself." She added the last bit quietly, but it was loud enough for Percy to hear.

He smiled shyly. "I would never reject you, no one in their right mind would."

What Hazel had said, about being hooked like a fish, at the moment, Annabeth was finding that very relatable. So that was why she surprised herself, when her boost of confidence kicked in and she leaned forward to press her lips to his.

Annabeth didn't know what she was doing. Scared she was pushing to hard, scared she was doing it wrong. And Percy seemed shocked for quie some time, but he eventually moved. His lips reminded Annabeth of when she was younger, and would swim in the warm ocean, and the salt would dry on her lips.

When they moved apart, they rested their foreheads together. "I don't want," Percy began. "I don't want anything -- or anyone -- to keep us apart, Annabeth. I want to spend the rest of my life with you by my side. I don't care about our parents rivalry, or if our parents will constantly be glaring at us. All I want, Annabeth, all I want is you. I don't care if I have to look like a toad the rest of my life, I'd do it to be with you. If I had to say goodbye to my mother's blue cookies, I'd do it to be with you. I'd do anything to be with you."

Annabeth smiled. "Blue cookies?"

Percy huffed. "Its a long story, but I just told you I'd give them up for you, that's not a deal I'd make with just anyone."

Annabeth giggled. "I suppose I must try my mother-in-law's blue cookies sometime."

Percy chuckled, "just don't eat them all, I want some too."

They lapsed into a comfortable silence, their heads still resting together.

"Anything," Annabeth said after a few minutes. "You said you'd do anything for me."

He nodded, "yes, I'd do anything and everything for you."

"Kiss me again then, please." And he did just that.