Harry was right. They did manage to make it back before dinner.

Sol and Artemis had finished getting dressed for the event, him in a pair of sweatpants and a loose vest top he would be able to dispose of easily if need be. All black. Artemis complemented him beautifully in a pair of black leggings and a tank top, one of his hoodies thrown over her shoulders to keep her warm. It was one of the newer ones so she didn't mind too much if it got ruined for the fight.

The plan was to start heading out at eight pm that night, giving them just enough time to have a quick meal and get dressed before it was time to leave.

Artemis and Sol stood in the middle of the room, just looking at each other. They had a little over half an hour left to themselves before it was time to leave. They'd rather they spent that little time together than out in the cold with everyone else, the anticipation and fear of a very messy war looming over their heads.

Sure, they had the upper hands as the humans did not plan to attack for another two weeks, and then there was the fact that they just weren't prepared for a war at the moment especially since they believed their youngest prisoners to not be quite ready yet. However, it was also a double-ended sword in the sense that the humans had the backing of Alpha Eaton and his entire pack. That definitely gave them an advantage.

Sol was sure that they would emerge from the fight victorious, but he worried about how many casualties and innocent lives that would cost them. But most of all, he worried about Artemis' well-being.

He was absolutely sure that this was a lot for her, having to go back to the place where she had spent nearly all of her life as a prisoner. However, it did lift her spirits to have both her parents and her brother come over to the Lupine Woodland to fight in the war. They were also getting ready for the war. Once it was confirmed that they would be annihilating the humans that very night, all the Alpha's contacted their packs and gathered up as many warriors as possible but leaving behind just enough to look after the children, the elderly, the sick and anyone else that remained behind.

It would have been idea for Artemis to stay behind where she would be safe, but he didn't dare suggest that idea.

If she wanted to do this, if she needed to do this then who was he to take that away from her?

"This feels so real," Artemis exhaled as she stood in front of him, peering up at him with her grey orbs that he had come to love so much. "I can't believe this is actually happening."

"I know," Sol nodded, the corner of his lips turning up into a small smile. "It's going to be difficult."

She scoffed. "That's a given."

His lips tilted up higher. "We have the element of surprise."

"I'm pretty sure we have more manpower too." She smiled even though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "What's going to happen to the children?" Artemis asked, searching his eyes for the answer. A sigh of relief passed through her lips when he didn't attempt to hide anything.

"We're going to taken them in," he told her, speaking honestly. They had discussed it earlier in yet another meeting. All of the Alpha's along with the elders had made the decision that children were not be hurt. They would try and save as many of them as possible. It didn't matter that they were human or that they would never have any supernatural abilities; all that mattered was that they were innocent and they were not to be blamed for the sins of their forefathers.

Artemis nodded, her frown turning upside down.

"And what's going to happen to us?" She found herself asking, feeling bold. She had momentarily considered the words on the tip of her tongue but they had slipped out before she could back out. "When we get back?" She elaborated shyly, words just pouring out of her mouth now as her nerves danced all over the place. She had to bite her tongue to keep herself quiet.

A slow, lopsided smirk crept onto his face before he stepped forward and placed both hands on her hips, tugging her towards him sharply, eliciting a gasp from her. She looked up at him from under her eyelashes as he stared down at her, wrapping his arms around her waist now completely, forcing her to brace herself against his chest. "What do you want to happen between us?" A low murmur passed through his lips, a teasing twinkle in his eyes even though nerves wracked his body.

He was just good at hiding it.

A shiver ran down her spine at the sound of his husky, low voice.

"I want us to be together."

"Together?" He sounded aloud as he lowered his head until his mouth was running down the length of her neck, pressing open mouthed kisses against her skin. She hummed in reply as she allowed him to do whatever he pleased. "Together in what way?" He whispered against her skin, placing a lingering kiss just under her ear before he nibbled on her ear lobe.

Artemis held on to his biceps as she pulled her head away slightly, looking up at him with desire shining in her eyes. Her eyes fleeted from his mouth to his eyes repeatedly as her head moved closer and closer to his, eliminating the little space that remained between them.

Diving into it, she pressed her lips against his, wanting to kiss him but unsure whether he wanted the same thing or not. It would absolutely break her heart if he didn't kiss her back or didn't reciprocate her feelings but now was a good time to test the water. Say, if he didn't kiss her back and didn't like her in the same way she liked him, then they wouldn't have time to be awkward and uncomfortable around each other because they would be too busy eradicating the human hunters that dared attempt to wipe them all out. After that, this would become a minor thing that had happened compared to all the lives they had saved and she would move back to the Valour pack and live happily with her parents and brother, allowing herself both space and time for forget all about time while she mended her broken heart.

Perhaps, she would be able to move on with someone else though at this moment of time, she very much doubted it.

Thankfully, Sol tightened his hold around her and applied pressure against her lips, kissing her back.

Her eyes fluttered closed as he angled her head so that he could deepen the kiss. She didn't waste any time when he nibbled at her bottom lip, granting him the access he asked for. His tongue against hers as they battled for dominance in the warm, moist cave that was her mouth was absolute euphoria.

However, now was not the time to be getting lost in a make out session regardless of how electrifying and toe-curling it was. Pulling back from him, she attempted to keep some distance between them -or more specifically, their lips- but he just followed her, pecking her again and again until she finally covered his mouth with her hand to dodge anymore of his advances.

A giggle escaped her as he finally settled for burying his face in the crook of her neck, placing a warm, firm kiss at the base of it, his arms forever tightening around her, his bare hands having slid under both her hoodie and tank top as they rested on the small of her back. Skin against skin.

A content sigh escaped him as he pulled away from her neck and lifted his head, resting his forehead against hers.

A coy smile played on her lips. "I think I answered your question pretty well."

"I want words, baby." Sol murmured, his voice husky and his eyes hooded as he placed a chaste kiss against her lips. Now that he had, had a taste, he couldn't seem to get enough of her.

"I want us to be mates." She admitted to him honestly, her eyes raking over the expanse of his face, looking for something, anything.

"I can't say no to you."

Hope flashed in her eyes and he couldn't help but lean in rub his nose against her in an Eskimo kiss. Her eyes closed on their own accord. "So, we're mates?" She asked with her lips turned up into a wide, beautiful smile.

Sol released a deep, throaty chuckle as he lifted her up in his arms, her legs dangling in the air as he hugged her to him. A surprised laugh escaped him as she wrapped her arms around his neck, not wanting to fall back and injure herself before they even reached the human base. "We've been mates since I found you in the forest." He started into her eyes, now serious as he bared his soul to her.

Putting her down on the ground, he placed one last kiss on the crown of her head, inhaling in her scent.

They were going to be absolutely fine.

-

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Layla Knight

02.10.19