Parker

Before I was coherent, Mickey rushed me back to Dr. Pavius. I wasn't aware at that moment but a large group of enforcers, the remaining members of the Ashwood family, Jasar, Nadira and Faust were also there with us.

I suffered from hypothermia for the first couple of hours. Pavius kept me for hours until he got my temperature back to an acceptable range. Afterward, he allowed me to go home where I was watched like a hawk by Kohl and Mickey. The two slept in my bed, on either side of me. The warmth generated from the wolves was enough to heat me up entirely.

I woke up this morning with a headache. We keep aspirin in our bathroom. I slowly roll out of bed and head into the bathroom. I quickly find the aspirin and take two with the help of faucet water. I exhale, feeling an odd sense of relief. My relief is shaken when I hear arguing in the living room. I quickly exit the bathroom and make it into the living room where Cassie is standing between my mates, holding them back. Gaius is sitting further back, remarking on how it may be time to let them fight it out.

"I agree."

The four of them become aware of my presence. I'd have thought their werewolf senses would have done that but I guess they're a bit busy at each other's throats to realize. I walk forward and take a seat on the sofa between them, kicking my feet up on the handmade ash coffee table. I watch as the two sit on the coffee table on either side of my feet. Cassie stands behind them with Gaius, who seems fascinated.

"Only you can get lost in a river for 12 hours." Gaius says, "So, tell us, what in the Hell happened?"

"You feel alright, right? The doctor says you could have brain damage since you had a lack of oxy—" Kohl says rapidly. He stops as I smile at him and asks, "What?"

"You're talking really fast."

"Valid questions, no?" Kohl asks.

"I'm fine. Just waterlogged." I find my joke is lost on them. I sigh, "Oh, come on! That was funny."

"You want to tell us how you survived being underwater for twelve hours? The river is deep but it's not really deep enough for you to disappear into it." Gaius' voice takes on a concerned tone, "I assume this has something to do with your status as a demigod?"

"Right. Unless it was the lack of oxygen...I think I met the Pantheon."

"The Pantheon? Like...explain?" Cassie says with a look of utter confusion.

"The Pantheon of Gods." I roll my eyes, "Don't. I'm not crazy."

"Vampires and demigods are real, so I don't see why the Gods you're descended from aren't exactly real." Kohl says, "For twelve hours? That's a long time."

"It was like twelve minutes for me. Short conversation. Too long, if you ask me."

"This is all crazy." Mickey frowns, "I don't give two shits about any Gods. Are you alright?"

"Careful, you might actually show emotion for me." I laugh.

"This isn't funny." Mickey snaps, "Do you know how it felt to watch you fall into that water, again, and then to see that you were gone. Just gone."

I pull my legs back, sitting them on the floor. I reach out and run my hand across his jaw, "No, I don't. I'm sorry. I'm alright now."

"Back to the Pantheon," Cassie says, "Like Greek Gods? In Togas?"

"There were definitely togas. The half-goat guy was entertaining. Totally naked and possibly a drunk. Oh! Ares likes to free-ball and he's not exactly shy about the very thin fabrics, either."

Kohl and Mickey growl in unison. It's disturbing. Their growls catch Gaius, Cassie and me off guard. They're violent in a way.

"One of the things they did tell me, in a litany of unbelievable bullshit, is that something really bad is coming. This little thing with the vampires is possibly a lot bigger than we thought."

Kohl looks to Gaius and Mickey, who both nod, before his gaze returns to me, "We're going to protect you and the pack. Nothing is going to happen to you."

"Don't."

"What?" He asks.

"It's not about protecting me. I don't need any of you to protect me." I say with annoyance, "It's everyone's obsession with me that's going to bring this war. The vampires want me. You don't want to lose me. And there's something else, something we don't know yet. When the time comes, if it's a fight to the death, we're fighting together. I'm no more important than anyone else."

"To me, to us, you are." Mickey says.

"Kohl, if it's between me and this pack, it's got to be this pack. Mickey, samesies." I say with the softest tone, "I can take care of myself. Some of the wolves cannot. It's up to us to protect them."

"How about this," Kohl says leaning in and grabbing my hand, "it doesn't come to that. We stop whatever is going on before it happens."

I lean forward, "We can't. It's already happening, love."

In The Woods

Mayra moves swiftly throughout the forest, past the clearing, at the edge of the river. She finds Ania standing by the water, gazing into it. Mayra notices that Ania's body shivers slightly. Ania turns to her, a bit of distress on her face. Mayra despairs as this is not a normal emotion for Ania.

Ania's expression flickers slightly before a smirk crosses her face.

"Report?" Ania asks.

"The wolves have started patrolling the borders more than ever. They've also raised a shield around their boundaries. We are unable to penetrate their defenses. Are there magicks that can penetrate such strong magicks?"

"I've seen. The only things that can penetrate that forcefield are the caster or someone of greater strength. I am aware that there are very few stronger than that caster." Ania says with a distressed tone, "Your forces are not penetrating the force field."

"We will have to get them to come out." Mayra says softly.

"No we won't." Ania's face turns to horror after she says this. She quickly screams out, "Mayra! Run!"

Mayra is taken off guard. She immediately knew that something was wrong with Ania but it's confirmed after this outburst. There is nothing familiar or right about this version of Ania. Ania's demeanor and facial expression quickly changes to a smile just before she slinks down to the ground.

"Ania?!" Mayra says bending down and grabbing her head, "What's wrong."

"My powers are wearing thin." Faust says as he appears from the shadows, "It's such a strain to hold the forcefield, open the portal to Pantheon and send the little idiot through and hold my control over a glorified nymph."

"You created the forcefield? You're controlling Ania?" She asks.

"You are brighter than that question, luv. Of course I am!" Faust says walking past her and putting his hand into the water, "I could never crack the portal. Never knew why. Turns out only a God can do it. They think they can close the portal, cut us off, but they don't understand what he is."

"What are you talking about?" Mayra asks.

Faust stands and turns to her, "The Pantheon were undeserving pricks. They were regular beings gifted with powers no one could conceive of. They raped, pillaged and murdered yet were revered by their loyal subjects. I was one of their subjects. I fell into their trap. I was granted power but they own my soul. He owns my soul. I've been using magic to keep myself alive in order to find a way to break the contract. I'm nearly there. And when I find it, I'm going to storm their sanctuary and murder every single God."

"You're insane." Mayra says, "They're Gods! Is this what all of this is about?"

"Revenge. Hate. It's all the same now." Faust says bending down to Mayra, "Ania was a pawn in a game of chest, just as you are. Like her, you are disposable at my whim. The forcefield will come down and the fires will start, the question is, will you be there to see it."

Mayra nods to him, "What do we do next?" He asks.