Chapter XXIII

The day went by pretty fast after that. Atlas went to see Artemis again after his run, but she would not let him in the room. When he came home, we decided I would tell her about what happened with Willow and River.

I fell asleep again on the couch with Atlas while watching Grey's Anatomy. He was starting to really get into the show and I loved that we adopted something to do together that involved no one else.

I awoke back in his bed and once again felt like a million bucks. His side of the bed was still made, maybe had been sleeping on the couch?

I could hear Atlas speaking lowly on the phone in his closet, so I was in no rush to get up. Letting out a yawn, I pulled the covers over my head to drown out the noise. Sleep was calling to me again.

Footsteps came closer, and I felt the cover being yanked over my body. I let out a growl and turn to see a grinning Atlas standing over me. He was dressed in a white dress shirt and black dress pants. "Rise and shine, sleeping beauty."

"Go away or get in the bed. Those are your options." I mumbled and reached for the covers that he held in his hands.

He threw the bedding on the floor so I couldn't get to it and kissed my forehead. "So I get to lay in the bed?"

"It is your bed. Speaking of which, where have you been sleeping?" I say and get up. Stray hair fell on my face, to much of my annoyance.

He sat down on the bed and watched me walk into the bathroom to use the mirror. "It's our bed. You pretty much took it over, anyway. I sleep in the living room."

After pulling my wild hair back into a decent bun, I give him a weird look. "There is a perfectly good couch right there."

"I snore." he shrugged, looking at his watch.

"Right, well, I think I need to get used to that anyway. Unless you plan on sleeping in the living room for the rest of our lives?" I asked, walking over to him.

"I have an important phone call any minute. It won't last long. We will continue this conversation, okay?" He stood, going to kiss me, but I put my hands in front of my face.

"I haven't brushed my teeth!" I squealed.

He rolled his eyes at me, and then his phone started ringing. I gave him a peck on the cheek and walked out of his room as he answered the phone.

Getting showered, dressed, and put together took me about forty-five minutes. I walked over to Atlas' room and heard him still on the phone, so I decided to go make some food.

I bounced down the stairs and walked to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, I grabbed some supplies and set them on the island.

I really needed to check on Artemis and Ellie.

As I pulled out some bread from the cabinet, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I twisted to look around in the kitchen. My nose or eyes could pick up anything, so I shrugged. When I went to face my unmade breakfast, two arms wrapped around me. One was over my mouth and the other clasped my arms from being used.

I instinctively tried to crush my attacker's foot with my heel, but I was not wearing any shoes, so that did not work. I spotted a vase that I had bought on the island. Jumping, I kicked it to the floor, trying to get Atlas' attention.

My attacker was dragging me at this point to an unknown area of the house and I went against my pride, screaming into their hand.

I heard a door swing open, and heavy footsteps until Atlas appeared. He held a crazed look in his eyes with Helix in full control. When he saw me, he let out a sigh of relief, which made me want to beat him with a stick. Why isn't he helping me? Better yet, why isn't Celeste even attempting to help?

"It is your brother," Helix bit out in annoyance.

I had completely forgotten my family was here.

The arms holding me tightly let go with a giant laugh. I quickly faced him with a scowl. "You fucking idiot!" I smacked Josh on the back of the head.

"What? Did I scare you?" He made a fake pouting face.

Helix came behind me and wrapped his arms protectively around my torso. He was trying to comfort my racing heart by rubbing my arms. "Yes, it probably has something to do with a Hunter running around here!" I snapped.

"That's weird. We had a rogue problem the night I came home." He then held out his hand to Helix. "Alpha Atlas."

"Beta Josh," Atlas' voice brought a smile to my face. He was getting so much better at getting Helix to back off. We just needed to work on Helix taking over whenever he wanted.

Their hands shook, and I wiggled myself out of Atlas' embrace. "Why couldn't I smell you?"

Josh showed us his neck. It had a brown substance on it that looked glossy. "A new prototype from the Palace. They are having some high-ranking wolves try it out before it is distributed. I stole some of Dad's."

"Did you know about this?" I asked Atlas.

"About him scaring you? No. About the prototype? Yes. I was going to test it, but that is a lot more paperwork that I do not need right now." He answered truthfully.

"Where are Mom and Dad?" I turned away from both of them and put up the supplies I had gotten out earlier. Josh's prank ruined my appetite.

Josh sat at the island and twirled on the stool. "They couldn't make it. Dad has been dealing with Alpha Winesetter's duties. He isn't doing too well. Holden is helping Dad with his Father's duties." Holden's name brought a twitch to my eye. That kid was the stereotypical typical future Alpha. All he did was screw she-wolves and annoy the piss out of me.

Atlas' eyebrows furrowed together looking over at my brother. "What happened to him, and why didn't anyone tell me?"

"He got hit with a poison dart during the attack. He is still feeling some of the effects. I told your Delta, I have no idea why you weren't informed." Josh shrugged.

I know exactly why we weren't told. Yesterday was a fucking mess. "A lot happened these last few days. It probably slipped their mind. I will video chat with my parents. It's not a big deal." I tell Atlas, so he doesn't think I'm offended by Fin not telling us.

"I just brought your clothes, Everly." Josh said, not even paying attention to me talking to Atlas. "You can sort through everything else when you visit. It's not going anywhere."

"Thank you, bub." I gave him a hug before looking at Atlas. "Looks like I don't have to steal yours anymore."

"Finally," he sarcastically said.

"She used to steal all my hoodies and claimed she bought them. She has an addiction to those things. Watch out." Josh warned him with a chuckle.

"Atlas doesn't have any hoodies, and it's summer in California." I say matter-of-factly.

Atlas' face curved upwards, looking over at me. "How do you know I don't have any hoodies?"

My face turned completely red. I felt like a creep, but there was one night. I was freezing, and he was running. I had to look. "I may have snooped."

"Stalker." Josh laughed at me and I flicked him on his cheek.

"Well, you snooped in the wrong place. I used to wear hoodies all the time before I took the title. They are in my old room." Atlas smirked at my embarrassment and pulled my hand to his lips to kiss. "You can have all of them."

"Oh! Can we get them when we pick up my clothes? Please, please, please, please!" I jumped and begged him.

"Of course," he laughed at me. "We can go as soon as Josh wants to head back."

"I'm ready whenever. Where's Declan? He owes me a beer." Josh responds and stands.

"Probably stuck to Ellie's side." Atlas laughed.

I nodded and walked with them to the front door. "She did get hit in the head with a vase. That was kind of my fault. I dodged it and forgot she was behind me." I slipped on some shoes.

"Why was there a vase in the air in the first place?" Josh asked, stepping onto the porch with Atlas while I grabbed my card that I wrote for Artemis. I thought I would slip it under her door if she refused to let me in like she did Atlas.

"Everly decided to beat up two of my best she-wolf warriors." Atlas teased me, earning him a glare.

I closed the door behind me as I followed them off the porch. "I did not decide anything. You talk shit-"

"You get hit. That's my sister!" Josh high fived me and slung an arm over my shoulders. "Did they have broken bones?"

"I don't know for sure. Someone's wolf was being demanding." I looked at Atlas, and he just looked back at me with an amused stare.

"You broke Willow's nose, ribs, and collarbone. River was just bruised up pretty badly." He sounded almost proud.

"Nice!" Josh said and released me from underneath his arm. "I'm going to head to my room while you guys go raid his old closet."

"Okay," I smiled and jumped on Atlas' back. He was not expecting it, but he caught me either way.

"What do you think you're doing?" He asked me with a chuckle.

"I'm not climbing all those steps." I pout and wrap my arms around his neck.

"Alright. I'll carry you if we watch what I want tonight." He tried to negotiate.

"I can agree to that, as long as it's not that Nun movie." I shivered as her face popped up in my mind.

"What? Did it scare you?" He kicked open the door of the pack house. Many eyes went to us, including River's. I gave her a small way with a big smile before Atlas started going up the stairs.

"Maybe it did. You two went to sleep, so I changed it." I told him and pulled my hands up to his hair. I started twirling it between my fingers, and he tensed up.

"Don't mess up my hair." He said and hit the second set of steps. "It takes me forever to do it."

"I like it messy," I say, curling a strand on my finger before stopping completely.

He chuckled at me and shook his head. "I'll remember that for when we are staying around the house."

We stopped at a black door that looked like it hadn't been touched in ages. He set me down and pulled out a key, unlocking the door. When he pushed the door open, I took a couple of steps inside looking around the walls.

There was a huge bookshelf in the corner of the room that was covered in dust. Posters hung on the walls along with a flag with Phoenix Moon's crest. I twirled around to see Atlas hesitating to come in. "What are you doing?" I laugh at him and raise my hand to offer it to him.

His eyes were scanning the room, completely caught in another world, until I jerked him out of it. "Oh, um." He gave me a half grin. "I'm allergic to dust. I'll stay here."

"You're allergic to dust?" I repeated in confusion. How could a werewolf be allergic to dust? "Okay? Well, I guess you can go find Josh and I will just be a minute."

His eyes widened, and he shook his head frantically. "No, no. I'll stay here and watch after you."

My eyes narrowed on him now. "The doorway isn't a magic barrier that protects you from dust, Atlas. I will be fine. No one will come up here and bother me. Even if they do, Ellie and Declan are right next door. I can handle this."

He was getting angry, and I had no clue why. "Everly, I am not going to leave you here. Please, just get the damn hoodies and let's go!"

I gaped at him. I could not believe he just talked to me like that. I felt tears sting my eyes in frustration, but refused to let them fall. I wanted to get away from him as soon as possible.

I pulled my arms to my chest and stayed silent, walking past him and down the hall. I heard the door slam and Atlas' heavy footsteps behind me, but I did not turn to face him.

"Everly, stop!" I heard him call, but I just kept walking.

Celeste was growling in my mind and I quickly mindlinked Josh. "I am going on a run. I'll see you in about an hour."

"Alright, sis. I'm with Declan"

I didn't even respond as I approached the back door of the pack house. I could still feel Atlas behind me. Celeste was begging to be let out, and I gave her permission.

Atlas grabbed my arm and turned me to face him. Celeste let out a deep warning growl and he instantly let us go.

As soon as we passed the door frame, we shifted, taking off into the woods. She was practically flying at the speed she was going. Zooming past trees and logs felt so good to both of us. I was never locking her away again. It had been way too long since I shifted and had a proper run.

Stopped by a spring, Celeste slowed and tilted her head to the water getting a drink. A twig snapped behind us and she set a snarl in the direction of the noise.

Helix's form appeared from the brush, making Celeste growl even more. Helix backed away with his ears pinned. He knew they were in trouble.

He bowed before us and showed his neck. She was going to give into his submission until a weird noise came from their left. As soon as she heard it, Helix cried out in pain.

She snapped her head to him, trying to figure out what had happened, and saw an arrow sticking out of his thigh.

Celeste nudged him to the ground and took a defensive position in front of him. No one was going to touch her mate. She released vicious snarls and barks looking around the trees that the arrow came from. She couldn't spot anything, but she did pick up a faint scent of a rogue. It was so small, she almost missed it, but she got it. She needed to track it, but Atlas would be in even more danger.

Three wolves came from the area behind them and she instantly recognized their scents as Leo, Declan, and Josh.

"Josh, I need you to shift and tell them that I caught a scent. We need to go after it." I shout to him in mindlink.

He visibly huffed and searched for clothes. After finding some, he got dressed and reappeared. "Everly caught a scent. She said you all need to go after it."

"Fuck no!" Atlas must've shifted back when I mindlinked Josh. He was squirming in pain and was very much naked. "She is not going anywhere,"

"Tell him I said too bad. Tell the guys to follow me." I tell Josh and begin crossing the stream.

"She said too bad and for you two to follow her." Josh mumbled out. He then helped Atlas into a standing position and handed him basketball shorts.

The scent was still faint the deeper we went into the woods. I still had ahold of it, though, so it did not matter. I could tell Leo picked up on it as well, judging by how he started taking the lead of the group and hadn't taken us off track yet.

We reached the strongest part of the scent and I was taken away by what we found. It was a small makeshift camp that had the stuff Josh had this morning to cover his scent in a small bowl. There were paw prints all around the area letting me confirm my suspicions about them being a werewolf acting like a werewolf hunter.

We needed to tell Atlas and get a plan in motion. The three of us all nodded together, and I grabbed the bowl with my teeth, heading back to the pack.

Once we were back where we started, I looked for Atlas and Josh, seeing that neither of them was there.

Leo came from behind a tree with a shirt and shorts on. "Josh took Atlas to the pack hospital to make sure the arrow was not laced with anything. Here." He took the bowl from my mouth and handed me clothes. "Go change, they are female clothing, so do not worry about Atlas getting all jealous."

I nodded my head and walked over to a tree shifting. After I was back in my form, I quickly threw on the spandex shorts and supported tank top. "Where is Declan?" I asked Leo when I was all done.

"He went to go run the border with a few warriors. Now that we have the scent, it will be a lot easier to catch them." Leo tucked me under his arm and we started in the direction of the main packlands. "Atlas would kill me if you got hurt." He handed the weird wooden bowl back to me.

"Atlas can worry about me when he learns how to talk to me." I scoffed and ended the conversation there.

The Pack hospital was the only building in the pack that was not out of a woodland magazine. It looked like a normal clinic, just slightly bigger. Coming to the front desk, Leo did not even have to ask for his son's whereabouts; the she-wolf just directed us there.

Walking into the room, Josh looked bored out of his mind, and Atlas was grumpily scrolling through his phone.

"It is a werewolf pretending to be a werewolf hunter." I bluntly say, bringing both of their attention to me.

Atlas groaned as he adjusted himself on the bed. They wrapped his leg in white gauze and laid out straight in front of him. "The warriors would have caught his scent way before today, Everly."

"Ah. Well, Leo," I said with my anger rising, turning to my Mate's Father, "Since we have a mister know-it-all on our hands, I guess we do not have to show him what we found. We can just go take care of it ourselves."

Atlas growled out, making the pictures on the walls vibrate. "Just fucking tell me. I just had an arrow through my leg."

"You wouldn't have had an arrow through your thigh if you did not have the same attitude then as you do now." I point out and then throw the bowl onto the bed next to him. "It is the same stuff Josh used this morning. This is either an attack from the Palace or someone in the Palace is leaking it out."

"Or one of the higher-ranked wolves testing it is leaking it." Josh added.

Leo then spoke up, "I really doubt it is Legacy, son. He loves you."

Atlas stared at the bowl for a moment and then cleared his throat. "I don't think so either, Dad. I will give him a call in a bit and give him a heads up."

Leo nodded and waved over to Josh. "Have you seen the training field yet? I have a few notes for your father."

"No, I haven't." Josh stood and kissed my cheek, leaving with Leo.

I sat in his seat, and Atlas frowned. "Everly, I'm sorry."

"I know you are," I say, looking up at the TV on the wall. "'Sorry' is going to stop working for you, Atlas. I get it. I really do, but you have to stop snapping and just talk to me."

He sighed and leaned his head back on his pillow, changing the subject. "I am stuck here until tomorrow morning. They did a test on the arrow and it was clean. They just want to make sure it doesn't have any hidden poisons. I have an important walk through with the Alpha of Midnight Sun in the morning. I was hoping you could grab the files off our bed and some clothes for me and bring them by in the morning?"

"Why can't I bring them by tonight?" I asked, bringing my eyes to him.

He let out a small yawn and stretched his arms. "Because I'm tired. They gave me sleep meds and you should go to bed at a decent time tonight."

I nodded in agreement. We had been staying up very late almost every night this week. My head went to something else when he reached for my hand to hold. "When can I become Alpha Female?"

He looked a bit shocked, but soon a smile came to his face. "As soon as you want."

"Do not get too excited, Casanova. I am still mad at you. I just realized that I need to be able to communicate with the pack if we get into that situation again." I rolled my eyes at him and got up from my chair.

His face dropped at my first statement. "We can do it the day after tomorrow."

"Perfect. Goodnight, Atlas."

"Goodnight, Everly."

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