Jayce is Pack Leader?!

Artemis POV

Artemis was sitting on the couch watching some cartoons when she felt something heavy on her lap. Looking down, she saw Jayce was sitting by her legs, leaning backwards so he could lay his head on her lap.

They had moved to the sitting room after dinner, mostly watching random shows on the tv. Xander had left the two alone a few moments ago to make some coffee.

"This okay?" Jayce asked.

"Um…sure…But isn't this uncomfortable?"

Jayce smiled. "A little but you heard Xander. I've got to stay on the floor. Besides, being near you takes the discomfort away."

"Aren't you a smooth talker." Artemis laughed, pushing Jayce's head up.

He turned about to ask what she was doing when Artemis slid down the couch, sitting down next to Jayce on the carpet floor. She then rested her head on his broad shoulder, it feeling natural to her for some reason.

"Are you sure?" Jayce asked, looking a little worried.

"I'm sure. Besides, Xander didn't say I had to stay on the couch." Artemis murmured.

"Look who's the smooth talker now." Jayce smirked before asking, "Can I?"

Artemis knowing what he wanted to do nodded her head in response. He then slid his left arm around her waist, pulling her a little closer. Her head landed up resting on his heart, her ear hearing the sound of his heart.

The two sat like that for a few moments, the only things Artemis could hear was the blaring tv and the calming rhythm of Jayce's heart. It was soothing, making her feel at peace.

"Artemis…" Jayce murmured softly, breaking the silence between the two.

"Hmm…"

"I need to talk to you."

"About what?" Artemis lifted her head to look at Jayce.

"It's about this…" He twirled his hand around them. "I don't need an answer from you. I just want to make sure I lay all my cards on the table. It's stuff I wanted to say myself rather than have Xander tell you…" Jayce sighed.

"Okay…" Artemis stared at him trying to figure out where the conversation was going.

"It's about Louis…" Jayce paused for a second as Artemis flinched at the name.

"What about him?" Artemis muttered, anger in her voice.

"He's dead."

Artemis pulled away fro Jayce in shock. "What?!"

Jayce sighed again, frowning a little. "I know it's shocking but you need to know everything. And I understand if it makes you hate me…but I rather everything between us be clear than things being hidden and causing problems down the line.

"My brother died two months ago. I put him down, taking over the Tasis Pack. He went madded because someone in our pack was giving him small doses of wolfbane and silver. I had been overseas for the last three years when this was happening…It seemed they had been using him as a puppet over those three years, causing harm in the region…

"I found out three months ago after they had lost control of him…and since I was the only one in the pack that could stop him…they explained everything…well a part of it anyway. From there, I've been fixing up all the problems the pack had caused."

Artemis felt shell shocked. Her world inside was collapsing. She couldn't believe that the monster who had been haunting her dreams was dead. And that the man next to her was the one who killed him. Artemis felt tears falling down before she knew it

"Artemis!" Jayce cried out. "Goddess, I didn't mean-"

"No…It's okay…I'm glad you told me the truth." Artemis wept, the tears washing away a burden she didn't realize she had been carrying.

Jayce softened in understanding, spreading his arms wide open. Artemis fell into them, letting Jayce pull her into his lap and embrace her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, crying into his shirt as he rubbed his hands up and down her back to sooth her.

As she cried the pain away, she knew she was finally free. Louis was never going to come back and finish the job. She wasn't going to have to live in fear of him, not when he had been sent to hell. She was going to be able to properly heal from everything that had happened.

After crying everything out, Artemis lifted her head and pulled away slightly so she could look at Jayce. She soon realized in horror that her ugly crying had left Jayce's shirt wet and full of snot.

"I'm so sor-"

"Shhh…" Jayce placed a finger on her lips, silencing her. "It's fine."

"But your shirt is dirty because of me."

"A little soap and water will clean it out. Besides, what kind of mate would I be if I can't give you a shoulder to cry on." Jayce smirked.

"…"

"Look I know I'm being a little forward but I want this to work. Not because I need a Luna but because I really want this to work. When I was at the bookstore…I was trying to hit on you." Jayce confused, turning his head away. "Guess my skills are a little lacking seeing as you mistook me for my brother."

Artemis winced at the last part before suddenly becoming pale in horror. Jayce was the alpha leader of the Tasis Pack now. Which meant the Goddess had mate bonded her with two alpha leaders.

It meant only one thing - the Goddess was hoping to unite the packs by making Artemis the Luna of both packs.

"Artemis…" Jayce said in a worried tone.

Artemis shook her head. "I don't… Goddess…"

She stood up trying to find the words to explain herself. Jayce stared at her in confusion, trying to figure out what had happened.

Just then, Xander came in bearing a tray with three mugs and a packet of biscuits. He looked at the scene before him in confusion too, placing the tray on the nearby coffee table.

"What's going on here?" Xander asked.

Artemis looked at him with wide eyes. "Xander, I don't think I can break this mate bond."

"Did Jayce say something to make you say this?" Xander growled. "You know that you can refuse."

"I know that. But I can't. Not when my decision is going to affect two packs. I already hate that this is going to affect you and the pack. But Jayce along with his pack. There're too many parties involved for me to make a selfish decision like this."

Artemis didn't feel she was ready to become mates with anyone but she also knew that if she broke the mate bond because of her fear, she would come to regret it. Especially, when it meant two packs were going to lose a Luna.

"Artemis, I can see where you're coming from but frankly I'd rather have you reject me than be with me because of some sense of duty." Jayce got up from the floor, fuming. "Because any arranged relationship like the only you're thinking of having is going to end up with everyone hating each other."

With that, he walked out the room, the front door banging loudly a few seconds later. Artemis looked at Xander who was clenching his fists, head turned away.

"Artemis, I think it's best if you rethink your decision. I know you hate what is at stake… but please try to be a little more selfish and think about your happiness too." Xander turned to look at her again, his face unreadable. "Think about your future. You have plans to leave for college in a week. Becoming a Luna is going to kill those plans."

"Why does it sound like you want this mate bond to break?" Artemis blurted out before she could stop the words.

Xander's eyes glowered as he took a deep breath. "Because I do. I don't think it's right for you to be tied down to an old male like me nor have to bear the responsibilities of being a Luna."

"You're only twenty six Xander. You're not that old."

"And you're nineteen, Artemis. It's a six year difference. You literally became an adult wolf last year." Xander retorted. "I've already experienced that part of life. You're planning it only for it to be dashed by this bond."

"Have you told Jayce how you feel? He is a part of this thing too." Artemis glared at Xander.

"This has nothing to do with him. It's different." Xander sighed.

"How is it different? Xander why don't you just be honest with me. You don't want to have this bond, you're disgusted by it. But you can't say that so you want me to make the decision."

"That-"

"No Xander, you don't have to explain yourself. I got it loud and clear." Artemis cried out, hurt. "I don't want to force something on you that you clearly don't want."

With those words, she hurried out the sitting room, leaving Xander to stand there with his fists clenched and face full of anger.

She swiftly made her way to her room, locking the door behind her before falling onto her bed. So much had happened today and she had felt so many emotions and yet Xander's rejection hurt her the most.

She hugged her pillow, wanting to cry her frustration out but she was all out of tears. She didn't know what she was going to do. How she was going to decide when one wanted the mate bond and the other one clearly didn't.