Page 43 of Protected By Artemis

“Yeah, I have a packmate that can do all that research,” added Cade.

“No worries at all,” Hephaestus reassured, closing his laptop. “It will give me a chance to test out a tool I’m developing.”

“Are you sure?” Artemis asked, a concerned look on her face.

“Yes, Artemoula. Let me geek out.”

Artemis laughed. “Okay, if you really want to.”

“If you have any questions, let me know,” said Cade. “Thanks, man.”

Hephaestus grinned. “No problem. It’s been fun working on the investigation.” He bid them goodbye and vanished.

“We need to find out exactly what they’re after and why. If they’re targeting your land and Mallory’s, there could be more atstake here than we realize,” Artemis said, reaching out to hold his hand.

Cade took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts before speaking. “Arcane Corp. approached me a few months ago,” he began. “They were aggressive from the start, offering large sums of money and making all sorts of promises about how selling the land would benefit us. I didn’t trust them then, and I certainly don’t trust them now.”

She nodded, her eyes narrowing. “They sound relentless. If they want the land, they’ll do whatever they can to get it.”

“I didn’t think they would resort to hurting the pack. I figured it was just another company trying to expand. But now, knowing they’re also targeting Mallory’s land, it’s clear they’re up to something. I’ve been trying to keep an eye on them, but they’ve been careful,” he sighed, running a hand through his hair. “They haven’t made any obvious moves that we could use against them. But now that we know more, we can start looking into them.”

“Let’s see what Hephaestus finds out.” She squeezed his hand. “With his expertise, we might get some crucial information that can give us an edge.”

“I agree. The more we know, the better we can prepare. Depending on what Hephaestus discovers, I might need to talk to Mallory and Daniel. They deserve to know what’s going on, especially if Arcane Corp. is targeting them as well.”

Artemis tilted her head, concern evident in her eyes. “You think they’d be open to a conversation about this? If they’re also under pressure from Arcane, they might already be feeling cornered.”

“I hope so. But I also hope no more bad things happen to the pack. We’ve been through enough already. I don’t want our home and people to suffer because of some greedy corporation.”

They were silent for a moment before she asked, “What else do you have to do today?”

“I’m going to go on a run to check out the territory and make sure everything is good.”

Her eyes lit up. “Could I go with you?”

“I run pretty fast,” he said, raising an eyebrow.

She tsked. “I can keep up with you. And maybe I could do some hunting.”

“Right, I forgot about your powers,” he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “There’s caribou, sheep, and goat that you can hunt.”

“Good,” she said.

They walked outside, and he transformed into his wolf form, a sleek and powerful black wolf. She looked at him in admiration for a moment before they set out into the surrounding forest, moving swiftly and silently through the trees.

The Alaskan wilderness was a mix of towering evergreens and open meadows, the air crisp and fresh. He led the way, his senses heightened in his wolf form. She kept pace easily, and they ran together, a perfect harmony of strength and speed.

He made mental notes as they moved, checking the boundaries, and ensuring everything was in order. He paused occasionally, scenting the air, or listening for any signs of trouble. She followed his lead, her sharp eyes scanning the terrain.

After a while, he slowed and shifted back into his human form. “How do you like our territory?” he asked, glancing over at her as they moved through the forest.

“It’s beautiful,” she replied, her eyes scanning their surroundings. “Untamed, wild. Just how I like it.”

He nodded, appreciating her sentiment. The land had been his pack’s sanctuary for generations, and it felt good to know she respected it. He slowed to a stop. “This is a good spot,” he said, motioning to the open area. “You can hunt here. Caribou, sheep, goat—they all pass through this area.”

She conjured a pair of sweats and handed them to him. He quickly slipped them on and then focused, his senses attuned to the forest around them.

“There’s a caribou coming,” he said, his voice low.

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