Royal Meets Rogue
Chapter 7: Wamart Run-Ins

Athena

“Hecate.” I groaned as the cashier rang up the total.

She smirked and waved me off as she handed the lady her card. “It’s a gift.”

“An expensive gift!” I exclaimed.

“Don’t worry about it.” She laughed as we grabbed the bags and headed towards her car.

“I feel like I should be doing this because you’re the one who is letting me stay at your house.”

She smiled as she tapped the unlock button on her car keys. “Athena, it’s really okay. Honest. I don’t mind at all dear. I got a lot more money where that came from.”

I rolled my eyes. “If you say so.”

“I know so.” She laughed and clicked the lock button once we finished putting all of the bags in the car. “But before we go, you better drink up.”

I quickly and discreetly gulped down the orange liquid and handed her the glass bottle back.

“So how come you don’t have to drink any?” I asked.

“Witches don’t have a scent. We smell just like regular people. It’s one of the many pros of being one.” She laughed as she stuck the bottle in her purse. “Now, let’s go get some groceries.”

We quickly walked across the parking lot and went into Wal-Mart.

“We don’t need a lot right now.” Hecate explained as she grabbed a cart. “I have most of the items back home, but I am running low on some things.”

I nodded. “Is it all just food that we need?”

“Most of the items are. But I figured we could get you some supplies.”

“Like what?” I asked as she stopped next to an aisle and reached for her purse.

“A brush, some hair ties, and bobby pins. You can never have too many of those. They always seem to go missing.”

I laughed and nodded. “I know what you mean.”

“Do you like nail polish or makeup?”

I shrugged. “Never wore either.”

Hecate’s eyes got big. “You’re joking right?”

“No.” I replied shaking my head.

“We are going to have fun.” She smiled wickedly.

I gulped. I’m a little nervous considering the look she is giving me.

‘This is going to be so entertaining.’ Artemis joked.

‘Shut up.’ I growled at her.

“Okay.” Hecate breathed as she searched through her purse. “Oh crap.”

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“I think I left the list in the car.” She mumbled embarrassingly.

“I can go get it.” I smiled.

“Are you sure dear?” She asked worriedly.

“It’s no biggie. Really.” I reassured.

“Oh bless your heart.” She laughed as she handed me the keys. “I know a couple things that I wrote down so I can grab those.”

“I’ll be right back.” I said as I took off towards her car.

‘I’m scared.’ I laughed.

‘Oh lighten up.’ Artemis chuckled. ‘Did you see how happy she looked? My guess is that she has been lonely for quite a while. And here comes an orphan. I know she is never going to be your real mom, but I really think she is enjoying the mom role.’

I nodded, she was right. Hecate got super excited on the way here and while we were clothes shopping. ‘You’re right.’

‘Watch out.’ Artemis laughed.

Before I could ask her what she meant, I let out an ’oof’ as I hit something hard.

“Ow.” I groaned as I rubbed my nose.

But I immediately stiffened as I smelled something very familiar. Wolf. And very powerful ones at that. But I couldn’t exactly pinpoint on how they both seemed so powerful.

I gulped and slowly looked up to see a worried looking man.

“I am so sorry.” He apologized as he looked down at me. “Are you okay?”

I slowly nodded as I continued to stare at him with wide eyes.

Oh good Lord. Please no.

“Way to go idiot.” The man with dark brown hair laughed. “You almost knocked her over.”

“I really didn’t mean too.” The man with red hair whispered.

While they both continued to argue with each other, I took the time to take in their features.

The one who ran into me was pretty tall and he had brownish red hair, while his beard and mustache were a little redder. He had ice blue eyes that look like they could make any girl swoon. His left ear had a small gauge in it and it looked like he had a tattoo on the left side of his neck but I couldn’t quite make it out.

The other man was slightly shorter than red and he had very curly dark brown hair with a beard and mustache to match. He had a couple dark freckles on his face and he had soft gray eyes. They were both very built and I’m sure could easily crush me if they wanted too.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Red haired guy asked.

“Y-Yeah.” I squeaked.

Wow. Way to go Athena. Why not try to make it even more obvious that you are hiding something?

‘You really need to learn to act normal.’ Artemis laughed, but then I felt her mood change dramatically.

‘What’s wrong?’ I asked worriedly.

‘T-They are royals. That’s why they are so powerful. We’ve never met one before but I can feel the power. It makes so much more sense now.’ Artemis gulped. ‘We need to get out of here!’

I jumped as a hand was waved in front of my face.

“Huh? Sorry.” I apologized as I felt my face redden.

Red haired guy laughed. “It’s okay. I just wanted to apologize again.”

“You? Apologize?” I scoffed. “No! It’s okay.”

“Right.” Brown haired guy laughed. It was clear he was enjoying my awkwardness.

“I’m Apollo.” Red haired guy smiled as he stuck his hand out.

I looked at his hand nervously. What do I do?

‘Just shake it.’ Artemis whispered sternly. ‘Then let’s get the hell out of here.’

“Athena.” I gulped as I carefully shook his hand.

“And this is Janus.” Apollo introduced.

“Nice to meet you.” Janus smiled.

“That’s an interesting name.” I said out loud before my eyes went wide. “I-I didn’t mean that in a bad way.”

“I know. Some people have a hard time trying to pronounce it.” Janus laughed. “It’s Greek. Just like Athena and Apollo are.”

My eyes went wide. Hecate said the same thing and even her name is Greek. What is going on?

“Are you okay?” Apollo asked carefully. “You look like you just saw a ghost.”

I shook my head as I snapped back to reality. “Yeah. Um, I just…need to go.”

“Oh.” Janus said strangely.

“It was nice meeting you!” I called out before I sprinted to Hecate’s jeep.

‘Because that wasn’t totally obvious.’ Artemis chimed in.

I growled. ‘Shut it.’

~*~

Apollo

“Where did she go?” I asked out loud as I looked around the parking lot.

Janus sighed. “I honestly don’t get why you’re obsessing over this girl.”

I growled. “I’m not obsessing. Just curious.”

“You said she caught your attention, but she isn’t your mate.” Janus pointed out. “So I don’t get what the big deal is.”

“Because I watched her take down three guys that were bigger than her.” I explained as I looked around the parked cars.

“And your point?” He asked.

“I don’t know. You should have seen her. She was really skinny so logically she shouldn’t have been able to do that. And my wolf feels this weird pull towards her. I don’t know, okay. Will you just help me look?”

Janus stared at me for a second before sighing. “Fine.”

“Thank you.” I mumbled.

Honestly. Where could she have gone?

‘Find her.’ My wolf growled.

‘What do you think I’m doing?’ I growled back. ‘You know for someone who claims that this girl isn’t our mate, you really do want to replace her.’

‘I don’t know what it is.’ He said confused. ‘There is just something about her that is pulling me to her. It’s not the mate pull.’

‘I know she isn’t our mate.’ I agreed. ‘I would have felt it too.’

“Apollo!” Janus called out.

I was about to answer, but I felt something hit my chest.

“Ow.” A voice groaned.

I looked down and saw it was the girl that I’ve been trying to replace.

“I am so sorry.” I apologized as I looked down at her. “Are you okay?”

She froze as she slowly looked up and met my eyes.

Why did she look so scared?

‘Careful!’ My wolf growled at me.

I was slightly taken back by his tone.

“Way to go idiot.” Janus laughed. “You almost knocked her over.”

“I really didn’t mean too.” I whispered harshly to him.

“You should have checked where you were going.” He smirked.

“I’m really going to punch you later.”

“Aww.” Janus teased as he placed his hands over his heart. “I love you too.”

I growled lowly so only he could hear it and that made him laugh harder.

I rolled my eyes and turned back to the girl.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked.

“Y-Yeah.” She squeaked out.

I watched confused as she seemed to zone out.

‘Is she okay?’ Janus asked through the link.

‘I don’t know.’ I replied. ‘But this was the girl that I was talking about.’

‘It is?’ Janus asked as he looked her over and then turned to face me. ‘You were right about her being really skinny. It honestly looks like she hasn’t eaten in days.’

She jumped as I waved my hand in front of her to get her attention.

“Huh? Sorry.” She apologized as I watched her face turn red.

I laughed. “It’s okay. I just wanted to apologize again.”

“You? Apologize?” She scoffed. “No! It’s okay.”

“Right.” Janus laughed.

I feel so bad because I can tell she’s trying not to freak out right now.

“I’m Apollo.” I smiled as I stuck my hand out.

“Athena.” She whispered as she carefully shook my hand.

“And this is Janus.” I introduced.

“Nice to meet you.” Janus smiled.

“That’s an interesting name.” She said out loud before her eyes went wide. “I-I didn’t mean that in a bad way.”

“I know. Some people have a hard time trying to pronounce it.” Janus laughed. “It’s Greek. Just like Athena and Apollo are.”

I watched confused as her eyes got big. Did that mean something to her?

“Are you okay?” I asked carefully. “You look like you just saw a ghost.”

She gulped. “Yeah. Um, I just…need to go.”

“Oh.” Janus said strangely.

“It was nice meeting you!” She called out before she sprinted away.

“Bye.” I said, but she was already too far gone.

“Can you say weird?” Janus laughed.

I nodded. “That was definitely strange.”

“Remember how you said that your wolf felt a pull towards her?” Janus asked as I nodded. “Mine did too.”

“And do you smell that?” I asked.

Janus looked confused as he sniffed the air. “Smell what?”

“Exactly.”

“I don’t get it.”

“Everyone and everything has a certain smell.” I explained. “She didn’t. She didn’t have any type of smell.”

“What person doesn’t have a smell?” Janus asked.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. But we should head back because Ares is expecting us home soon. We can try to replace her tomorrow.”

Janus nodded and we walked back to our car.

What human doesn’t have a smell and why did she act so scared?

‘Maybe it has to do with why she looked so skinny?’ My wolf wondered.

‘Maybe.’ I sighed.

I’ll just have to replace her tomorrow.