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Artem

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The house was always busy now, I liked that. When I first took over the pack and we all moved into the pack house it was quiet and lonely here. Sure I had my friends, and my sister, but the place was so big that it was like we were alone in the house.

Now, though, we had brought the others to come stay with us and it was always busy. I didn’t have a staff so we all usually divided the chores ourselves. I probably should start looking for some people to help around the house.

As it was, I was in charge of meals. I usually just made a lot at once that could be eaten when people were ready. Breakfast was the hardest because of needing to make the eggs specific to most people, but other than that I had kept it all simple.

Until yesterday that is. I had wanted to prove to Star that she wasn’t a prisoner, that she was special. These last two days I have been making the meals extra special. Though, I was smart enough to know that she most likely hadn’t had any of these foods before and I didn’t want to overwhelm her.

One day, I hoped she would open up to me, maybe I could make her something really special when that time finally came. Maybe one day we could cook together, me teaching her while she smiles happily. I couldn’t help it, that image was currently stuck in my mind.

I had just set aside my plate, having eaten my dinner later than everyone else, when Chay came into my office. I had been working late into the night after stopping to cook dinner for them all.

I knew she had spent the day with Star and I immediately flinched and cringed for just a moment when I remembered the last time that she had come storming into my office after spending the day with Star. How could I forget, it was just yesterday after all.

“Hey Chay.” I called out to her, hoping she wasn’t mad this time.

“Artem.” She looked at me with sad, red rimmed eyes that were fighting to hold back the unshed tears.

“What’s wrong?” I asked her as I stood from my desk. I wanted to walk to her and put my arm around her shoulders. She was my baby sister and I cared about her, loved her, even though she could scare the shit out of me sometimes.

“I want that family of hers to pay.” Her words stopped me in my tracks, bringing me to a stop as I stared at her in confusion.

“What happened?” I knew that she probably found out something when she was with Star today, something that had upset her.

“The way they treated her, the way they kept her in the dark. Artem, it’s not right.” She was so far beyond angry that she was ready to cry, she was hurt on Star’s behalf. “They didn’t tell her about what she was and let her first shift traumatize her. Goddess save her, Artem, how could they do that to her?”

“I don’t know, and none of it makes any sense to me at all.” I shook my head and started walking again, this time toward the couch near the fireplace. “They locked her up when she was two. How could they have known that her wolf would be weak when she was only two.”

“What do you think they did? Why did they do it?” I could hear Chay’s voice crack as she slumped onto the couch next to me.

“I don’t know Chay, but I intend to find out.”

We sat there for a few more minutes, letting the silence reclaim the tears that my sister was shedding. When she had her emotions under control, she spoke again.

“I asked her to come to the store with me, I wanted to take her shopping because she has nothing to call her own. She’s borrowing my clothes for now, and that’s fine. I don’t mind. She can borrow them forever. But the thing is, she was too scared to go to the store. She’s afraid of me, afraid of you, and afraid of the world.” Chay’s eyes were filled with tears again but she did her best to hold them back. “But she was still constantly trying to run, with nowhere to go and no idea of how to live in the world.”

“She wanted to get away, Chay, and she did. That’s what matters. And now she has us, we will protect her.”

“I want to do something for her. I want to get her something that’s all hers. I don’t think she remembers what it’s like to have something for herself. She was too young, you know.”

“Get something like what?” I was confused by what it was she wanted.

“Clothes, shoes, books, just things that she might need, want, like, anything. I’m gonna go out to the store now and pick her up a few things.”

“I’ll come with you.” I rose to my feet, nearly jumping in my rush to leave.”

“You don’t have to.” Chay was laughing at me.

“I want to. Now let’s go.” I was already walking toward the door, not bothering to wait for her.

I was out of the house and waiting next to my car when she came running to catch up to me.

“Slow down. You’re not going without me.” She complained.

“You hurry up. It’s already getting late as it is.”

“Ugh, impatient jerk.” She complained jokingly.

Half an hour later we had reached the edge of the city and another ten minutes later we were pulling in the parking of a twenty-four hour store. We could buy a lot of different kinds of things at a box store like this, and I planned to get Star anything and everything she could ever want or need. Even if I had to shop with my sister to do it.

“Do you think she would like this one?” I asked as we walked through the different racks of clothes.

“I don’t know her preferences yet. I think we should just get a bunch of different things and let her pick which ones she likes tomorrow.”

“Good idea.” I told her as I added three of that item to the cart.

“Why are you getting so many?”

“I don’t know her exact size, I just know she’s tiny. So this way if I have the size wrong with two of them the third should fit.”

“That’s actually sound logic coming from you.”

“There’s no reason to be a brat about it.” I growled at her. “Here what about these? And this? Ooh, and this one too?”

“You’re like a child.” Chay was giggling at me.

“I just want to make Star happy, that’s all.” I felt embarrassed as she continued to giggle at me. “Just shut it, I can’t do anything for her until she trusts me, just let me do what I can for now.”

“I know, and it’s cute you know, watching you being all sweet and caring when she doesn’t even know about it.”

“Just shut it.” I snapped at her again. Don’t tell her I’m the one making her food or that I did this. She might think that I am up to something. All I want is for her to be cared for and happy. Until her wolf returns that’s all I can do for her.”

“You’ve got it bad don’t you?” Chay asked me.

“I didn’t expect the bond to be so strong. It’s so intense, so powerful, all I want to do is protect her and avenge her. She’s my mate, and even though I barely know her, I already feel myself falling for her.”

“That’s sweet, Artem. When she learns to trust you, she’s going to be one lucky girl.” I felt myself blush then. I couldn’t help it.

We ended up shopping for a while, and we bought a lot of stuff. Different styles and sizes of clothes and shoes. We got her toiletries and personal care items. I wanted to walk through the books and find something that she might like too. I knew she hadn’t watched TV growing up and she probably didn’t feel comfortable with it yet, but a few books of different genres might do the trick.

The total when it was done would probably make most men flinch, but I didn’t bat an eyelash. I had the money and it was for a good cause, plus I could return the clothes that were too big or too small. All that mattered to me was making Star feel comfortable.