Chapter 16

(Two months later)

Despite the recent tragedy that happened to Wolf City, two months after the two attacks Wolf City was almost back to its former glory. The population took a nice hit but the people were still strong and quickly coming back together thanks to the presence and support of their Wolf King and Wolf Princess. Houses were being quickly rebuilt to give people a warm place to stay during the cold months of winter. People went back to the market to exchange things for food and necessities and not for gold and profit. Men gathered in groups and went out to hunt in parties, and since they did this they were able to bring back more food for their families. Artemis went back to eating and drinking like she used to and in no time she started gaining back weight and then her pregnancy started showing as well. Everyone was relieved and ecstatic because both Jenny and Artemis were going to be having their litters soon. Up until the very last few weeks of pregnancy Jenny and Artemis stayed close together to keep eachother company doing things like sewing and pottery to pass the time while the men worked on the houses and hunted.

Currently Artemis was sitting in her big family room with her sister-in-law Princess Jenny and Aunt-in-law Princess Wende, as they were sewing furs together for their families. "Artemis, we're almost catching up with you. We've been making so many clothes lately" Jenny said holding up a fur dress "Yes that is very good" Artemis replied smiling. "How have you been since Grandma Shuu passed?" Little Wen asked Artemis. Artemis took a minute to answer as she thought about the past few weeks without Nana. "I'm okay. I feel her with me at all times watching and approving on me moving on with my life. I have a mate and I will be a mother soon. We have a huge home and very close friends in this Beastworld. That's all she wanted for me and I won't let her down" Artemis told Jenny and Little Wen. "My new home is so exciting. I have a big kitchen despite how others cook outside over fire in the Beastworld. My farming skills are way better here than it was in the human world. The field's I harvest are huge, as if I have super fertilizer!" Artemis went on. "How about you Jenny? Are you comfortable living with my brother?" Artemis asked Jenny. "Prince Apollo treats me very well. I can see his dedication and hard work for me and our cubs" Jenny said, smiling and rubbing her belly. "I'm scared that I'm broken…" Little Wen said sadly, changing the tone of the conversation. "What do you mean?" Jenny asked, looking at little Wen. Artemis already knew what was worrying her. Little Wen and Kasper have been mated for a while now and she still has not become pregnant. She has had this conversation with Kasper himself recently and had to give him advice on how to make their relationship workout. "You are not broken. You are special and it just is not your time" Artemis said to Little Wen. "Both you and Little Jenny got pregnant after you mated for the first time!" Little Wen said with tears in her eyes. "Oh I get it!" Jenny said out loud. Artemis rolled her eyes and looked back over to Little Wen. "I really do believe that you are special. I feel it in my heart that you are right for my uncle so give yourself some time to get more comfortable with him. By time you go into heat everything else will fall into place" Artemis said to her "do you really think so?" Little Wen asked Artemis, trying not to smile and cry at the same time. Artemis nodded and smiled in response "You're a Goddess Princess. I feel so good around you" Jenny said admiringly to Artemis. Artemis scoffed. "I am nothing more than a Wolf Princess Jenny" Artemis said to her.

Kasper picked the perfect moment to walk into the family room followed by Apollo, Danny and Bowen. "Little Wen, are you alright?" Kasper asked her when he noticed her watery eyes, he rushed over and kneeled in front of her. "Yes I think their emotions are rubbing off on me" Little Wen said laughing and smiling "very funny" Jenny responded sticking her tounge out at her. Apollo stood next to Jenny looking extremely proud. "We have finally finished the two other main houses. Kasper and I have somewhere for our mates to live now!" Apollo beamed "Really?" Little Wen asked Kasper. "Yes. A nest fit for my Princess mate" he smiled at her. "How great. Now you have somewhere to put all of the clothes and pottery you guys have made while staying here these past few weeks" Artemis beamed proudly. "We are going to head over to the market to get some necessities. Father has started to host the market within his castle grounds to keep people out of the cold on market days" Kasper told Artemis. "Oh really? Grandfather is very thoughtful when motivated" Artemis commented. "He also told me that he is considering your other ideas. They're very reasonable." Kasper said. "What other ideas?" Apollo asked, confused. "I told him to employ men from beyond the Wolf City into the Army to replenish numbers. Those people need jobs that pay to provide and our people need protection. I discussed further details with grandfather in person but he is going to go for it" Artemis explained. "Wow you are brilliant!" Bowen exclaimed. "You all praise me too highly. I've done more research in my spare time with Yozar from the books he brings to me. I'd learned to read in the Human world but almost completely forgot how after living here for a year" Artemis said to him. "Reading books?" Danny asked "most of the Animal Kingdoms here do not know how to read or write and don't even know what a book is. Yozar tells me that the Ape Kingdom knows how and it's almost a little unsettling because they are mostly quiet beasts. No news comes from the Ape Kingdom" Artemis said. "No news from there and no news on the rogue Ape who saved you from the Tiger Queen" Apollo said. "Father has been looking for him everywhere but he disappeared from the entire Wolf Kingdom" Kasper said to Apollo who shrugged it off. "My love, can you show me our house now please?" Jenny asked Apollo, excitedly changing the subject . "Oh yes can you show me ours too?" Little Wen asked. Kasper chuckled and grabbed Little Wen's hand and pulled her out of her seat. "Of course! Let's get over there now before it gets dark and the temperature drops even more" Kasper said, draping a huge cloak over Little Wen's shoulders. "Kasper, please keep her warm. She can still get sick very easily on days like these." Artemis suggested. Kasper smiled and nodded and then disappeared out of the room with Little Wen. "I'm going to take Jenny home too!" Apollo said after helping her stand up and putting her cloak on her. "Well keep Jenny comfortable please." Artemis told her brother.

Now Artemis was alone with Danny and Bowen. "My love. Are you uncomfortable anywhere? Can I rub your feet?" Danny asked. Artemis chuckled and shook her head no. "Are you hungry?. We can make you food!" Bowen offered, but Artemis shook her head no to that as well. "Bowen I think it's time we should mate", Artemis said to Bowen sharply. Bowen's face froze and he quickly looked to Danny for help. "Princess if you are…. Craving. Daniel can help you" Bowen told her. "It is not my hormones controlling me. I feel like we should mate and create a bigger bond between the three of us before this litter comes. We will be stronger" Artemis told Bowen. Danny smiled and kissed the back of Artemis' hand. "Princess, are you worried about something?" Danny asked her. "Kind of. I just really feel that I need to do this. I love Bowen just as much as I love you. I picture us all being so happy together" Artemis said smiling. "But Princess you'll give birth any day now. I don't think forming a mate bond will be a good idea." Bowen commented. "I'll be ok. You'll be in control trust me" Artemis said reassuringly. "Bowen. I want you as my mate" Artemis said with Danny still standing in the room. Bowen's eyes had changed color to his brown Eagle eyes. Danny kissed Artemis on her forehead "I will go clean up and prepare dinner and a bath" He said to her. Once Danny was out of the room Bowen got down on his knees in front of Artemis. "I want to be your mate Princess" he pleaded with her. "Yes!" Artemis growled. Bowen snatched off his fur and laid it across the floor. Then he stood up and pulled Artemis' dress off gently and smoothed it out on the floor as well making a little carpet for Artemis to lay on. "I am the most happy Beastman in the world!" Bowen said, wrapping his arms around Artemis. As Bowen pulled Artemis out of her chair and down onto the floor his breathing started to pick up, he was getting nervous. Artemis wanted him to be comfortable and in control. As Bowen steadied himself carefully over her and her bulging stomach Artemis reached up and pulled Bowen down for a deep kiss. "Stop hesitating! Now I'm really craving" Artemis said firmly to Bowen.

Bowen and Artemis didn't take long to complete their mating bond. On her wrist Artemis had an Eagle mark and Bowen had Artemis' wolf mark on his wrist and they both shared a spiritual connection with each other like Artemis and Danny shared a connection. Danny and Bowen worked together peacefully to get Artemis washed up and into warm clothes and into bed. "Are you comfortable?" Danny asked her, "yes and no. It feels really tight in there" Artemis said, rubbing her belly. "They'll come any day now" Bowen said slowly rubbing her stomach with her. "The root cellar is almost full with plenty of food to get us through winter. Part of the root cellar holds an ice box that has been freezing meat for us pretty well" Danny informed Artemis. "Is the furnace under the cub's room finished? Will it affect the cellar?" Artemis asked them. "Yes. We've already tested it out. The cubs will be very warm throughout the winter and our food will be fine" Bowen nodded. "With Bo as our master builder we get things done quickly and efficiently" Danny said to her. "Bo our Master Builder?" Artemis said smiling. "Our family doctor and our master builder. And Daniel our master cook and master crafter" she said grabbing each of their hands. "Princess, can I say something?" Bowen asked Artemis, changing the mood of the conversation "what is it?" She asked him innocently, hoping he wasn't about to give her bad news. "While we are on the subject of roles and cubs… I want to assure you that I am in no hurry to have eagle cubs. I focus too much on keeping you settled in and safe to desire cubs" Bowen told Artemis. "Bo are you saying this because you don't want me to feel pressured?" Artemis asked him. "No. I truly feel I would be too frustrated with our cubs if they prevent me from keeping you safe. I think the cubs you are having with Danny are enough" Bowen said. "How about we just focus on those cubs for now. And focus on getting everything else settled. But you do know that means we won't mate that often and when we do I'd probably have to take preventive medicinal herbs to prevent pregnancy?" Atremis said, trying to compromise. "That's fine. I have enough patience and control" Bowen said confidently. "We'll definitely have our hands full. More cubs in one litter means all boys. On rare occasions a single girl can be born to a lucky female" Danny said, trying to divert the subject.

"These cubs will definitely help out and do some work around the house when they mature. Nana let me play around up until my fifteenth year but I think there are some things I could have done sooner to help out" Artemis said to Bowen and Danny. "I can picture them now following me around as cubs and then helping me out in the fields!" Artemis said smiling. "As their blood father I will personally make sure they learn well to help you out in the future!" Danny said excitedly. "As their second father I will make sure to do my part to keep them safe and help teach them to protect you!" Bowen said confidently. "That's great Bowen. You care for Daniel's cubs as well!" Artemis beamed. "Of course. Danny's cubs are yours and I treat him as my bosom friend anyways" Bowen said, rubbing Artemis' stomach again. "I feel close to you as well Bo!" Danny said, patting him on his back.