Percy's POV

I pulled her in for a kiss, wondering what I would do without her in my life. "I love you, Wise Girl."

She smiled against me. "Love you too, Seaweed Brain."

Later that night, at exactly nine o'clock, Annabeth and I walked hand-in-hand to the Apollo cabin. In the background, we could hear the campers singing at the bonfire. They had tried to introduce some new songs, to spice things up, and the aftermath of that was clearly heard in the off-key singing.

"I'm glad we're not going over there," Annabeth laughed, leaning her head against my shoulder. I smiled, pulling her closer into my side.

"I know!" When we reached the front porch of the Apollo cabin, I leaned in to kiss her. "I love you," I said once we pulled apart.

Her face looked troubled as she replied. "I love you too, Percy. No matter what happens." I didn't know what she was expecting to happen, but I had a feeling that I wouldn't like it either way.

Will, too, looked ill at ease when we walked through the cabin's door. He didn't say anything other than the usual pleasantries before he led both of us outside to the same place where we were standing earlier. The sun had set a little while ago, and the sky was darkened to twilight.

"Percy," Will dictated, "please stand on that same white line as before." He was being more polite than he was earlier, but I couldn't tell if it was just because he was feeling anxious.

I did as he said, not wanting to make things harder for him than they already were. Once I was on the line, Will directed me to read the letters on the cabin wall.

Frowning as I viewed them, I listed off every single row of Greek symbols. After I finished reading the last one, I asked Will, "Why did you guys make these letters bigger and easier to see? Doesn't that kind of ruin the test?"

Off to the side, he and Annabeth exchanged a glance. Will didn't answer any of my questions. Instead, he said, "Turn around. You remember how to do the running portion?"

"Of course!" I said, laughing slightly. I might've started to be a little hysterical. "I've been told I'm stupid, but I didn't think I was that stupid!"

"Ok, Percy," Will spoke, not responding to my joke. "And... Go!" As soon as he uttered the last word, I broke out in a sprint.

I made it back to the white line, seeing Will click the button on the stopwatch. "How'd I do?" I asked. Funny, I wasn't even out of breath.

Will nodded, saying, "Fair. Did you break a sweat?"

I wiped the back of my hand across my forehead, feeling for any sign of perspiration. "I don't think so, no."

Swearing under his breath in ancient Greek (how did I even hear that, anyways?), Will started to hurry inside. "Listen for the hearing test, ok, Percy?" His voice was urgent.

I shrugged. "Sure." Once he was gone, I turned to Annabeth. "He's freaking out over nothing. What do you think is bothering him?"

Annabeth looked abnormally pale. "I don't know, Percy." I could tell she was lying; whatever was bothering him was obviously bothering her too.

We waited for the sound in silence, both of us concentrating. Suddenly, a piercing noise burst through the night. "Ah!" I exclaimed, falling to my knees and clutching at my ears. "What the hell is that? Make it stop!"

As suddenly as it started, it stopped. Breathing heavily, I remained kneeling on the ground, still guarding my ears against any further abuse. My eyes were clenched tightly closed, my back hunched over as I waited for anything else.

I heard the Apollo cabin door open and swish shut. Footsteps approached the area where I knew Annabeth to be, and Will's voice said, "I'm so sorry, Annabeth, but..."

A sob echoed through the night, and I knew it came from Annabeth. "Oh, Will, please! It... it can't be!"

He said softly, "Annabeth, I think we both already knew this. I'm so sorry."

Trusting that I wouldn't be assaulted by any other noise abuse, I began to uncurl my body. My hands let go of my ears, and my eyes flew open. Still trying to control my breathing, I stood on two legs. "Did... Did I do ok?"

Will and Annabeth were still standing off to the side. Annabeth had a hand covering her mouth, tears sliding down her face. Will was standing next to her, looking uncharacteristically pale.

"Percy," he started, only to be interrupted.

"What was that noise?" I asked, unable to bear the grim voice he was using.

"Percy, maybe you should just sit down for a moment," he suggested.

"Why don't you just tell me what's going on!" I demanded, feeling confused and scared, and therefore angry.

"Percy, calm down," Will tried, still maintaining the same tone of voice.

"I won't calm down until you tell me what's going on!"

"Percy-" Will started, but was again interrupted.

"Will, let me do it," Annabeth said softly. Both Will and I shut up, both of our eyes on her.

"Come here, Seaweed Brain," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. The use of my nickname and the familiarity of my girlfriend made all the anger leave me in a whoosh. I walked over to her, my feet padding against the ground.

"I'm so confused, Annabeth," I murmured, pulling her into a hug. Her cheek laid against my chest. "I don't know what's going on."

She laughed, and although it was forced, I appreciated her attempt at lightening the mood.

"When aren't you confused?" Although I was no less confused and, frankly, scared, I chuckled along with her.

Finally, she said, "Percy, I don't know quite how to say this."

"Just say it as it is. Please," I begged her softly.

She sighed, and I felt my shirt grow wet with her tears. "Percy, that werewolf... It bit you. Now you're... You're a..." Her body shook against mine, and I finally pieced everything together. How I can do incredible things at night, how I have all these new abilities. Why the scar disappeared.

"I know, Annabeth. And I agree with Will; I think all knew for a while." My words didn't seem to comfort her. Instead, her sobs increased, her body shaking like a leaf.

"Why?" She muttered against me. "Why is it always you?"

I shook my head, holding her as close to me as I could. I could hear the Apollo cabin door open and then swing shut. "I don't know." I paused, listening to the night sounds around us. "But I do know something," I said, smiling down at her golden curls.

"What?" She asked after a moment, her curiosity getting to her.

"I know that I love you," I whispered.
Her tear-stained face turned up to me. "Only you would say something like that at a moment like this," she murmured before a soft smile broke out across her face. "But I love you too, Seaweed Brain. I always will."

I leaned in to kiss her sweetly. It wasn't a needy one, nor a passionate one, but it was perfect regardless. When we pulled apart, I said, "I love you, Annabeth, you know I do. I know I do, so that's saying something. But..."

She shook her head. "Don't. Just don't. We'll tackle this thing together. You don't have to face this alone."

"But what if-"
"You haven't transformed yet," she said, her voice showing how hopeful she was. "Maybe you never will." I opened my mouth to protest, but she stopped me. "I don't want to have to cross that bridge yet."

"And I don't want to hurt you," I whispered heartbrokenly.

"You won't." She sounded so convinced that I couldn't find it in myself to tell her that I could.

"I don't want to lose you," she whispered under her breath, so low that I wouldn't have heard her if I wasn't now... A werewolf.

Notes