Heat Of The Moment

[Fallon’s POV]

My heart hammers in my chest as I stare down into Fineon’s blazing blue eyes, which are staring up at me through his shaggy brown hair.

The pain I find there leaves me at a loss for words, especially because I know that the pain he is feeling is due to his unrequited love for my mother and has nothing to do with me.

"You’re too drunk to think straight." I whisper, trying to diffuse the situation. "Come on, get up. You need some food and water to sober up."

"I’m not!" He snaps, reaching out and grabbing my arms. "I’ve never been thinking more clearly."

"You’re not." I repeat, attempting to shake myself free. "This was a mistake."

Using as much strength as I can muster, I stand and yank my arms free as he just stares at me as if I just hit him.

Shaking off the sudden desire to comfort him, I begin to move.

I shouldn’t have let my guard down. I shouldn’t have come into this room with him. Hell, I shouldn’t have even approached him to begin with, but the minute I saw him stumbling, I just couldn't stop myself from wanting to help.

‘You’re a fool.’ Artemis huffs in disgust. ‘You let your emotions lead you into a dangerous situation.’

‘Like I don’t know that.’ I snap.

Yes, I’m a fool—a fool in love.

For so many years, I yearned for the man in front of me, even though I knew that he didn’t even think of me in any way other than the little girl that followed him around like a shadow.

"Where are you going?"

Keeping my gaze fixed ahead, I continue to move until I’m at the door that will lead me to freedom.

"Home." I respond simply. "I shouldn’t have come here to begin with."

Before I have the chance to escape, Fineon appears behind me so damn close that I can feel his heat seeping into my skin through the clothes that separate us.

"What are you doing?" I whisper as his hand shoots past my head and presses against the door, so there is no way I can open it. "Move."

"I won’t." Fineon hisses so close to my ear that his breath tickles my skin. "If I let you leave, you may never even look at me again."

Gasping, I find myself being whirled around, so I am now staring into the oceanic depths of Fineon’s gaze. There is a determination there that I don’t quite understand, and that leaves me terrified.

"What are you planning to do?"

Instead of responding, he presses me against the door and lowers his head to my neck. His lips brush against my skin, sending shivers of desire through me.

Letting out a whimper, I find myself unable to move despite knowing I should.

"No!" I shriek when his canines extend and press against my skin, snapping me out of my daze. "STOP!"

Realizing exactly what it is he is planning, I press my hands against his chest, using all my strength to push, but he doesn’t budge. Dammit, why is he so strong? I was an alpha heir, and he was…

‘STOP HIM!" Artemis roars. ‘BEFORE HE MARKS US!’

Mark… Ha! It’s ironic that my own wolf would protest our mate marking us, but she’s right. This isn't the way it should be happening, and if I don't stop him now, the thing that will ultimately solidify our bond will be forever tainted.

By this point, Fineon’s teeth are piercing my skin, and I can feel the stirrings of his mark beginning to form.

He's serious about what he is planning, but I'm not the one he is wanting to claim as his own.

"I SAID," I snarl as my heart feels like it is being ripped into a thousand pieces. "STOP IT!"

Lifting my knee, I draw on all my strength and slam it between Fineon's legs, causing him to howl in pain. Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, I let my fist connect with his solar plexus and then slam my elbow into his back as he doubles over and gasps.

"Sober up!" I growl, kicking him away from me as I lift a hand and touch my neck. "How could you possibly attempt something so disgusting?" I continue, unable to control the shock and pain that I’m feeling due to his actions. "DO YOU EVEN KNOW HOW FUCKING DISGUSTING IT IS TO FORCE YOUR MARK ON ANOTHER?"

As the words leave my lips, I can feel all the feelings I held close to my heart for so many years slowly slipping away. There was a lot I could forgive, but this was too much.

"For so many years." I rasp, feeling tears spring to my eyes. "For years I waited for you. I waited as you didn’t hide your longing for my mother because I hoped that one day you would realize the truth." Now that the words were flowing, I couldn’t stop them. "But now I realize I was a fool to settle for second best." I gasp. "Not anymore. Not after what you’ve done!"

"Fallon?" Fineon husks in confusion, finally sobering much too late. "What are you?"

"It doesn’t matter." I whisper, swiping at the tears that are threatening to blur my vision. "Not anymore. From this point on, I will no longer be a fool. Good bye, Fineon. I hope from this point on we don’t cross paths again."

Unable to look at him any longer, I storm out of the room and make my way out of The Red House entirely. I only stop when I reach the exit and extend my senses to see if he is following, but find that he isn’t.

‘Are you surprised?’ Artemis growls. ‘He doesn’t give two shits about you. Why do you keep expecting anything else?’

One day he will, I think to myself, but I don’t bother responding. Though I can see the future, Artemis can’t. It’s quite an oddity, actually. She is my wolf, and we are meant to be two parts of a whole, but somehow it feels like we weren’t meant to be. I always assumed it was because I just wasn't strong enough to tame her, but sometimes it felt like she was the one who was meant to be in control.

Just like you and Fineon, a small voice in the back of my head mocks.

Shaking it off, I look toward the sky and find the moon shining down brightly.

"Even you’re mocking me." I spit, unable to control the emotions that I’ve been desperately trying to keep at bay. "Does my pain make you happy?"

Even though I know that the moon goddess won’t respond to me, I can’t stop myself from wanting to curse her for the fate she dealt me. 

"Is this what you wanted?" I yell, finally letting out the sobs that I’ve held in. "To see me made a fool of?"

Dropping to my knees, I release a howl of pain while clawing at my chest, which feels like it is on fire.

Is this what being rejected truly feels like? Even if he didn't say it out loud, attempting to mark another is still the same. He rejected our bond before even realizing it existed and attempted to claim another.

"Fuck, it hurts." I hiss, curling in on myself. "Goddess, it hurts."

‘Lesson learned.’ Artemis shrugs. ‘Now, you have the chance to forget about those ridiculous emotions.’ She continues. ‘As a leader, they’ll do nothing but bring you down anyway.’

‘I…’ I begin, trying to compose myself. ‘Don’t want to feel anymore.’

‘Then harden yourself and never let something like this happen again.’ Artemis cooes. ‘Allow me to take them away.’

Her voice is like a siren's call as it promises me that I won’t ever have to feel this way again, but I can't give in. If I did wouldn't that mean I was taking the easy way out?

'I refuse.' I finally respond. 'This pain is my reminder that I should never allow myself to accept anything more than I deserve.'

Solidifying my resolve, I slowly got up from the ground while promising myself that this would be the last time I gave into my weakness.

From here on out, I would only grow stronger and prove my worth to those who actually mattered.