SERAPHINA’S POVHe casually pulls out a chair by the wall and makes himself comfortable with it, right in front of me. I wait patiently, tinged with a bit of anxiety.A part of me tries to figure out what this is going to be about.Will I be tossed in some dungeon out of vengeance, forced to live a pathetic life?Or will I be killed for daring to interrupt his precious royal wedding, in hopes that Artemis can form a bond with someone else when I’m gone?His cold silence is choking, and I can’t take it anymore."If this is about the marking—"“Congratulations, Seraphina Hawthrone.”I freeze at words I was not expecting him to say, congratulations I was not expecting to receive. I expected rage, anger, flipping the bed I’m on before I’m dragged off.But his smile hasn’t left his lips yet, watching me with calmness.“What?” I blurt out.“Well, isn’t it a beautiful thing, to have found young love and find yourself lucky enough to participate in something so sacred that your kind can only
SERAPHINA’S POVThe doctor checks that I’m completely fine an hour later, confirming that my body has successfully accepted the mark.Apparently, there was a possibility of rejection on my part, a rejection that could have left detrimental damages to Artemis and me, and I was lucky that it was accepted without any hiccups.I wouldn’t call it luck, though.Every single bit of nature was on my side, ensuring that it would happen and that we’d be tied together forever. The prophecy, my Astria bloodline, wouldn’t let me die off so easily.But I doubt Artemis guessed all of that. He knew the repercussions, and yet he did it.I can’t help but be angry when I think of it and the violation of trust on his own part. I can’t help but be enraged that he ignored all the warnings I dropped, all just so he could get what he wanted.It hurts, and it’d be best if we don’t see each other for a few hours, maybe until the ceremony tomorrow.Yet, when the doctor leaves the room, and I’m all alone, I find
KAMILA’S POVTonight was supposed to be perfect—the night I've been preparing for my entire life, the very essence of my existence; to become engaged and married to my mate, Artemis, and ascend the throne, finally winning my father's favor.Yet, she had to show up and ruin everything, as always—intruding where she's not wanted and effortlessly stealing Artemis's attention from me, like the wicked temptress she is.I hated the way he chased after her, leaving me to be ridiculed in the middle of the dance floor—stealing the attention that should have been mine at my own engagement party.I hate it to the point that my blood boils as hot as lava.Regardless, it's already too late; the gears have already been set in motion.She had her chance when Artemis chose her over me, but thankfully, father was able to put some sense back into my head before I lost what was rightfully mine to her for good.I would have never been able to forgive myself.Once again, I'm reminded of the dignity I must
SERAPHINA’S POVI count the hours until the next day arrives, and the sun sets for the evening—the time when everything goes down.It was an impromptu shift from a wedding to a mating ritual, but the preparations made beforehand remain, only simply changing the title of the occasion to a Nova Mating Ball.Everyone will still be there to watch me walk down an aisle and officially bond myself to the future king of their pack, despite a few disapprovals.The Nova Mating Ball itself is something that hasn't occurred in recent times, popularly practiced in earlier generations where two wolves would make their bonding known to the world officially, swearing to be with each other.It's like a wedding in many ways, only the titles of "man and wife" aren't used, and with modernization, it became obsolete.The reason for it, instead of an actual wedding, is Silvan's desire to discard me when I'm done being useful, so someone else more worthy for the position of an actual wife and Luna can easil
SERAPHINA’S POVMiss Lucy leaves to join the rest of the guests waiting in the hall after our little chat, which has strengthened my resolve to fight this curse more than ever.I'm standing just outside the hall now, minutes later, staring at the large double doors separating me from everyone else, breathing nervously with sweating palms.I take my time counting breaths so I don't forget to inhale and exhale.Crippled by fear, trembling slightly from what I'm about to face out there, I let myself replay the words I've been offered: "Face your fears, don't run away from them."I chant it a few more times before footsteps distract my train of thought, and I look around to meet King Silvan, dressed beautifully for the occasion.His garb seems more exquisite and expensive than mine, with real gold lacing the white fabric.He looks almost as radiant as the sun with a regal countenance to back it up.Only once our eyes meet and he smiles at me, I can't help but freeze in place, reminding my
SERAPHINA’S POVI can't help shaking as I take his hand and climb onto the altar, not after what I've just witnessed with so many eyes.I'm more nervous, even terrified, of the man standing behind us and watching us carry out his plans perfectly. A part of me is scared for what else he has in store for tonight, even with him being absent."Are you okay?" Artemis whispers to me, the look of worry in his eyes.I take a deep breath.How can I be, after everything that's just happened? I disliked Kamila and her ideologies. We fought most of the time, but once upon a time, we were somewhat friends, at least for a night.And even with her recent betrayals, I never hated her to the point of wishing for whatever happened to happen right in front of me and everyone else like that.It's not her fault that she was tied into a bond that was fake and grew feelings for Artemis, yet she has to pay the price for it, bearing such inevitable pain.I find myself breathing too hard, blaming myself for it
KAMILA’S POV I wake up on a bed. My entire body hurts as if I've been seared by flames hotter than the sun, coupled with the deafening silence echoing from within me. The place where the bond used to occupy, a space I never noticed before, feels like an empty gash expanding with every second I breathe, consuming me entirely. I feel weak, sickly, tired, with no strength in my body. I'm like a husk of what being a werewolf should feel like, barely able to feel a connection with my wolf and panicking with every sensation coursing through my body, every reminder of what has happened and what I have lost. My bond is broken; I was rejected by my own mate, a fate almost as terrible as death, and yet I had to face it. I had to stare at the man who meant the world to me at some point and watch him rip out a piece of me in front of everyone, in front of her. She's finally won me; she finally has everything I always wanted. She's happy while I suffer the aftermath of losing a mate, of bein
SERAPHINA’S POVI snuggle against the warmth of Artemis' body, inhaling the natural scent that oozes off his skin, an intoxicating and addictive musk.It feels so good to smell him, touch him, drowning in the coziness of his close proximity that fills me with a strong sense of comfort. It’s like my first taste of safety in days, and I never want to let go of it.He's like the wooliest, comfiest sweater personified.It could be the natural pull between us or our strengthened bond; whatever it is, I let the feeling engulf me completely, surrendering to the primal need.His fingers run through my hair, brushing through my scalp in soft, soothing motions that lull me in and out of sleep every few minutes until the car we're in comes to a sudden halt, seizing the vibrations.The car is taking us to Artemis' birth home, the place of our Moon Fête, or however King Silvan put it.It's a honeymoon meant for werewolves, a magical escape from the ordinary, where the newly mated couple can bask i