SERAPHINA’S POVA bucket of water is doused over my head just before my consciousness can slip away, and I’m revved back into life like an engine instantly. Gasping for air that finally fills my lungs, snapping out of my panicking state and back into reality. My heart pounds harder than ever, filled with life again, and a desire to pump blood into every part of my body.I was so close to letting it all go; the thought alone terrifies me. The fact that I was going to do it without looking back, because of one woman.“We can’t have you croaking off before you have your debut,” Big Tom grumbles above me, holding the empty bucket, water dripping out.The bastard just saved me, but for the wrong reasons. Nevertheless, I feel myself a bit grateful for it. He tosses the bucket to the side, grumbling inaudible words to himself before he goes for the door, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the emptiness around me, guessing I won’t die of a panic attack anymore.The second the door close
SERAPHINA’S POVThe warmth of his arms engulfs me, and I feel safe again. I realize I never want to let go or stray too far from his presence. Being away was unbearably painful. Dealing with so much alone, the creeping loneliness momentarily shattered my mind. I never want to face that again, to give up on myself as I had just moments before he appeared.“I’m sorry, I couldn’t wait for you anymore, I had to show up,” he apologizes, inhaling deeply, taking in my scent to calm himself. He knew he could have let me handle it alone, but impatience won over him.Guilt floods me, knowing I was about to let myself be sold off, struck by the heartbreaking realization that my mother never wanted me. I want to reverse everything, realizing there’s something worth returning to, a purpose to all this struggle – the most important one now standing before me. I smile, tears leaking from my eyes.“I know, I’m sorry I was away for so long.”He looks through my smile, observing me a second longer
ARTEMIS’ POVI leave Sera alone in her room once we get back. She retreats into the back of her mind, silent and unresponsive. I can feel her troubled emotions clashing around, yet I'm crippled by my inability to assist her or at least alleviate a significant portion of the pain she bears.I exit the room after she mumbles a request to be left alone, understanding her need to decompress from everything—the betrayal by her mother and the revelation of her father's death. It's mostly my fault; I wish I had never suggested finding her mother. Yet, maybe she needed to know, to put it all behind her. Guards are stationed at her door to ensure her comfort before I leave.Before heading down to the little building, already evacuated, with the human girls taken somewhere safe before they can be reunited with their families or find a new home, I walk into the building and down to the basement where I was told they kept my mate for a few hours before deciding to sell her off like property.
ARTEMIS’ POVHer face begins to twitch as she tries her hardest to maintain her composure, but it all eventually crumbles. She's forced to relive every scene that shattered her mind before she finally snapped, resigning herself to the only life she knew how to live—one that involved placing all the blame and hatred on the one thing she never wanted in her seemingly happy existence.She grips and pulls at her hair, shaking her head and denying everything over and over again until she becomes a complete, wailing mess. This confirms everything I need to know. Sera did kill the man, but he deserved it. He likely would have come for her next, after dealing with his obsessive wife, hoping to start fresh with his new infatuation. Instead, Sera saved her—a reality Cassandra has spent her entire life denying, rewriting the narrative in her head just to keep on living.The rest, of course, is conjecture, pieced together from known facts and behavioral patterns, but I'm almost certain
SERAPHINA’S POVSleep evades me tonight, forcing me to relive every tragic moment of today, flash after flash in my memory. I try to block them out, but nothing works, and I’m hit by a constant wave of guilt and self-doubt. I killed a man, my own father, and so she hated me, so much so that she wanted nothing to do with me. Perhaps I deserved it, every bit of her curated hatred for what I am, for what I stand for. I had hoped to find more reason to love myself on this journey; instead, I’m hit by the opposite at every turn.My hand traces the empty spot on the bed, wishing I hadn’t kicked Artemis out so harshly, hadn’t requested space on my own, and now the silence I’m engulfed in swallows me whole, eating away at my existence. I don’t want to hurt anyone anymore, yet I fail to realize the more I push people away in a bid to protect them, the more I wound them. Olivia being the perfect example.The door slamming open startles me, and I roll off it from fright, falling on my b
SERAPHINA’S POV"Oh my god..." The words escape my lips before I realize it, and I fall backward while my head spins over and over again. Artemis reaches for my hand, squeezing it tightly, his eyes mirroring the same realization dawning on me. If what we've just learned is true, it could explain everything—why there hasn't been another, why it's only ever been me. Why neither my mom nor dad knew anything about my magic. My mind is completely blown.The old man chuckles, pulling my attention away from Artemis and his away from me. His cackle is momentarily terrifying before he pauses to look directly at me, and only me, with an eerie light of interest glinting in his eyes that wasn’t there before. “You’re one, aren’t you—an Astria witch.”His question catches me completely off guard, knocking me off balance before I can process it, and my expression turns more shocked and terrified than I intend, inadvertently confirming his suspicions. “I don’t know what you’re talking
SERAPHINA’S POVI’m completely quiet and speechless once we leave Horatio's little hut, stunned from the information I've received, sharing Grendaline's pain that must have been unimaginable. So many questions are answered, yet I'm left with so much more.“Are you okay?” Artemis asks the second we walk back into our rented room, coming from behind and holding me close in his arms. I lean back against him.“I don’t know what to feel or think anymore. You heard what was done to those people, my people; the unjust mass murdering and killing.”“Yeah. I feel terrible knowing I’m related to the bastard who caused it all,” he frowns deeply. I wonder why he had to kill them when he had already taken out their queen. What was the point of going even further, to curse her grave by killing the people she couldn’t protect anymore, killing her child as well. Did he even ever love her?“What I’m more confused by is how someone like him became a Lycan,” Artemis muses, thinking out loud.
SERAPHINA’S POVThe weekend rolls by quickly, putting everything that happened in the rogue pack behind us, but I still can’t forget the experience of meeting my mother. It hits me in my dreams on nights when I think a bit too much and the world weighs heavy on my shoulders. But with Artemis's help, his comforting touch and words, I put it behind me most of the time. It happened years ago and out of self-defense. It was terrible, and I still feel guilt, but dwelling on it would never help what needs to be done to make sure it never happens again. Strangely enough, the passion between Artemis and me has only gotten stronger.I’m woken up by soft, gentle kisses pressed against the back of my neck, with stronger hands wedged tightly against my waist, my back pressed into his chest, and a hard-on grinding against my lower back. The instant pleasure ignites sparks across the surface of my skin, but I’m not surprised by the contact, leaning against his touch, moaning the second
SERAPHINA’S POVThe doors to the throne room on the west side of the castle finally pull open, revealing Artemis and me to the entire congregation gathered to celebrate our crowning and witness the beginning of a new era of peace. Our hands are intertwined, our traditional garments matching, with long flowing capes that trail a few feet behind us. A wave of anxiety and excitement hits all at once, but I know I’m not alone. Never again.The congregation stands, applauding endlessly as we walk down the aisle, side by side, hand in hand, waving at all of them. I spot Olivia and Jasper, hand in hand, seeing them for the first time in three years, waving harder and growing excited to tell them all about my tales. Ace and Gabe sit in the next row, clapping along with the crowd, smiles on their faces as well. Of course, Alice is nowhere to be seen. It’s been years, and she has never shown her face to me again.Olivia had said that she moved to a different country, one that’s far a
ARTEMIS’ POV ( 3YEARS LATER)I'm completely stacked with work, towers of paperwork almost reaching the ceilings for the changes I've tried desperately to implement for the past four years since becoming the Alpha King. Laws newly implemented seem to have more backlash than initially anticipated, yet I’m committed to see them to the end, all to make some time for the coming weekend. A knock echoes from my door before Jasper walks in, still rocking that god-awful goatee Olivia hasn't succeeded in getting him to chop off. "Beta reporting for duty, Your Majesty," he bows. "Any news from the delegation you sent out to the human population?" He now turns serious once he sees all the papers.I instantly appreciate the new version of him that's capable of taking things seriously while still retaining his joyful side. I've tried to continue my father's works, improving the mission to unite all races as one to prevent things like war from ever happening again, to form a union o
ARTEMIS’ POVWeeks pass since Sera’s eyes open, and like a sick twist of fate, I find myself unable to see her as much now, with doctors being around her and more work piling on my desk. Yet, I remind myself to be patient while she gets the treatment and therapy she needs. The times I do stay by her side, I hold her in my arms, slowly filling her in on everything she’s missed in the past year. Her greatest hurdle with everything is accepting how much time has passed, how long she’s been unconscious, the time she’s lost. Processing it has not been easy and simply adds to her stress. Thankfully, Olivia stayed back for a few weeks to help her readjust to it all while I’m away and has only just left a few days ago.Tonight, as always, I’m in my office completely swamped with work, trying to achieve most of what I planned to do before Sera is completely better and on her feet again. Because I want to show her the world and more, and before I can get anywhere, I have to fix it.
ARTEMIS’ POV(ONE YEAR LATER)"In light of all the allegations brought forth, not only by students but also by teachers, I hereby strip you of your position as school Administrator," I declare before the newly appointed school board gathered before me. The now former Administrator, Mr. Andrew, stares at me with wet, red eyes on the brink of breaking into tears. He trembles, looking at me with pleading eyes for mercy, but I feel nothing close to remorse, especially with proof of years of his embezzlement sitting right in front of me on my desk. The fact that he also played a huge part in the school's segregation alone tempts me to strangle him with my bare hands every time I remember what Seraphina had to go through - but then, even I had a hand in this.My eyes shift to the other man in his late thirties standing on the other side of the room among the council, nodding in his direction. "In replacement, I appoint Mr. Jermaine for the new position of school Administrator."
ACE’S POVAs the doctor announces the outcomes of the surgery, I slowly detach from the group, watching their faces light up for only a moment before something even darker takes over. But I don’t stay long. I don’t dare stay with them in their moments of grief or offer words of encouragement, not when I haven’t been there for everything they’ve had to face. I don’t deserve to sit in their presence of lament with any of them, not especially Artemis or Jasper. I was a shitty friend, I probably still am. I haven’t gotten over my jealousy or my issues. I couldn’t be there for them even if I wanted to, but I at least wanted to show up and apologize, at least to Sera, for everything I did. I wish I could do more, be better. Perhaps in the future, when so much isn’t happening, perhaps one day I could have the courage to face each of them and apologize properly.I walk to a corner, resting against the wall, wanting to be alone before I read the letter from Kamila. She’s neve
ARTEMIS’ POVI grab her before her body can hit the ground, pressing down on her neck that gushes more blood than I can bear to see. “Sera!” I yell her name, my voice laden with begging and pleading for her to wake up, to look at me, to say something—anything at all. Even if it means her hating me for forcing her into this situation, for not being strong enough, I would gladly take it; she need only say anything.The blood doesn’t stop, and she doesn’t move either; her eyes remain unfocused, staring at nothing without the usual glint of light in them. “Sera, please…” I break into a sob, holding her against me, pressing my cheek against her forehead as a wave of agony overwhelms me. She can’t leave me. I won’t let her."Moon Goddess!" I scream, my voice reaching the sky with tears in my eyes, Sera clutched tightly in my arms. Rage burns like fire in my blood. "You said you chose me to make a difference, you said you wanted the circle to end. None of it would make any s
SERAPHINA’S POVHer hands stretch out, and numerous black hands spring forth from the shadows of everyone else, every person that still remains on the school premises, grabbing onto whomever it comes from and pinning them to the ground, myself included. "I only spared you for a moment because you meant something to her, but if you force my hand, I will find joy in crushing you with my bare hands," she seethes, trembling with anger. The shadow holding me down doubles in pressure, and I feel a few of my ribs breaking under it. It’s only a matter of time before she kills me along with everyone else here, and if she does that, there would be no one else to stop her."Sera, don't!" the scream of a female voice pulls both our attention to the far left. It's Olivia, tied down by her own shadow, trembling and in tears, next to an equally captured Jasper... I thought they had escaped. "Don’t do this, Sera. This isn’t you." Her surprise turns into disgust while facing Olivia now.
ARTEMIS’ POVI'm violently shaken awake by someone, and my eyes open, staring at the gruff, manly face looking down at me with concern—a face I recognize as one of the soldiers on my side. "Your majesty," he cries the second my eyes are open, giving me enough space to sit up. I feel as though I've only woken up from a deep, restful sleep, my body relaxed and fully energized once more, which is confusing for an entity claiming to save me for last after wiping an entire race out.I look around the room, everything being the same aside from Sera’s presence. She’s really gone. I look at the large hole in the wall, at the sky that suddenly seems like a darker red shade with clouds hanging around. It really does look like the end of the world. "Report," I say to the soldier, getting to my feet again. "The witch..." He begins, pausing the second I cast a deathly glare his way. "...I mean the princess managed to change the color of the sky as soon as she left the building, casti
SERAPHINA’S POVI blink my eyes for only a second, and suddenly I'm in a garden with the sun setting, showing that half the day has passed. Half the day just breezed past me without being present, almost as if I’m running through today. I'm startled for a second, not remembering coming here at all. I could have sworn that I was back in the hall accepting my new title just a second ago. Yet, I'm sitting on a bench holding the book in my hands, its skin feeling and looking awfully familiar, as if I’ve had it long before now.“How does it feel being Queen now?” A voice cuts through my train of thought from behind me. I pause and look around, meeting my mother walking towards me in her always slowly paced walks. I’d never seen her run, even in times of distress and emergency, and always wished I could be half as regal and calm as she is. “Mother,” I say, standing to my feet and hugging her for a while. Somehow calling her my mother leaves a feeling of yearning in my heart, des