SERAPHINA’S POVI’m left in the room once more, with the lights off for another set of hours; I don’t know how long. It feels like days have passed, but there aren’t any windows to tell what time it is or the sun’s position in the sky. A quality, I imagine, that bastard Gideon sought while picking a room to lock me in, possibly to facilitate my descent into madness. But it isn’t a lack of a window that erodes at my mind; rather, it's the maddening silence around me, forcing me to live and dwell on my thoughts and memories that constantly plague my mind.When I close my eyes, I’m forced to relive Juliet’s last moments, and opening my eyes doesn’t help either. The worst part is my inability to fall asleep. The lights in the room finally come on again, and relief floods into me instantly, being able to see again, to confirm that my eyes are still working—although it means that Gideon is back again.The door clicks open, and guards walk into the room in the same fashion as they
KAMILA’S POVEvery breath hurts, like pins stabbing into my lungs, yet all I can do is breathe, gasping for air, holding onto a very thin string of life as the father's guard takes me back to my room, a bloody mess. No one passing by offers me a second glance, seeing my state as a normal occurrence, something that won’t change or end, something to which they have grown numb. I can barely recognize the silhouettes with my blurred vision and barely remain conscious with the pulsing pain emanating from everywhere.Tears stab at my eyes at the thought of it, the numbness in my legs that slowly spreads upwards. I try not to think that I might die this time, and I’m terrified that I might, so I cry even more while feeling even more helpless, even more pathetic. “Father,” I wheeze out, hoping he would come for me, hoping the second he realizes just how bad a state I am in, he’d rush over, he’d call for a pack doctor. “F-fath—” “Shut up,” the guard scoffs, now in my room, tossin
KAMILA’S POVThe second I settle on my resolve is the second she pops my shoulder back into place, taking me off guard and drawing a louder groan from my lips. "There, all better," she announces with glee, and now I’m furious. I glare at her; I hate her now. I make sure she knows how much I hate her, how disgusted I am by her, with my eyes, glaring at her as if she’s nothing but filth, not even worthy of touching me. Yet her smile never fades. Instead, she pats my head softly, pulling away to get my soup.I don't want to eat; I turn my face away once her soup-filled spoon reaches my lips, showing my revolt, until the sweet smell hits my nose. It's the soup I loved as a girl, chicken soup made with just carrots. The smell permeates my nose, breaking through my well-constructed wall of defiance and reminding me how hungry I am. I struggle with it until I give in, opening my mouth to take the soup, and the burst of flavors fills me with warmth and nostalgia, all from chil
ARTEMIS’ POVThe doors to my cell finally pull open after days of confinement for my misdeeds: standing up against the imperial council, defying the king's orders, and of course, daring to use my Alpha dominance against the king himself, forcing him to his knees. I suppose if it were anyone else, they'd be locked up in confinement for the rest of their lives. But because of who I am and the blood we share, it would be impossible to keep me inside for long. Or perhaps he knows that flimsy door wouldn’t be able to contain me for long, and if perhaps the third day had come, I'd have forced my way out of here one way or another. He knows what I am capable of now, especially when it comes to my mate. In an attempt to save face and secure his throne, knowing no one else could possibly rule, he has to comply, only a bit. Cowards… all of them.But it’s pointless if it means having Sera remain in confinement, wherever the hell they're keeping her. And I know none of the bastards ar
ARTEMIS’ POV My search for Seraphina has brought me back home, the last place I want to be right now. Standing just outside the large doors of my home, I knock on the thick wood, stepping back and waiting for a response while taking calming deep breaths. If I want my father's cooperation, I need to remain calm and reasonable, giving him no reason not to tell me where he has her. That, or I could threaten it out of him. I don’t want to be forced to, but damn it, if it came to using threats against my own father, I would, just to find her and get her to safety. It takes a few seconds before the doors open, and I’m grateful it's fast enough before I'm tempted to tear it down myself. The butler stands in my way, his eyes widening the moment he recognizes me, and he takes a quick bow. I walk right past him. "Where is father?" I ask, walking briskly. I haven’t been home since the last time Seraphina was here. Her very brief presence here has somehow changed the way I view the entiret
SERAPHINA’S POVKamila hasn’t shown her face, not after being brutalized by her father and revealing her greatest weakness to me. Instead, he sends his goons to take countless syringes of blood for his 'experiments,' ensuring I'm fed enough to produce more for him afterward. And while I’m appalled by whatever the bastard is planning to do with that much blood, my mind drifts to thoughts of Kamila. I doubt I’ll ever understand it, but it was clear as day that she wasn’t loved by a man so vile enough to beat his daughter like dough while she looks like a sick and shriveled piece of carrot.Though I’m in no position to pretend to understand what she’s been through, in some way it explains her maniacal obsession with Artemis, and how the end of their mate bond has pushed her sanity to its brink. I fear for her… and hope that if this truly is the end for me, she’d find a bit of peace she hoped for. Look at me, scared for the girl who put me through so much and turned my friends
SERAPHINA’S POVThe place where our connection rests, close to my heart, turns ice cold instantly, and pain suddenly ripples through every bit of my body. I scream in agony, falling forward and onto my knees, trembling from pain that melts everything in my body yet freezes my heart into hard ice, coughing and wheezing for air while vomiting nothing but bile from my stomach. It hurts horribly, feeling something die so gruesomely from within me… until it doesn’t, and then I feel nothing… I don’t feel the mate bond. I don’t feel Artemis. I only feel a void so deep, so devastatingly dark and endless, swirling inside me.“You feel it, don’t you?” Gideon asks, standing over me, staring down with contempt. “…you feel what it is to lose your mate.” Nothing he’s saying makes sense, even while my world spins. I look at Artemis again, not moving. Why isn’t he moving…? This can’t be the end. Isn’t there some kind of werewolf thing that can mend his heart back?Artemis can’t be
ARTEMIS’ POVI'm floating in an abyss of nothingness, my consciousness no more than a stranded soul with nowhere to go and no place to return to, my existence but a distant memory of who and what I was, what I was fighting for. I feel and see nothing except the heavy feeling of regret and loss, like a dark hole inside me that only seems to grow with every moment. I don't remember anything except a desire to fight, to protect something precious, and a single promise to someone I loved.A light appears in front of me, beckoning my spirit to draw closer, to rest and let go of all my worries, of every single one of my desires, and to find peace. The light, emanating nothing but peace and happiness, something I've yearned for more than anything, engulfs me whole as I reach for it, shining as bright as the sun. Blinded by it, I close my eyes until it subsides, and when my eyes open again, a new presence stands in front of me, a woman adorned in white light as if a garment, her eye
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