ARTEMIS’ POVSera walks away from me without turning to look back - not even once.I smash my fist into the wall just to let go of some of my anger, but it’s still not enough; just like how nothing I do is never enough.I break my back, and yet all I get are glares and constant complaints. Hell, I haven’t even done this much for Kamila, and she still thinks I’m selfish.I walk back to where I came from earlier- an empty classroom not presently in use.Entering, Ace looks up at me with a bored expression as always. On the other side is Jasper, leaning over a beaten up and bruised Morgan, tied up and tossed in a corner.I only managed to hold back temper by a thin leash while Sera was there, so I could maintain the image I’m trying to build up with her.The soft, gentle, kind Artemis.But the second the bastard grabbed her, I lost it and everything just went blank from there. I still don’t know why.“How’s it going?” I ask, resting against a bench.“He’s as stubborn as a brick wall, Art
ARTEMIS’ POVI’m sure as hell that he’s hellbent on making me look bad in front of my father, because there’s no possible way everything in the folder in front of him is part of his report.“Lucian, why don’t you go first since you’re the only one here that seems to understand the importance of these meetings?” There’s an obvious shade in the statement and a sting that comes from it, but I remain silent.I've had years to grow accustomed to it, after all. Since I was twelve years old, Father introduced the blonde-haired, silver-eyed boy to take my place. Years of being treated as nothing more than a means to an end, not a son.Just like that, everything I never received from my father was handed to Lucian without him even needing to ask for it. Things I never got, even when I begged for them.And of course, although he didn't make it so obvious that he preferred the son of a dead man over me, I felt it. With every subtle comparison and critic that came from him, I felt it and learned
SERAPHINA’S POVI have stayed up all through the night, reading my mysterious red book all about the Astria tribe, learning more about a bit of their culture - but it’s still not enough.The knowledge I am able to amass from this book is limited, scrapping just the surface. I can’t quite place my finger on it, but I know for a fact that there’s more to it.My heart pounds faster, and I just know it in my heart that there’s so much that I need to know, more to disprove the rumors about them being evil witches that ate hearts.None of that was in this book, proving the fact that it’s all just bullshit conspiracies made by wolves just to make the history of their Wolfdom sound more noble. But I can smell some serious bullshit going on.The only issue is that I’m just about done with it, and there’s no other info on it I can find. Everything else on the Astria tribe in the school library is the rewritten version of how they were the villains and the wolves were the victims for centuries.
SERAPHINA’S POVI stare at him silently, doubting everything I’ve heard before I decide to carefully place the tray on the counter in front of me and turning to him again.He raises his hand in defense, suddenly anticipating an attack from me.“I know what you’re thinking, okay? What’s my intention? Am I working for the enemy? Or rather, how dare I show my face to you after what I did last time?”I scowl bitterly, old feelings of anger and hurt resurface and bite down hard on my heart. “Oh, you have no idea.” My voice is cold as ice, my gaze locked onto his. If looks could kill, my dear friend, Gabe, would be absolutely dead.He seems to shrink under the intensity of my stare, his eyes flickering with regret and shame. "Look, Sera, I messed up, okay? Big time. I hurt you, and I hate myself for it. I’ve wanted to do this for weeks, but as always, I’ve been a coward. I was a fool to underestimate that a human girl like you could make a difference – I was wrong, so very wrong. You have
SERAPHINA’S POVMy eyes are definitely playing tricks on me. Yeah, most definitely.I’m sure I was back at school selling cookies to get some funds for my campaign, right?Yet, somehow, I’ve been transported to what seems like older times, in the midst of huts on fire, and the strong stench of blood, smoke, and death around me.Then there’s the large, black wolf standing in front of me with blood-red eyes that seem to almost glare. Fear cripples me and freezes me in place, and I’m unable to let out a sound or run away.It slowly draws closer, a menacing aura that even I, a human, can feel. It oozes off the beast that I know for sure is a werewolf and a higher ranking one definitely.His presence is almost as powerful as Artemis’. Almost as superior as the Alpha King’s.He growls now, baring his blood-soaked teeth with chunks of raw flesh hooked between them at me. My heart drops instantly. Unable to scream or run, I brace myself, getting ready to be ripped apart by its jaws.“Sera!”
SERAPHINA’S POVIn the blink of an eye, it’s already Tuesday and the events of Saturday seem to have passed over my head like a fading dream, and once again, I’m thrown deep into school work.The funds have already been submitted to the Administrator’s secretary, and all thoughts about the election wash to the back of my mind until the next event.Now, presently, in the middle of Art class, I let myself get absorbed into my latest art work, dipping my paint brush into the palette and making never ending strokes in corners that call out to me.At the beginning, I'm not quite sure what I'm creating. It takes about 20 minutes of painting in the vivid red eyes before I realize what it truly is.The wolf from my visionNo matter how hard I try to put it behind me, pass it off as just a random flash, the harder it gets for me. Then, there’s the incessant nagging at the back of my mind, telling me that, somehow, it has something to do with the first Alpha King and the Astria tribe. I know i
SERAPHINA’S POVI guess years of dealing with the most conniving and ruthless individuals, both human and wolves, due to my circumstances, I’ve gotten considerably good at spotting someone being blackmailed.She almost begins sobbing again until she takes another deep breath to calm herself.“I can’t say.” She shakes her head.“Why?”She says nothing. No response.Okay, different approach then.“How did you find my phone?”“It came with an envelope with written instructions on what to do the day after our cookie sale. They said if I didn’t follow through, they’d hurt my father’s business. I couldn’t let that happen, or risk it. He’s already struggling so much, coupled with his bad back.” She begins sobbing again while she goes on about how bad her family has it.Apparently, they have a farm that used to be pretty big until her father got sick. I pat her back over and over again while she recounts her story, comforting her until she feels better again and her wailing ceases.When she
SERAPHINA’S POVFive of the feral beasts close in on us slowly; each of them baring their fangs aggressively.I suck in a breath now, feeling fear crippling me on the spot. Even if I’m not part wolf, I feel the animosity oozing off each of them directed at us. I’m stunned, just as I always am when I’m reminded by the fact that this school really is filled with wolves, and it’s not just a name they call themselves.I've seen their beast-like reactions, with the occasional half-transformation here and there, but I rarely ever get to see the fully formed wolves themselves. They tower above like monstrous creatures, dwarfing any regular dog or wolf breed, nearly matching my own height even when they're on all fours.“Stand back.” Kamila speaks now after getting up and dusting herself.In just seconds, her composure shifts back to the usual high-nosed, classy bitch, exuding authority not just in her words but also in her stance – down to the bored expression she wears now.The confidence