SERAPHINA’S POV"Hey.”"Hey," I respond nervously, finding it hard to look into his eyes. When I finally do manage, I can't hold his gaze for long before looking away again.I curse Kamila over and over for having this conversation on school premises. Now I have to face him with so many inappropriate thoughts dancing around in my head. At this point, I’m scared that he might hear them."How are you feeling?" The tone of his voice comes out nervously, and I can immediately hear the weight of guilt hanging on it.His question quickly reminds me of what transpired earlier and why I'm in here in the first place. Suddenly, the discussion with Kamila becomes a distant memory compared to my most recent trauma.Flashes of my encounter with Ace flood my mind. The way he roughly held me down, forced his lips on mine, and stole my first kiss in the worst way possible. It's not something I can easily forget by simply sleeping it off or focusing my attention elsewhere. I can still feel the impr
ARTEMIS’ POV"You can't possibly do this to me!" she screams, tears pooling at the corners of her eyes, each droplet an arrow to my already-fractured heart.I watch the vibrant spark in her eyes flicker and dim, extinguishing right before me. The sight is a dagger to my soul, a pain I never thought I'd have to endure. Yet I take it, absorbing all the bitterness, the venomous resentment filling her gaze, every conceivable negative emotion she can conjure. I soak it all in, because for whatever it’s worth, I would do everything within my power to keep Sera right by my side – I’d extend our time for an eternity if I could.I'm fully aware that holding her back, tying her down to me, is the exact opposite of what I should do. She's made her desire for distance abundantly clear, her absence during those agonizing days of my recovery tells me that much. The logical part of me knows I should let her go, let this be the ending she clearly seeks. But another part of me rebels at the though
SERAPHINA’S POV"Here you go," Olivia says, handing me a mug filled with what appears to be hot chocolate. This comes just minutes after she's enveloped me in the thickest duvet she could find. She arrived unexpectedly an hour before school ended, her face etched with concern after getting wind of what happened.Initially, I thought Artemis wanted to keep the incident under wraps. But Olivia informs me that it's Jasper who filled her in. Since that revelation, she's been thoroughly focused on making me feel better. Her efforts are not just welcomed, but deeply needed.This feeling of being cared for is a sharp contrast to any conversation I could have with Artemis right now. He undermined my trust by continuing the contract behind my back. So much for his façade of friendship and his supposed sweetness.Genuine friends don’t do that to each other – they don’t play the power card and keep a ‘master and slave’ contract.Yet, the heat from his lips lingers on mine. The sensation impr
SERAPHINA’S POVThe day after the freakish incident, Olivia and I silently decide not to discuss it. I'm grateful for that. Addressing it would mean facing whatever is awakening inside me. These strange occurrences only make me feel like I'm genuinely a magnet for disaster. I mean, think about it. What else would explain what I did to Olivia?Suddenly, I, a mere human girl, powerful enough to send a werewolf soaring across a room during one of my episodes. And then there's that mysterious woman who kissed my forehead. I have this nagging feeling that I know her, and uncovering her identity might help with my ongoing identity crisis. These thoughts keep my mind occupied for the most part until I step out of the female dorm, bag in tow, to see Artemis leaning against a wall, deep in thought. Other girls walk by, stealing glances at him in adoration, but he pays them no mind, absorbed in his thoughts.The moment I shut the dorm doors, he looks up, as if sensing me. Our eyes lock bri
SERAPHINA’S POVThe garden is one of the most marvelous places in school I’ve realized. Its almost ethereal beauty is one of the reasons I seldom hang out here during school hours. I know it could easily distract me from reading. Moreover, given the chaos of my life, resting under tree shades and appreciating the delicate dance of blossoms just seemed out of place.However, when my eyes land on Kamila, everything changes. She's meditating beneath an ivory tree with captivating ombré leaves, appearing like an angel nestled in nature. I find myself wondering: Why isn't Artemis head over heels for Kamila? She's dangerously alluring, possessing a beauty that's both otherworldly and powerfully intense.This thought brings a flutter of insecurity, compelling me to compare myself to her involuntarily. The truth hits me hard; I could never match her elegance and poise, not even in a hundred lifetimes.I approach her, and as I pause by her side, she graces me with a sly, knowing smile — al
SERAPHINA’S POVI nervously check over my outfit for the night again, obsessing over the low-rise neckline and debating if showcasing a hint of cleavage might come across as too forward. Cleavage or not? The dress I've chosen is the shortest one I own, ending at mid-thigh, and its spaghetti straps make me feel exposed. He's expected any moment now, and after endless pleas and apologies, I managed to persuade Olivia to vacate the room. The anxiety intensifies with each passing second, and my palms grow clammy. Staring at my reflection, dressed to impress, specifically to seduce, the gravity of the situation dawns on me, making it all even crazier.Soon, a knock from the balcony door jerks me out of my thoughts, anchoring me back to the present. Taking a deep breath, I turn towards the door, attempting to swallow the nervous lump in my throat.He’s here.I take several deep breaths, each more deliberate than the last, before approaching the door and pulling it open. Artemis stands
SERAPHINA’S POVIt feels nothing like the first time his lips touched mine. Nothing like the sudden, explorative kiss from before. Instead, it’s deep, passionate, wild, and hot. His lips take mine, hungrily devouring every square inch until his tongue pushes through for access. I grant him entrance, casting aside every inhibition.I gasp, tasting him for the very first time. I press further, driven by wanton desire, an undeniable urgency, and let out a sound from the depths of my throat, a primal and raw moan — a sound I never imagined I could make. This seems to be an invitation for him; the perfect fuel to this burning fire.Swiftly, he shifts me, setting me onto his lap in a straddle, and with surprising ease.Suddenly, he pulls back, leaving my lips cold and wanting. Before I can voice my yearning, a soft frown forming on my face, he's trailing fiery kisses down my neck, his teeth lightly scraping my skin, sending delicious shivers of anticipation down my spine.The sensation
SERAPHINA’S POV‘He’s a monster!’The voices – No, my thoughts scream at me. A wave of anxiety hits, and all that cloud nine rush fizzles away, replaced by dread that settles in the pit of my gut. Crippling fear takes over, and I kick him off me before he can get any closer or touch me any further. Before his filth can further taint my skin."Get off me!" I scream, breathing hard. Pulling myself up to a sitting position, I fold my legs protectively around myself. He looks at me with wicked eyes, tilting his head to the side."Sera?" His voice is calm and confused, contrasting sharply with the distorted mania evident in his swirling red eyes that seem to want to devour me‘He hates us.’He approaches, ignoring my whimpers and pleas, taking my hand gently and cradling the side of my face. Fear courses through me, urging me to flee, to escape his grasp before he can inflict any more pain, before the point of no return.‘End him.’A surge of vengeful rage takes over me as he leans ov