SERAPHINA'S POV
The following days breeze by too fast, and the inauguration ceremony is finally upon us.
The venue is the school's banquet hall-a space I'd forgotten we had-currently transformed to accommodate the entire school body and all the awaiting guests.
It's about to begin.
I'm about to be officially welcomed into a world I never thought could be within my reach, and in front of a thousand students and some officials, no less.
And here I am, in the girls' bathroom, staring at my reflection for more than a few seconds. Nervous.
This was supposed to be a potty break, but I can't seem to walk through those doors just yet. I take deep breaths, murmuring affirmations to my reflection.
"You deserve this. You've given so much of yourself for this. You will go out there and represent the entirety of the human race. Show them that both races aren't so different than they think."
I give myself a few more minutes, pour some water on my hands, and splash it on my face while patting my cheeks. The truth is, I'm as excited as I am scared.
And luckily for me, I'm not required to give a speech-just ascend the stage, shake hands with some old, powerful men and women, and step down.
That's what Gabe explained the day before.
I flex my shoulders as a final prep and charge for the exit door before I can change my mind.
Barging into the hallway and taking brisk steps toward the venue, I run into someone, slamming my face first into them and stumbling backward.
Luckily, it's not enough to knock me off my feet, but my nose still hurts.
"We should really stop meeting like this, Sera," he speaks up, a light airiness to his voice.
I look up and meet Lucian's silver eyes, smiling down at me.
"Lucian..." My eyes widen, not expecting to see him here. It's been a while since we last spoke or saw each other.
With me skipping class and navigating life's complications, I've missed chances to bump into him at school.
"What are you doing here?" I ask, eyeing him curiously.
My gaze falls on the bright and colorful bouquet in his hands-pink and white tulips, wrapped together in pastel pink paper.
I stare at it, stunned by its beauty, and he stretches it toward me with a nervous smile.
"These are for you?"
"What?"
"You're being acknowledged today, aren't you? I just wanted to congratulate you in some way," he smiles, almost too innocently.
I'm speechless, taken aback by his thoughtful gift that smells heavenly. When I finally find the words, they feel inadequate. I've neglected him in my quest to figure out what I am and fix things with Artemis, yet he remains a cherished friend.
"They're really beautiful, Lucian," is all I can manage to say.
He beams, like a ray of sunlight flashing across my face.
"I'm glad you like them."
Just as I'm lost in thought, footsteps approach us. Kamila rounds into the hallway, halting as her eyes fall on both of us.
Her gaze shifts slowly between me and Lucian, finally landing on the bouquet in my hands.
I immediately tense up; our last meeting was far from pleasant. Artemis described their conversation as hard and emotional, even if she ultimately chose to let him go.
My shoulders go stiff, and I'm on high alert.
I can almost feel the weight of the resentment she holds for me, as if it's a tangible thing filling the air between us.
All the progress I thought we'd made during our adventure in the woods-chip by painstaking chip-must have resurfaced as unbridled hate.
For a moment, I think she'd end me right here, right now if she could. Any action she takes, or chooses not to take, could be laced with danger.
I brace myself for the worst, but after what feels like an eternity, her icy eyes slide away from the flowers, then from us altogether. It's as if we're no longer worth her time or attention.
She treats me like I'm invisible.
As she walks away, my shoulders slump, and I let myself breathe. I hadn't even realized I'd been holding my breath.
"Well, that's weird. She didn't make her dissatisfaction known as usual," Lucian comments, eyeing the space where Kamila had just been.
It occurs to me that Lucian doesn't know the recent updates in my life-the new level of my relationship with Artemis, for one. It's a lot of details, too intricate to reveal here and now.
That's a conversation for another day.
Instead, I offer a soft smile.
"She probably has a lot on her plate recently," I say, trying to put myself in her shoes, however uncomfortable they might be.
***
The hall is massive, the largest space in the entire school, built specifically for both formal and informal ceremonies.
It's beautifully decorated with silk red fabric running from pillar to pillar. A dramatic, shimmering chandelier hangs in the center of the room, adding to its flair.
The crowd is just as massive. Every student is in attendance, their eyes on me and the five other newly appointed members of the Black Wolf School Council.
We're sitting on slightly elevated ground, clad in our ceremonial robes. It almost feels like a middle school graduation, but with a higher degree of class and a cheering section comprised of my friends.
I can see where each of them is seated: Olivia, Juliet, Alice, Gabe. Lucian stands at the back of the crowd, waving to me with a smile, while Artemis sits beside the officials, given that he's the head of the council.
The moment I meet Artemis' eyes, a smile forces its way past the residual nervousness coursing through my veins. He winks and does a silly eyebrow wiggle, eliciting a chuckle from me that I try to conceal by biting my lip.
The ceremony kicks into full throttle.
Speeches fly left and right, all focused on the honor of the Crimson Fire Wolfdom and the legacy of the wolves who came before us. It's about what excellence and determination can achieve, and it's everything I've ever wanted to be a part of.
The new candidates and I form a line, awaiting our turn to engage in the ritualistic handshakes with each of the official council members who've shown up today.
As the culmination of the ceremony, we're to receive a commemorative brooch from the Alpha prince himself, marking us as bonafide members of the Black Wolf School Council.
One by one, we proceed, making our way down the line of influential council members.
Each handshake is accompanied by exchanges of warm smiles and approving nods, sealing our newfound roles in this prestigious gathering.
When my turn arrives, anticipation surges through me.
I stretch out my hand eagerly, grabbing the arm of the council member before he can extend his own, shaking it with an excitement I can't contain.
He looks down, shocked, the moment he notices my size and smell. A look of disdain and disgust washes over his face, and he doesn't bother hiding it.
He turns away until our time of contact is over, then pulls his hand out of mine.
Each council member reacts the same way, but I refuse to let it get to me. I've been through much worse.
Their obvious dislike can't change what's happening, nor take away my new position. In time, they too would learn to respect me.
At the end of the line, I approach Artemis.
He holds up my pin, smiling from ear to ear, and leans forward to affix it through my robe.
"Congratulations, Sera the human," he whispers playfully, so only I can hear, as his breath brushes against my ear, making me blush.
The moment is perfect.
I think nothing could possibly alter this new path, until the double doors burst open, revealing Mr. Jermaine.
I haven't seen him since he visited the school to monitor my integration, back when my life here was hellish and I had far fewer allies.
He looks shaken for some reason, stiff and tense, as he loudly announces, "Presenting His Highness, Alpha King Silvan Sinclair, ruler and sovereign of the Crimson Fire Pack."
The crowd descends into chaos, buzzing with mutters and whispers. Everyone is shocked. The Alpha King hasn't attended any of the inauguration ceremonies in ten years, always sending a representative in his stead.
I glance at Artemis, curious if he knew his father would make an unannounced appearance.
What I see shocks me: his blue eyes are wide, more from terror than surprise. Perspiration gathers on his forehead, his breath turns labored, and his hands clench into fists at his sides.
Clearly, he's as in the dark as the rest of us, and what's worse, he seems terrified.
"Artemis?" I murmur, but he remains silent, his attention fixed on the slowly opening doors.