SERAPHINA'S POV
I feel my consciousness jolt back into my body with a sudden start, and I sit up too fast, breathing hard and feeling sweat dripping down my back.
I just had a nightmare, the details vague but the symptoms clear: the lingering fear clouding my thoughts, the pounding in my chest, and the rushed breathing that always accompanies nightmares.
My panicking eyes search desperately around me, fearing I might still be reliving the moment.
Then, I see Artemis crouching over me, holding my arms while searching my face with equal desperation.
"Are you okay?" he asks, gripping my arm until my eyes focus fully on his face.
Worry etches into his features, creasing his brows, and he's breathing just as hard. I can hear his heart pulsing as fast as mine, a shared reaction from our bond.
I can sense his frantic thoughts, trying to figure out what's wrong with me.
In a way, his touch helps my mind relax, reminding me where I am and who I'm with. Once I'm settled, I can breathe again, patting my pounding chest.
"Just had a weird dream," I say, shaking my head as I recall the vague bits I remember.
A foreboding feeling lingers, but the events don't stick in my mind.
All I really recall is that it had something to do with my parents, people I hadn't thought about for so many years, with faces I can't even remember.
All I know is my mother had golden blonde hair, like threads woven from the sun.
I shake off the feeling again, deciding not to dwell on it, and look at Artemis more clearly. I notice the smell of soap, his damp hair, the new shirt he's wearing, and the half-knotted tie hanging around his neck.
"Are you going somewhere?" I ask, eyeing his outfit.
Unlike me, disheveled and scattered, he looks expertly neat and freshly washed.
It's sexy.
"Yeah..." he drawls, a cryptic expression spreading across his face. "I received word from my father. There's an emergency board meeting downstairs in the conference room, and since father is busy, he's left it in my care."
Emergency meeting? I doubt it. Something tells me it's anything but an emergency, if anything, we're finally getting a glimpse at the real intentions behind this supposed 'honeymoon' trip.
He chuckles bitterly, his eyes focused elsewhere.
"It's kind of a shocker, really. That man has never really involved me in any of his work, labeling me as his wayward son for so long." I can hear the pain in his voice, the years of mockery from his father.
I touch his hand, placing it on mine to offer some support, and he looks at me with relieved eyes once I touch him.
"What's the emergency about?"
"It's mostly a land dispute between humans and wolf-kind. Something father has been unable to handle for a while. The order was to entertain them until time flies. Essentially, he wants me to serve as a decoy and not do anything to worsen the situation."
He scoffs in annoyance, a sentiment I share.
"Can I come too?" I lean in, brimming with excitement at the chance to witness a real political meeting, the kind that shapes our society.
I plead with my eyes, half-expecting some reluctance, but he smiles warmly, leaning in to drop a kiss on my forehead.
"Of course you can. I just thought you might be tired after everything, but I'd like for you to be there," he says in a low, hushed voice that stirs so many things in the pit of my gut.
Forced to look away and hide my flushed face, I try to shake off the naughty thoughts crowding my mind. When they persist, I throw the covers off and dash for the bathroom.
"I'll get ready in a sec," I yell back, not daring to glance his way.
It takes more than a second, though. Washing up and sliding into one of the many outfits prepared for me in my personal walk-in closet, I settle on something formal to match his look: a white t-shirt, a cream blazer, and matching cream pants, my hair pulled back into a bun with simple jewelry.
"How do I look?" I ask, giving him a full spin.
He frowns slightly at the fit.
"A little too eye-catching, don't you think?"
"Please... even in a potato sack, you'd still want more layers," I retort.
"It's your fault, isn't it? You're too much of a catch," he replies, looking genuinely concerned.
Rolling my eyes, I ignore his comment and walk towards the conference room, where the butler, patiently waiting at the door, leads us.
I'm captivated by the paintings on the walls as we follow the butler, Artemis close behind me. Maids passing by pause to bow, a gesture still foreign to me. I don't know if I'd ever get used to it.
And then there's the subtle yet unmistakable hostility.
Though they bow, they lift their eyes to look at me, showing a bit of their animosity, solely directed at me - a racial animosity reminding me of early days at school.
Before anyone knew who I was, they hated me for not being like them, a wolf.
I recoil slightly, leaning closer to Artemis, who squeezes my hand, seemingly oblivious to the tension.
I choose not to comment on it, especially with a meeting ahead.
We stop at the door.
"They are waiting on the other side, Your Highness," the butler announces.
"You ready?" Artemis turns to me.
I pause, taking a deep breath, staring at the tall, dark brown mahogany doors with palms that have suddenly grown sweaty, and nod.
As the doors are pulled open, we're greeted by a peculiar sight.
Older men, all formally dressed, are engaged in a heated argument, their gestures animated. The room is clearly divided by race: to the left, tall wolves, and to the right, smaller-statured humans, each side glaring at the other with clear animosity.
I'm startled by the scene, pausing at the door until Artemis's gentle tug pulls me forward.
"The audacity of you vermin to speak against us! Be thankful we've shown restraint in not erasing your existence already," one from the wolves' side bellows.
"I'd like to see you try. A silver bullet would be all we need to cleanse the earth of you barbaric beasts in human skin!" the shorter man with a bald head yells back fervently, undeterred by the difference in height and stature.
From the far back, I notice one person not yelling.
Instead, he's sitting patiently, watching everything unfold. His bright, vibrant red hair and ocean blue eyes strongly remind me of someone I know, but I can't quite put my finger on it.
Our eyes meet, and he smiles widely in my direction - so wide that I'm creeped out.
I quickly look away, rubbing the goosebumps on my skin.
The butler clears his throat amidst the argument, attempting to draw attention and signal that Artemis and I have entered. I presume they're supposed to quiet down in the presence of royalty, but they don't.
Not a single one pauses, a clear show of disrespect to the person standing right in front of them.
My nerves are pricked.
"May I have your attention?" he speaks up again, trying to maintain his calm demeanor.
Yet again, it doesn't work.
"Hey!" I yell, my voice rising above everyone else's.
My shout is loud enough to pull them away from their petty arguments, drawing their eyes towards the three of us. Each pair of eyes is more shocked and perplexed than the last.
Finally, we're noticed.
But the looks on their faces are anything but welcoming.
The first wolf raises a displeased brow, staring me down as though a beggar has walked blatantly into the room.
"This is an official meeting, Your Highness. I believe something of this importance shouldn't be open for just anybody to waltz in as they please," he speaks to Artemis, referring to me as if I'm not standing right in front of him.
"I believe a kitchen would be more suitable for her while the meeting begins," another adds, prompting laughter from his group.
Again, my blood boils over.
The fact that they speak so casually about me, knowing full well Artemis had walked in, is infuriating.
It's obvious they hold no respect for him, viewing him as some sort of black-sheep, wayward prince not even worth a glance or an ounce of their reverence - because he isn't their King.
I take a step forward, ready to give them a piece of my mind, but Artemis steps in before I can.
"Alpha Rivan," he begins, addressing the man in a low tone that immediately sends chills down my spine.
The room quickly turns cold with the sudden shift in intensity.
"It seems your graying hair and advanced age have clearly been a waste. It's a shame that a man of your years flourishes quite abundantly in stupidity," he says, his blue eyes growing dangerously dark, his smile anything but pleased.
"Seraphina is my mate - fated and chosen. Therefore, any disrespect toward her is a direct challenge to my authority. Let those who dare question her right to stand by my side speak now, but be fully aware of the consequences. Cross this line, and you face me in all my fury. I dare you."
With that warning, the room falls silent.
None of the snarky fools dare say anything else, leaving me both impressed and speechless.
He looks down at me, his expression shifting to a smile warmer than any he's shown them, offering his hand to me.
This complete change in his demeanor leaves me stunned, confused, yet pleased that he isn't too affected by their attitudes.
"Are you okay?" he whispers to me, his eyes searching mine, desperately gauging whether we should continue.
My heart swells at his concern, and it takes all my restraint not to lean in and kiss him right then and there.
But we have a meeting to oversee and a conflict to resolve.