SERAPHINA'S POV
Artemis offers his hand to me in front of everyone, and I take it. We're guided towards the other end of the table where the Alpha King himself sits.
However, there's just one chair for the two of us.
I scan for a free one, intending to drag it over, but before I can, Artemis sits down and pulls me onto his lap, ass first, under the leering gaze of a dozen pairs of eyes.
I tense up, trying to get off, but he firmly holds me in place, making it clear I'm not going anywhere.
Whispers and mutterings about us start to fill the room, but Artemis remains unfazed, his expression stoic.
Once we're settled, a man from the wolf delegation stands, clearing his throat to speak.
"Greetings to His Majesty's proxy, Prince Artemis, and..." He pauses, glancing briefly at me, "...Miss Seraphina."
His eyes quickly shift back to Artemis, his smile returning as the group offers a unified but reserved greeting, slightly bowing their heads while seated.
"Actually, today's discussion is one that we've held for the past few months in your father's presence. One the King himself has had trouble resolving. Perhaps if he will not be joining us, we could reconvene at a more opportune time when he is available to have us-"
"Relay it to me," Artemis interjects, cutting off the suggestion to postpone the meeting.
The council members exchange looks, their reluctance and dissatisfaction evident.
"Well, you see..." the delegate starts, but he's abruptly cut off.
"We want our land back, which you damn wolves won't give us!" a human member stands up, his face contorted with anger.
"Your land?" a wolf retorts, slamming his fist on the table. "Silence! That land was offered to us in a contract with your people."
Arguments break out again, loud and heated.
I'm almost disgusted by the sight. These are the people responsible for major decisions, yet they behave like selfish, prideful children incapable of civil discussion.
"Enough," Artemis commands with a firm tone that instantly quiets the room. His gaze sweeps over the assembly, piercing and authoritative. It comes from a place that I assume is inborn to every Alpha - a place where that leadership instinct shines through.
"Look at yourselves - men of caliber, alphas, and representatives of high-ranking families," Artemis's voice cuts across the room, his tone laced with sternness. "Yet here you are, reducing yourselves to the level of bickering children, sullying the very legacy you claim to uphold. Is this the dignified conduct befitting your esteemed positions?"
He rubs at his temples, visibly stressed, and I gently rub circles on his hand, offering my support. He passes a small smile my way before focusing on the men.
Clearing his throat to regain their full attention, Artemis continues with a firm but controlled tone, "Now, I ask once more, can someone please explain the details of this issue to me, without resorting to conflict?"
Alpha Rivan stands, his posture dripping with arrogance.
He takes a small bow and forces a smile, as if his earlier disrespect could be easily forgotten.
"You see, Your Highness, the land in question has a mine rich in minerals - special gems that have proven resourceful to our kind. It was originally gifted to us by humans over centuries ago, by their ancestors. For years, we've been mining it, but recently, they've claimed to want it back, breaching the contracts. And because we disagreed, they resorted to attacking workers."
"Human slaves, Your Highness," someone interjects.
"Paid workers," Rivan corrects them, sneering at the man with the bald patch who dared to speak up.
His demeanor suggests he's concealing something, trying to silence the opposition. I notice the wolves dominating the discussion, their subtle tactics aimed at keeping their adversaries' voices subdued.
"If I may speak, what is your side of the story?" I ask the human male in the corner, and all eyes swiftly move towards my direction all at once.
I immediately feel their animosity directed at me. The wolves in the room seem eager to shut me up with their stares.
"Pardon me, miss, but this meeting is for officials only. I believe your opinions are not required at the table," Alpha Rivan speaks with a frown, backed by about 70 percent of those present.
I feel a momentary recoil of self-doubt under their scrutiny, even the silent red-head alpha at the back, piercing me with a soul-searching gaze, trying to dig out my weakness.
But then Artemis leans in, his brow arching in a silent challenge. His voice, cool and controlled cuts through the tension.
"I believe the purpose of this meeting is to present issues to the King for resolution, correct?"
Rivan manages a nod. "Yes, Your Highness."
Artemis' gaze hardens. "And as today's appointed proxy for the King, I hold complete authority in this council, don't I?"
Rivan's face drains of color, his Adam's apple bobbing visibly as he struggles to swallow his pride.
With a voice barely above a whisper, he concedes, "Yes, Your Highness."
"Excellent." Artemis's tone is both triumphant and dismissive, as he turns to me. "Sera, I'd like to hear what you have to say."
I look at him nervously, but his eyes encourage me to speak my mind, regardless of what I have to say.
Feeling reassured and empowered by his gaze and the silent support he offers, I take a deep breath.
"Well, the wolves have offered their side of the story, but we also need to hear from the humans. We're trying to move into a more peaceful era with them, and I think what they have to say should hold importance as well."
"I think you're right," Artemis agrees, his gaze shifting back to Rivan.
Rivan's face turns pale, and he bites his lower lip, sitting down. Meanwhile, the bald human male, Peter Franklin, stands up, a hopeful expression on his face.
"Thank you, Your Highness," he says, bowing deeply to a 90-degree angle. "If I might add, there was an agreement, but they breached it first. It stated that the original family would receive a 10 percent share in the sales from the mining. However, we haven't received any payments for the past eight months, so we've requested our lands back."
As Peter finishes, chaos erupts among the groups. There's mumbling and whispering, each man glaring at the previous speaker with rage.
I meet Rivan's angry gaze head-on. "It seems only fair that you respect their wishes, seeing as you're the cause of this breach."
"That's nonsense!" Rivan exclaims. "That's a clause from a decades-old contract. You can't expect me to keep paying them years later when they haven't lifted a finger!"
Artemis turns his attention to Rivan, a small, calculated smile playing on his lips.
"Alpha Rivan, do we not have a centuries-old commitment to serve the royal family, as drafted by our ancestors?"
Rivan hesitates. "Yes..."
"Then why remain loyal to the crown, if such old commitments are invalid? Why does each Alpha generation represent Direstone Pack every 30 years?"
Rivan is speechless.
"Isn't upholding such deals and promises what makes us wolves proud and orderly, distinguishing us from other, lawless races?" Artemis presses.
"I agree, Your Majesty," Rivan says begrudgingly, and the table slowly quiets.
A sense of pride swells in my chest.
Artemis continues, "Therefore, I believe Mr. Franklin deserves compensation for the eight months of missed payments."
"Your Majesty!" Rivan stands hastily, his face now pale and sickly. "Your father, the King, would oppose this. Giving humans more leverage over us..." he argues weakly.
Artemis' eyes darken, his presence dominating the room.
"Let me make one thing clear, Alpha Rivan," he says, his voice low and stern. "I am not my father. My decisions are my own. You will either compensate as agreed, or return the land to its rightful owners. That is your choice."
Rivan falls silent, not daring to speak further.
"A 50 percent compensation for a year should suffice," I suggest, a sly smile on my lips as I watch their dismay.
Peter smiles genuinely.
"Thank you, Your Highness," he says, addressing me with a title I never imagined I'd hold.
Flushing with a mix of pride and bashfulness, I feel Artemis' supportive presence beside me.
"Good. This long-standing dispute is settled. Meeting adjourned," Artemis declares, effectively closing the epilogue on this issue.