SERAPHINA'S POV
Since the Gabe accident, I resigned myself to laying low in school as best as I possibly can even while I'm still a target to everyone.
I hang my head low while walking into chemistry class especially.
The dread of having to walk into this same class taunts me and while I stare at the empty space beside me, the very spot Gabe used to occupy, I feel sick to my stomach.
A gentle sense of disdain and hatred slowly bubbles within my chest as the void just slowly grows deeper and deeper. Sometimes, I just wish I could burn this whole school to the ground. Burn it till their corpse lay waste for vultures to feed on.
The spit ball that crashes into my face next reels me out of my depressing thoughts and to the boys far ahead of class, quietly laughing at their good aim.
It reminds me again of the two-timing bastard, Gabe, who had offered his hanky to me like a prince in shining armor, and myself, who foolishly fell for one of Artemis' schemes.
I don't even bother paying attention in class again, just waiting for the day to end as always.
Just as the bell rings and everyone else pours into the hallway, I step out, dreading to make it to the next impossible class before a ding echoes from the school speakers and the Administrator's snobby voice echoes from it.
"Miss Hawthrone, please report to my office."
After the brief message, the receiver goes off.
Dread sinks into my gut again simply for being called back there because I know for a fact that he doesn't like me.
Possibly Artemis has hatched another scheme against me, reporting me to the Administrator when I haven't done anything.
"Ha! I bet the human's in trouble. Probably about to get expelled." A group of girls mutter while walking past me and giggling.
Yes, he probably wants to finally get rid of me, but would it really be so bad? I'd never have to see Artemis... but then, Miss Lucy would be let down and I'd prove to the entire pack that wolves and humans can't mix.
Whatever it is, I don't waste more of my time trying to figure it out. Instead, I walk to the office to find out.
I push the door open, taking a peek before fully walking in and closing it behind me. The first thing I notice is the middle-aged man I haven't seen before standing in the middle of the room and talking to the administrator.
Is he the driver that's here to take me home?
He's too well dressed to be a driver though.
"Ah, she's here." The Administrator points out the second he notices me to his visitor.
The man turns to look at me, which involves him tilting his head downward to observe me from head to toe in a very obvious and awkward manner.
Suddenly, I feel like some kind of experiment on display to him.
"I see you're the human selected by the Alpha king."
"Yes, I am."
The moment I speak, I realize I shouldn't have, or he'd have preferred I didn't.
There's an immediate repulsive look he masks with professionalism before he looks away from me and back down to the note in his hands.
"I will introduce myself to you, Miss Hawthrone." He begins.
"I am Mr. Jermaine, an official supervisor and a representative of the Alpha King in this human integration program. I'm here to observe how well you've integrated into the system to aid research on our project." He explains.
I'm more intrigued in the part that the Alpha king has sent him to find out if I'm okay. There's an immediate gush of warmth from my chest, spreading to everywhere else in my body from his words.
Hearing someone cares while being stuck in this hell hole is more than just a gift.
There's no bloody way a man like himself ever birthed Artemis.
"Does this mean I get to report every single detail of my life since coming here?"
"Essentially."
"I'd advise you don't take every single one of her words to heart, Mr. Jermaine. My own observation as a teacher, I can already tell that she's one hell of a trouble maker." The Administrator adds his own unsolicited advice.
Of course, he'd disagree with this, especially to save his own bigot self and the rest of the students in this goddamn hateful school.
"Well, before I begin, I'd need the presence of-""
A knock interrupts his words mid-speech and the light in his eyes spark up just like that.
"Oh, it must be the Alpha prince and his Beta."
"What?" I'm taken aback by the revelation.
What does any of this have to do with Artemis? Why does he have to be here?
While the Administrator moves to open the door, I look to Mr. Jermaine.
"I thought it was an official interview involving just you and me?"
"Yes, but the Alpha king personally requested the presence of his son, prince Artemis, to oversee the program while I'm here, and it's always proper that an Alpha be escorted by his Beta in such official events." He explains the logic of it, but I'm still not convinced as to why Artemis has to be here.
He's the main reason my life is hell here and now, he has to supervise while I 'comfortably' pour out my heart as to if at all I'm comfortable in this school.
Hell no.
Artemis walks in with a whole ass fucking innocent smile plastered on his face, the same kind he had deceived me with on my first day, but it won't work this time, not when I've seen his true colors.
The moment out eyes meet, I glare at him, letting him know that it's not going to end well for him but he smiles at me, like fucking smiles.
"Mr. Jermaine, lovely seeing you after such a long time."
"Artemis, my boy, you've grown up perfectly." The two men greet each other, shaking hands among themselves and laughing friendly, almost forgetting that I'm here.
"How is my father?"
"Well, he's how he always is, busying himself with pack affairs but he hopes to hear good things from you today, Miss Seraphina. So, this project solely relies on you."
Three pair of eyes suddenly turn in my direction almost immediately, the weight of their stares suddenly weighing heavily on me with different interpretations from each of them.
I can easily tell that they're all saying 'don't fuck this up' and none of them are truly on my side.
I gulp, feeling too pressured to take in air as easily as I'd do normally, feeling suffocated and unable to say a single word.
"Seraphina seems to be tensed, as anyone would be if placed under this much pressure." Artemis comments, drawing both eyes back to him.
"She is a human after all." Mr. Jermaine adds, attributing my reaction to my roots. How does that have to do with anything?
"I would like to help her calm down a bit. I can understand what having this kind of responsibility on her shoulder would feel like." He pushes, stepping closer to place a firm hand on my shoulder.
I grow tensed, immediately feeling like the walls are closing in on me. I can't act or say anything, knowing he's right next to me.
"You're too kind for your own good, Artemis." They praise him once more, not being fully aware of his true attention.
He nods with a wide grin, grabbing my arm and tugging me towards the door.
Even with how cold it is in here, I'd rather remain inside than to step outside with Artemis, but I don't have a choice in this. His grip tightens on my arm and I follow him obediently until we're outside and the door closes behind us.
Suddenly, he turns the force of his hateful glare to me. They're as poisonous as they're tempting.
"Listen up. You better not say shit to him while he's here." He spits venomously.
"Hmm, what kind of shit could I possibly say to your dad's representative?" My voice drips of innocence and sweet sarcasm just because I hate looking at his face and he annoys me so much for no reason.
He growls at me like a beast, warning me with his eyes again and I find myself backing away further into the wall.
"You know what I'm talking about. If you snitch, I'll show you something worse than hell."
"Worse than what you've put me through this past week?"
"You'd be surprised, Sera."
Even the way he says my name so viciously infuriates me so much. My anger like fire lights up instantly but again, I'm powerless in front of him. One of these days, I just might take my chances and smack him.
"At some point, these people are going to know what a piece of shit you really are, you know that?"
"And by then, I'd be their King." He points out matter of fact. "You better have good shit to say or else..."
Artemis doesn't bother completing his threat before he walks away, stepping back into the office and leaving me there.
The second the door bangs shut, my legs give way and I fall to my knees immediately. I didn't realize just how scared I am, barely holding myself against his intense animosity.
I wonder just how long I have to endure this, having the entire world against me, why he hates my guts so much. And for the first time, I consider possibly begging him to just let me be.
But then, he'd win and I'd regret it for the rest of my life.
I take deep breaths, enough to calm my anxiety, before I get up again and walk back into the office.
And when I do, I walk into the three of them chatting with wide bright smiles. They must have already forgotten the main reason for the meeting in the first place, but once I enter, their good mood drowns.
"May we begin the tour? I want to see how well your relationship with the students are."
"O-of course." The stutter is involuntary, and it's only because of the intensity of Artemis' eyes on me.
"And your Beta?"
His face contours only briefly, a look of annoyance splitting his act, before he forms a smile again.
"He might be late today."
This new reaction of his holds my interest for a few seconds.
His Beta? I didn't know he had one nor do I know any other person he shares a strong hatred for asides me.
My curiosity lingers until we move out of the office for the commencement of the assessment, and I can't lie, but I already feel exhausted.