SERAPHINA'S POV
I don't know if the question is supposed to be a joke, or if he truly is concerned as to why I am crying - either way, I don't believe it.
I swat his hand away from my face, putting more distance between us now.
"It's none of your business." I say coldly.
Apparently, it's not the answer he wanted to hear or what he was expecting. The concerned look on his face quickly morphs into annoyance.
"Whatever. It's not like I give a shit about that. You can cry all you want, but just make sure your puffy eyes aren't obvious to Mr. Jermaine."
"Yeah, or else, right? Don't worry, I won't fuck your plans up." I say twice as cold, walking right past him.
Gosh, he infuriates me so fucking much, to the point that I physically want to harm him and it's not just a punch in the face.
Rather, it's something that leaves a fucking scar on that pretty face of his.
He stands there for a while before he finally starts following me closely behind, without saying anything else.
***
For the rest of the school day and in every class I have, everyone's gone out of their way to show excessive hospitality.
Giving me an extra pen even if I had two, offering me a chance to pick my lunch first at the cafeteria, getting me a drink when I didn't ask for one.
All while it happens, Artemis takes his time cozying up with the supervisor.
Every once in a while, our eyes would meet and his fabricated smile would fade only slightly, the look in his eyes would turn foreign until I pried my eyes off him to dial down the awkwardness between the two of us.
And finally, the day is over once the final bell rings.
All the students leave their classes, getting ready to head back to their dorms and I'm the last to leave, taking me time to step out.
Once I do, Mr. Jermaine writes a few more words in his note before shutting the book.
"I believe that ends today's report on your experience, Miss Hawthrone."
I don't bother to respond, only nodding my head dryly. At this point, I don't care if he's here or not, I just want to go home and not be surrounded by so much pretense that makes me want to gag.
"It's been a pleasure having you with us, Mr. Jermaine. Please, send my greetings to my father when you report all this to him." Artemis speaks up now.
I roll my eyes at him, already turning the other way to leave.
They never needed my help or input in the first place. Why call me to the office and waste my entire day?
"Actually, I'd like to share a few words with Miss Hawthrone before I leave." He says suddenly.
I stop in my tracks, turning to look at him with a raised brow. He suddenly wants to talk to me?
"Uh... I'm sure I can pass on any comments to Seraphina later on, she already seems exhausted from an eventful day of learning." Artemis butts in.
Suddenly, he stands so close to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulder as if we're the best buddies in the whole world.
I freeze in place, wanting to shrug his hold off me, but I remember I'm still trying to put an act on.
"That won't be necessary. Though annoying, an important part of my job, which you father stressed on, is speaking to the student one on one."
There's a moment of silence, in which Artemis can't seem to come up with a retort.
It is his father's orders, so there's no way he can go against it no matter how badly he doesn't want me alone with the supervisor. He shakes off the initial disappoint again and resumes smiling once more.
"That's perfectly fine." He says to Mr. Jermaine.
And in a low and hushed tone, he lowers himself to my level and whispers.
"Remember, if you squeal, you're dead."
I shrug off his arm, not needing to be reminded of his threats and turning to the supervisor.
"Of course, we can talk."
He nods his head, looking to Artemis that still stands there. He sighs, ticked off already, before he walks down the hall way until we don't see him.
Now it's just me and him, and the awkward long stretch of silence begins.
He doesn't even bother to hide his dislike, staring at me like a pest in his presence. One thing I've learned wolves can't help doing.
I clear my throat now, trying to look away from that uncomfortable stare that's still directed at me, until he finally speaks.
"I won't waste my time on pointless words, Miss Hawthrone. Of all the Alpha king's advisors, I was the strongest that opposed the idea of humans mixing with us. I detest the idea of you walking into the hall ways and pretending you belong here. The program is harmful, and it makes no sense. But Alpha Silvan is relentless when it comes to achieving his goals." He begins, going right into it.
I stiffen for a moment, surprised he even dares speaking his mind to me like this. He could have carried on hiding his real thoughts behind his glares.
Even still, I don't waver, standing straight and hearing every bit of the harsh words he has to say about the program and surprisingly, none of that hatred is directed at me specifically.
"You have nothing to say?"
"What would I say? That's just your opinion." I shrug calmly.
"It's not just me who thinks this, 95 percent of the wolf population would be willing to sign a petition to get you out of this school. What do you think about that?"
I take a moment to take in the facts. He's not wrong, no one likes me except the very few that don't bother about it.
"I believe the Alpha King has a vision he wants to actualize with this program, and it's a little disappointing that the rest of the wolf population has their heads so high up their asses that they don't fucking see - oh, I'm sorry... I-." My eyes go wide when I realize my choice of words.
"No, go on, Miss Hawthrone. Unfortunately, it's my job to take note of your every opinion. Alpha King's orders."
"Oh... Well, uhm... I guess I had a lot of high hopes coming to Raven Wood Academy. I thought it'd be like one of those Barbie movies where my life changes and I live like a princess for the first time in my life..." A shaky, bitter smile appears on my lip. "But all I get is hate, so much hate that I want to bury myself in a hole and never come out. I don't like it here, but I don't want to fail the king's vision. I don't want to be the reason humans and werewolves never integrate. But... I don't know how much more I can take..."
The supervisor remains silent, watching me with a distant look in his eyes and for the first time, it's not hatred, neither is it pity - but it's...something.
"I knew something was off." He mumbled more to himself, heaving a tired sigh. "Although I still don't want you here, it would be a waste if you let these brats win. Alpha Silvan talked about seeing something in you, a certain kind of fire. Seraphina, is it? Strength isn't just about surviving; it's about rising above. You're the first of all humans, and I don't believe in silly things like destiny, but this might as well be yours. Perhaps it's not all a coincidence and you're destined for far more than your little human mind understands. I will have a word with Artemis, and I will be betting my money on you from now on; don't lose, everyone's watching. Until we meet again."
My eyes grow wide for a moment, and I straighten my back.
"Oh, thank you, Mr. Jermaine. I will remember this." I start to smile a little.
Maybe I had heard him wrongly or it was my imagination, but those were encouraging word.
He rolls his eyes. "Or don't. Also, you'd have to forgive me for wanting to keep this part of our conversation away from the Alpha King."
"But...why?"
He frowned a bit, as if searching for the right words. "The King... Well, there's a lot more going on. Trouble in paradise, let's call it. I'd have your concerns dealt with privately, and with Artemis' help, I'm sure we can make a difference."
I want to scream that Artemis would rather claw out his own heart than help, but Mr. Jermaine is already leaving and I'm left in between this surge of hope and a boulder.
Foe the first time in a while, hearing someone else telling me not to give up fills me with a gush of strength I had long lost amidst the first two weeks of physical and emotional torture and now, I'm done.
I'm done letting Artemis have a hold of me or dictate just how I get to live my life in school.
I make my way out of school, finally making a turn down a different hallway. I'm just about to pass the first classroom when a chair comes flying through and crashes into the lockers on the other side.
"How dare you? I am your Alpha." Artemis' chilling voice breaks through the walls and almost causes me a heart attack.
I freeze at the spot, not daring to take a step forward. Instead, I walk closer to the walls, curiosity getting the best of me.
One peek into the classroom that's being destroyed by him and I spot Artemis himself, talking with someone else whose face I can just barely see because he's turned away from me.
"Calm down, Artemis. You may be my Alpha, but I'm your Beta and I'm supposed to escort you on official meetings like today." The stranger returns with bridled anger.
Artemis' Beta; the one that was supposed to show up but never did. Now, they're arguing in a class room right after school. For some reason, there's a familiarity to the stranger's voice, cool and deep, even as he expresses his frustration. He exudes a composed aura, no matter how visibly ticked off he appears.
Artemis scoffs, reeking of absolute disdain for this stranger. "And what's your excuse for being absent? Were you too busy playing lapdog and kissing the ass of every adult within a two-mile radius? My father won't be so pleased."
"Nice try, but I'm already aware of all your games and tricks. You lied about the date and sent you lackey, Jasper, to distract me. But I eventually found out from someone else that the supervisor came today. I've already informed your father of this mix up. In irony, you can say that he isn't very pleased with his dearest son."
He stalks closer to this other guy, eyes glaring fire and brimstone, and glowing with a murderous intent. I'd never seen Artemis look at anyone like that - not even me. His voice is low and threatening when he speaks again.
"Enough with your incessant meddling; you won't earn extra brownie points for being my father's pathetic puppet."
"It's my job to report miscommunications like this to the Alpha King."
"You answer to me."
"Do I? You don't even recognize me as your Beta."
"Exactly the point. You're nothing but a charity case for my family. That is the only thing that puts you in this position to begin with."
There's a sudden chilling silence and even I feel the tense air from where I am. They don't exchange more words, just glaring at each other with eyes that hold deep-rooted secrets. Anyone could easily tell that these two hate each other's guts.
"Have a pleasant day, Alpha." The other guy responds curtly, choosing not to respond to his jab before he stalks toward the door.
I make a run for it the second I notice him approaching, not wanting to be caught by him. Who knows what he'll do to me?
"Hey!" I don't make it too far before he yells out, and I know it's me because no one else is here besides the two of us.
Fuck. I guess this is the end.
I pause in my steps, accepting what comes next
"It's not very polite to eavesdrop on people's conversations, especially when you're not so good at it." He says, thankfully not sounding mad at all.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to listen in on your argument."
"It's alright, I wouldn't have passed on the opportunity to hear a fight as epic as that either." I hear him chuckling from behind me.
His laugh is light like a feather, almost calming, and it feels like something I've heard before.
"We meet again. I'm sorry I couldn't make it for the meeting earlier; there were a few miscommunications on the way. I hope it wasn't too stressful dealing with just Artemis."
What does he mean by meeting again?
I turn finally, throwing caution to the wind and not caring that he sees my face anymore.
And I'm immediately left speechless.
Sparling silver eyes stare back at me and between them, a broad nose with the brightest smile on those peach lips; silver-blond hair just falling above his shoulders in a messy wave.
He's gorgeous in every essence and the aloofness around him, almost as though he doesn't know it. There's no way I've ever seen him before. If I had, I would have remembered - he has a face one doesn't easily forget. One that's impossible to forget.
"Uh...hello?" He calls out to me, waving in front of my face.
I snap myself out of it, shaking the trance away and refocusing my eyes at him again. Suddenly, my palms are all sweaty and words can't properly leave my lips.
My heart beats too fast in my chest and I just barely give him an answer.
"Uhm... hi."