ARTEMIS' POV
Sera walks away from me without turning to look back - not even once.
I smash my fist into the wall just to let go of some of my anger, but it's still not enough; just like how nothing I do is never enough.
I break my back, and yet all I get are glares and constant complaints. Hell, I haven't even done this much for Kamila, and she still thinks I'm selfish.
I walk back to where I came from earlier- an empty classroom not presently in use.
Entering, Ace looks up at me with a bored expression as always. On the other side is Jasper, leaning over a beaten up and bruised Morgan, tied up and tossed in a corner.
I only managed to hold back temper by a thin leash while Sera was there, so I could maintain the image I'm trying to build up with her.
The soft, gentle, kind Artemis.
But the second the bastard grabbed her, I lost it and everything just went blank from there. I still don't know why.
"How's it going?" I ask, resting against a bench.
"He's as stubborn as a brick wall, Artemis. I don't think we can break this one."
I look back at the bastard at the same time he does. Despite his swollen cheeks, he smiles at me wickedly - which is kind of disturbing.
Again, I wonder what he means by destroying everything I care about.
Jasper that's been sitting around silently in deep thought finally speaks.
"So, Trevor's your mate. How do you guys... do it?"
I sigh the moment the question comes out of his mouth. Here I am, thinking that he was trying to figure out how to get Morgan into breaking.
Morgan looks at him with a wide grin, which tell me he's about to say some stupid shit.
"All I can tell you is that you haven't gotten your dick sucked until a guy does it for you."
"Really?" He raises a brow, confused by the logic and ponders on it for a moment before he sucks in his breath. "I guess because he has a dick too, he'd know what feels good."
Ace groans in frustration, smacking himself lightly in the face with both of his palms, and I roll my eyes at the conversation.
"Cut it out, Jasper." Ace snaps at him, finally sending a glare his way, and he finally does, after shrugging his shoulder and walking away from Morgan.
Again, he sends that sick glare my way, and I look away from him. Something about the bastard rubs me off the wrong way, and sadly, I can't keep him tied in here forever.
"How did it go with the human girl?" Ace asks first, drawing my thoughts away from Morgan.
"It was fine."
"You don't look like it was."
"It's not important."
He raises an eyebrow that lets me know that he doesn't buy a single word.
"She tore you up for helping her, didn't she?"
"I swear, I'm never going to understand girls."
"Yeah, they're like that, and that's why I focus more on the fucking than sitting idly and having tea parties with them. Maybe you should get back to doing that as well." He lays it out as an advice, a tinge of displeasure in his eyes.
It's been clear he doesn't like Sera-worse case, how close I intend to be with her either-but that's not any of his business, and he knows that and mostly doesn't try to interfere... until now.
How do I say that other girls haven't been doing it for me lately?
"So... are you going to fuck her?"
I glare at him the second the words leave his mouth. Him wondering about something like that concerning her pisses me off.
Maybe I want to peel her clothes off very slowly and rail her good, and maybe against the wall too for the times she's annoyed me - but not in a disrespectful way like how he puts it.
And strangely enough, it annoys me but I do enjoy the occasional banter. It makes it more exciting.
"Maybe focus on fucking all your used-up whores instead of being in my business." I say coldly, and he shuts up reluctantly.
Jasper laughs at the joke, but the glare Ace passes on to him shuts him up just as fast.
"Speaking of, Lucian said something about your father calling today for a progress report for the previous month's project." Jasper says casually as the memory came in for him.
"You didn't think to tell me that the moment I walked into the room."
"I forgot." He shrugs.
I inhale deeply and then exhale slowly, making a conscious effort not to lose my composure and break his head. It's maddening how casually he drops crucial information on me, information that should have been shared with me long before.
As a way of training the successor to the Alpha King's throne, father has been assigning smaller tasks to me to oversee since two years ago, just to monitor how well I am in handling disputes and solving simple social problems.
And possibly, the thought of it wouldn't have been so much of an issue, but since last year, he's begun giving Lucian similar tasks to deal with and holding progress reports both of us have to attend.
Honestly, right now, I don't know think I can handle being in the same room with that asshole, but I don't have a choice, seeing as its mandatory.
I leave the classroom, heading for the usual venue - a small conference room on the higher floors with limited access. The walk there is brief, and I get there in no time, kicking the door open.
Father's assistant is already there by the time I'm in, setting up the meeting.
He gives a simple nod before connecting the video call on the large TV screen, and father's face pops up.
The bad blood from our previous call still hangs heavy over the both of us and things immediately feel awkward.
"Father." I nod as a form of greeting, and only just a sound escapes his throat.
He's clearly still sour from my defiance, and he'd be in an even worse mood once he realizes that I still haven't marked Kamila. Best off, I still very much want to call it all off.
"Where is Lucian?"
Right on cue, the door swings open and Lucian rushes in, breathing heavier than normal while adjusting his very formal looking attire, which I immediately read as a sad attempt at winning favor from my father.
As if he hasn't had enough of it already.
"Lucian, I was just asking of you." Just like that, the awkward air is gone and his blank stare morphs into something softer and more agreeable.
All because his favorite 'son' is here.
"I'm sorry for being late."
"Nonsense. You are just on time. The one who should be apologizing is Artemis. You know what I talked about dressing more formal to these meetings." He begins nitpicking off the bat.
On instinct, I sit up more squarely, running my eyes over my outfit. A sleek all-black ensemble, consisting of a loose black shirt, dark jeans, and Van sneakers.
Lucian, on the other hand, is dressed like an office worker, a fashion choice I won't be making even when I finally take up the mantle of power from him.
"I'm more comfortable in my choice." I force a smile just as Lucian settles up right next to me, placing a folder I didn't realize he was holding on the table.
"I'm ready; we can begin now."