ARTEMIS' POV
(HOURS EARLIER)
A hard pang shoots through my chest, momentarily rattling my wolf. It puts me on the edge instantly, and I'm forced to sit upright, eyes scanning the vicinity for any signs of danger.
However, I see nothing except a class of bored students, then I relax into my seat once more. Weird.
The teacher standing in front continues to drone on about the biology of the werewolf, explaining how the larger organs shift along with the rest of the body during a turn. However, I'm too bored to pay attention.
Having already studied far beyond the current stage in class, school seems pointless to me.
If it wasn't for father's demand of an above average attendance record, most of my time won't be wasted in conventional classrooms, learning things one can easily find in textbooks.
I tap on my table, counting every second until the school bell rings again, freeing me from this torturous hell. Thankfully, it's not long until the familiar ringing sound echoes from the hallway, signaling the end of the current class.
"That's it for today. I expect your assignments on my desk before Friday." The teacher declares, his words cutting through the sudden cacophony as everyone starts to rise from their desks.
No one bothers to really listen, walking out just as fast as the other.
I effortlessly weave through the crowd, which instinctively parts as I pass by. There's no need for me to hurry like the others, a subtle smile dancing on my lips as I anticipate the next item on my school schedule.
Cafeteria.
Another day of having to watch Sera and her tortured expressions while she's forced to sit right next to me on my table. I wonder if I'm considered a creep for genuinely enjoying every single reaction she musters up when she's around us.
At first, I'd set it up just for fun. The monotony of sitting beside the same faces every day, driven by some absurd need to uphold an unnecessary reputation, became tiresome.
And then there was her-a burst of something refreshingly different.
Somewhere along the way, her presence shifted from a mere amusement to something more. It's not just about her sitting there as herself, struggling not to burst into laughter when Jasper pulls off something crazy or the playful banter we exchange.
At some point, it became the highlight of my day - a genuine pleasure to have her as a part of my mundane routine.
I arrive before everyone else, taking up my usual spot. I select a simple meal, something that will give me the chance to playfully taunt her. All this while, I also consider the perfect words to get under her skin the instant she appears.
Ace arrives next.
Beside him stands the flavor of the week, tightly holding onto his waist and gazing at him with wide, adoring eyes, even as he maintains a bored expression.
He drops on the bench while she curls her arms around him, wanting to grab his attention yet, somehow, he manages to act like she's not there, and so do I.
His eyes instead stare at the spot next to me for a while. Silently, with a disturbed look on his face, he finally speaks.
"Where's Kamila?"
I look at the spot now, where she has always been for years, realizing for the first time that she's not there.
Thinking of it now, she's always been here before I show up, or at least a minute after.
"I don't know, probably caught up with something during her free period." I say, waving it off now.
My attention moves away again, and I pick at my meal, staring at the door for the next ten minutes that roll by very slowly, excruciatingly - and she's still a no show.
There's that pang again, and a stronger stir in my wolf.
"Guys, guess what?" Jasper yells, popping in from literally nowhere.
Ace and I don't bother responding, knowing he's up to some crazy shit again; my mood is too sour to concern myself with whatever it is.
"Remember the sex doll I ordered last week?"
"Wait, you still ordered that shit? I told you it was a waste of money." Ace frowns tiredly. From him expression, you can guess he was expecting it regardless.
"What's the point of having it if you're not going to use it? Anyway, it finally came in, and guess what's inside?"
"Why do I feel like this is a trick question?" Ace speaks up, reeling back with a look of disgust.
"Trust me, it's not what you're thinking." He smirks mischievously pausing the moment he realizes that the table is almost half empty. "Wait, where's Kamila and Sera?"
"The human girl probably has a life and is busy with it." Ace says nonchalantly.
"Nah, Sera's favorite is today's special, and watching her eating habits for the past few weeks, there's no way she'd miss it, and Kamila's never been late."
My heart drops for some reason, and that's really all that's needed to awaken the dread that has stirred my wolf for the past few minutes.
Where is Sera? Is she avoiding me?
"Enough." Something snaps within me after moments of silently listening to them bicker while my patience thins.
She's not coming, and even after I made her understand the rules of our arrangement. Her place is by my side.
I push the bowl of food away, suddenly losing appetite, the feeling of uninterest and boredom quickly replacing my initial excitements.
"Where are you going? Don't you want to know what was inside?" Jasper speaks up while I walk away, and I don't bother answering, leaving the cafeteria as a whole.
A wild streak of irritation and anger twists my thoughts, and furthermore plunges my wolf to the edge. His foul presence isn't helping, but for whatever reason, he's prowling restlessly within me, scratching the surface for something I haven't quite figured out yet.
Not that any of it should matter now - Sera is avoiding me.
Again.
That seems to be the only logical explanation for her absence. And it stings; maybe because I'd convinced myself that Saturday had been different, that she'd smiled at me like I wasn't the bane of her existence, and the sparks in those green eyes never once faded from my memory since then.
I'm the Alpha prince, from a lineage of powerful werewolves, yet one human girl consumes my mind like she owns it, like it was only ever hers to begin with.
My anger slowly morphs into discomfort in my chest.
Did I do something wrong though? Is she mad at me?
I'm pushed by an overwhelming desire to know now, overwhelming every other thought like a parasite in my head.
Maybe I'll check up on her, just to hear her reason.
***
I walk to the door leading to her next class, holding a warm Tupperware bowl containing today's special from the cafeteria, and it's not because it's her favorite or anything.
Just...I heard humans tend to be fragile if they miss a meal, so therefore, in order to help her perform her duties to the fullest, I brought her a meal.
Yes, that's it.
A minute passes without a sign of her.
A familiar scent catches my nose, and I turn to the other direction, spotting Lucian.
My eyes reduce to slits the second my eyes fall on his pretentious self, walking closer to the door with what looks like a wrapped frame in his hands.
Our eyes meet, and while I expect him to walk by, he just stops right in front of the same door as me.
"Artemis." He nods a cold greeting in my direction, and I raise a brow.
"I don't remember you taking Human psychology." I say, referring to the class, as I look him up and down. I pause, fixating on the suspiciously wrapped canvas that he clutches to his chest like a treasure.
"Funny you say that; I also don't remember you taking this class either." He deadpans at me as well.
My suspicion grows. "What are you doing here?"
"None of your business." He snaps back just as coldly.
I guess now that it's just me, he lets his true deceitful nature shine through. But I see through it. I'm no fool; I don't need to be told twice to know that he's here for Sera.
The thought of it boils my blood over, and I almost let out a growl. The bits of our last conversation comes back to me, and I laugh bitterly.
"You know, women find it pretty annoying when guys can't take a hint. I recall the last time she was here; her words were something along the lines of leave me alone."
"I believe she can speak for herself and doesn't need a tiny-brained brute to chase off her friends for her."
"You're not friends." I point out.
"You're not either." He counters immediately, looking at me with a taunting smirk that irks me further.
Suddenly, I don't see the point of standing here any longer. If she's ignoring me, then so be it. I don't care.
I turn to leave now, and just before I can, someone else catches my eye.
Fiery red hair, red as a fire-truck, walking by.
I recognize the weird girl Sera hangs out with.
What was her name again? Janet?
She walks up to the door as well, pausing the second she spots Lucian and I, freezing on the spot.
She makes a move to run away, but I swiftly grab at the collar of her bright neon pink shirt before she can get too far.
"Not so fast."
Her face turns as white as a ghost almost immediately, which leads me to believe that she knows something.
"Please, let me go. I swear, I didn't do it. It wasn't my fault."
"Relax. I'm not going to hurt you, I just want to know where Sera is, or has been since morning."
"I don't know either. I came here to look for her as well to tell her I'm sorry."
So, what? Does everyone in school know her class schedule as well? Another annoying feeling fills my chest at this thought now, realizing the information she shared with me wasn't so personal.
"Did something happen?" Lucian prods in now, putting on his calm and gentle persona to question her.
She fiddles with her hands, seeming reluctant, and I lose my patience.
"Talk." I command in a monotonous voice.
She squeals now, flinching before her lips start working again.
"We had sort of a fall out but then, she said it was okay and went to confront Kamila on her own. I haven't seen her since."
"She went to do what?" I yell against my control, feeling my blood freeze over.
Dammit, Sera! Do you love to make me worry? Is this some kind of kink you have?
The girl screeches like a tiny animal, trembling in front of me while shielding her face.
"Please, don't hurt me!" She cries out.
I let go of her collar, finally disregarding her while piecing the information.
Sera went after Kamila, and now, no one's seen either of them all morning.
My wolf fights for control, and now, I perfectly understand why.
Before, it was just a need to know where she is and what she's doing, but now...
Now, it's different.
By all means, I need to find her.