A FEW MOMENTS EARLIER
ARTEMIS' POV
"Any sign of Morgan yet?"
"None. He's done a good job of hiding ever since evidence came to light about his crew attacking Kamila and Sera," Jasper replies as we complete our final round through the school.
It's as if the bastard has vanished off the face of the earth. Despite my efforts to get the school to flush him out, it's like hitting a brick wall; the investigation just can't seem to break through.
He crossed a line with Seraphina, even after my warnings. And he thinks he can get away with it? Not a chance.
I'll draw out the big guns if I have to. Run, hide-it won't matter. I will find him. And when I do, blood will spill.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I check the message from Ace.
'They're done,' it reads, which means Sera and her friends are almost at the party.
I can't help the small smile that manages to find its way to my face when he sends a picture along with the text.
Her two friends are literally dragging her out of the room, while she clings to the doorframe. Even in the blurry picture, her face slightly distorted, she's stunning-especially dressed in something other than her usual clothes.
They've managed to get her into something that actually flatters her figure, just as I had requested. I find myself staring at the image a little longer than I should, until a blink snaps me back to reality.
We're going to be late.
"Alright, boys, let's call it a night," I announce, prompting the group to start heading back into the school.
"Finally, it's time to party!" Jasper exclaims, throwing his hands in the air as he tags along.
I can't help but roll my eyes at his antics as I glance at my phone once more.
A rush of excitement courses through my veins at the thought of tonight's party.
It's been ages since I've actually looked forward to any social gathering; they've all been too dull to hold my interest. Tonight is different.
We head to the party located just outside the school, on the field. I pulled some strings to secure this venue, all for her.
My eyes dart nervously around, double-checking every detail, ensuring everything is perfect. That is, until I see Jasper rolling in a barrel of alcohol.
Why am I not surprised?
"I thought I said 'no alcohol,'" I remind him.
"C'mon, it's a party! Plus, this stuff doesn't really affect our kind, does it?" Jasper jokes, slinging his arm over my shoulder and winking.
I give him a deadpan look, shrugging his arm off.
"Yeah, except this party is for a human. Last I checked, alcohol does work on them."
"Oh." The realization hits him, and his shoulders slump.
I sigh, turning my attention away. It's too late now; alcohol has infiltrated the party, and people are already diving in.
The last thing I want is for her to get drunk and end up hurt, especially with this crowd of party animals.
"On the bright side, you get to play her prince in shining armor if she gets into trouble," Jasper quips, leaning in too close for my liking.
I'm about to give him a piece of my mind when her laughter-so familiar, so enchanting-cuts through the noise.
Like a sweet melody, her laughter filters through the air until it reaches my ears. I turn and spot her just a few feet away-Sera, along with her friends.
My lips part in mild astonishment.
The picture did her no justice. From her outfit that clings just a bit too snugly to her figure, to her face adorned with a touch of glitter, and her hair-every inch of her is both gorgeous and unapologetically sexy.
My gaze can't help but drift to the very obvious allure of her cleavage.
I told them to dress her nicely, but damn, they've outdone themselves.
I'm tempted-so tempted-to march over there and pull her away from prying eyes.
But I hold myself back, aware that overstepping would only spark another fight between us, another problem to solve.
Her eyes widen, a mix of shock and bewilderment, as she takes in the crowd, the atmosphere, the sheer vibrancy of the party.
It's exactly the expression I imagined she'd wear when she saw all of this.
I can't help but smile to myself, already conjuring up the words she might say next. Her friends are huddled around her, and I can only imagine that the plan is already unfolding.
I may or may not have given her friends a little nudge to drop a few hints about my involvement tonight.
Sure, call it an ego boost if you like, but I really wanted her to see that I'm putting in the effort here. Not for applause, just for her to know that I'm genuinely trying.
I don't know, maybe she might see me differently eventually.
"Wow, are you blushing?" Jasper interrupts my train of thought, inserting himself back into my mental space.
"What?" I snap, shooting him a glare that could freeze a volcano.
"Never thought I'd see the day," he muses, taking a sip from a cup of booze that appeared from God knows where.
I huff at his foolishness, rolling my eyes. "Or maybe all that drinking is finally muddling your brain."
I can't imagine doing something so feminine. What's the reason? My endgame has always been to get Sera to drop her guard around me, and I'm pushing this far simply because I make it a rule to get what I want.
"You're not going to say hi?"
"No, not just yet," I reply, opting to keep my distance and observe.
She's been with me for a few days now, so perhaps she needs this as a breath of fresh air. I'll let her savor the early moments of the night with her friends, while I act as her quiet protector from a distance.
As she continues to party, her lack of dancing skills becomes hilariously evident. Her awkward attempts to sway her hips are at odds with the music's beat, but it's charming in its own right-like watching a squirrel attempt to twerk.
When she veers toward the drinks table for some shots, my eyes never leave her.
I'm on the lookout for any intruders who might ruin her night. I'm drawn by her flushed cheeks and the way her eyes squint as vodka sears her throat.
Oddly, I find myself more entertained by these fleeting moments than by any party I've ever attended.
"Still watching over the human girl and her band of awkward Omegas?" Ace materializes next to me, nursing a tall beer. His collar is tainted with assorted lipstick shades, a telltale sign of his recent escapades, just minutes into the event.
"Someone's going to swoop in and take her time if you keep wasting yours standing on the sidelines," Jasper points out, eyes flitting to the group in the distance.
A searing pain stings my chest at the mere thought of anyone approaching her besides me. It's that same foreign yet haunting sensation that's been popping up at times like this.
Shrugging off the unsettling feeling, I groan to myself.
"Look, my job tonight is to protect her, nothing more. And for the record, I'm enjoying myself. She's having fun; I don't want to ruin that."
Ace interjects, his tone tinged with annoyance. "You're the Alpha prince; your job isn't to play guardian to a single human girl. You helped plan this entire night; you deserve your own slice of fun."
Ace, like many others with outdated worldviews, can't understand why I'd invest so much energy into a 'weaker' species. Maybe there was a time I felt the same. But with Sera, it's different-indescribable, really.
My heart feels full just watching her, ensuring she's okay, and savoring her unfaltering smile.
"C'mon, man. Just one drink," Jasper urges, pushing an untouched glass towards me.
The smell of vodka mixed with other potent liquors wafts up, strong enough to potentially get me a bit tipsy.
Sighing, I grab the glass and down its contents in seconds. The bitter flavors dance on my tongue, followed by that signature burn of good alcohol.
"Fine," I say, handing the empty glass back to Jasper.
He and Ace burst into laughter, slapping my back as they lead me to where the real booze is-not that weak stuff we started with.
The next few minutes are a blur of reckless drinking, each of us concocting forbidden mixtures in a contest to see who can down them the fastest.
Naturally, I win every single round. Hanging out with my guys provides a different kind of fun, one I'd completely overlooked before.
Taking another swing from a glass of a green abomination mixed by Jasper-it tastes like an unholy marriage of bourbon, tequila, and moldy bread with a hint of mint-I gag almost immediately.
Jasper breaks into uproarious laughter.
"I can't believe you actually drank that!" he exclaims.
I laugh along, hardly believing it myself.
Ace, already off in search of his next romantic conquest, has left the scene. My thoughts drift back to Sera. I should check on her.
Pulling away from the chaotic gathering, I head to where I last saw her, only to find her friends there but no sign of her.
A flicker of panic ignites in my chest as my eyes scan the crowd, darting from face to face.
Then I find her.
She's near a group of guys, and she's talking to the last person I'd ever expect to see here-Lucian.
First, my heart drops, and then it constricts to an extent that makes my wolf wince.
It's bitter, almost unbearable.
A surge of rage boils in my veins as I watch her inch closer to him.
What stings more is her willingness, the lack of resistance. I'd warned her about him, and the last time they'd spoken, she couldn't stand the guy.
Now it's as if she's under some spell, her fingers nervously twining in her hair as he jokes about something. She laughs, a sound so free and joyful it's like a slap to my face - like a lovestruck girl having the time of her life.
So that's how he got invited.
Unable to watch any longer, I look away.
My previous emotions are sucked away by a new concoction-anger, disgust, and a strong sense of betrayal churn in my gut.
With that, I walk away, each step intensifying a piercing ache within my wolf.