ARTEMIS' POV
We sprint through the forest for what feels like an eternity, the sheer force of pent-up energy disappearing with every step until we come to a slow, panting halt.
We find ourselves beside a secluded pond, its surface reflecting the moon's glow. I kneel down, allowing Sera to dismount.
"That was amazing!" she bursts out, her feet barely touching the ground before she's marveling at the world around her.
The wind has turned her hair into a wild, frizzy masterpiece, and she finds a large rock to sit on.
I lean in, my wolf's tongue giving her a parting lick on the cheek before stepping into the water.
"Where are you going?" she asks, curiosity dancing in her eyes. But I offer no answer.
Submerging fully, I let the transformation take hold. As I re-emerge, it's my human eyes that meet Sera's, my lips that curve into a devilish grin.
"Don't want you to see my tiny bits unless you're interested," My tone carries a wicked humor.
Her cheeks flame up, so red they could rival a setting sun, and she averts her gaze. I chuckle and step out, taking the opportunity to walk toward a hidden stash of clothes I'd strategically placed an hour earlier.
"W-wouldn't it be better to transform with your clothes?" Her voice wobbles.
"This isn't a fairytale, Sera," I laugh. "Clothes don't vanish into another dimension when we shift."
I button up my jeans and pull on a shirt, still chuckling at her naïveté.
Though, I have to admit, not having to ruin a perfectly good set of clothes or perform an impromptu striptease every time I transform would be convenient.
I slide closer to her on the boulder, sitting, our thighs almost touching.
"I'm done," I murmur.
Her eyes meet mine; the flush has faded but a hint of red remains on her cheeks, mirrored on her lips she's clearly been worrying with her teeth.
I take a shuddering breath, balling my fists at my sides to rein in my control, but damn, she's making this seven times more difficult than it should be.
My thumb strays of its own accord, lightly brushing over her slightly swollen lower lip. She lets out the faintest gasp at my touch, sparking an untamed need deep within me.
"Don't," I mutter, my voice gravelly, fixated on the lips I'm aching to taste, to claim in bites and nibbles until they're soft and plush, ready for me to devour.
"Don't do what?" Her eyes, so innocent and wide, meet mine, adding a final, torturous layer to my already burning desire.
I feel my pants tighten uncomfortably.
The urge to taint her innocence, to press her against this very rock and learn the taste of her skin, the timbre of her gasps, is nearly overwhelming.
Instead, I forcefully drop my hand, severing our almost-touch, retreating from a line I shouldn't cross, especially now, when our friendship is in its fragile birth.
"Nothing," I say, tearing my gaze away to focus on my ragged breathing, my racing heart.
Silence stretches between us, heavy with unspoken words and silent yearnings. I concentrate on inhaling, exhaling, forcing my pulse back to a sane rhythm.
"Sera," I finally break the quiet, my voice barely more than a whisper.
"Yeah?"
"I need to apologize for what happened the other day-what you saw me doing with that other girl."
Her expression falters, shoulders slumping as she averts her gaze.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"I think you do," I counter. "The girl meant nothing; she was just convenient and I was being stupid. But that's no excuse. I shouldn't have kissed her."
"Why are you apologizing to me? I'm not the one you cheated on, nor am I your mate. You can kiss whomever you want; it's none of my business." Even as she says it, I feel the acid sting of her words.
She doesn't know about my relationship with Kamila-the consistent arguments, the emotional emptiness between us, the very defectiveness of our bond.
A bond I plan to sever, once and for all, as soon as I can reach on a compromise with my father, and maybe once Kamila agrees.
Seraphina doesn't need to know, not yet.
We're still on shaky ground, both of us.
"I don't want to kiss a million girls anymore," I say softly, my eyes locking onto hers. She searches my face, trying to find a hint of dishonesty but coming up empty.
I mean every word.
With Sera, every glance, every touch lights a fire deep within me, a blaze that not even Kamila ever ignited. The pulls that once bound me to her are no longer strong or vivid in my mind.
No one else draws my attention anymore. It's as if in the last few months, my bond with Kamila has been fading away.
"The contract ends tomorrow, Artemis," she announces, jarring me from my thoughts.
A knot of fear coils tightly in my stomach. I knew this moment was looming, but hearing it spoken aloud makes it all too real.
"Oh...yeah, I remember," I manage, my voice choked by emotions I can't quite shake off.
"You weren't the best boss, but I guess it's been fun," she quips, attempting to lighten the mood.
It's almost too much effort to muster a laugh.
My mind races, scrambling for words, for options. For a way to prolong our contract, extend our interaction by a month, maybe even half a year-anything to keep her in my orbit.
Her absence for just three days nearly fractured my sanity; how am I supposed to let her walk away now?
"I aim to be memorable, if not the best," I force myself to say, grinning to keep up appearances. "Just so you know, I'm not going to stop hanging out with you just because it's over. You said we were friends, so there's no going back."
"Of course," she replies, her smile almost soothing the rising anxiousness within me-almost. But not quite.
The contract's expiration means she'd have no reason to stick closer to my side - I know it's the only thin thread keeping her tethered to my life.
I'm not ready to face whatever stands at the other end of her absence.
She can't leave me.
"Are you okay?" she asks, peering into my eyes as if she could read everything hiding behind them.
Seizing the moment, I lift the back of her palm to my lips, kissing the tender skin. It's a poor distraction, but it serves its purpose. Her face flushes, her eyes widen-a beautiful canvas of expressions.
"I'm perfectly fine, Sera," I assure her. "Rather, it's getting late. You have school in the morning. Time to head back to your dorm."
She pouts, confirming what her expression tells me: She loathes the idea of another dull day at school. I can sympathize; the academic routine can be a soulless grind.
"Don't worry, I'll be there as well."
"Really? You sure you can afford going to school? Will they let you?"
"I can do whatever I please," I retort, a smirk playing on my lips. "I am still the Alpha Prince."
She rolls her eyes. "Cocky, aren't you?"
"Unapologetically. But I do have a request."
"What is it?"
"Join me for lunch tomorrow. One last meal before the contract ends."
A shadow flickers across her face, too brief for me to decipher, before it's replaced by a radiant smile.
"Of course, I will," she says the words I want to hear, and my heart is calm once again.
At least, for now.