Artemisia The room turns around me as he throws me onto a couch ungently before going to barricade the door. I blink as I try to get up and see him push a piece of furniture in front of the door that I could never move without Cassy’s help. Whimpering, I slump back on the couch as my dizziness forces me to lie down again. I follow him walking to the windows to barricade them as well, as I try to get up again to get away from him, as my legs give out beneath me and I fall to the floor. “Not so fast, little mate.” Fynn chuckles as he picks me up into his arms, and I let my head fall back over his arm. I’m mated to a monster. As he carries me to another soft surface, I can’t quite grasp if it’s a bed. I’m convinced that he brought me to one of the entertainment rooms for the warriors, but I can’t see how a bed is standing in one of those. Maybe it’s some kind of large couch to watch movies or gaming. “Fynn,” I whisper, feeling like I'm suffocating. “Please… don’t…” My heartbea

Artemisia The coziness of the bed he just cuddled me in, doesn‘t help at him staring at me in disbelief. “I’m sorry, what?” I chose the rip-it-off-in-one-go kind of way, and am now doubting my strategy as I actually have to go on. I bite my upper lip nervously as I move my feet under the blankets. “My wolf isn’t responding to me anymore. She abandoned me.” “Why?” He stares at me as he sits with his elbows leaned on his knees. “Why would a wolf do that? Is it because of us? Because of me? Because I tore you away from your family, your pack?” “No, no! It’s not that! And surely not your fault.” I shake my head, and he continues to stare at me agape. As he realizes that I’m not talking any further, he gesticulates with his hands. “What is it then?” “You have to remain calm,” I say, lowering my head. “I am calm,” he snarls, making me tilt my head. “No, you are not.” I pinch my sheets as he takes a deep breath. “Okay. I’ll remain calm.” Lifting my head to see him clench his teet

Artemisia “It’s okay, Matt. I just bumped my head, I didn’t lose a leg.” I chuckle as Matthew carries me to my room and cuddles me into the blankets of my bed. “I don’t care. You need to rest, love. I’m just following the doctor's instructions,” he says nonchalantly, as he rearranges my pillows. I thank him with a smile as I lean back with a sigh. “Can I get you something else?” He asks, and I shake my head as he proceeds to list all the things he could get me. I laugh because he is so cute, and I love how he wants me to feel better. “Enough, Matty.” Logan stays in the door frame with his arms crossed over his chest as he eyes me up. “Are you sure you feel alright?” I nod with a smile. “Perfectly fine, thank you.” “We will let you rest, and check on you later. Is that okay?” Matthew asks, his expression heavy with worry. Thanking him with a smile, I watch him leave my room with his brother before I push out a deep sigh. I want to go home. And I have to fight back

Artemisia I take a deep breath as I step into the dimly lit office, even though I didn’t get an answer at my knocking. “What are you doing out of bed?” Cayden asks me as I close the door behind me. His eyes are still glued on the papers in front of him as I clear my throat. “I wanted to talk to you. Do you have a bit of time to spare for me?” “Sure,” he sighs, still not looking at me. “As long as you return to bed afterwards.” I sit into a chair in front of his desk, my insides tingling eagerly to get his eyes on me. “It has been 4 days now since I was discharged. I’m feeling much better already and I can’t stand lying around anymore. Also, I can’t continue to take away precious time from everybody’s day. Matthew and Logan are looking after me lovingly, but I guess they have more important things to do. Please, let me do something. I’m feeling good enough to help you all out and finally show myself to the pack.” He lifts his gaze to look at me, making me gulp. “I don’t know. You

Artemisia I gulp as I keep myself from being impressed by the sparks exploding on my skin and traveling down my neck and chest. No matter how much I try, I can’t remember ever feeling such a strong reaction towards anyone. I would prefer I remembered something like this as it pains me that it must be with him. “Let me go!” I say through clenched teeth, but he increases his grip, making me whimper. I claw on his forearm instinctively, as if it would lead him to loosen his grip. “You enjoy it, do you? Teasing me because I’m not like my brothers.” He clenches and unclenches his jaw as he tilts his head, lowering his voice. “Making me pay for the fact that I’m not falling for you like they do.” Shaking my head to get out of his hold, I only get him to growl. “I don’t know what you are talking about! I just came to talk to you because of our fight.” “Sure,” he chuckles, tsking. “As if the princess would care to make peace with the plebeian scum, right?” My eyes widen as he leans ev