When they touch me (Shelagh Milano)

Chapter 36 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 even closer, making my heart flip in my chest. "Who were you talking to just a moment ago, little mate?"

"Cayden," I answer, blinking repeatedly, and he laughs.

"Of course. No wonder your libido was going crazy. You practically were going into heat."

I finally manage to pull myself out of his grip as he loosens it and I push him on his chest, making him stumble back amused. "How dare you, you idiot?!"

He shakes his head while he is still laughing and wipes his bottom lip with his thumb as he is about to turn around. "How am I the idiot in this conversation?" Balling my fists, I risk drawing blood at my nails digging into my palm.

I'm already prepared to have him ignoring me and having me look at his back again.

But he doesn't turn around anymore, he just stands there eyeing me up as I try to even my breathing pattern.

Suddenly, my guts can't handle the silence between us anymore, and I finally take a step forward. "If you hate me this much... Why didn't you tell anyone about Cassy?"

"Don't interpret something romantic into things you don't understand, little mate." He mocks me once again, flashing me his pearly whites.

I take a deep breath, gathering all my courage to not step back at this one. "Tell me why then. Let my mind lose all my romantic fantasies. Teach this stupid little mate a lesson!"

"I don't know what your fucking problem is." He snarls.

As he is about to turn around, I bolt forward, grabbing his arm. I pull back my hand immediately as the sparks erupt at our touch, but I still keep him from turning away from me. "No! You can't go on insulting me and then just walk away. This is not how it works." "Works where?" He asks, and I take a step back.

"Between mates," I answer, making him laugh.

"You are out of your damned mind." He steps closer, and I straighten my spine, forcing me to stay rooted in my spot. "I didn't tell anyone because I'm not doing the dirty job for you. Not because of the mate bond or something. Just because I want you to tell them. See their reaction, and their disappointment before getting what you deserve."

I gulp as he smirks mockingly, enjoying the results of his heart-shattering demeanour. "I'll be standing there, waiting for the right time to chime in when it's time for the rejections."

My heart shatters into a thousand pieces and I take a shaky breath while he continues to grin at me. "Is that what you wanted to talk about, little mate? Hearing me say how precious you were to me? And how desperate I was to be like my brothers?"

As I hug myself instinctively, he turns around with a last scoff as he restarts working. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

I'm still trying to fight for words and overcome the paralysis my emotions are putting me through as Cassy takes it from me completely.

'See? I told you! It's because you lack everything a mate would be looking for,' Cassy snorts with laughter as she puts me down, making my heart squeeze painfully. 'You are ugly and weak. Dirt even for the scumbags.'

Her laughter echoes in my head as I look up to the ceiling, keeping my tears from falling.

"Okay," I whisper and walk out of the stables, fighting the urge to run.

My tears are already streaming down my face as I hear him calling for me, making me halt in my tracks. "Artemisia!"

Inhaling sharply, I wipe my cheeks even if it wouldn't make any difference, and turn around to see Fynn standing at the entrance of the stables. A frown has replaced his arrogant expression as he looks at me.

"What?" I ask, my voice shaking embarrassingly.

He shifts his weight onto his other leg as he clicks his tongue. "Don't listen to your wolf."

"Ha," I breathe out, letting my arms slump to my sides. "Why don't you just go fuck yourself, Finnegan!"

Turning around, I tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear as I walk through the fields and finally pass the training warriors to get back into the house. My heart beats into the top of my throat as I realise that no one is wearing a stupid grin or a mocking expression anymore. Climbing the stairs, I ignore the staring pack members and hope not to get too much attention from the omegas currently working on the floors I have to pass.

But as I finally reach my quarters, I'm sure that they will have enough new material to gossip about to have them going for weeks.

Settling in my bed, I have barely pulled the covers over my head as I feel the soft clicking of the lock.

"Hey, babes. Are you alright?" Lisa asks, peeping under my covers as she stands next to my bed.

"Sure," I answer sobbing, causing her to sigh deeply.

"Oh, no, hun. I'm so sorry. Do you want me to call the Beta or maybe your Gamma?" She caresses my leg over the covers.

I shake my head, burying my head into my pillow. "No, I'm sure they have more important things to do than tend to my tantrums." "Oh, honey," she tsks.

"Is it bad?" I ask her in a whisper, panicking as I see her distorting her face. "Werewolves are nosy, and have good ears."

"Oh, fuck." I cuss, burying myself back under the covers.

"Don't worry! They will have forgotten it by tomorrow!"

I appreciate her wanting to cheer me up, but this is absolutely disastrous.

I'm so dead, and how am I supposed to work for and make a great impression in front of the people who will execute me in just a matter of time?

Lisa stays with me another bit and even makes me a hot chocolate with her special ingredient to cheer me up.

She does a great job of distracting me and goes on with telling me all the embarrassing things that happened to pack members.

Talking about everyone forgetting tomorrow.

"We are not like other packs. We are a huge family, so these kind of things are seen as pretty funny. You don't have to worry." She squeezes my hand gently, making me take a calming breath. "I know that you are scared about facing the pack members tomorrow, but as soon as you see them, you will understand that it's nothing. Believe me." "Thank you so much, Lisa." I chuckle, and she flashes me a big smile.

"You're welcome. I gotta go now. Let me disappear before the Reverend Mother comes to check on your sleeping schedule." She jumps from my bed while I crack up.

I really needed that.

With a last kiss on my cheek, she hurries out of the door. I settle back under my blankets, but I'm far from falling asleep. The sadness and anxiety wafts back over me, and I take a few relaxing breaths to calm myself, but there is no avail. I guess this will be a long night.