When they touch me (Shelagh Milano)

Chapter 81 ARTEMISIA

I surely have gone through enough heartbreaking moments in my life, but setting down Emma while she is clawing on me, surely hits the top three.

I even had to get Astrid to help me get her into her bed as she started sobbing as soon as she got separated from me.

I figured that it must have been some traumatic response to her losing Fynn's scent and probably being catapulted back into that dark place she was kept as a prisoner.

"We will play tomorrow. Okay?" I crunch down, caressing her cheek as she calms down and nods. Grabbing her blanket to tuck her in, I make sure that she will have it cosy. "Good night, little ones," Astrid whispers lovingly as we leave the room, and part ways soon after that.

As I walk the path up to the lodge, my heart is already beating wildly in my chest. But by the time I open the door, I feel like passing out.

Stepping into the house, I find Fynn already sitting in one of the armchairs. I walk into the living room slowly, bracing for the worst scenario possible.

And for everything he threatened me with.

"Okay," I sigh as I stand in front of him. "Tell me."

"Don't you want to sit down?" he asks, a bit of desperation playing in his voice.

But I simply shake my head, not wanting to sit down as I fear never finding the strength to stand back up.

And I want to leave this place as soon as he has rejected me.

He sighs as he rubs his hands. The moonshine is breaking in through the large windows, illuminating one side of his face.

"Okay... As father died after a pack attack, it took Mom just a few days to follow him. Their bond was strong, and she just couldn't handle the fact that she had lost him."

Grimacing, he kneads his fingers and I push down the urge to comfort him. I cross my arms over my chest as if it would keep me from going to him.

"I wasn't able to cope with it. Well, none of us was, but I was the only idiot that didn't act responsibly, but chose to be egoistic. So, as Cayden started to take over as Alpha, instead of helping him, I rebelled whenever I could. I started provoking him, even challenging him. But I was too weak, so it actually was never seen as a real threat by him. I was just a nuisance. But I started to incite a few other pack members, and Cayden had to start disciplining me, in order to keep his pack under his control."

I lower my head, shifting on my feet. "Why are you telling me this, Fynn?"

He looks at me, clenching and unclenching his jaw. "Because you need to know something in order to make a decision."

"What decision?" I ask, sighing.

"The decision to accept me as your mate." He answers, staring at me intently.

I laugh, looking up to the ceiling to tear my eyes away from his. "You can't be serious right now. I thought you already made that decision for me. I thought I wasn't worthy enough for a strong wolf like you."

He sighs again, my heart squeezing in my chest, "Can you please sit down?"

"No!"

He closes his eyes, his tone getting a warning edge. "Artemisia!"

I groan, rolling my eyes and simply sit down on the floor before him.

He freezes, his eyes glowing up before darkening again.

"What?" I ask with a shy laugh.

"Nothing," he grumbles before Drake's laugh resounds in my head. 'Mate is so beautiful.'

My breath hitches in my throat as I stare back at Fynn, who is still watching me with his burning gaze.

Clearing his voice, he shifts in his seat before he goes on. "I wanted to challenge him for the Alpha title. So, I did... a thing."

"Oh, my Goddess!" I whisper, making him shake his head.

"Not exactly. I travelled to a very dark place and found a witch that was strongly experienced in dark magic, and had her... help... me." He pushes out the last of his words through his gritted teeth.

'He is so ungrateful.' Drake complains, making me shake my head.

"Of course he is," I chuckle, making Fynn look at me questioningly.

"What?" He asks, and I point to my head.

"Drake... He..." My smile falls as I see his confusion growing. "Didn't you hear him right now?"

"He talked to you?" He asks me, staring at me agape.

I shrug, feeling increasingly uncomfortable. "Yes... He does it all the time... Wait! You didn't hear him?" "No!" He scoffs. "The hell?"

'Because it's more fun to talk to my mate.' Drake says amused, and I laugh.

"Oh, come on! What did he say now?"

Shaking my head, I fight the smile growing on my lips, "Nothing!"

Pushing out a breath anxiously, he must be deciding to just ignore it because he goes on. "The witch cast a specialspell. Telling me that she could provide me with enormous power and unlimited strength if I

was to give just a little piece of... my Wolf."

'That hurt like hell, by the way!' Drake growls.

"Oh, no. Fynn, what did you do?" I ask, my heart sinking to my stomach.

"I was so blinded by my hatred that I made her cast the spell, and I sacrificed a part of my wolf, to get something in exchange."

"Like what?" I ask, not sure if I really want to know.

He stares at me for a little while before he answers, making my heart stop. "Something demonic."

I burst out laughing, causing him to stare at me shocked. "Oh, come on. Demonic? Why can't you stop playing with me?"

"Why should I make something like this up?" he growls, and I shrug.

"I don't know, Fynn. Maybe to play with me like you did all this time. Or scaring me because it's funny." I ramble, feeling like going insane.

He clicks his tongue, his eyes turning black as he tilts his head at me. "If I wanted to play with you, I would be doing this."

Just as I'm about to open my mouth

to counter, ear rumbling coming from the bedroom. My heart beats into my throat as I suddenly hear

feeble voices before it sounds like a

drawer is being kicked ov

QUMS

"Missy!" A mix-up of high-pitched voices calls for me, making my heart still in my chest. "Missy, we are afraid of the dark. Why did you put us there?!"

"Yes. Why did you do that to us?"

The voices mix into a blood-curdling crescendo as I get onto my knees slowly, grabbing onto Fynn's shirt instinctively.

I watch the dolls walk around the corner on clunky feet as I clasp the fabric tighter.