104

ARTEMISIA

"Hey." I flashed a smile towards the platinum blonde that was carrying a toddler.

She looked to be in her last semester and I was told she was Sin's distant family wife.

We were having a girls' day out and discussing the past event.

I learnt about what happened to Emma and Adrina the night after Sin and I made love after a long while.

We had taken the night to reminisce and even the day after.

It had been a happy reunion not only for me but for everyone in the pack.

I was happy, overly happy to be back home.

I wonder what would have happened if I stayed a day in Chase's pack.

Sin had told me he lost hope and wanted to give up on everything after he assumed I was dead.

I wonder who did it- stained my cloth with blood to make it look like I died. Perhaps, it was Chase. I recalled he had been trying to make me stay in his pack.

Moreover, I was glad I arrived the day I did and Goddess Trivia had urged me as well.

"Did you hear from Emma again?" Julie asked.

"I did," I said with a sigh.

I had forgiven Emma for what she did. I didn't know how to hold a grudge and I wasn't one to do so as well but she still kept on apologizing over again.

I felt somewhat sorry for her.

Laurent did not accept her child, not even Adrina's own.

I wonder how it happened but I didn't see him to be such a man.

Aside from how he behaved sometimes, he was cool and I believed he was misunderstood as well.

"I hope she tries to move on from all these because my brother isn't a good man. I almost pitied her." Alisson said. "I know how it feels to live with him for 18 years."

"He's a good man." Julie asserted.

I tilted my brows and gazed at her. Alisson and Elena did the same.

"What? Is there something on my face?" Julie asked.

It was weird hearing her defend him. She had never done so and might I add she loathed him.

But then, I had noticed some things between them since I arrived. I didn't want to assume much, but I was certain both of them were hiding something from me.

"Okay spill," Allison said. "Why do you think he isn't bad? Are you planning on being his third baby mama? You should know Laurent is a chronic womanizer and no woman can ever tame him. Look what he did, who knows if he has more baby mamas outside?"

"First and foremost, he isn't that bad and mistakes happen," Julie said. "You all should cut him some slack, I didn't think he meant all that should happen."

"You like him," I said, with my eyes narrowed. "You freaking like him, Julie. When did it start?"

"What started?" Julie creased her brows.

"Liking him off course." I rolled my eyes. "And stop acting as if you are clueless and don't know what we are talking about."

Julie blushed profusely. She glared at me and stood to her feet. "Who needs some drink? I think I need some."

"I just want water." Elena grinned.

"Margherita," Alisson said.

"I…"

"Vodka spritz for me," Julie said, cutting me off. "Water for pregnant Elena, Margherita for Alisson, and nothing for Artemisia."

"Why not?!" I exclaimed but she already left.

"Maybe you said something that pissed her." Elena giggled.

"I was only asking a question." I huffed with my hands in the air. Then, I turned to Alisson as she tapped me.

"How about you tell us what happened when you left my brother? We don't know the details but I heard you were in a pack hiding."

"There's nothing much to say," I said.

"I don't care, I want to know all the juicy details." Alisson grinned, she licked her lip and rubbed her palms together. "Just let it out already."

I didn't know who was worse in Alisson and Julie when it came to gossip but I believed the award could be shared between the two.

"Well, I was with Alpha Chase…"

"Alpha Chase of Moon Howler pack?" Alisson cut me off.

I gazed at Alisson as she stood abruptly. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at me.

"Did anything happen between you two?"

"Is something wrong?" I asked, curious at how she stood.

"Nothing." She muttered, "Just answer the question."

I sensed she was trying to control her anger, I shrugged and said, "Nothing unusual. Only a kiss to tell us we are two different individuals."

"Only a kiss?" Alisson exclaimed. "Did Sin know about this?"

"I didn't…"

"I know now." Sin said.

I flushed as he appeared in front of me. I avoided his gaze and stared at Elena instead.

Her mate, Aiden was with her, helping her out of the seat and she flashed a smile my way and mouthed, "Good luck."

I turned to Sin and shrugged, "It's not a big deal."

He stepped toward me and mumbled, "Let's go inside the room. I do not want to argue here."

I obeyed. I gazed at Alisson once more as she paced around before I followed Sin inside.

He locked the door and stared at me.

"It was only a kiss. It wasn't even deep. And I told him we can't work!"

"It wasn't only a kiss!" Sin glared at me. "Some imbecile kissed my wife while I was feeling miserable."

"Geez." I shoved my hands through my hair.

"Tell me his name." He demanded. "He needs to be taught a lesson not to come close to you anymore."

"I don't think it is necessary. Stop acting like a caveman."

"I'll be happy to be a caveman for you." He said, walking to my side. "Tell me his name."

Sin shook his head at my hesitation, "Would you prefer I move around the whole pack in Merene and beat up all the werewolves I see?"

He could do that, I wasn't disputing the fact but it was even funnier imagining him fighting with some werewolves for what they didn't know.

"It's Chase, Alpha of the Moon Howler Pack."

"That bastard!"

Sin growled and rushed to the door but I was quick enough to intercept him.

"Nothing happened, Sin," I said, embracing him.

"Move away, Artemisia, let me teach him a lesson."

"He is my f**king enemy." He knows better than to do that. "I saw him appear the first time you came here, if it weren't for you, I would have killed him."

Sin knew Chase. It was shocking but I didn't think he was truly an enemy as he said.

Perhaps, there was more to it and he might just be a friend that they fell out with each other.

Still, there was no way I was letting him do something as irrational as that.

"I love you, Sin. If I didn't, I wouldn't have come back for you. I would have done a lot of awful things with him because he was kind to me."

"Hearing you talk about him more irks me."

I raised my head to look at him and stood on tiptoes. I kissed the corner of his mouth, before his lips.

"Stop trying to distract me, Artemisia."

"Kiss me," I said.

He glared at me and let out a groan. "You are such a minx."

"Your willing and lawful minx" I giggled.

Sin chuckled and carried me bridal style, "Perhaps, settling the score would be later. I need to make love to my beautiful mate."

I nodded and patted my thighs as soon as I landed on the bed.

"I love you, Artemisia. I love every inch of you and every f**king part of your body. I'll never lose you as I did before and I will protect you at all costs, even from my family."

Sin said, closing his lips on mine.

"I love you too, Sinclair Stone," I murmured into his ears as his hand went inside my thighs.

"Make love to me."

"Yes, darling." He said, taking me to a height I hadn't reached before.