64

ARTEMISIA

"What is going on with you? I mean you have been moody all morning."

I stared at Sin as his back hunched over. I thought he was fine after the meeting, but he had gone back to his usual self and I don't know if I should be scared of the constant change in his attitude or not.

I was aware the moon contributed to part of it, yet it was as if it was only Sin that was affected the most because he was the only one exhibiting the characteristics of what they had listed the lost moon contributed to.

"I'm fine." He grunted, then stood abruptly from where he sat.

I grasped his hand as he attempted to move past me.

I felt his hands clenched and his shoulders tensed up, his eyes travelled to my face and I could see the agony in them.

"You need to tell me, Sin. You promised not to keep anything away from me. Yet you are doing otherwise."

He groaned, shaking his head. "I don't want to hurt you."

"You are not hurting me already," I mumbled.

I caressed the stubble on his cheeks and my hand combed through his lustrous hair before I wrapped my arms around his midsection.

Sin didn't reciprocate the embrace, rather he stood rigid and I wondered if he would push me away.

"Please, you need to stay away from me. I am a monster."

His voice was low but I heard him.

"You are not!" I glared at him. "Why would you say such?"

"Because that is the person I am. Nothing can ever change it and I don't think you can as well."

"Look at me," I ordered as he gazed away.

"I know whatever has happened and is happening, isn't you. You will never hurt me on purpose. But, let me help you."

"Help me?" Sin's brows creased. He shook his head after a while and let out a sigh.

"You can't. Only the moon goddess had the right to help me now."

"I can if you let me," I said.

"What do you intend to do?"

At least, the conversation was going normal. No yelling or slamming yet and he was willing to listen to what I had in mind.

However, I had nothing in mind. I didn't know why I promised to help me but I know it was the right thing to do.

"Let me help you," I mumbled again.

Sin nodded with a sigh. "Although I don't know what you have in mind, I hope it works. It gets worse by the day and it might come to a time when you wouldn't be able to stay close to me."

"I doubt that. I take risks…"

"You shouldn't." Sin grunted. "I'd hate to be the reason you would be in the infirmary. Considering what happened the last time, I don't think you are in any condition to be anywhere close to me."

I groaned as he jerked his hand away, then stalked out of the door.

"What just happened?!"

I had thought we were going great, the conversation would have been a success until he flipped again. I doubted I'd be able to stay a minute without him switching off on me.

Walking away from the meeting room, I stepped outside.

"Hey."

"Shit!"

I shrieked, my hands flapping in the air as Laurent appeared in front of me.

"What is wrong with you?!" I shoved his chest and scowled.

"I didn't intend to do that." He chuckled. "Besides, why are you so angry? Is it because of that douche?"

I rolled my eyes, ignoring his question. "Why are you here? The meeting was dismissed. You should be with the other werewolves trying to find a solution to your predicament."

Nodding towards some pack members who were huddled together, I recognized most of them were in the Laurent team. Whenever they wanted to go out to battle, they often went in teams and each team consisted of five members.

"I didn't see you around. So, I came to check if you were okay." He said, scrutinizing my face.

I blushed as his eyes lingered on my face.

"I was with Sin, I don't think I need to be taken care of."

"You do, actually."

"What do you mean?"

"Sinclair is more dangerous than you think and being in his presence at the moment is the worst thing you can do," Laurent said.

"He isn't. He is just affected by…"

"Yeah, he is affected by the moon." Laurent interrupted. "We all are. But, Sin is different."

I furrowed my brow as he went on. I glimpsed Sin talking with the members of the Laurent team. Then he halted, his eyes locking on mine.

"Do you know why he always flips whenever you are close by?"

Laurent continued as I shook my head.

"That is because you are a curse to him. You are the person to destroy him. You are pretty much his downfall."

"I don't understand," I murmured. "I have never done anything awful to him and I think we are meant to be."

"Not that." Laurent dismissed. "You might be his fated mate, but the more time he spends in your presence, the more he goes insane because you are just like a fuel that makes the fire go higher. So, to him, you are like a sweet meal he needs to make himself feel better."

"Sin wants to kill me?"

"Yes." Laurent nodded. "He feels the urge but he is trying to curb it. That is why he beats you up instead and makes you feel like trash."

"Him not killing me sounds good right?"

"It's awful because your presence will make him go mad since he can't do a thing to you. I think the mate bond between you two is strong. Even if he is hurting you, he can do you no harm."

I let out a sigh. That should be great news that I would not be minced meat to Sin. However, I didn't know why I felt otherwise.

Also, something else surged through me. I recognized it as anger.

My hand curled and I gazed towards the direction of Sin to see him stalking towards me.

I walked up to him, "I know everything going on. But what I don't understand is why you keep it away from m…"

Sin brushed past me, towards Laurent.

I saw him grip Laurent's shirt and before I could yell out his name, I heard a crack.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Laurent yelled, spitting out blood but whether Sin heard him or not, he didn't show it. Rather, he went on delivering several more blows on him.

The assault went on for a while before the members of the packs were able to break them apart.

"What is wrong with…"

"Not a word!" Sin snapped at me and gripped my hand.

He dragged me towards the palace building and I gazed back at Laurent.

I nodded as he made the sign he had taught me to use whenever I was in danger.

Even though I assumed Sin was not taking me indoors to hurt me since I did nothing wrong to him. I couldn't help the fright that suddenly enveloped me.

If I needed saving, I was certain Laurent was the best person to call.