I just wanted to quickly mention that to thank all you amazing readers who have voted for and supported my story, I have started dedicating chapters to you. I hope this shows the appreciation I have for you guys. 

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As we walked, I listened in to the words exchanged by the Princess and the Duke and soon learnt the meeting was being held in the Council Chambers which was, apparently, where all important discussions took place. It was located not far from the nightmarish doors of the ballroom and as we approached, I could still pick up the faint scent of Marcella lingering in the air. It sent shockwaves rocketing through my body and I increased my pace until the musty smell of wood was all I could pick up.

It seemed everyone was already inside as we approached and I made sure to lift a hand to warn the two Lieutenants that they were to wait outside, as they were not cleared to hear the confidential discussions which were about to take place. Though Lucia bared her fangs slightly at me, she did not protest and moved to stand beside the doors.

Stepping closer to the Princess, who had removed her arm from the Duke's, I eyed the footmen attentively. they reached for the door handles and pulled the double doors open, revealing a room full of powerful men.

It was not the branches of a sacred tree carved into the huge mahogany table in the centre of the room or the bright sunlight that streamed down from the almost magical glass roof or the mouth-watering scent of freshly killed deer that caught my senses as I followed the Princess into the Council Chamber. Instead, I was blinded by the fragrance of rich oak, salty sea air and wild garlic that seemed to originate from the head of the table.

Lifting my eyes upwards as silence fell over the room, I heard the sound of a chair scraping against the hard, wooden floor and footsteps moving towards me. I seemed to be frozen, my eyes refusing to budge from their transfixed position on the corner of the table as every nerve in my body tingled with anticipation. And every sense was on fire with the acute awareness of everything around me, including the growing warmth of a body.

"Hello," a soft, whisper travelled through the air, breaking me out of my trance. Slowly, my chin lifted upwards and I found myself staring into a pair of warm, golden eyes that blinked with disbelief as they met my moon-white irises.

Shivering as I felt his gaze sweep across my face, taking in every little detail, I suddenly felt completely self-conscious of my every flaw and turned my head to the side to hide, only to catch the almost shocked expression on Octavia's face that she had failed to hide.

"No," he spoke again, his worn fingers gently gripping onto my chin and tilting my head towards him. "You must never hide your beauty from me."

Nerves fluttered in my stomach and my hand moved unnoticed to grasp the hilt of my sword as though a blade could chase away the vulnerability I felt in his presence.

"What is your name?"

"Artemis," I whispered, my voice almost lost to the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions inside of me.

"Artemis," he repeated, testing it out on his tongue and smiling as it fit perfectly. "My name is Andreas. I have been waiting a long time to meet you,"

A sudden voice echoed in my mind and I winced as a sharp pain shot through my head. Andreas, the voice tapped excitedly. He is so, it faded quickly, disappearing with a soft mewl and I froze in shock. For a moment, my wolf had been there. Although she had gone as quickly as she had appeared. 

"Artemis, my promised?" Andreas spoke softly, confusion creasing his brows as my attention had been drawn away from him.

But it did not have the effect he wanted it to. The word 'promised' drove an ice-cold blade of fear deep into my heart and I took a subtle step back, ignoring the wrongness of the space I had just put between us.

"Excuse me," I mumbled and moved away from the warmth radiating from his body and towards the doors that had not been closed yet. Behind me, I heard my name being called out, but I did not even turn to register that melodic voice as I hurried down the corridor.

It was not that I was afraid of him. I knew exactly who this man was, although the idea of me being his promised seemed ridiculous. No, it was the fear of him getting close that drove me to put one foot in front of another, against every urge that was pulling me towards him. My mother died saving my life; Marcella died saving my life. It seemed everyone around me died and the urge to protect me would be a thousand times stronger for him. 

This was to protect him.

Fingers latched around my wrist and my reflexes responded with brutal efficiency, grabbing the arm with my other hand and twisting it behind the attacker's back. It was only a moment later when I felt the warm, buzzing feeling between my skin and his that I realised it was Andreas I had pinned against the wall.

Releasing him, I murmured a sincere apology and forced the distance between us as he rubbed the fading handprint I had made on his arm. 

"Why did you run?" he demanded, his voice louder and no longer with the same sense of awe and affection.

"I-" I faltered as my reason no longer felt adequate to explain the heartbroken look on his face and instead searched my mind for a kinder, white lie. "I was surprised. You are the Alpha Heir and a Prince, it was a lot to take in."

His hand reached out again and I controlled the urge to tense as he cupped my jawline in his palm. "I saw you, at the night of the ball. You ran away then as well."

"I did not realise who you were to me," I answered, this time with the truth. "Protecting the Princess was our - my priority," I corrected myself, ignoring the grief that swelled at the thought of her.

His eyebrows creased as his jaw locked tight and I heard a muffled growl erupt from him. "You should not have been in danger. I should have been there to protect you."

My voice turned colder suddenly. "The assassins should not have been in the palace in the first point," I pointed out angrily. "And I don't want you to protect me; I can protect myself."

"I know," his voice turned softer again. "My Luna Queen is strong and brave. I could not ask for a more perfect promised." His hand moved slowly to tuck a strand of loose hair that the wind had loosened from my braid behind my ear and my body instinctively leaned closer towards him, revelling in the warmth and comfort his touch brought me. 

"I want you to be happy with me," he murmured, his soft lips moving closer to me with every word. "And I will do anything to make you happy."

"I don't know you," I breathed, all rational thoughts and doubts leaving me as I stared transfixed by the way his lips moved as he spoke.

"Then I will tell you everything about me until you know me better than I do."

His lips were so close to mine that I could feel the warmth of his breath on my skin and I shivered with delight. The sweet scent of his had wrapped around my nose, blocking out all sense of smell whilst my ears were focused only on the sound of his voice.

And then he pulled away, taking with him the overwhelming feeling of comfort and exhilaration and leaving me with a world that seemed dull and cold. Still, his soft yellow eyes still gave me a hint of the bliss I had just felt as they looked at me with the greatest kindness anyone could imagine.

"My father's wolf is calling to mine; I must go to him. But we will pick up where we left off as soon as I can."

And then he was gone, leaving me alone in the corridor with a fire still burning in my heart and thoughts still tumbling around my mind. Tentatively tracing my lips, I thought back to that moment when our lips had been so close that I had thought a kiss was inevitable. In fact, I had longed for my lips to meet his and for sparks to fly as we became one. 

Throwing my hands down with frustration, I cursed myself for my foolishness. I had lost all sense of sanity as I had allowed him to get so close to me. But he was just too perfect and I was too emotionally weak to resist the bond which had snapped into place as soon as we had met. 

"Those damn witches," I hissed. Of course, they had to send me my promised when there was no guarantee I was going to survive this trip. And to make him a prince. They must really hate me.

Frustration at myself had kicked in, but it wasn't towards my unintentional acceptance of him. It was towards the weakness I had shown him and I vowed never to be so submissive again. 

Maybe I could not resist him, but I could make him fight for me.

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Sooooo ... that happened.

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