Arthur
Selina kissed me.
Her lips were on mine before I had a chance to react, her hands cupping my face. The crowd nearby swooned, people pping and murmuring over the sweet disy of affection.
But I didn''t want it. I didn''t want her.
And worst of all, I couldn''t even shove her away like I really wanted to, because if I did, then I would be painted as the bad guy. So I had to endure it until it was over, carefully pulling away from her so as not to raise any eyebrows.
As the crowd cheered for the Alpha King and future Luna, and as Selina smiled sweetly up at me, I stered a fake smile onto my face. I leaned in and murmured in her ear, "Come with me. Now."
Selina giggled and took my hand, clearly expecting a closet tryst-just like the one I''d had to unfortunately cut short with Iris. But instead, I led her toward a secluded corner of the ballroom, positioned expertly behind a ratherrge potted nt.
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Then, I whirled on her. "Selina, what the hell was that?" I hissed, keeping my voice low.
She blinked as if in surprise. "What do you mean?"
"You kissed me."
Selina cocked her head. "Isn''t that what you wanted?" she asked, pouting slightly. "I thought we-''
I took a step back, shaking my head, utterly incredulous. "You developed feelings, didn''t you?"
"-"
"Didn''t you?" I repeated.
Selina swallowed, causing her throat to bob. Looking back now, I think that may have been the first time that I''ve ever seen genuine emotion on her smug face.
"Yes," she finally admitted. "I''m in love with you, Arthur. I have been for a long time."
I growled low in my chest, passing a hand over my face. "Selina, the contract states that we have to end it if either one of us develops feelings. We can''t continue this if you have feelings for me."
She stared at me. "Fuck the contract, then," sheughed. "Don''t be silly, Arthur. If we love each other, then who cares?"
"That''s the thing," I remarked. "I don''t love you. I love Iris. And I was pretty clear with you from the start what our arrangement would be."
Selina froze, no doubt recalling the very first day we''d signed that contract. I''d practically spelled it out for her, in ring red letters: I would not fall in love with her. Our arrangement was contractual in nature and nothing more, a fake marriage in public and that was it. In private, I would still have Iris. And even when Iris left me, I never went back on my word.
"Arthur-"
"I''m sorry, Selina," I said, genuinely trying not to hurt her, "but I don''t feel the same way. And you''ve vited our contract, so I''m going to have to end it."
Her eyes widened. "But I could mark you," she said. "I could unbind you from Iris, protect you from all of the
ridicule of having a human mate. Wouldn''t that be easier?''
I clenched my jaw, frustrated. Of course it would be easier to put an end to my bond with Iris. It wouldn''t make my wolf so damn crazy around her, it would help mitigate some of the intense attraction and obsession and jealousy.
"But I don''t want that," I said, taking another step back. "I want to be with Iris."
Selina''s face hardened then, any vestige of hurt turning into pure disbelief and anger. "So you''re ending our contract," she said. "Over a human."
"Not just a human. My mate. The love of my life. The mother of my child."
"She doesn''t even want you anymore! You know humans are fickle and selfish. She-"
"Enough."
The word was barely more than a growl, so low even I could hardly hear it, but it made Selina stiffen. I could feel my wolf pawing at the surface of my mind, the ancient authority in my bloodline urging me to put Selina in her ce. All it took was one word to shut her up.
"Come to my office first thing in the morning," Isaid, smoothing down the front of my rumpled tuxedo. "Mywyer will go over everything with you then."
And with that, I turned on my heel and left her standing there, fuming.
Now, as I stand in the middle of Iris''s studio, surrounded by paint stters and scraps of canvas, I can''t stop staring at the image in my hands. Today''s Bonus Offer