Seraphina’s POV

The room felt suffocating, as if the air had thickened under the weight of my decision. My father, Alpha Gideon, sat pale and stunned on the edge of his bed, his usually strong frame slumped as though the news had drained the life from him.

“You can’t mean this, Seraphina,” he said, his voice low and hoarse. His trembling hands gripped the wooden frame of the bed as if it could somehow steady him. “Alpha Kieran Vale? You’re choosing him over your mate?”

I stood tall, forcing steel into my voice even as the tightness in my chest made it hard to breathe. “Yes. I’ll marry him tomorrow.”

Alpha Gideon shook his head slowly, his disbelief etched in every line of his face. “You don’t understand what you’re saying. Kieran isn’t just feared—he’s a wolf without a soul. He slaughtered an entire pack, Seraphina. Warriors, rogues—families. He didn’t leave a single survivor. And you want to tie yourself to him?”

My nails dug into my palms as I clenched my fists, my voice hard and stubborn. “I know who he is. I know exactly what he’s capable of. But we’ve seen the reports, Father. The rogues are gather again. We barely survived the last attack. If they come back, they’ll tear through Ravenwood, and this time, there will be no one left to bury our dead.”

He rubbed a hand over his face, his age suddenly visible in the lines that creased his skin. “There must be another way. What about Callum?”

My laugh was bitter, sharp as glass. “Callum?” I repeated, the name like poison on my tongue. “Don’t speak his name to me, Father. He made his choice. And it wasn’t me.”

The memory was fresh, raw, and it cut deeper than I cared to admit. Just an hour ago, Beta Damon had arrived from Silverpine Pack, his expression unreadable as he delivered the news.

“Alpha Callum sends his regrets,” Damon had said. “He won’t make it to the wedding.”

I had forced myself to ask, though I already knew the answer. “Why?”

Damon hesitated, his gaze flickering. “Tyla needed him. It’s... an emergency.”

It was always Tyla. The Beta’s fragile, manipulative daughter who clung to Callum like a lifeline. She played helpless, and he fell for it every time. My heart had broken then, shattered by the realization that I would always come second.

I met my father’s gaze now, my voice steady but icy. “I canceled the wedding. Damon is on his way back with the message. Callum can have Tyla if she’s so important to him. I refuse to be someone’s option.”

Alpha Gideon sighed, his shoulders sagging as if the weight of the world had settled on him. “And so you run to Kieran Vale instead? Do you think he’ll care for you, Seraphina? Protect you? He’s not your mate—he’s a killer.”

“This isn’t about love or mates, Father,” my voice remained serious, “This is about survival. You raised me to put the pack first. That’s what I’m doing.”

My father looked at me, his eyes filled with a mix of pain, doubt, and something that looked like guilt. “And if he destroys you, Seraphina? What if he turns his strength against you—or against us?”

I swallowed hard, my throat tight with the effort of holding back tears. “Then I’ll face him. But I won’t let Ravenwood fall without a fight.”

Suddenly, my father’s hand trembled as he pressed it to his chest, his breathing turning shallow and uneven. Alarm shot through me, and I rushed to his side.

“Father!” I knelt in front of him, gripping his shoulders. His face had turned pale, and his head lulled forward as he struggled to stay conscious. “Stay with me,” I pleaded, panic lacing my voice. “Breathe. Please!”

His eyes fluttered open briefly, his voice barely a whisper. “I just... need a moment...”

Tears welled in my eyes, and I blinked them away, forcing myself to stay calm. “What’s happening to you?” I muttered, though my voice trembled. “I’ll call the pack healer—”

“No.” He gripped my hand weakly. “I’ll be fine. Just... give me time.”

I hesitated, my heart warring with my instincts. Finally, I nodded and rose to my feet, brushing away the stray tears that had escaped. “Rest, Father. I’ll handle this.”

I left the room reluctantly, closing the door behind me but pausing just outside. My chest felt empty, and for the first time, doubt clawed at me. I pressed my hand to the door, wishing I could undo all the pain he’s experiencing.

Tomorrow, I would marry Alpha Kieran Vale and face the man everyone feared.

Callum’s POV

“She canceled the wedding, Alpha Callum.”

Canceled? I stared at him, struggling to wrap my head around it. “What do you mean, Damon? What are you saying?”

“Seraphina called it off. She’s not marrying you anymore.”

What the fuck? We were supposed to be mates. Five years—five years together, and now she was backing out?

I gritted my teeth, the words hammering into my brain. She canceled it. The wedding was supposed to be mine, ours. How could she do this to me?

I clenched my fists, feeling the heat of my fury threatening to break loose. My mate—my bond—was slipping away.

Then it hit me. Of course, Seraphina would need me.

Her pack, Ravenwood, was the weakest after that rogue attack. They couldn’t stand up to another. She was desperate, trying to hold everything together. I was the one she really needed.

“She’ll come crawling back to me, Damon,” I said, my voice dripping with certainty. “She has no choice. Ravenwood’s falling apart, and they need me. I’ve always been her only option.”

“You think she’ll come back?”

I leaned back in my chair, smug. “Of course, she will. I am the one who can protect her, protect her pack. She knows that.” I crossed my arms, letting the weight of my words settle between us.

“Seraphina needs a strong Alpha,” I continued, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. “No one’s better than me.”

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and the soft sound of footsteps echoed through the room.

Tyla.

I looked up just as she stepped inside, her doe-like eyes wide, that familiar sympathetic look she always wore. Her gaze flicked to Damon, then back to me, and she bit her lip as if unsure whether to interrupt.

“Alpha,” she said softly, walking closer. “I... I hurt my hand. Could you—could you help me with it?”

“Your hand?” I repeated, raising an eyebrow, my voice filled with a flicker of concern. Tyla was the last person I expected to be hurt.

Tyla winced, clutching her wrist with her other hand, looking up at me with those wide, innocent eyes. “Please,” she added, her voice small, almost fragile.

“Alright, let me see it,” I said softly, gesturing for her to come closer.

“Damon, leave us for a moment.”

As I took her hand in mine, feeling the delicate skin of her wrist, something stirred inside me. Tyla had always needed me.

“You really should be more careful,” I murmured, gently applying pressure to her wrist as I examined it. The intimacy of the moment wasn’t lost on me. The way she looked at me—eyes filled with trust and need—made my chest tighten. I couldn’t help but feel possessive over her, wanting to protect her at all costs.

Her skin was soft beneath my fingers, and as I finished treating the injury, I lingered, brushing my thumb over her skin. I looked up at her, locking eyes.

“Better?” I asked quietly, my voice softer than I intended.

She nodded, her lips curving into a small, grateful smile. “Much better, Alpha,” she whispered. Then, she closed the distance between us, her fingers brushing against my arm, her eyes never leaving mine.

“You’re always so good to me,” she murmured, her voice low and full of longing. “I heard the news. I’m sorry if the wedding was canceled. I feel like it’s my fault…”

I pulled away slowly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. Her eyes were wide, full of that familiar need.

“No, it’s okay. Don’t blame yourself. I’ll always be here for you, Tyla,” I said softly, meaning it. She needed me, and I was never going to turn away from her. She was mine, in a way, and nothing would change that.

Seraphina’s POV

I stood at the entrance of the grand hall, the whispers of the guests floating around me. My heart pounded, and I felt the weight of every eye on me. The room was full of wolves from different packs—noble, strong, respected. It should have been a moment of celebration, but instead, it felt like the whole world was watching me fall apart.

The dress, the flowers, the decorations—it all felt like a cruel joke. I was supposed to marry Callum today, my mate, the Alpha I trusted. But he wasn’t here.

I took a deep breath, trying to hold back the tears. I had to say something. I had to let them know why there would be no wedding today.

I stepped forward, my heels clicking against the marble floor, the sound sharp and heavy in the silence. The guests all turned toward me, their expressions curious. I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice.

“The wedding is cancelled,” I said, my voice trembling slightly. The words felt like they were tearing me apart, but I had to say them. There was no turning back now.

A ripple of gasps spread across the room. Murmurs started, low at first, then louder. I could hear the word “abandoned” whispered behind me, and my stomach twisted.

“Alpha Callum... he left me for someone else,” I muttered, more to myself than anyone else. The reality of it hit me all at once. I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore.

The whispers grew louder, more hurtful.

“He left her?”

“What a disgrace!”

“She’s alone now, shame for her.”

I could feel the weight of their stares, their judgment, and it made me want to disappear. This wasn’t supposed to happen. This wasn’t the life I had imagined for myself. Callum had promised me everything, and now, he had broken it all.

All because of Tyla.

My breath came in shallow gasps, and I could feel the walls closing in. I didn’t want to be here anymore. I didn’t want to stand in front of these people who were watching me fall apart. Without another word, I turned and fled from the hall.

I ran through the corridors, my feet stumbling in the high heels, my heart racing faster than my legs could carry me. I needed to escape. I needed to get away from the looks, from the whispers, from everything.

I didn’t know how long I ran, or where I was going. The world around me blurred. All I could think of was getting away. The cold air hit my face as I stumbled through a door and found myself outside. The path ahead was dark, the trees lining the border of Ravenwood stretching out before me like a dark, endless maze.

I stopped, trying to catch my breath, but the night was heavy, the silence overwhelming. I had no idea where I was. I had left the safety of the wedding grounds, and now I was lost.

"Help…" I whispered, my voice barely a breath. No one could hear me out here.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned quickly, my heart racing, but the moment I looked up, I was surrounded. A group of soldiers, all dressed in dark armor, stood before me, blocking the path.

“Who are you?” one of them barked, his eyes scanning me from head to toe. “What pack are you from?”

I opened my mouth to speak, but my voice caught in my throat. “I’m... I’m Princess Seraphina of the Ravenwood Pack,” I said, my words shaky. I held my head high, trying to appear strong, but inside, I was shaking. “I’m the daughter of Alpha Gideon.”

The soldier didn’t seem to care. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the others. “She’s a rogue,” he said, his voice cold and harsh. “Capture her!”

I stepped back, my heart pounding. “No! I’m not a rogue. I’m not... Please, I’m telling the truth. I’m Seraphina, the princess!”

But it was no use. They advanced on me, and before I could protest again, they grabbed my arms and dragged me toward the trees. My mind raced. What was happening? Why weren’t they listening to me?

“Please, you don’t understand,” I pleaded, trying to break free. “I’m not a rogue. I’m not!”

But they ignored me, tightening their grip as they led me deeper into the forest. My mind screamed in panic, but all I could do was struggle weakly against their hold.