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.

Seraphina’s POV

“I’m not a rogue! I am Princess Seraphina! My father will hear about this!”

But they wouldn’t listen. They just dragged me away. No matter how much I struggled or begged, they ignored me. My heart was pounding like crazy, fear creeping into every corner of my mind about what they might do to me.

Before I knew it, they were hauling me toward what looked like a small village. My eyes narrowed as I started noticing pack members roaming around. Some of them glanced my way, curiosity flickering in their eyes, wondering what was happening. A few stared outright, as if wondering who I was and why I was here.

Eventually, they brought me to the largest building at the center of the village. They opened the door and shoved me inside without hesitation. Once we were inside, they tied only my hands, leaving me standing there, horrified, as they stationed themselves on either side of me like guards.

“Call Alpha Kieran, now! We have an intruder on our borders,” one of them barked.

My eyes widened. A-Alpha Kieran?

My pulse raced even faster now.

Before I could gather my thoughts, I heard the steady sound of footsteps—confident, purposeful, and growing louder as they approached. Then, his voice echoed through the room, sharp and commanding, cutting through the air like a blade.

“Who is this trespasser that comes to our borders?”

When I looked up at him, his gaze pinned me in place. His eyes burned with an intensity I’d never seen before, as if they held all the power in the world. His presence was overwhelming, radiating dominance that made the air in the room feel heavier with each passing second.

Kieran didn’t come alone. When he arrived, he brought a group with him—clearly his pack members, and they all looked like higher-ranking wolves. My throat went dry, and I instinctively swallowed hard. I stepped back a little as he stopped right in front of me.

He was massive. Intimidating. And this wasn’t how I ever imagined seeing him for the first time.

Alpha Kieran.

“She said she’s Princess Seraphina from the Ravenwood Pack,” one of his soldiers said. “She was wandering near the borders, looking dazed and out of it. So we brought her here, assuming she was a rogue… one that needed to be dealt with.”

The soldier’s meaning was clear—“dealt with” could only mean one thing. My stomach twisted in fear.

They’ll kill me.

Kieran shook his head, his expression unreadable, but his sharp eyes held an air of authority that demanded silence. He clasped his hands behind his back as he turned to face me, finally addressing the soldier.

“Release her for now.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

Without hesitation, the soldiers obeyed him, untying the rope around my wrists. The moment I felt my hands were free, I instinctively stepped back, creating as much distance as I could.

But it didn’t matter. The air around Kieran was heavy, suffocating, and terrifyingly commanding. His mere presence filled the room, making it impossible to look away. And yet, beneath the fear, I couldn’t ignore this strange pull—like something about him was drawing me in against my will.

“Do you know anyone you can contact to prove your identity?” His voice was steady, calm, but the weight of his words made my chest tighten.

I instinctively thought of Callum and my father. I had blocked Callum, and my father was too weak to even move…

I shook my head quickly, panic bubbling inside me. “I don’t… I actually don’t have anyone who can testify for me,” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.