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.

Seraphina’s POV

Alpha Kieran narrowed his eyes at me, his expression cold and impatient, as if I was wasting his time. Without a word, he turned his back on me and raised his hand in a dismissive gesture.

“Get her out of here,” he commanded, his tone sharp and final. “And kill her immediately. I don’t want any rogues wandering near our borders.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

The soldiers moved toward me, ready to carry out his orders. Panic surged through me as I realized what was about to happen. My breathing quickened, my chest tightening with fear.

But before Alpha Kieran could walk too far away, flanked by his high-ranking pack members, I screamed, my voice breaking with desperation.

“Alpha Kieran, please! Please listen to me!”

He stopped in his tracks. My heart raced as I watched him pause, though he didn’t turn around. His back remained to me, and I couldn’t tell if he was actually listening or just waiting for someone to silence me.

Still, I refused to give up. My voice trembled, but I poured every ounce of strength and conviction I had into my words.

“I’m telling the truth!” I yelled, my gaze darting to every person in the room. “My name is Seraphina! I am the daughter of Alpha Gideon, a princess of the Ravenwood Pack!”

I saw a flicker of reaction in the soldiers around me, but Kieran remained still.

“For five years, I was actually mated to Alpha Callum,” I continued, my voice growing stronger. “We were supposed to bond, to be wed. But he chose someone else… someone who wasn’t me. I canceled the wedding—humiliated in front of everyone. The shame was unbearable, and I ran. I ran from my pack, from my home. I didn’t even realize I’d crossed into your borders!”

Tears stung my eyes, but I held my ground, determined to make them believe me. My voice cracked as I pleaded once more, “I’m not a rogue. I swear it.”

He didn’t say a word. The silence in the room was suffocating, pressing down on me from all sides. He still had his back turned, refusing to face me.

That only made me more determined. I clenched my fists tightly, took a deep breath, and closed my eyes for a moment to steady myself. There was no turning back now. I was already here—this was my only chance. I had to lay it all out before him.

“Alpha Kieran,” I started, my voice filled with resolve, “my pack—the Ravenwood Pack—was attacked in the past. We barely survived. My father, Alpha Gideon, is weak now. He’s old, and the burden is too much for him to bear. I’m his only heir, his only child.”

I paused to gather my courage, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure everyone could hear it. Then, I finally said it.

“And I have a proposal for you.”

The words left my lips, firm and deliberate. I drew in a shaky breath before continuing, my voice unwavering despite the weight of what I was about to say.

“Alpha Kieran, I am offering you a marriage proposal. To protect my pack, to strengthen our alliance… I propose myself to you. I ask you to accept me as your mate, to make me your Luna, and to unite our packs.”

I swallowed hard, feeling my chest tighten as I dropped to my knees. The desperation, the vulnerability—it all came pouring out of me.

“Please,” I whispered, “this is the only way.”

A collective gasp echoed through the room. The soldiers and high-ranking pack members around us froze, their shock palpable. No one had expected this—not now, not like this.