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.
