BALADA JANJI SUCI KIARA

On the full moon night, my twin foster brothers, Kane and Liam, both Alpha heirs, flanked me as we entered the great hall.

For twenty years, they had been my protectors in this world where I was the only human among wolves.

Pack members raised their goblets, filled with the traditional "Blood Flame" liquor that every wolf was expected to drink during the ceremony.

But I was human. My body couldn't handle what theirs could.

Kane and Liam had always made sure no one forced me to drink before. They understood my limitations better than anyone.

Serena, the servant's daughter, approached with a bone goblet in her trembling hands. Her voice shook as she spoke. "Ella, I only think of Kane and Liam as friends. Please don't be angry anymore.

I'll drink this cup for you. Consider it my apology."

She pressed a blade to her palm. Wolf blood dripped into the liquor, and the mixture immediately began to boil and hiss.

I knew she had already consumed one cup tonight. As an Omega, her body couldn't handle a second dose of Blood Flame.

Kane's brow furrowed. He stepped forward quickly, positioning himself between Serena and me. "She's already apologized. Stop being so aggressive."

Liam moved to support Serena's swaying form. His voice was gentle but firm as he addressed me. " You can drink it yourself, Ella."

I opened my mouth to explain. To tell them that my human physiology couldn't survive Blood Flame. That it would burn me from the inside out.

But Serena's hand "slipped." The entire goblet's contents splashed across my chest and arms.

Pain exploded through my body like liquid fire. My skin felt like it was being branded with hot iron. The alcohol seeped through my clothes, burning deeper.

As darkness closed in around me, I saw Serena collapse into Kane's arms, tears streaming down her face.

Both Kane and Liam looked past her shoulder, their eyes following my falling body with obvious concern.

But neither of them moved to catch me.

I woke up in the healing center. My skin was covered in angry red welts, and the healers told me the Blood Flame had damaged my internal organs as well.

My phone buzzed with an incoming call from Kane. His voice carried its familiar commanding tone. "Are you done with this tantrum yet?"

" The healer said your injury wasn't serious. Come home right now and apologize to Serena."

"She's been refusing to eat because she feels so guilty about what happened to you."

Liam's voice came through the speaker as he grabbed the phone. "Serena is just an Omega with weak bloodlines. Stop pretending to be sick just to upset her."

I stared at my reflection in the tent's metallic surface. My face looked hollow and pale.

I remembered when I was sixteen. Kane had fought three rogue wolves alone to protect me when I wandered into forbidden territory.

Liam had searched the entire pack lands for human-safe berries just to make me smile when I was sad.

They used to monitor everything I ate and drank, making sure nothing could harm my fragile human constitution.

But ever since Serena arrived, things had changed. They still cared for me out of habit, but when forced to choose, they always prioritized protecting the "more fragile" Serena.

I finally understood the truth. I wasn't irreplaceable. I had just happened to appear at a time when they needed someone weak to protect and care for.

I hung up the phone and dialed my foster mother, the pack's Luna. "Mother, I agree to marry the vampire heir."

Twenty years ago, my parents died in a werewolf war. The Alpha and Luna took me in and had been searching for a future that would guarantee my absolute safety.

Marriage to the vampire clan was the best option available, but Mother had always respected my wishes.

I opened Facebook and saw Serena's latest post.

She was lying on my bed, wearing two pieces of jewelry. One was the wolf fang necklace Kane had won for me during his coming-of-age hunt. The other was the moonstone ring Liam had carved by hand for my sixteenth birthday.

Her caption read: "Human girl, true love doesn't need to be fought for. It naturally belongs to the strongest."

I blocked her account without expression.

I called my foster mother back. "I'm serious about this decision."

The doctor had informed me that this injury was permanent. Another similar attack might destroy my ability to have children forever.

I needed an absolutely safe environment.

Mother sighed heavily before agreeing. "The vampires have consulted with witches about timing. Seven days from now is the optimal time for the blood oath ceremony. Use this week of recovery to say goodbye to everyone properly."

I looked out at the gray sky through the window, knowing I would spend this week saying goodbye to my entire youth.