A Gift Of War.

Seraphina's POV 

I had never been called to my father’s presence before. Not even once in the eighteen years I have lived. So, you could imagine my shock when Vivian woke me up only to tell me my father sent for me.

As I walked down the hallway with two guards at my side to my father’s office which I had never once entered, my heartbeat raced.

I have been in the pack house countless times. Although I didn’t live here like the rest of my family, it was my duty to clean and maintain the place. This was the first time I was coming here for something else.

Did I do something wrong?

Was this still about Kristen’s hair and my punishment? Did they finally convince my father to get rid of me? A lot of thoughts ran through my mind and when I the doors to his office finally opened, I was a mess.

My father, restlessly moving up and down the room when I barged in without a heads-up, ceased pacing and turned my way. For the first time in my life, I locked eyes with my father , both of us trying to read the other.

“Your wounds,” he said. “Are they visible?”

I blinked. Confusion washing over me. he did not call me here to kill me? was he going to banish me then? Strip me of the title of daughter and pack member?

“I-I’m not sure, father.” I answered, lowering my head.

My father turned to the man beside me and gave a small nod. The man stepped towards me with an impassive look on his face.

“Turn around.” He ordered.

I could already feel myself moving even before he finished. I yelped when I felt his hand undoing my zip.

“Stay still.” He intoned drily.

I bit my bottom lip as my heart raced. What was he going to do to me? was he going to humiliate me even further?

“Let me unzip her.” Damon, my step-brother offered, taking a step towards me.

I stiffened. I knew what Damon could do and I didn’t want him anywhere near me. He had tried to force himself on me countless times but thankfully, he never got the chance to do what he wanted.

I always saw the lustful look he gave me when I worked and I tried to stay as far away from him as possible.

“Leave it.” My father said, waving him off. “Let Hunter do it.”

Immediately, Hunter undid my zip and the room descended into silence. My father inhaled a sharp breath, breaking the silence.

“Goddess,” he intoned. “Why isn’t she healing?”

“She has no wolf.” Hunter answered. “She can’t shift.”

I felt his rage before I heard the fury in his voice. “Go get me Vivian!” I felt his eyes burn into the skin on my back.

“How did I father something that can’t even shift?” he hissed, his voice dripping with barely concealed disgust. “We lost the war. We lost every fucking thing and are now at the mercy of that bastard Alpha and the one thing which might save us is an invalid?”

His disgust towards me was palpable. I felt it even in my bones.

“How old is she?” he finally asked but I could tell the question wasn’t directed at me.

Hunter turned to me where I still stood with my back to everyone. He hadn’t even bothered to zip me up. “How old are you?”

“Eighteen.” I answered.

“She is eighteen.” He said to my father.

“How quickly can her injuries heal?”

I stiffened as I felt Hunter’s hands over my back. “It looks like they are already healing. Vivian must have healed her with blood.”

Just then, the door opened and Vivian stepped in. I sucked in a breath, tears filling my eyes. I wanted to run to her and ask her to leave, to run away because she was now in trouble because of me but my feet stayed rooted to the floor.

Vivian’s eyes roamed my body before glancing at my father. “You called for me?”

I was shocked by the way she addressed him.

“This child is an invalid. Why?” my father asked.

“She isn’t an invalid.” Vivian replied in a bored tone. “Her wolf is just taking its time to show up. As you are aware, she found her mate.”

Right, but he rejected me to be with my sister.

I felt Kristen draw in a breath at the mention of my mate and then she started sobbing. Vivian glared at her but kept her mouth shut. Thankfully.

“Richie might be dead.” My father said in an answer to a question nobody asked. I had suffered heartbreak before, the day he rejected me and chose my sister over me but now? I felt nothing. “Everyone was killed during the war and Richie might be dead too, although we never found his body.”

Kristen’s sobs turned to wails and I heard her mother trying to console her. Vivian on the other hand approached me, zipping up my clothes.

“Seraphina is a strong girl. She has gone through a lot and is still standing. I don’t think she deserves to be cast away and labelled an invalid.” Vivian said slowly as though she was talking to a child and not the Alpha of Moon-ridge pack.

“If she can’t even shift, what will Lycan Fabian say?” my father defended.

I was lost. Who the hell was Lycan Fabian and why did my father care what he’ll think about me not being able to shift?

“We don’t have time.” My father continued. “Vivian, you used your blood to speed up the healing of an invalid. You deserve to be punished. What you did goes against our laws.”

“According to our law, an invalid should have been banished!” Vivian shot back.

I panicked. What the hell was she driving? I thought she was on my side. Was she trying to get me banished?

“There would be no need for punishments.” He announced. “Get her dressed and ready. Lycan Fabian is already on his way here. She should be ready for him by then.”

What? What the hell was going on here? Why was I getting dressed for this Lycan Fabian?

Vivian must have read my mind, because she folded her arms across her chest and said, “Alpha, why are these arrangements being made? I heard the rumors but I was to hear it from you.”

Rumors? And why was he letting her get away with talking to him like that?

My father’s face was tight and he looked furious but he still answered. “We lost the fight. Lycan Fabian and his men will be here soon and he will take my daughter as his prize.”

I blanked.

Vivian looked like she still had a lot to say. Her eyes darted to Kristen’s whose eyes were now red and puffy. “But isn’t the other on the daughter everyone recognizes and accept? Are you really going to give up Seraphina in her place?”

My father ignored her, striding past me, he said, “Get her ready. Her future husband shouldn’t be kept waiting.”

What? No, no, no. This couldn’t be happening.