Chapter 3: The Blood

The scent of blood lingered in the air,mingling with the ramp earth as Seraphina stumbled back toward her pack's territory. Every step was a struggle, her body still trembling from the encounter with the shadow creature. Her mind raced, replaying the night's events over and over, the rejection,  the pedestal, the fight and Kael's final words.

“I won't hesitate to end you myself”.

Her wolf whispered in her mind, weak and confused. She had no answers, no explanations for what had just happened. All she had was the suffocating weight of Kael's blame and the terrifying verification that something inside her had awakened- a power she couldn't control,let alone understand.

The woods grew darker as she neared the pack's border. The faint glow of crescent falls’ lights flickered through the trees, a reminder of the life she thought she had known. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed to her knees,her breath hitching as exhaustion overtook her.

“Seraphina”

The voice was familiar, soft and concerned. She looked up to see Maya, her closest friend, hurrying towards her. Maya knet beside her,her brown eyes wide with worry.

“What happened to you? You are bleeding” Maya's hands hovered over Seraphina's torn dress, unsure of where to start.

“It's not my blood” Seraphina whispered, her voice hoarse.

Maya's brow furrowed “What do you mean? And where have you been? Everyone's talking about what happened at the gathering. Kael rejected you–”

“I know”, Seraphina cut her off, her voice sharper than she intended  she clenched her fists, forcing the memories back. “It doesn't matter anymore”.

“Of Course it matters,” Maya said, her voice rising. “He humiliated you in front of everyone! And now you look like you have been through hell–” 

“I said it doesn't matter,” Serpahina snapped, standing abruptly. Her vision swam and she stayed on her feet.

Maya caught her arm, steadying her “Sera, you are scaring me, what's going on?” 

Seraphina hesitated, her throat tightening. How could she explain any of this? The pedestal, the shadow creature, the power that had surged through her? It sounded insane even to her.

“I just… I need to get home,” she muttered, avoiding Maya's gaze.

“Not like this, you are not”. Maya looped an arm around her shoulders, helping her stand, “Come on, we will go to my place first. You can clean up and rest before anyone else sees you like this”  

Seraphina nodded weakly, too drained to argue.

Maya's small cabin was a welcome refuge. The warm glow of the fireplace and the scent of herbal tea filled the space as Seraphina sat on the worn couch, wrapped in a blanket. Maya bustled around,muttering about how reckless she was for being out alone.

“You are lucky I was out looking for you,” Maya said, handing her a cup of tea. “Otherwise, who knows what could have happened”. 

If only you knew. Seraphina's fingers tightened around the cup as she stared into the swirling liquid.

Maya sat beside her, her gaze softening. “Sera, I don't know what's going on with you, but you can talk to me. You know that, right?”

Seraphina opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say anything, the door burst open.

Kael.

He filled the doorway, his presence commanding as ever despite the blood staining his torn shirt. His gray eyes locked onto Seraphina, cold and furious.

Maya shot to her feet, her hand instinctively reaching for the dagger on the table. “What the hell are you doing here?”.

Kael ignored her,his attention fixed solely on Seraphina. “We need to talk, Now.”

Maya stepped between them, her stance protective. “She is not going anywhere with you. You have done enough.”

“This isn't your business”, Kael growled. His voice low and dangerous.

“It is when you barge into my house uninvited!” She snapped, her wolf bristling beneath the surface 

“Stop,” Seraphina's voice was quiet but firm. She stood, swaying slightly before steadying herself. “Maya, its fine”. 

Maya looked at her like she'd lost her mind “Are you being serious right now? After everything he's done—” 

“It's fine”, Serpahina repeated, her gaze meeting Kael's “Let me handle this.” 

Reluctantly, Maya stepped aside, her expression grim.

Kael didn't wait for an invitation. He grabbed Seraphina's arm and pulled her outside, his grip firm but not painful. The night air was cool against her skin as they stopped a few steps from the cabin.

“What do you want?” She asked, her voice weary.

“What I want,” Kael said, his tone sharp, “is an explanation”. That thing in the woods- it was after you. Why”.

“I don't know”, she said, pulling her arm free, “I didn't ask for any of this”. 

Kael's eyes narrowed.  “You expect me to believe that? You touched something you shouldn't have. That pedestal–”

“I didn't know what It was!” She interrupted, her voice rising, “I didn't even know what it was there until tonight!”.

“Then why did it react to you?” He demanded, stepping closer.

“I don't know! So please stop questioning me about who I am, what's happening, anything else, I dont know” She shouted,her frustration boiling over. “I dont know what's happening to me, Kael! All I know is that k am scared, and i am alone, and–”

Her voice broke, and she turned away, her shoulders trembling.

Kael's anger faltered, replaced by something softer. “You are not alone,” he said, his voice quieter.

She laughed bitterly, wiping her eyes. “Really? Because it sure feels like it, you already rejected me so stop interfering in my businesses”.

Kael hesitated, his jaw tightening. “Look, I don't trust you,” he admitted. “Not after what I saw tonight, But if that creature comes back, it won't just be you it's after. It will come for the whole pack. And I can't let that happen.” 

Seraphina turned to face him, her eyes narrowing. “So, what? You are here to keep and eye on me? Make sure I don't endanger your precious pack?”

“If I have to,I will”he said evenly..

Her anger flared, but before she could respond, the wind shifted.

Kael's expression darkened. “Do you smell that?”

Seraphina's world stirred,alert. The air carried a sharp, metallic scent-blood.

Kael turned, his body tense. “Stay here.”

“Like hell I will,” she said, following him despite his glare. 

The two of them moved silently through the woods, the scent growing stronger with each step. Serapahina's heart pounded as they approached a clearing, the faint sound of snarling reaching her ears.

They stopped at the edge of the trees, and Seraphina's stomach dropped.

A group of rogue wolves circled a figure on the ground Maya.

“No,” Seraphina whispered, her blood running cold.

Kael grabbed her arm, holding her back. “Dont, you will get yourself killed”.

“She is my friend!” Seraphina hissed, trying to pull free.

“And she's already dead if you change in without a plan,” kael snapped 

Before she could argue, one of the rogues noticed them. It let out a chilling howl, and the others turned, their glowing eyes locking onto Kael and Seraphina.

"Run," Kael ordered, shoving her back.

But the rogues didn't give them a chance. They lunged, their snarls echoing through the clearing.

Kael shifted instantly, his black wolf tearing into the first rogue with brutal efficiency. Seraphina stumbled back, her heart hammering as chaos erupted around her.

One of the rogues broke away, its bloodied fangs bared as it charged toward her.

Her wolf screamed in her mind, urging her to fight, but her body was frozen.

"Move!" Kael's voice snapped though he was too late. The rogue slammed her to the ground.

It's jaws closed around her shoulder, and she assaueu as pain ripped through her. She clawed at the rogue's face, panic blinding her.

Suddenly, the rogue was yanked off her, its body flying through the air. Kael stood over her, his wolf's eyes blazing with fury.

He shifted back, blood dripping from his mouth as he hauled her to her feet.

“You are useless”, he snarled, his voice filled with frustration. “You will get yourself killed”. 

Seraphina swayed, her vision blurring. The pain in her shoulder was unbearable, her body weak and trembling.

“Maybe I should have let you die in that clearing”, he muttered, his words cutting deeper than the rogue's bite.

Before she could respond, her legs gave out and the darkness came out…….