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SERAPHINA

"Freya, my daughter—" Allison Grey—Sera's mother—her words were cut off by her tears.

Seraphina wiped her tears, her eyes swollen. Everyone was crying. The eldest princess was dead, and the lycans caused it. They killed her.

Her mother's tears only worsened the situation, and not even Seraphina could console her.

Seraphina couldn't handle it anymore. She turned away from the funeral, walking away. Freya died at the lycan citadel. The Lycan King killed her because she wasn't qualified to be their next queen, according to what the letter had said.

Her mother cried all night. Even her father wept. The palace felt empty. Fear crawled into everyone's hearts as they waited for the punishment the lycans had for them. After all, they ruled the Moon Realm, but out of anger, her father, Cassiel, had questioned them, and because of that, their pack must pay.

The court had never felt this tense before.

Cassiel sat on his throne, his face pale, his dark-brown eyes hollow. The head guard slowly opened the letter, the letter was written with blood. Everyone was silent for a second, then he read.

YOU DARED TO QUESTION MY JUDGMENT AFTER SENDING YOUR WOLFLESS OMEGA DAUGHTER TO THE LYCAN CITADEL TO COMPETE FOR THE POSITION OF FUTURE QUEEN. YOU WERE WELL AWARE THAT SUCH AN ACT WAS A GRAVE OFFENSE, YET YOU CHOSE TO DEFY MY AUTHORITY.

YOUR ELDEST DAUGHTER HAS ALREADY PAID THE PRICE FOR YOUR ARROGANCE. NOW, YOU SHALL PAY FOR YOUR INSOLENCE.

I DEMAND YOUR SECOND DAUGHTER, SERAPHINA GREY. SHE SHALL BE DELIVERED TO THE LYCAN CITADEL TO SERVE AS A SLAVE UNTIL HER FINAL BREATH.

REFUSE THIS ORDER, AND THE CRIMSON PACK SHALL BE WIPED FROM THE FACE OF THE MOON REALM. YOUR LANDS, YOUR PEOPLE, AND YOUR BLOODLINE WILL BE REDUCED TO ASH.

YOU HAVE THREE DAYS TO COMPLY.

BY MY ORDER,

HIS EXCELLENCY

THERON ASHADEROL

LYCAN KING OF THE MOON REALM

Silence filled the chamber for a few seconds.

Even if a pin fell at that moment, it would be heard.

Seraphina's eyes blinked in shock.

They wanted her.

Those monsters, after what they did to her sister.

Anger surged through her.

They weren't satisfied after what they did.

The ministers and other members of the court didn't say a word. They kept waiting for Cassiel to speak.

Cassiel couldn't.

"We are not giving them my child! They already killed one!" Allison declared.

The minister murmured, "And then let our pack die?" one of them shot back.

"Cassiel," Allison called.

Cassiel didn't speak.

He couldn't.

After a long breath, Seraphina's fingers curled around her fabric. Her chest rose and fell as she waited for her father's decision.

"We will give out Seraphina," Cassiel said.

"No!!!!!" Allison screamed. "Over my dead body!"

Seraphina felt her lungs dry up.

The room suddenly felt smaller.

She couldn't take it.

Her father wanted her sold.

She should leave.

She rose to her feet, then walked out immediately.

She couldn't sleep.

Her father had agreed to give her to the lycans.

Seraphina stood up.

Maybe she could change her father's decision

She could try, at least.

She walked down to her father's suite.

Approaching the large door, she could hear screams.

"My daughter isn't going to the lycans' citadel!" she heard a familiar voice—her mother.

"Lis, we have no choice! Didn't you see what happened after I questioned them? You probably forgot that this is the result, and we have to face it," her father's voice roared.

Seraphina felt goosebumps. She hadn't heard her father shout at her mother before.

Allison had always been the one shouting, but now, it felt different.

"So what should we do? Give Sera to those monsters?" Allison asked. "We will find another way!"

"Why are you so frustrating to convince? The more they see we want to keep Sera, the more they will demand her," Cassiel grunted.

"She just has to go, and then we will find a way to get her out," Cassiel stated.

"She's too weak! She will probably die within the span of a week," Allison said. "She doesn't have a wolf."

"No... I haven't forgotten. That's why she needs to be strong," Cassiel said.

Yes, she was wolfless. She was born without a wolf, and no matter the sorcerers, witches, or seers they met, they always reached a dead end.

She was as weak as a human.

How would she survive there?

She needed protection.

"She doesn't even know how to defend herself. You stopped her from reaching the training ground when you heard she wanted to train!" Allison declared.

"Give them all our fortunes. We will step down. I can serve there instead," Allison said desperately.

A loud sound was heard next.

"Lis! Lis! Lis!" Cassiel shouted, and Seraphina pushed the door open.

What happened?

Her mother was on the floor, unconscious, blood flowing from her skull.

"Guards!" Cassiel screamed, and a guard came in.

"Call the palace doctor," Cassiel ordered, and the guard left.

Cassiel's eyes met Seraphina's.

Tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Is she breathing?" Seraphina asked, and Cassiel nodded.

She felt relieved.

"She probably didn't take her medication because of Freya's death." Seraphina knelt beside them as she wiped her tears.

"Sera," Cassiel said, and Seraphina's gaze met his.

He looked helpless.

Drained.

"Promise me that you will go to the lycan citadel and save the pack, including your mother. If she could hear it from you, I'm sure she would be able to handle it." Cassiel inhaled, then exhaled. "So please, Sera, promise me that you will go. I promise to make sure we find a way to get you out."

Seraphina stayed mute for a second.

Save the pack.

For her mother.

She couldn't be selfish.

But could she really do it?

"I will go," Seraphina whispered. "I promise."