1.Blood for the king

The only time my father ever looked at me was when he needed my blood. Besides that, I was always seen as worthless, useless, and mistreated for being wolfless and the weakest among his daughters.

I stood in the center of his study with my hands clasped behind my back. My father walked slowly behind me, checking my necklace to make sure it was still locked. Even though he knew I could never take it off, since he had the only key, he still inspected it every night. He had made me swear with my life that I would never remove it.

He finally returned to his chair and sat down. Today, he looked older, paler, and weaker than his usual lethal self.

“Sit,” he commanded, and I obeyed at once.

I did not look when he picked up the needle. Instead, my eyes stayed fixed on my lap watching nothing.

My father stepped closer and took my hand, pressing the needle into my arm. I did not flinch. I only watched as the glass tube slowly filled.

My blood shimmered thick, mixed with golden white liquid. It was the only unique thing about me, the one part no other wolf in this territory possessed.

“You look pale, Manora,” he remarked, and there was no concern in his voice.

“I’m fine, father,” I replied quietly, and he only hummed in response.

This was the only time he ever paid attention to me, because he needed enough of my blood to fill his vials. When the tenth one was full, he settled back into his chair and injected himself with it immediately.

I watched as he groaned, his body relaxing while the blood worked through his system. Meanwhile, my own body felt weaker with every second.

I sat quietly, playing with my fingers so I would not look as tired as I felt, while my father relaxed deeper into his chair. He leaned back, then cleared his throat.

“I’ve decided to send you away to the Talons.”

My eyes lifted to his immediately.

“To go serve your sister.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

“Pack up all your bags. You are moving by sunset,” he said.

None of it made sense to me. In everyone’s eyes, my younger sister had always been the favored one, the wanted one. She was the jewel of our pack. Did my father really have to stoop this low and turn me into her maid?

He looked at me with pure disdain.

“It’s about time for you to be useful somewhere else. You will be Alpha Kaven’s caretaker.”

My eyes widened in disbelief and then confusion.

“Why do you want me to serve him when Selene is his mate?” I asked quietly, my eyes dropping to the floor.

I swallowed before forcing myself to speak again.

“I do not understand. Why me? Why not someone from his pack?” My voice shook, and my hands trembled in my lap.

He sneered.

“Do you think I chose you because of affection?”

His words stung.

“You are so worthless that even the strongest thing about you is useless to your own body.”

He snarled before I could respond, making me flinch in my seat.

“Your blood is what he needs. The Alpha King is dying. Kaven is the rightful heir to the throne, and if he does not recover soon, he will lose it. And all my effort to make Selene queen will be wasted.”

That was all I would ever be to him. A blood bank. Something he drained whenever he needed strength. He never cared how weak it made me, as long as I could still provide.

“Don’t you  have enough vials already?” I managed to ask. “Why not just send them instead?”

His expression darkened as he stood and moved closer. He grabbed my cheek, forcing my face up. I winced from the pain.

“He needs more than vials,” he said coldly. “They are not enough. Do you understand?”

I nodded, trying to pull away from his grip. Tears slid down my face, and my head felt light, dizzy from all the blood he had already taken from me.

“You dare question my command, Manora,” he snapped. “Go and pack your things now.”

I  stood, stumbling for a second, but I forced myself to stay steady so he would not scold me.

I left immediately.

Inside my room, I grabbed my bags and began stuffing clothes into them, my hands shaking. I cried quietly as I worked. Not only because of my father, but because of what his decision meant for me. Because of the danger he was sending me into.

Only two weeks ago, news had reached Crimson Fang.

Alpha Kaven had been cursed.

They said the curse left him blind, stripped of his memories, and drowning in pain. They said he cried out at night, tortured by something no one could see or understand.

And now my father was sending me straight into it.

Once I was done packing, I went back to the study and froze when I saw Selene already standing there.

She turned the moment she noticed me.

“Manora,” she called, walking over and pulling me into a hug.

I stayed stiff in her arms.

She clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes. “Is this how you treat your future queen?”

I ignored her and looked straight at my father.

“I am ready,” I said.

He nodded once.

Ignoring Selene only made her angrier.

“I’ve always known you’re a jealous bitch Manora,” she said, stepping closer, “It’s not my fault you’re good for nothing. Hating me won’t change fact that you’re a useless ugly pig who will always remain mateless be- ”

“Shut up ” I snapped before she could finish. The irritation I had been holding finally spilled out. “Don’t you ever get tired of doing all this ?”

Her eyes widened for a second, then darkened.

Before I could react, she lunged at me.

Her hands gripped my cheeks, her claws digging into my skin as her eyes flashed gold.

I whimpered.

“Do I need to remind you of your place?” she hissed.

Then she slashed my face.

The burn came instantly. Warm blood followed, and tears filled my eyes as I stumbled back. I almost pushed her away, but my father finally moved.

“You would not dare lay your filthy hands on her,” he snapped, stepping toward me.

His anger was not for me.

“How dare you disrespect my daughter, my heir, the future queen of the seven packs?” he continued.

I stood there, frozen. Not shocked. Just hollow. This was not the first time.

He turned to me, his voice sharp.

“Now that you are moving in with her, make sure you perform your duty. I do not want to hear any complaints. Is that clear?”

“Y… yes, Father,” I whispered.

“One more thing,” he added. “My daughter’s future depends on your blood. Make sure you feed Kaven every day until he recovers.”

He walked us to the car.

From the window, I watched him stand there, unmoved, like sending me away meant nothing at all.

My father did not care if I lived or died at the Talons, as long as Kaven stayed alive.

But as the car pulled away, I realized something he never did.

I was not being sent there to be a maid.

I was being sent to a blind monster who had no idea I was the only thing standing between him and the grave.