CHAPTER 1 -The Blood That Saved the King

Seraphina was ten years old when she melt the powerful King Alpha .

At that time, she was just a poor orphan girl with nowhere to go.

Three months earlier, her mother had died from a strange sickness. Since then, Seraphina had been living alone. She slept in empty barns, under trees, and sometimes beside rivers. She begged for food when she could, but most people chased her away.

Life had not been kind to her.

That morning, she had woken up hungry.

By afternoon, the hunger had become painful.

She walked through the forest, hoping to find berries or fruit. Her dress was old and torn. Her shoes had fallen apart days ago, leaving her bare feet covered in dirt.

Still, she kept walking.

She had learned that crying would not change anything.

As she searched between the trees, a loud roar suddenly shook the forest.

Seraphina froze.

Her heart jumped.

The roar was followed by another one.

Then came growls.

Angry growls.

The sounds of fighting echoed through the trees.

Branches snapped.

Birds flew into the sky.

Something dangerous was happening nearby.

Seraphina should have run.

Any normal child would have.

But curiosity got the better of her.

Slowly, she followed the noise.

The sounds became louder.

Then suddenly, everything became quiet.

Too quiet.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed through a thick bush and stepped into a clearing.

The sight before her made her stop.

The ground was covered with blood.

Large wolves lay everywhere.

Some were dead.

Some were badly injured.

Seraphina had never seen wolves that big before.

They looked terrifying.

Her eyes moved across the clearing until they landed on a man lying in the middle of the grass.

He was covered in blood.

Deep wounds covered his chest and arms.

His clothes were torn.

His breathing was weak.

Very weak.

Seraphina slowly walked closer.

"Sir?" she called softly.

No answer.

She knelt beside him.

The man looked strong, but it was clear he would not survive much longer.

She looked around.

There was nobody else.

No one was coming to help him.

A sad feeling filled her chest.

She knew what it was like to be alone.

Then she remembered something.

Her mother's voice.

A memory from years ago.

"Your blood is special, Seraphina."

"One day, it may save someone's life."

"But never tell people about it."

Back then, she thought her mother was only telling stories.

But her mother had always been serious whenever she talked about it.

Seraphina looked at the dying man.

Could it really be true?

Could her blood heal him?

She didn't know.

But she had to try.

Her eyes fell on a small knife hanging from his belt.

She reached for it.

Her hand shook.

"What if it doesn't work?" she whispered.

The man's breathing grew weaker.

There was no time left.

Seraphina took the knife and made a small cut across her palm.

Pain shot through her hand.

She bit her lip.

Blood appeared immediately.

Carefully, she squeezed her injured hand over the man's largest wound.

Several drops of blood fell onto his chest.

Then she waited.

Nothing happened.

A few seconds passed.

Seraphina lowered her head.

Maybe her mother had been wrong.

Maybe—

A bright golden light suddenly appeared.

Seraphina gasped.

The wound began to close.

Right before her eyes.

The torn flesh slowly healed.

The bleeding stopped.

The deep claw marks disappeared.

It was like watching magic.

Her eyes widened.

"It worked," she whispered.

The man suddenly opened his eyes.

Golden eyes.

Bright golden eyes.

Seraphina jumped backward.

The stranger sat up quickly and looked around.

Then his gaze landed on her.

His eyes moved to her bleeding palm.

Shock appeared on his face.

"You..."

His voice was deep and rough.

Seraphina swallowed nervously.

The man stood up.

Only moments ago he had been dying.

Now he looked strong again.

Powerful.

Dangerous.

"Did you heal me?" he asked.

She hesitated.

Then nodded.

The stranger stared at her.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Finally, he asked, "What is your name?"

"Seraphina."

"How old are you?"

"Ten."

The man studied her carefully.

"Where are your parents?"

The question hurt.

"My mother died."

Something changed in his eyes.

"And your father?"

"I never knew him."

Silence filled the clearing.

"Do you have any family?"

Seraphina shook her head.

"No."

The man looked at her for a long moment.

Then he removed the heavy black cloak from his shoulders and wrapped it around her.

The warmth surprised her.

She looked up at him.

"Why are you helping me?"

The stranger's face softened.

"Because you helped me first."

Nobody had spoken kindly to her in months.

Nobody had cared whether she lived or died.

Yet this stranger was treating her with kindness.

The feeling almost made her cry.

The man extended his hand.

"Come with me."

Seraphina stared at it.

"Where?"

"Home."

Her heart skipped.

Home.

The word sounded wonderful.

But she had learned not to trust people too easily.

"What if you're a bad person?" she asked honestly.

To her surprise, the stranger laughed.

It was not a cruel laugh.

It sounded warm.

Then he crouched down until they were eye level.

"My name is Draven Blackthorn."

Seraphina's eyes widened.

She knew that name.

Everyone knew that name.

Draven Blackthorn.

The Alpha King.

The ruler of all werewolves.

The most powerful Alpha in the kingdom.

The man before her was a king.

And she had just saved his life.

Draven looked at her seriously.

"You saved me today, Seraphina."

His voice was firm.

"I will never forget that."

Then he gently took her hand.

"Come."

This time, Seraphina did not refuse.

She placed her small hand in his.

Draven smiled slightly.

Together, they began walking through the forest.

As they walked, Seraphina noticed several large wolves appearing from the trees.

She immediately froze.

Fear filled her face.

The wolves were huge.

Much larger than normal wolves.

Some of them had scars across their bodies.

Others carried weapons.

Draven noticed her fear.

"Don't worry."

The wolves immediately lowered their heads toward him.

Only then did Seraphina realize they were not ordinary wolves.

They were werewolves.

The Alpha King's warriors.

One of them stepped forward.

"My King!"

The warrior looked shocked.

"You are alive!"

The others quickly surrounded Draven.

Relief appeared on their faces.

"We searched everywhere for you."

Draven nodded.

"I am fine."

The warrior looked at Seraphina.

His eyes widened.

"A child?"

Draven's expression became serious.

"This child saved my life."

The warriors exchanged confused looks.

None of them understood.

But nobody questioned their king.

Draven lifted Seraphina into his arms.

She was surprised.

No one had carried her since her mother died.

For a moment, she wanted to cry again.

The feeling of safety was unfamiliar now.

"Let's go home," Draven said.

The journey back to the palace took several hours.

As the sun began to set, Seraphina finally saw it.

Her mouth fell open.

The palace was enormous.

Tall towers rose into the sky.

Guards stood at every entrance.

Beautiful lights shone from the windows.

It looked like something from a fairy tale.

Seraphina could hardly believe her eyes.

Draven carried her through the gates.

Immediately, servants rushed toward him.

"Your Majesty!"

"You're back!"

"We were worried!"

Everyone seemed relieved to see him alive.

Then they noticed Seraphina.

Curious eyes turned toward the little girl in his arms.

Whispers spread through the palace.

Who was she?

Why was the King carrying her?

Draven ignored them.

He walked straight inside.

The palace was even more beautiful than the outside.

Golden chandeliers hung from the ceiling.

Paintings covered the walls.

Soft carpets stretched across the floors.

Seraphina felt nervous.

She didn't belong in a place like this.

She was dirty.

Poor.

An orphan.

Draven seemed to notice her discomfort.

"You belong here," he said.

She looked up at him in surprise.

It was almost as if he had read her thoughts.

A few minutes later, Draven stopped in front of a large pair of doors.

The doors opened.

Inside stood three boys.

They looked surprised to see him.

"Father!"

The oldest boy ran forward first.

He looked around twelve years old.

Behind him stood another boy with sharp eyes.

The third boy appeared to be around Seraphina's age.

All three stared at her.

Draven smiled.

"Boys, I want you to meet someone."

The youngest stepped forward curiously.

"Who is she?"

Draven looked at Seraphina.

Then he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"This is Seraphina."

The boys waited.

Then Draven said words that shocked everyone in the room.

"From today onward, she is my daughter."

Silence filled the room.

Even Seraphina looked surprised.

A daughter?

A princess?

Could that really be true?

The three boys exchanged looks.

Then the youngest smiled.

"Hello, Seraphina."

Slowly, the others smiled too.

For the first time since her mother died, Seraphina felt something she thought she had lost forever.

She felt like she had found a family.

And she had no idea that saving a dying man in the forest would one day change the destiny of an entire kingdom.