Seraphina's POV
"No..." The word came out as barely a breath. I scrambled backward until the cold wall pressed against my spine. "Lira, please... only the Alpha has the right... you can't do this..."
My fear only seemed to fuel her satisfaction. She grabbed my chin roughly, forcing me to meet her gaze. "Oh, but I can, dear princess. I'm the Alpha's daughter. This is my father's pack. I do whatever I want, and no one will question me. Especially not for you."
The "you" in her words hurt me.
It was as if I was nothing but garbage in her eyes that could be trampled by anyone, anytime. What was my fault? What was my crime? I didn't choose to be born as the daughter of the most hated king!
"Before Alpha Adrian takes your pathetic life, consider this as my little payback," she spat, her nails digging into my skin. "For humiliating me and raising your voice against me at the banquet. And for costing me my friendship with Marina."
Then, she turned to the guard and smiled. "Ten lashes. Then send her to prepare the pack's breakfast."
The guard nodded, that evil smile spreading across his face as Lira walked out of the cell.
My heart hammered against my ribs as he approached. I scrambled backward on my hands and knees, the chains around my ankles clanging against the stone. But there was nowhere to go. The cold wall pressed against my back, trapping me.
"No, please..." I whispered, but he only chuckled.
"Here's my first salute to the Red Moon Princess," he said, raising his arm.
The sound cracked through the air like thunder. I quickly turned around, closing my eyes.
CRACK!
Pain exploded across my back, so intense that for a moment I couldn't breathe, couldn't think. My entire back felt like it was on fire, as if something was tearing me apart from the inside out. A scream tore from my throat before I could stop it.
"Ahhhhh!"
Tears of anger, hate, and helplessness streamed down my cheeks. Nine more to go, I thought desperately, closing my eyes and trying to prepare myself for what was coming.
But how could anyone prepare for this?
All I could do was survive it.
Adrian's POV
The morning sun filtered through the leaves above, casting dancing patterns of light and shadow across the forest floor. Birds chirped their melodic songs while the dying embers of last night's fire released thin wisps of smoke into the crisp air. Everything around me was peaceful and calm.
But inside? Inside was pure chaos.
I sat up slowly, my bare chest catching the cool morning breeze as I leaned back against the rough bark of an ancient oak. My eyes stared into nothingness, seeing everything and nothing at once.
My mind felt like a battlefield where thoughts crashed against each other without resolution.
Why did that girl turn out to be my mate?
What the hell was I supposed to do now?
Even my wolf had gone silent since last night. No matter how much I called him, he refused to answer. Suddenly, the sound of the rustling of bushes broke through my internal turmoil.
I looked up sharply, every muscle tensing before I recognized the familiar figure stepping out.
"I knew I'd find you here," Sebastian said, his footsteps crunching softly on fallen leaves as he approached. He settled down beside me with practiced ease, placing a bundle of clothes between us. "Figured you might need these."
"Thanks," I muttered, my voice rougher than I intended.
Sebastian studied my face for a moment before sighing deeply. "Are you okay?"
"No." The answer came without hesitation. There was no point in pretending otherwise, not with him.
"What are you going to do?"
I let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through my disheveled hair. "I don't know, Sebastian. I don't have a damn clue what I'm supposed to do."
And that was the truth that terrified me most. I'd never thought that one day the Moon Goddess would play such a twisted joke on my life. Because if this was supposed to be fate, then the Moon Goddess must surely hate me. Or maybe she was just blind. Or cruel. Or both.
Sebastian was quiet for a moment, and I could practically see the wheels turning in his head. Finally, he cleared his throat. "Listen, brother, I've been thinking—"
"You're right," I cut him off with a sharp nod. "I should just kill her and be done with it."
"What?" Sebastian's head snapped toward me, his eyes wide. "That's not— Big brother, I was going to suggest you give her a chance. Maybe even consider... marrying her."
The words hit me like a physical blow. I stared at him as if he'd grown a second head, feeling ice-cold fury wash over me. "Sebastian Blackwood," I said, my voice dangerously low, "have you completely lost your mind? You want me to marry that woman? I despise everything about her! I want her dead!"
"You can't kill her," Sebastian said firmly, meeting my glare without flinching. "She's your mate. Killing her would mean killing yourself."
A harsh, bitter laugh escaped my throat. "Really? Look at me and say that again."
Sebastian pursed his lips, looking away. "Fine, you wouldn't be killing yourself, but..."
"There's no but," I interrupted, my fists clenching until my knuckles cracked. I turned to face him fully, letting him see the rage burning behind my eyes. "How can you even suggest I marry her after everything we've been through? Have you forgotten what she has done to us?"
"She? What did she do? It was her father who—"
"That same dirty blood runs through her veins!" I roared, the words tearing from my throat like a battle cry. "That bastard destroyed everything! Our parents are dead because of him. I'm cursed because of him. I had to abandon our pack and hide among humans because of him. And Alicia..."
My voice broke slightly, and rage began to consume me again as I thought of her.
"Do you understand what it feels like to be mated to the one person I hate the most? It makes me want to burn the whole world down."
Sebastian leaned back, running a hand over his face. "I know you have every right to be angry, big brother. But what if... what if there's another way to look at this?" He hesitated, then pressed on. "What if she's the key we've been searching for?"
"Key to what?" I snapped.
"Your curse," he said simply. "Think about it. We're running out of time, and nothing else has worked. What if keeping her close could help us find the solution? And big brother..." His voice grew serious. "How much longer can we risk Alicia's safety?"
His words made me pause, forced me to think past the red haze of my fury. For a moment, just a moment, I considered it. But then I cursed violently and spat on the ground. "I'd rather die cursed than let that Red Moon Princess anywhere near me."
I stood abruptly, grabbing the bundle of clothes with more force than necessary.
"Where are you going?" Sebastian called after me.
"To bathe and change."
"And after that?"
I paused, looking back at him over my shoulder. "To kill her."