(Witches’ Realm)

Seraphina’s cloak swept through the floor of the castle, her expression where cold and detached. The haughty aura that always followed her was nowhere to be found.

She took a sharp turn around a corner, and the witches that passed by her kept their mouths shut the moment they saw her look. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Everyone knew Seraphina had always been cold, haughty, and very stubborn. She tends to keep to herself and do things alone, she was a lone wolf.

Rumours had it that she was the problem child of her family, her parents couldn’t withstand her and decided to sell her to the corrupted witches, fortunately, she happened to be saved by the Queen on her quest.

No one really liked her, they found her too hot-headed and domineering. Although she was well favoured by the Queen, the witches preferred Gwen to her, and they wished that Gwen would become the future Queen, even when they knew how manipulative and cunning she was.

Finally getting to her destination, which was a large coffee brown door with intricate carvings. It was the Queen’s most sacred room.

Her hand hovered above the door, she had thought the wolf meant nothing to her, she had believed she couldn’t be bound by any fate, but she couldn’t stop the bleeding in her chest.

Alaric’s green eyes stared back at her, they were not as dark as hers, they were light green, mirroring the shades of a sea. They were beautiful and they held warmth that hers lacked.

When she reached for him, her fingers went through him like smoke, then his form dissipated into the air.

Her throat bobbed up and down, her fingers clenched tightly so that her nails dug into her palm. She had to let him go and stop this madness. She believed all of these were mistakes.

She closed her eyes to control her emotions, then she raised her hand to knock on the door, but before her knuckles could touch the surface of the door, the door flew open.

She hesitantly brought her hand to her side, before stepping inside the room, and as soon as she stepped inside, the door creaked closed again.

"My Queen." She knelt, bowing her head down.

"Raise." The Queen’s weak voice rang from behind a chair that was facing the window.

Seraphina lifted her gaze before standing to her feet, she stared at the spacious room, everything was arranged with great detail, yet her eyes fell only on the large-sized smoky orb standing on a podium.

It was the orb that would decide who the future Queen would be. At that thought she felt small in the room.

A voice told her that she would never be enough, that she didn’t deserve love, and that she would never be powerful.

Her face darkened, her green eyes distant as if only by detaching herself from her soul would she be able to huddle through this hardship.

"Seraphina." The Queen’s voice snapped her out of her daze.

"Yes, my Queen."

"Come."

She walked towards the Queen.

Seraphina’s eyes welled when she saw the pitiful state of the Queen, who sat on her chair, gazing far into the horizon through the window.

The Queen was the only parent figure in her life, and she had sworn to protect her, even if she had to turn the earth upside down.

But she failed her duty, she broke her promise. The only thing that could save the Queen was Alpha Damon’s heart, and he so happened to be her fated mate’s Alpha and best friend, the person Alaric wouldn’t hesitate to give his life for.

When Alaric spoke of loyalty, he must have thought she had none, but she was only trying to keep hers while venturing into his.

"What’s on your mind?" The Queen’s calm and motherly voice brushed her ears.

She looked at the Queen, and a genuine smile formed on her face. "Nothing."

Silence stretched between them. Seraphina could feel the intense questioning gaze of the Queen, however, she didn’t want to tell her.

The silence grew uncomfortable, and she shifted her weight, fidgeting under the Queen’s stare. "Alpha Damon has accepted our alliance." She said, breaking the silence.

The Queen smiled faintly, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "So the wolves have finally agreed. It seems even the proud must bow when survival calls."

Seraphina gave a curt nod. "Yes, my Queen. Alpha Damon has accepted the alliance. The preparations should begin soon."

The Queen hummed in acknowledgment, her gaze distant as she tapped her fingers lightly on the armrest. "This is good news. The corrupted ones grow stronger by the day. Perhaps this alliance will give us the time we need."

The Queen reached out her hand to Seraphina, who immediately placed her hands in her palms. "Did you see a girl with silver white hair?"

Seraphina was taken aback by her question but she didn’t let it show. "I didn’t see her, it was the Alpha’s Beta that brought the news. Why are you asking about her?"

If Seraphina could remember clearly, there was only one person who matched that description and it was none other than Aeris, the same woman who always occupied Alaric’s mind.

Her mood soured further at the thought.

"I wish I could see her one last time." The Queen coughed, her shoulder jerking with every sound. Her eyes flickered with hope and warmth.

The time she had helped Ember with her bath, she was still oblivious to how the realm was, she had helped her unlock her powers that were once sealed.

She did those things because she knew Ember was the key to ending this war and the destruction that was coming. She had grown to like Ember from the very first conversation, when she saw her in the battle, she looked different, her eyes looked ancient and her powers were overwhelming.

She was proud of how strong she had grown. Sadness flickered through her eyes, too sad that her time was up.

She turned to Seraphina. "Inform your sisters to start preparing for war. If the corrupted witches are going to attack, we are the first they will attack, and also send some sisters to the werewolves’ realm in case we are under siege so they can inform Alpha Damon."