Chapter 2 The Premonition

• “Your mother is going to be fine,” the royal physician says, closing his kit.
• The words should bring relief, but they don’t. After hours of running with her bleeding body across my back, my chest still feels heavy.
• “We removed the wolfsbane. Her wolf can heal now.”
• She’ll live. But my father and brothers won’t. My pack won’t. All because no one believed the girl with “mad dreams.”
• “Seraphine.”
• Beta Paul stands by the well, grief carved into his face. My father’s closest friend, once solid as stone, now looks broken.
• “I’m sorry for your loss,” he says hoarsely. “Your family’s sacrifice will not go unanswered. The Northern Kingdom will pay.”
• I only nod. Words feel empty.
• Then he lowers his voice. “Is it true? That you saw this… before it happened?”
• I meet his gaze and nod once.
• And there it is.
• The look. Horror, disbelief. Fear. Even fearless Beta Paul recoils from me.
• Just like everyone else.
• A guard arrives. “The Alpha King has summoned you.”
• Of course he has. Grief must wait for politics.
• The court is loud with banners, whispers, and posturing, but when Alpha King Aldrich speaks, silence falls.
• “The Northern Kingdom has broken the treaty. They accuse us of stealing something decades ago. Their king, Darius Canan, declares war.”
• The chamber erupts. Alphas and betas snarl for blood. Aldrich lets them bark, then silences them with a raised hand. His gaze pins me.
• “Tell the court what happened.”
• I inhale, my nails digging into my palms. They never believed me before. They’ll laugh again.
• “I had a premonition.”
• Chuckles ripple. Aldrich smirks. “A silly dream, you mean?”
• I lock my jaw. “I saw a man poison the ceremonial wine with wolfsbane. My father, my brothers, my pack, they drank it. Weakened, they couldn’t fight when the army struck. I warned them, but no one listened.”
• Silence. Uneasy. Heavy. Even Aldrich stops smiling.
• “I was sent to guard duty at the tower,” I continue, voice sharp. “By the time I reached the courthouse, it was too late. My family was slaughtered. Only my mother survived.”
• A murmur ripples through the court. For once, they can’t dismiss me.
• Aldrich strokes his beard. “We must be careful. The Lycans won’t act without proof.”
• Careful means waiting while the enemy prepares, Emogen growls inside me.
• My fists clench. “What would you have me do?”
• The Alpha King studies me, then descends from his throne. Every gaze follows him as he draws his sword.
• “You are the last of the Velkan bloodline. Do you swear to take your father’s mantle as royal beta?”
• At last. Recognition.
• “I do.”
• “Do you swear to avenge the fallen and defend our kingdom with your life?”
• “I swear it.”
• The blade lowers toward my shoulder when the doors slam open.
• My mother steps inside, pale but unbroken.
• “No,” she says firmly. “I will not give my blessing.”
• Gasps ripple through the chamber. My chest tightens.
• “I’ve lost my husband, my sons, to this title,” she declares. “I will not lose my daughter too.”
• The Alpha King’s eyes narrow. “Then decide, Seraphine. Will you take this mantle without your mother’s blessing?”