Chapter 1 War Is Coming

“Come home, Seraphine. War is coming.” I was too late. When I received my father’s letter, informing me of the attack on the pack, I was too late. “If only they’d listened to us.’’ Emogen, my wolf growls. They never listened to me, not until everyone was dead. Not when I told them something was wrong. When I warned them about the rogue coming through the woods with an army behind him. Right now, I’m standing in the compound where dead bodies lay all around. My family is dead, my people are dead. Hours ago, I’d warned everyone about the impending doom. “There’s a rogue coming through the woods. He’s been a spy all along, he laced the wine. We need to prepare for war.’’ “You worry to much.’’ My father, beta of SilverCrest Pack, had said. My brothers laughed in my face. Even my mother, who had taught me to trust my instincts, told me to stop imagining things. But now—now, the castle reeks of blood. The halls are silent in the wrong way, the kind of stillness that comes after a massacre. Then I hear it. Footstep coming from the great hall. I move before I can think, rounding the corner just in time to see a man step over my father’s body. His boots splash in the pool of blood, he doesn’t even look down. A lump clogs my throat the minute I recognize him. “You, I saw you!’’ He smiles, holding his sword over his shoulders. “You must be Seraphine. The clan’s witches warned me about you, the gifted beta-wolf.’’ He smirks. “Too bad your precious pack choose to ignore you.’’ “Who sent you?” I hold my sword up, I feel my wolf scratch through the surface. I growl, knowing she’d finish him before I had the chance to get some answers. The man stops and smiles. “Sent me?” His voice is smooth. Amused. “Oh, little wolf… I was always here.” … My name is Seraphine Velkan, until today, I was part of the most powerful beta family in the region. My parents, beta Damon and Beta Sarrah, served under the guidance of the Alpha King. That gave us power to command any betas or gammas however we want. I was trained since birth to become a fearless warrior. I have two brothers, Aiden and Oliver, who are just as fearless as I am. For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a curse. A recurring set of nightmares. Before today, none of my dreams had come true. My family thought I was mad. “There’s nothing more dangerous than a mad woman with skills that could kill a king.’’ My dad would say, heaving on the ground after I’d just fought him in combat and won. My brothers, would each be sent after me during training. Whether they’d come as one or combined, I’d beat them with ease. My wolf, Emogen, was fierce. Unlike any other beta wolf, Emogen was bigger, almost as big as an Alphas but not quite. Her paws had enough power to break through a person's rib cage. Through out the field, I’d gotten a nickname: The Red Phantom. Part of it was because my wolf had red fur, something that hadn;t been seen in a thousand years. The other reason was because in the battle field, I moved like a shadow. Like a phantom. I caught my enemies off guard and slaughtered them before they saw me coming. I was meant to be the next beta, but when I was 12, the Alpha King saw my skills and decided I was too dangerous. I got stuck on guard duty, while both my brothers got the titles of future beta. “Only if both brothers are out of the picture, can Seraphine Velkan become beta.’’ The Alpha King ruled. Now, I stand among bodies of dead wolves. People I’d known, loved and fought with. The Alpha King isn’t among them, he’d been lucky enough to leave right after my warning, leaving my family and members of the guard to patrol and protect the court house. “Who sent you?’’ I roared, gripping my sword tighter while I stared at the killer. We’re in a standoff at the courthouse exit, the rogue smirks. “There is so much about this battle you don’t know, Seraphine. You’re fighting on the wrong side. A weapon like you shouldn’t be wasted on the likes of Lycan King Aldrich.’’ “I’m going to kill you where you stand, rogue. Tell me who sent you!’’ “Sera..’’ A faint small voice calls out my name. “Seraphine.’’ For a moment, I’m distracted. The rogue moves quickly, aiming his sword and moving at the speed of light. I dodge his attack, emerging only with a grazed shoulder. “Sera..’’ The voice calls again. I turn to notice a figure laing across the pool of blood. “Make a choice, little wolf. Save your mother, or fight me?’’ His words stop me cold. She’s alive. For now. But the rogue moves, lunging at me with inhuman speed. My instincts take over—I dodge. His sword slices the air where my throat had been a heartbeat ago. “Decide quickly, little wolf,” he taunts. “Your mother doesn’t have much time.” I shift my stance, every muscle in my body screaming at me to strike, to end him now. But my mother wheezes, a wet, choking sound that sends ice through my veins. I can’t let her die. She’s my only family now. Damn it. I lunge backward, pivoting toward her as I kick a fallen spear toward the rogue’s feet, forcing him to stumble. It’s a cheap trick, but it buys me seconds. I drop to my knees beside my mother, pressing my palm against the deep wound in her abdomen. The bleeding won’t stop. “Sera…” She grips my wrist. “Listen to me.” “Save your strength,” I whisper, scanning the room for anything, anyone that could help. But there’s no one left. “Run.” I shake my head. “No. I can get you out of here.” “Run!” Her grip tightens. “They… they’re not done. He’s just the beginning.” Dread curls in my stomach. The rogue chuckles behind me. “She’s right, you know.” I turn in time to see him wipe a speck of blood from his blade, his smirk deepening. “You think this was an attack?” He tilts his head, eyes gleaming like a wolf watching a rabbit squirm. “No, Seraphine. This was a warning.” A warning. My pulse pounds in my ears. My mother’s ragged breathing fills the silence. Beyond the shattered windows, beyond the bodies littering the halls,more wolves howl. More are coming. I have no choice. I grab my mother, hoisting her up as best I can. The rogue doesn’t move to stop me. He only watches, his smirk widening as I stagger toward the exit. “Run, little wolf,” he murmurs as I pass. “Run fast. Because next time? We won’t be so merciful.” I don’t stop. I don’t look back. I run.