Chapter 1 The alpha who wouldn't kneel

Seraphina's POV

If there was one thing I knew about myself, it was that I was born for leadership.

Not because I was the daughter of Alpha Kael Blackwood, or because I was the only child of the Alpha and his Luna. It was because I knew what I wanted, and I was willing to work for it.

I wanted to become an Alpha my people could trust.

Simple, right?

Well, apparently, not to everyone.

Some people thought I was too stubborn. Others believed I had a temper that would eventually get me into trouble. My mother said I needed to learn patience, while my father insisted that patience was just as important as strength.

Personally, I thought everyone talked too much.

I was standing in front of my bedroom mirror, tying my dark hair into a high ponytail, when someone knocked on my door.

"Come in."

My mother entered, looking as elegant as ever in a cream-colored dress. Even at home, Luna Evelina Blackwood carried herself with the kind of grace that made people straighten their backs whenever she walked into a room.

"You're going to training early today?" she asked.

I picked up my black training jacket. "I have a lot to work on."

"You trained yesterday."

"And I'll train tomorrow, too."

She sighed, but I caught the small smile she tried to hide.

"Seraphina, you don't have to prove yourself every single day."

I turned to face her.

"Maybe not to you, but I do to myself."

Her expression softened.

That was one thing I loved about my mother. Even when she disagreed with me, she listened.

"I know you want to make your father proud," she said. "But becoming a good Alpha isn't only about how hard you can fight."

"I know."

"Do you?"

"Mother."

She raised her hands in surrender.

"All right. I'll stop lecturing you. Your father is waiting downstairs for breakfast, and he specifically asked that you join him before you disappear to the training grounds."

I groaned.

"Did he say anything about how long breakfast should last?"

"Seraphina!"

"I'm asking a reasonable question."

She shook her head, laughing quietly.

"Go downstairs."

I grinned and followed her out.

---

My father was already seated at the dining table when I arrived.

Alpha Kael Blackwood looked every bit the man who had led our pack for years. He had broad shoulders, a commanding presence, and an expression that could make a grown warrior reconsider his life choices.

Unfortunately for him, I was his daughter.

"You're late," he said.

I glanced at the clock.

"By two minutes."

"Two minutes is still late."

"And yet the world hasn't ended."

My mother sat beside him and gave me a warning look.

I pulled out my chair.

"Good morning, Father."

"Good morning, trouble."

I smiled sweetly.

"Your favorite trouble."

He shook his head and returned his attention to his breakfast.

For a few minutes, we ate in relative peace. Then, naturally, my father decided to bring up training.

"Your instructor told me you've been pushing yourself harder than usual."

"That's generally what happens when I want to improve."

"He also mentioned that you challenged three warriors to spar with you yesterday."

"They volunteered."

"After you told them they were too slow to keep up with you."

I paused with my fork halfway to my mouth.

"That sounds like something I might have said."

My mother covered her mouth, hiding a laugh.

My father wasn't amused.

"Seraphina, you're training to become the next Alpha. You need to learn how to lead people, not provoke everyone who disagrees with you."

"I can do both."

"That isn't the point."

I set down my fork.

"I take my training seriously. I take my future seriously. I'm not sitting around waiting for the title to be handed to me just because I'm your daughter."

The room fell quiet.

My father's expression changed slightly.

He knew I meant every word.

After a moment, he nodded.

"I know you do. That's why I expect more from you."

His words settled between us.

I looked down at my plate, suddenly feeling a little guilty for my attitude.

"Fine," I muttered. "I'll try not to provoke anyone today."

My father raised an eyebrow.

"Try?"

"Let's not get unreasonable."

My mother burst out laughing.

Even my father struggled to hide his smile.

And just like that, breakfast ended with me escaping another lecture.

---

The training grounds were already busy when I arrived.

Warriors moved across the field in pairs, their movements sharp and controlled. The sound of fists meeting padded gloves mixed with the occasional growl as someone lost a sparring match.

The familiar atmosphere settled my mind.

This was where I felt most comfortable.

No titles. No expectations. No endless conversations about what kind of Alpha I would become.

Just me, my strength, and the work I needed to do.

I handed my jacket to one of the attendants and stepped onto the training field.

"You're late, princess."

I turned.

Ronan Vance stood a few feet away, wearing a sleeveless black training shirt and the kind of grin that usually meant he was about to annoy me.

Ronan was the Beta's son, Elara's older brother, and one of the warriors I trained with regularly.

He was handsome. I wasn't blind.

He also knew it.

"Move, Ronan."

"That's no way to greet someone who's been waiting for you."

"Did I ask you to wait?"

"No, but I thought you'd appreciate the company."

I looked him up and down.

"Then you thought wrong."

He laughed.

"You're in a good mood this morning."

"I'm always in a good mood."

"Of course. That's why the last warrior who annoyed you spent ten minutes picking himself up from the ground."

"He should have moved faster."

Ronan stepped closer, his grin widening.

"You know, you could just admit you enjoy my company."

I snorted.

"In your dreams."

"You're in them quite often, actually."

I stared at him.

He looked far too pleased with himself.

"You're embarrassing yourself."

"Yet you're still standing here talking to me."

"Because you're blocking my way."

He moved aside with an exaggerated bow.

"After you, future Alpha."

I rolled my eyes and walked past him, hiding my smile.

Ronan was always like this.

He flirted whenever he had the opportunity, and I usually played along because it entertained me. Sometimes I teased him back. Sometimes I ignored him. Sometimes I wondered whether he ever got tired of hearing himself speak.

But I never took his advances seriously.

I wasn't looking for a boyfriend, and I certainly wasn't planning my future around a man.

I had a pack to lead one day.

That was enough for me.

"Are you going to train, or should I find someone else to spar with?" I called over my shoulder.

Ronan caught up with me.

"Careful, Seraphina. You might hurt my feelings."

"I'll try to survive the experience."

He laughed again.

We took our positions, and the moment the instructor gave the signal, Ronan lunged.

I dodged his first strike, twisted to the side, and swept my leg toward his ankle.

He jumped back just in time.

"Nice try."

I smiled.

"Oh, I'm just getting started."

The next few minutes were filled with movement, quick strikes, and the sound of our boots scraping against the ground.

Ronan was a good fighter. I would give him that. He was fast, strong, and experienced enough to anticipate some of my moves.

But I knew him well.

Too well, apparently.

When he left his left side exposed, I took advantage of it, caught his arm, and brought him down onto the training mat.

He landed on his back with a loud grunt.

I stood over him.

"Still dreaming about me?"

He stared at me for a second before laughing.

"You're going to be the death of me."

"Then stop being so predictable."

I offered him a hand.

He took it, allowing me to pull him upright.

For a brief moment, his gaze lingered on my face.

"You know," he said quietly, "one day, you're going to meet someone who won't let you win every argument."

I released his hand.

"Then I hope he enjoys losing."

Ronan chuckled, but something in his expression suggested he wanted to say more.

Before he could, a familiar voice interrupted us.

"Please tell me you two aren't flirting again."

I turned toward the entrance.

Elara Vance stood there with her arms folded, looking thoroughly unimpressed.

I grinned.

"Good morning to you, too, bestie."

She walked toward us.

"Good morning. Now, can someone explain why my brother looks like he's been fighting for his life?"

"Because he lost," I answered.

Ronan placed a hand over his chest.

"She wounds me with her words."

"Good," Elara said. "Maybe you'll finally learn."

I laughed.

Ronan looked between us and sighed dramatically.

"I see I'm surrounded by cruel women."

"You're welcome to leave," I told him.

He pointed at me.

"One day, you'll miss me."

"Today isn't that day."

Elara burst out laughing.

And just like that, my morning became considerably more entertaining.

---

After training, Elara and I settled beneath one of the large trees overlooking the grounds.

We had been friends for as long as I could remember. Growing up together meant she knew nearly every embarrassing thing about me, and I knew enough about her to make sure she never used that knowledge against me.

At least, most of the time.

Elara stretched her legs in front of her.

"Can I ask you something?"

I reached for my water bottle.

"That depends. Is it going to waste my time?"

She ignored me.

"Do you ever think about finding your mate?"

I nearly choked on my water.

"Seriously?"

"What?"

"That's what you want to talk about?"

"Yes!"

I stared at her.

"Elara, we were just talking about how Ronan nearly broke his back trying to impress me. Can we stay on that subject?"

She smacked my arm.

"Stop it! I'm serious."

"So am I."

She gave me a look.

"You're impossible."

"And yet you keep coming back."

"Because I love you."

I smiled.

"I know."

Elara sighed and leaned back against the tree.

"Sometimes I think about it, you know. Meeting my mate. What it'll feel like when I finally recognize him. Whether he'll be kind or protective. Whether he'll understand me without me having to explain every little thing."

I listened quietly.

She spoke about finding someone who would care for her, someone who would stand beside her and make her feel safe without trying to control her.

There was something almost dreamy about the way she described it.

"And imagine finding someone who loves you so much that protecting you becomes second nature," she continued. "Someone who wants to hear about your day, who notices when something is wrong, who remembers the little things you don't even realize you've said."

I stared at her.

"You're describing a romance novel."

She threw her head back.

"Seraphina!"

"What? You are!"

"One day, you'll understand."

"Maybe."

"You don't believe in any of this, do you?"

I considered the question.

It wasn't that I didn't believe in fated mates. I knew the bond existed. I had grown up hearing stories about couples who recognized each other the moment they met.

I simply didn't spend my days dreaming about it.

If I found my mate someday, fine.

If I didn't, I had other things to accomplish.

"I believe I'll become a good Alpha," I said. "I believe I'll make my parents proud, and I'll protect the people who depend on me. That's what matters to me right now."

Elara studied me for a moment.

"And love?"

I shrugged.

"If it happens, it happens."

She groaned.

"You make romance sound like an appointment you might or might not attend."

I burst out laughing.

"Perhaps I'll send it an invitation when I'm less busy."

She pushed my shoulder, laughing despite herself.

We spent the next few minutes teasing each other, talking about the pack, and arguing over which of us would be the first to find her mate.

Elara was convinced it would be her.

I told her I hoped her future mate had plenty of patience.

She told me mine would need an entire lifetime's supply.

I couldn't even argue with that.

---

By the time I returned home, the sun was beginning to sink behind the trees.

My muscles ached pleasantly from training, and all I wanted was a shower and something to eat.

Unfortunately, my mother had other plans.

She found me in the hallway and informed me that dinner would be served shortly.

I followed her into the dining room, where my father was already discussing pack matters with one of his advisers.

For a while, I listened as they spoke about patrol schedules, training arrangements, and the responsibilities that came with maintaining a strong pack.

Eventually, my father turned to me.

"How was training?"

"Good."

"Did you learn anything?"

"Yes."

He waited.

I sighed.

"I learned that Ronan still talks too much."

My mother laughed into her glass.

My father shook his head.

"One day, I hope you learn to answer a question without turning it into an argument."

"One day, I hope you stop asking questions you already know the answers to."

"Seraphina."

I smiled innocently.

"What?"

He gave me a long look before returning to his meal.

I knew I tested his patience sometimes, but I also knew he trusted me.

That meant more to me than I would ever admit aloud.

After dinner, I returned to my room and stood by the window, looking out over the pack grounds.

Everything was familiar.

The trees swayed gently in the evening breeze. The distant sounds of warriors training drifted through the air, and the lights from the pack houses glowed warmly against the approaching darkness.

This was my home.

These were my people.

And one day, I would be responsible for protecting them.

I wasn't interested in chasing love or spending my time wondering when my fated mate would appear. I had a future to prepare for, and I intended to be ready when the time came.

Love could wait.

My responsibilities couldn't.