The Lycan King's Heir Bearer

Serafina's POV

I stared at myself in the mirror, swallowing the huge lump in my throat. I have been preparing for this event my entire life, and I thought when the time finally came, I would be ready, but I was wrong because no matter how long I have prepared for it, I still feel scared.

"How's my lovely daughter?"

I faked a smile when I heard my father's voice. I watched his reflection in the mirror. I can feel the pressure even more when he puts his hands on both of my shoulders.

"Remember everything we taught you here. Act perfectly. There is no room for a single mistake, do you understand?"

I took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes, father. I will not disappoint you,"

I did not wipe off the smile on my face as I stared at my father's reflection. I could feel my hands getting sweaty and my heart beating in an abnormal rhythm, but I acted all fine and continued smiling.

I practiced how to act perfectly, so acting like I am not scared in front of my father is nothing to me.

"Where is Mom?"

I saw how my father's reaction changed. The smile on his face faded. He took a deep breath before smiling at me once again.

"She's sick. She can't come with us, so I will be the only one to send you to the palace,"

Worry filled me when my father said those.

"Can I see her before we leave?" I politely asked.

"We have no time Serafina. We have to leave,"

"But-"

He looked at me intently. He did not say anything, but how he looked at me was enough to make me stop talking.

"Just please tell her to write me a letter once she feels better,"

My father smiled at me and nodded before offering his hand, so I took it and let him guide me out of our mansion towards the carriage that would take me to the palace.

"Good morning, Alpha Sebastian," his pack greeted him, and he simply smiled at them before turning his head on me again.

"We should go, Serafina. It will take us a few hours before we reach the palace. It is dangerous once it gets dark,"

I am still hesitant to step inside the carriage without seeing my mother. I want to see her before I go, but I know my father won't let me do that, so even if it is against my will, I stepped inside the carriage and settled on staring at the window of my mother's room, hoping that I would see her, but I was unlucky because I did not even see the glimpse of her shadow.

"You don't have to worry about your mother Serafina. We will visit you once she feels okay, so focus on becoming a perfect bride for Alpha Calixto. You are born to be his wife, so this should be easy for you,"

I swallowed all my fear and all the uncertainty inside my head as I nodded and settled on the silence. I have no idea what kind of life awaits me inside the palace. All I know is that I am bound to marry Alpha Calixto, and I should bear him an heir to continue his bloodline. That was instilled inside my mind the moment I was born as if it was a mission I should fulfill and a responsibility I should always keep in mind.

I need to be a perfect bride for Alpha Calixto.

I need to be a perfect wife.

I need to bear him an heir.

There is no room for any mistake. One wrong move will be our downfall, so I should be careful.

I don't know how long the travel took, but when the carriage stopped, the sun already set.

"Did we arrive, Father?" I politely asked.

My father nodded, but before he stepped out of the carriage, he held my hand and looked me directly in the eyes.

"Remember what I told you, Serafina? There is no room for any mistakes. You have to keep that in mind, do you understand?"

I smiled, hiding my fear, and nodded my head. "I won't disappoint you. I won't disappoint our pack,"

My father looked at me proudly. I can see in his eyes that he is proud of me, but if he saw the fear I am trying to conceal, would he look at me the same way?

"I believe in you, Serafina. I always believe in you."

He pulled me into a tight hug and planted a soft kiss on top of my head. I can feel it. In that short moment, I felt his love, and it was this simple moment that pushed me to please him and do all his bidding.

"Don't be afraid. Just remember everything we have taught you, and you will be fine,"

I hope everything will be that easy. I hope he is right and will be fine if I do everything I have learned. I hope I can make it.

When he stepped out of the carriage and offered his hand to me once again, waiting for me to set foot on Alpha Calixto's territory, I could feel my heart breaking in an abnormal rhythm once again, but instead of letting fear consume me fully, I let out a deep breath and bravely took my father's hand.

"Alpha Sebastian. I brought Alpha Calixto's bride, my one and only daughter, Serafina,"

Dad introduced me to the palace guard. I saw them scanning us from head to toe before opening the palace gate.

"Your pack is not allowed inside Alpha Sebastian. They have to wait outside,"

My father understandingly nodded and gently squeezed my hand.

"I understand," he politely responded before facing our pack. "Just wait for me here,"

Our pack bowed their head, taking my father's order. After giving his order, my father put my hand on his arm before guiding me inside the huge palace I had just seen for the first time.

It was too big, and I don't think a day would be enough to roam around.

I was drowned in the details and how everything was perfectly made. I grew up in a huge mansion, and standing in this gigantic palace made me think that the house I grew up in was too small.

"Serafina,"

I was pulled back to reality when my father called my name, and upon turning my head in front, I saw a cold and ruthless man they were talking about.

King Calixto was standing in front of me. He isn't talking, but I can already feel the power he holds. He was not wearing fancy clothes. He looks like he just came from a hunting or something. His clothes are dirty, but that is not enough to make him look less intimidating.

He still exudes power...and handsomeness. I heard gossip that his face was perfectly sculpted and his body was perfectly ripped, as if the MoonGoddess took her time creating him, and they were right. Seeing him standing in front of me. Feels like I was standing in front of a God.

"You should greet Your Majesty, Serafina," my father commanded, filled with authority.

I started to panic, so the perfect bow I had practiced for the nth time failed miserably. "I-It is a pleasure to meet you, K-King C-Calixto,"

If King Calixto had not been here, my father must have punished me. Maybe right now, I am already kneeling as I utter countless apologies.

"What is your name?" he asked, looking intently at me.

I can feel my knees weaken as I looked at him directly in the eyes. His blazing red eyes made my entire body shiver, but I should keep my act together.

"Serafina...Serafina Kline, Your Majesty," I politely responded, slowly regaining my composure.

He took a deep breath and scanned me from head to toe. I feel like I would fall on the floor at any moment, but I should not let him know. My father will be mad at me if I crumble before King Calixto.

"Step forward," he commanded, and without any questions asked, I took a step forward.

"Turn around,"

I probably looked like a puppet, but I did everything he told me to do without letting my thoughts be heard.

I have no idea if he is satisfied with what he sees, but I grew up being told that I look like a Goddess, and I hope he sees me the same way. I hope my beauty impresses him, like how I manage to captivate the heart of my pack.

"We will be married in a few days. Once the bloody moon appears in the sky, we will seal our bond, and you will be my Queen, the bearer of my heir. The woman who will help me continue my bloodline,"

I nodded and smiled at him to let him know I fully understood my purpose, but he did not smile back.

"Cressida," he uttered, and after a while, a woman appeared bowing her head at Alpha Calixto.

"Prepare my bride. Make sure she will be perfect on our wedding night,"

The woman she called Cressida nodded her head before looking at me. She pulled me out and guided me as we walked towards the hallway.

She was extremely quiet, which made me a bit uncomfortable. I am not used to silence. I love talking to everyone around me, especially our servants.

"You have a beautiful name, Cressida. I am Serafina; I hope we can be friends," I sweetly uttered, hoping to converse with her, but she continued settling with silence.

We just kept walking but stopped and stepped inside a huge room after a while.

I roam my eyes around, and I can't help but gasp when I see the whole room. It looks extravagant. Dresses are displayed, and tons of jewelry that cost a fortune.

"Remove all your clothes,"

Cressida instructed, so I removed all my clothes just like she wanted.

She scanned my whole body as if searching for something. She might be looking for imperfection, but I know she can't find one. I have sheltered my whole life, not letting a single scratch on my body. I was raised to be perfect physically and mentally, and now I understand why. The King wants nothing but perfection, one flaw, and I know he will not accept me as his bride.

"I will prepare your bath. It will be ready in a few minutes,"

I nodded and watched her as she stepped inside the bathroom. I didn't have anything to do, so to ease my boredom, I started walking around, finding something interesting, but all I saw were jars and paintings that decorated the room. There are also books, but none of them is to my liking.

"We ran out of oil. I will get some Lady Serafina,"

I smiled at her and nodded, giving her permission to leave.

It's been a few minutes since Cressida was gone, and after a while, she came back carrying a small bottle...probably the oil she was talking about.

"May I smell it?" I gently asked.

I am particular to scent. I want something that smells like flowers and vanilla, and hope the oil she brought smells like it.

Cressida handed it to me, so I took it, but it slipped from my hold, and the bottle fell to the floor. My eyes widened as I stared at the broken bottle on the floor.

"I am sorry, Cressida!" I bent and was about to help her, but she stopped me.

"Let me clean it, Lady Serafina. You might cut your hands. Remember you have to keep your body unscarred,"

I feel terrible. I badly wanted to help her, but if I insisted on helping her, I might cause more trouble, so I took a step back and watched Cressida as she picked up the broken glasses using her bare hands and put them in her palm.

She wasn't done cleaning up, but her hands started shaking.

"Ahhh!" she shouted, filled with pain, making me panic, and my eyes widened when I saw her palm burning. It started to get red, like it was being soaked in acid.

"Help! Help us!" I started shouting as tears started to fall from my eyes. I have no idea what I should do.

When the door swung open, it revealed King Calixto, and behind him were the palace guards.

"What happened?" he asked, shifting his gaze towards Cressida and me.

With shaking hands, I pointed at Cressida's palm. "H-Her hands it's b-burning,"

"It was the oil King Calixto. Someone replaced Lady Serafina's oil with acid,"

Fear crept into my entire being. Who would dare to do that? And why would they do that?

"Why? Why would they do that?" I asked, my voice trembling in fear as I anticipated King Calixto's answer.

"They want to kill you, Serafina,"