Chapter 5

Serafina's POV

Fear filled me as I stepped out of the carriage. I can feel my knees shaking as I roam my eyes around the unfamiliar place. It was already dark, and the only thing that gave light to the surroundings was the light from the moon.

Tall and huge trees surrounded me. The sound of owls filled my ears. The cold wind brushed my skin. Everything about this place looks so scary, and I do not know if I would last a second.

I look at the man beside me, who seems to be watching my reaction intently. The moment our eyes met, a teasing smile graced his lips. It was as if he was waiting for me to step back and beg him to bring me back to the palace, but I wouldn't do that. I will remain faithful to my words. That was what my pack taught me. A Queen should always be true to her words.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and ignored the fear slowly swallowing me.

I stepped forward, and I could feel all eyes watching me. Some looked at me with their eyes filled with pity, while others were devoid of empathy, especially his eyes...King Calixto's eyes.

The way he looks at me tells me that he doesn't care if I will end up dying here or not. I bet he will be happy if I end up losing my life here in this forbidden forest, but I will not give him that satisfaction. I will prove him wrong. I will survive this place no matter what it takes.

"Lady Serafina," I heard Maximus calling me before I ultimately set foot inside the forbidden forest, so I turned my head on him and gave him an assuring smile.

"I will be fine," I mouthed, but worry did not leave his eyes.

I then shifted my gaze to the man standing beside him. I smiled at him, too, even though all I wanted to do right then was slap him.

"I will survive, King Calixto. I will prove that I am worthy to be your Queen." I uttered, filled with determination.

He fell silent. He just stared at me blankly. After a few minutes of silence, he turned around.

"Return to the palace. We will come back tomorrow to get Lady Serafina's body," he coldly uttered, and when he said those words, I felt my heart being cut into tiny pieces.

He wants me to get killed, but I won't. I will come out of this forest alive.

I smiled at Maximus one last time before I finally set foot inside the forbidden forest—the sound of dried leaves that I stepped into filled my ears. I hugged myself tightly when the air became even more cold to the point that it seeped through the thick coat that I was wearing.

"You will be fine, Serafina. You will get through this. You are not weak. You have to prove him wrong,"

I may sound like a crazy person encouraging myself as I take every step, but that is the only thing I can do to ease the fear I am feeling inside.

"You will be fine-" my words were cut off when a loud howl echoed in the forest. I immediately ran towards the nearby tree and hid myself. I covered my mouth tightly, afraid to make any sound.

I can feel my heart beating hard against my chest as if it would break my ribcage at any moment. I was breathing heavily as I heard their footsteps getting closer.

"I know you are here little wolf stop hiding I won't hurt you," I heard someone spoke.

I can feel tears forming in my eyes as I listen to the sounds of their footsteps. Judging by the sound of their footsteps, I think three rouges are around.

Maximus told me earlier that this forest is where the rouge usually hides. That is the reason why they called it a forbidden forest. A wolf who dares to enter this forest ends up dying.

"Come on, little wolf, don't make this hard for us," a new voice spoke, and then it was followed by their evil laughter.

Pull yourself, Serafina. You cannot die like this, not in the hands of this rouge.

I took a deep breath and let my claws come out. I was not trained for hand-to-hand combat. All I did was practice how a queen should walk, how a queen should eat, and how a queen should laugh. How should a queen talk? How can I use all that in this kind of situation?

But I must survive. I need to survive.

Gathering all my courage I let my wolf came out before revealing myself. I showed them my pang, trying to scare them off, but it did not work, so what should I do now?

"This she-wolf smells like fresh flowers. I guess we got lucky tonight," a man with stubbles and a face filled with scars uttered.

I can feel my inside shaking when they slowly transform into wolf forms. At this moment, I knew the best thing to do was to run away, but instead of doing that, I chose to stay and glare at them, acting all tough when I already knew that I could not win against these three rouges.

When one rouge started running towards me, I immediately moved and ran on the other side, dodging his attack. Another rouge followed but this time I was not lucky enough because he manage to scratch my face making me cry in pain.

"Go easy on our meal, buddy. She-wolf taste better if they are as soft as a flower's petal,"

I could feel my body weakening, but I stood up and faced them bravely.

"You cannot kill me. I won't let any of you kill me,"

I was about to attack them when a giant black wolf blocked my vision. The moment it turned his head I already recognize his blazing red eyes.

"King Calixto," I called his name, filled with confusion.

Why is he here? I thought he had already returned to the palace.

He looked at me intently, and I saw his gaze linger on my face for a few seconds. He looks mad, and I have no idea why. Is he angry because he witnessed how weak I am?

Before I could even ask him a question, he attacked the three rouges before us. I heard them whimper in pain. I closed my eyes tightly when King Calixto threw one of them on the vast tree, making the massive tree fall to the ground. I know he is strong, but I have no idea he will be this strong.

Blood dropped on the dried leaves, and I saw how three rouges lifelessly fell on the ground. He was able to take them down in a minute. When he looked at me again, I did not even see him panting or losing some strength. He ended the life of the three rouge effortlessly while I almost died by just getting scratched on the face.

When I turned into my human form, I could still feel the scratch on my face. It would take me an hour to heal my wound, depending on how deep it was, so I guess I look even more miserable now.

I tried to cover my face with my hands, but the moment he got closer, he kneeled in front of me and held my wrist, removing my hand from my face.

"Does it hurt?" he gently asked. His voice sounded like a lullaby that could put me to sleep.

I could feel my heart beating in an abnormal rhythm when he started inspecting my wound, making our face a few inches closer...one wrong move, and our lips could touch.

"You just spent a minute in this forest and almost got killed, Serafina. I thought you would survive?"

I know that was an insult, but I did not feel hurt. I can only imagine our position and how his scent drives my wolf crazy.

"Why are you here? I thought you had already returned to the palace?"

He looked at me directly, making my inside go even crazier.

"Do you think I will let my Queen die, Serafina? You have to carry my heir, so you must live,"