The Alpha King's Cure:his perfect mate.

[ AURORA’S POV ]

I froze just past the doorway. Seraphina lay sprawled across the living room couch as though it belonged to her alone. One arm draped lazily over the backrest, legs crossed at the ankles. Bowls of snacks surrounded her like offerings, sweet, salty, colorful. She didn’t look up when I stepped inside.

My knees trembled, not enough for anyone to notice, but enough that I had locked my knees to stay upright. My shoulders felt heavy, my chest tight, as though I had been carrying a weight too large for my small body.

   “Oh,” Seraphina’s voice cut across the room suddenly, sharp as a whip.” Look who finally crawled out. The wolfless, deciding to leave her pit.” She said tilting her head, eyes glinting.” So…..how does it feel? To be useless?”

  I blinked, unsurprised, heart stuttering. She didn’t look away as she reached for another snack, chewing slowly, like she owns everything in the room including me.

Her eyes scanned me from my disheveled hair to my shoes that were now dirty. And then she smiled.

“ Did you forget how to tell time,” she asked,” or do you just enjoy making me wait?”

I tried to speak. My mouth was open, but nothing came out.

She stood brushing crumbs from her fingers with care.” I knew it was about time you would be here. And you never disappoint."

I realized my feet hadn’t moved since I entered, so I tried to step forward. My feet wouldn’t move. My knees trembled.

No, I can't rush it. I need to let her know I’m not here to fight. And that I have accepted the child as mine, and would forgive her for sleeping with my man.

“I…. I just. I went to see  the healer.” I managed to say.

Her amusement flickered immediately.

“The healer?” She repeated. Why?”

I lifted my chin.” I wanted to know if there was…something wrong with me.”

A laugh escaped her. Soft. Cold. Disbelieving.

“And?” She prompted .” Did she magically give you a wolf?” 

“She said it might come late,” I said quietly. That's some wolves.”

“Are special?” Seraphina finished for me, lips curling .” Is that what she told you?” 

Heat rushed to my face.” She said.”

   “She lied,” Seraphina cut me off flatly. “Or you imagined it. Healers do that when they pity people.”

    My throat tightened. I swallowed once, then again, but the pressure only grew.

    “Why?” The word I had been dying to ask finally left my lips. My eyes were so blurry that I could barely see her.

    She paused mid-step, eyes widening slightly. Then she laughed, sharp and bright.

    “Oh, finally,” she said.

    I stepped forward despite the twist in my stomach. “If I did something wrong, tell me. I’ll fix it. But you can’t take my place Seraphina. You’re my sister and have always been good to me.”

    Her laughter faded.  “Sister? Good?,” she said slowly.

“You're wolfless,” She interrupted, stepping closer,” and have never seen you as my sister,” She leaned in until I could smell her perfume. Sweet, suffocating.

“Worthless,” she murmured,” useless and arrogant,” my breath seized. “I have always hated you, you’re nothing special, and yet people always like you more than me. We met the Alpha on the same day and yet he picked you over me. What makes you think you’re better than me?”

I looked at her strangely, this is not the sister I know. It’s like she’s possessed.

“I’m sorry that you have to feel that way Seraphina but we can work this out. I will raise your pup. I said, my voice shaking. “Don’t do this to me. To us.”

She laughed, her tone rang out.

“You will raise my child? Really? How dare you think I would let a low-life like you raise my heir the future Alpha to this pack? Who gave you the mindset? Let me remind you,” she said softly,” Where you belong.”

She stepped back, looking directly into my eyes earnestly, with a sly smile like a fox. Before I could even blink, she was on the floor—and what followed was a loud, deafening scream.

I barely had time to register the sound before she collapsed, holding onto her chest.

“My chest! Father! Mother! Mabel!”

A scream tore through the room. Feet pounded in all directions. Someone slammed into my shoulder. My back hit the floor hard. 

“She pushed me! Seraphina sobbed, already cradled in Mabel’s arms. Her trembling hand pointed at me.

“I didn’t,” I whispered, struggling to sit up .” I didn’t touch her.”

The slap came without warning. My head snapped sideways. Fire exploded across my cheek. I tasted blood.

Father didn’t blink. His gaze slid over me like I wasn’t there. “ Enough.”

Mabel turned to a guard, “Take her. No food, he added.” Lock her in.”

A guard appeared at my side, his hands gentle as he helped me up, my eyes glinting with quiet sorrow.

“Wait,” I shouted. I didn’t push her; she was lying against me. I did nothing of the sort.

“Enough, Mabel roared. You knew she was carrying my pup and yet you pushed her. I didn’t know you were wicked Aurora. Take her out of my sight this minute.” 

The guard now pulled me roughly pushing me towards the dungeon. How could they betray me like this?

“Father, believe me. I didn’t push her. I would never push her.” I said looking at the father's side, still struggling with the guard.

“You never should have come here, Aurora. Or even think of pushing your sister because she was chosen as the Luna. Take her away till she learns her lesson,” my father said, not looking at me.

I could hear their voices behind me as they asked Seraphina if she was okay.

The iron gate opened. I could see some prisoners in the dungeon but I was taken to another part.

The cage was looking okay compared to where they put the others. A small bed was laid at the corner and a blanket that would keep me warm through the night.

The door clicked shut. Darkness swallowed me. My chest heaved. My body trembled. And for the first time in my life, I felt completely invisible.