chapter 10
733 Words
The Alpha Who Rejected His Moon Queen
By MALLO Royale
Chapter Ten
The Hidden Sanctuary
The journey continued long after Alpha Lucien and his warriors disappeared into the night.
No one spoke.
The vampire guards remained alert, scanning every shadow as though danger could emerge at any moment.
Seraphina rode beside Cassian on a black stallion. Her thoughts were a tangled mess.
An orphan...
A rejected mate...
A queen...
None of it felt real.
She reached into her satchel and touched the letter from Queen Selene.
If the woman who wrote it was truly her mother...
Who had raised her?
And why had no one ever told her the truth?
Cassian glanced at her.
"You've been unusually quiet."
She managed a weak smile.
"I've been trying to decide whether my life became a dream... or a nightmare."
"For now," he replied, "it's both."
Before she could ask what he meant, the horses slowed.
The trees ahead parted, revealing a waterfall cascading down a towering cliff.
"It's beautiful," Seraphina whispered.
Cassian smiled.
"Watch closely."
He raised his hand.
A crimson symbol glowed on his palm.
The waterfall shimmered.
To Seraphina's amazement, the rushing water split apart, revealing a hidden stone passage behind it.
Her eyes widened.
"A secret entrance?"
"Our sanctuary."
The guards rode through the opening one by one.
Once everyone had entered, the waterfall closed again, hiding the passage completely.
Inside, glowing blue crystals illuminated a vast underground valley.
Ancient stone buildings surrounded a peaceful lake.
Children laughed as they ran across wooden bridges.
Merchants arranged fresh fruit and flowers in small market stalls.
It looked nothing like the frightening vampire kingdom Seraphina had imagined.
She stared in disbelief.
"These are... vampires?"
Cassian chuckled.
"Were you expecting monsters?"
"I..."
She hesitated.
"I was told vampires only destroyed."
"So were most humans."
As they entered the village, people stopped what they were doing.
One by one, they bowed.
"Welcome home, Prince Cassian."
Then their eyes fell upon Seraphina.
Whispers spread through the crowd.
"Is that her?"
"The Moon Queen..."
"She's alive..."
An elderly woman stepped forward.
Tears filled her eyes.
She gently touched Seraphina's cheek.
"You have Queen Selene's eyes."
Seraphina froze.
No one had ever compared her to anyone before.
The old woman smiled sadly.
"I served your mother many years ago."
Before Seraphina could respond, a young guard hurried toward Cassian.
"Your Highness."
Cassian's expression grew serious.
"What happened?"
"The King is waiting."
"He said you must bring Lady Seraphina to the council chamber immediately."
Cassian frowned.
"My father already knows we've arrived?"
The guard nodded.
"He said..."
"...the prophecy has begun to change."
Cassian exchanged a worried glance with his captain.
Without another word, he turned to Seraphina.
"My father has waited twenty years to meet you."
She swallowed nervously.
"What if he doesn't believe I'm the girl he's searching for?"
Cassian gave her a reassuring smile.
"He already believes."
"What worries me..."
"...is whether the prophecy still does."
Minutes later, they entered a grand hall carved from black marble.
At the far end stood a throne of polished obsidian.
An older man rose slowly from it.
His silver-streaked black hair rested against a crimson cloak, and his commanding presence filled the chamber.
King Alaric Noctis.
His crimson eyes settled on Seraphina.
For several long moments, he said nothing.
Then, to everyone's astonishment, the mighty Vampire King descended the steps of his throne.
He stopped before Seraphina...
...and bowed his head.
"Your Majesty."
Gasps echoed through the chamber.
Even the royal council stared in shock.
Seraphina instinctively stepped back.
"Please... don't."
"I'm not a queen."
King Alaric looked up.
His expression was filled with both sorrow and hope.
"You may not remember your past."
"But your mother once saved my life."
He reached inside his cloak and withdrew a small silver box engraved with a crescent moon.
"I have guarded this for twenty years."
"It belongs to you."
Seraphina accepted the box with trembling hands.
As she lifted the lid, a brilliant silver light burst into the chamber.
The light formed the image of a beautiful woman dressed in white.
Her gentle eyes fell upon Seraphina.
"My daughter..."
Seraphina's breath caught.
The woman smiled through tears.
"If you are seeing this..."
"...then I have already left this world."
The image slowly reached out a glowing hand.
"I have so much to tell you."
The chamber fell into stunned silence.
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