Chapter 3: A Prisoner of the Alpha King

The atmosphere inside the royal bedchamber became suffocating.

Nobody spoke.

Nobody even dared to breathe too loudly.

The words of the palace guard echoed repeatedly inside Serena's head.

The barrier started collapsing... the exact moment this human appeared.

Every eye in the room shifted toward her.

She instinctively took half a step backward.

'Why is everyone looking at me like that?' she asked quietly.

Magnus answered first.

'Because if what the guard said is true, then your arrival isn't a coincidence.'

'I don't even know what barrier you're talking about!' Serena protested.

'Exactly.'

'I swear, I'm telling the truth.'

Aero remained silent.

His sharp golden eyes stayed fixed on Serena, studying every tiny movement she made.

She felt exposed.

Judged.

Almost as if he could somehow hear her heartbeat.

Finally, he turned toward the guard.

'How severe is the damage?'

'Nearly fifteen percent of the northern barrier has vanished, Your Majesty.'

Rowan inhaled sharply.

'Fifteen percent...'

'That's impossible,' Magnus muttered.

'The barrier has protected our kingdom for over six hundred years.'

Aero's expression darkened.

'Prepare the Royal Guard.'

'Immediately, Your Majesty.'

The soldier bowed before rushing away.

Within seconds, the room fell silent again.

Serena watched everyone anxiously.

'Can somebody please explain what's happening?'

Rowan looked toward Aero, silently asking permission.

The king gave a slight nod.

'The Silver Barrier protects our kingdom from creatures that no longer belong in this world,' Rowan explained.

'Creatures? Like... monsters?'

'Among other things.'

'And now it's breaking because I showed up?'

'That appears to be the case.'

'But that doesn't make any sense.'

'Not yet.'

Serena rubbed her temples.

Everything happening around her felt completely unreal.

Yesterday morning she'd been helping children at the orphanage.

Yesterday evening she'd bought an old painting.

Now she was apparently responsible for destroying some magical barrier protecting a kingdom she'd never heard of.

'This has to be a dream,' she whispered.

Magnus folded his arms.

'Dreams don't usually involve chains.'

Only then did Serena notice the silver cuffs still locked around her wrists.

'Could someone remove these?'

'No.'

The answer came from Aero.

'Not until I know whether you're a threat.'

'If I were dangerous, don't you think I'd have attacked someone by now?'

'Some enemies wait.'

'I'm not your enemy.'

'That remains to be seen.'

His calm voice irritated her more than if he'd shouted.

'You're unbelievable,' Serena muttered.

'So I've been told.'

Magnus almost smiled.

Almost.

A servant entered carrying neatly folded clothes.

He immediately lowered his head.

'Your Majesty.'

'Leave them.'

The servant carefully placed the garments onto a nearby chair before quickly leaving.

Aero glanced toward Serena.

'Those clothes won't survive a day in this kingdom.'

Only now did Serena look down at herself.

She was still wearing blue jeans, white sneakers, and a light cream sweater.

Compared to everyone else inside the room, she looked painfully out of place.

'They're just clothes.'

'Everything unfamiliar attracts attention.'

'Fair point.'

'You'll change after you're moved.'

'Moved where?'

'The royal dungeon.'

'Excuse me?'

Serena's eyes widened.

'You're putting me in prison?'

'Temporarily.'

'For how long?'

'Until I know the truth.'

'I already told you the truth!'

'Your version of it.'

'Which happens to be the real version!'

Aero didn't respond.

Instead, he walked toward one of the enormous windows overlooking the kingdom.

Serena found herself watching him.

Despite everything, there was something oddly lonely about him.

He carried responsibility the way mountains carried snow—naturally, yet heavily.

Even from behind, his posture never relaxed.

She wondered if he ever truly rested.

'Magnus,' Aero said without turning.

'Yes, Your Majesty?'

'Escort Miss McAllister to the eastern tower.'

'The high-security cells?'

'Yes.'

'As you wish.'

Magnus approached Serena.

'Come.'

'Do I have a choice?'

'Not really.'

She sighed dramatically.

'Figures.'

As they stepped outside the chamber, Serena's breath caught.

The castle was even more magnificent than she'd imagined.

Towering marble columns stretched toward painted ceilings.

Silver chandeliers illuminated enormous hallways.

Every wall displayed banners embroidered with wolves standing beneath a full moon.

Knights, servants, nobles, and maids hurried through the corridors.

The moment they noticed Serena, conversations stopped.

People stared openly.

'Who's that?'

'A human?'

'Impossible.'

'She came from the king's room.'

'Did you hear? She appeared out of nowhere.'

Whispers followed Serena with every step.

She lowered her eyes.

She had never liked being the center of attention.

'Ignore them,' Magnus said.

'Easy for you to say.'

'They're curious.'

'They look terrified.'

'That too.'

After several minutes, they reached a spiral staircase descending deep beneath the castle.

The air immediately became colder.

Stone walls replaced polished marble.

Torches flickered quietly.

The smell of damp earth filled the corridors.

'Please don't tell me this is the dungeon.'

'This is the pleasant part.'

'You're joking.'

'Unfortunately not.'

Serena groaned.

'I really picked the worst painting in New York.'

'Again with these strange names.'

'Long story.'

They eventually stopped before a large iron door.

Magnus unlocked it.

To Serena's surprise, the room inside wasn't filthy.

It resembled a modest bedroom more than a prison.

There was a bed.

A fireplace.

A wooden table.

Even a bookshelf stood in one corner.

'This is prison?' Serena asked.

'High-value prisoners receive different accommodations.'

'How thoughtful.'

'Don't mistake comfort for freedom.'

He removed the chain connecting her cuffs to his belt but left the silver restraints around her wrists.

'Food will arrive shortly.'

'Am I allowed to ask questions?'

'You may ask.'

'Will anyone answer?'

'Depends on the question.'

Serena smiled despite herself.

'You're not as scary as you pretend to be.'

Magnus stared at her for several seconds.

Then, unexpectedly...

The corner of his mouth twitched.

'Don't let His Majesty hear you say that.'

The heavy door closed.

Silence returned.

Serena slowly walked toward the narrow window overlooking part of the kingdom.

Beyond the castle walls stretched endless forests.

Beautiful.

Wild.

Completely unfamiliar.

'How am I supposed to get home?' she whispered.

Miles away, inside the royal council chamber, Aero stood before an ancient stone map carved into the table.

Rowan entered quietly.

'Your Majesty... there's something I didn't mention earlier.'

Aero looked up.

'Speak.'

'The old prophecy...'

'Which one?'

'The one concerning the Moon Gate.'

Aero's expression hardened.

'That's merely legend.'

'It also speaks of a human woman appearing inside the Alpha King's chamber... just before the kingdom's fate begins to change.'