CHAPTER 3: THE SEALED BLOOD

ROSELYN’S POV

The village square remained silent long after Prince Noah and his guards disappeared into the forest.

No one cheered, No one spoke. It was as though the life had been drained from Oakridge Forest.

I could still hear the echo of his wolf’s howl ringing inside my ears. It wasn’t a sound of joy, It was fear.

Fear… because of me.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and looked around. Every face that had once ignored me now stared openly. Some looked frightened, Others looked disgusted. A few even looked… angry. The whispers began quietly, but they spread through the crowd like wildfire.

“I knew there was something wrong with her.”

“The Prince’s wolf feared her.”

“Did you see his face?”

“She brought bad luck the moment she was born.”

I lowered my head. Those words shouldn’t have hurt anymore. I’d heard them for years. Yet today, they cut deeper than ever before. Without saying a word, I turned and walked away. No one tried to stop me, No one called my name. Instead, the villagers stepped aside, leaving a wide path between us as though touching me would curse them. For the first time in my life… I felt completely alone.

The walk home seemed longer than usual. The evening breeze rustled the leaves above me, but instead of bringing comfort, it sent a chill down my spine. My mind replayed everything that had happened. Prince Noah’s golden eyes, The strange look on his face, The words he had whispered.

“I’ve been looking for you.” Why? Who did he think I was? He was the future Lycan King. I was nothing more than the girl everyone believed shouldn’t exist. None of it made sense.

When our small cottage finally came into view, I quickened my pace. Roland was already waiting outside. The moment he saw me, he knew something was wrong. He crossed the yard in hurried steps.

“Roselyn?” I tried to smile but It lasted less than a second. Then the tears came. “They were all staring at me.” Roland pulled me into his arms without asking another question. I buried my face against his chest. “They were afraid of me.” His hand rested gently on my head. “I know.”

“No…” I pulled away and looked up at him. “You don’t understand, The Prince looked at me as if…”

I hesitated. “…as if he knew me.”

Roland’s expression changed Only for a heartbeat. But I saw it.

“You told me I was imagining things,” I continued “You always said I was just human. So why would the Lycan Prince say he’d been looking for me?”

Roland remained silent. “Why did his wolf howl?”

Silence. “Roland…” My voice broke. “What aren’t you telling me?” He looked away.

The setting sun cast long shadows across the yard, making him appear older than I had ever noticed.

For years, I had believed he kept quiet because there was nothing to say, but Now… I realized he had been hiding something, Something enormous.

He let out a long, weary sigh.

“I prayed this day would never come.” My heart skipped. “What do you mean?”

Instead of answering, he walked into the cottage, Confused, I followed him.

He closed the door carefully before sliding the heavy wooden bolt into place. Then he pulled the curtains shut. The room suddenly felt darker, Smaller, More suffocating. “Roland…”

He turned toward me. “Whatever I’m about to tell you…” His voice trembled. “…will change your life forever.” A knot formed in my stomach.

“I don’t understand.”

“I know.”

He walked toward the fireplace and slowly knelt on the floor. For a moment, he simply stared at the old wooden boards beneath him, Then he pressed his palm against one of them. A faint silver glow spread across the floor. I gasped. With a soft click, one of the floorboards shifted. A hidden compartment. I took an involuntary step forward.

“You… you built this?”

“No.” Roland slowly lifted the loose board.

“It was here long before we arrived.”

Inside lay a small crystal pendant shaped like a crescent moon. Even in the dim light, it shimmered with an ethereal silver glow. It was breathtaking, Almost… Alive.

Roland picked it up with surprising care, as though it were the most precious thing in the world. His hands trembled. “I’ve protected this for nineteen years.” He looked into my eyes. “And now…” He held the pendant out to me. “It’s finally time for you to have it.”

I stared at the crystal. Something inside me stirred. A strange warmth spread through my chest. Without thinking, I reached for it.

The instant my fingers touched the pendant, Pain exploded through my entire body. I screamed. The crystal erupted with blinding silver light, flooding the cottage. Images flashed before my eyes.

A magnificent palace beneath a glowing moon, A queen wearing a silver crown, A man carrying a newborn baby through a forest… Fire… Blood… Screams. The queen’s tear-filled voice echoed through the chaos. “Protect my daughter…”

The vision shattered. I collapsed onto the floor, gasping for breath. The pendant slipped from my hand but continued glowing. Roland rushed to my side. “Roselyn!” I looked at him, tears streaming down my face. “I… I saw them.” His face turned pale.

“What did you see?” I struggled to breathe.

“A palace…”

“A queen…”

“A baby…”

Before I could say another word— BANG!

The front door shook violently. Another thunderous blow followed. BANG! Someone was trying to break in.

A cold voice echoed from outside. “We know she’s in there.” Roland froze. His eyes widened in horror.

Then, for the first time since I had known him… I saw genuine fear. He reached beneath the table and drew out an ancient silver sword engraved with glowing runes. His gaze locked onto mine.

“Roselyn…” His voice was steady now. “Whatever happens next… Do not let go of that pendant.”

Outside, the voice spoke again. This time, louder.

“Hand over the girl… or we’ll burn this cottage to the ground.”