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Chapter 7 - CHAPTER 7: MALICE IN SHADOWS

Tristan's expression softened. "Your father was a member of the Lamia pack, Lucy. He hid you to protect you from those who sought to exploit the pack's power."

Lucy's world crumbled around her. Her entire life had been a lie.

"What do I do now?" she asked, feeling lost.

Tristan's arms enveloped her, pulling her close. "You learn to control your powers, and you help me unite the werewolf packs under our rule."

Lucy's heart skipped a beat. "And what about the prophecy?"

Tristan's eyes gleamed with determination. "Together, we'll fulfill it. We'll bring balance and power to the werewolf world."

She gazed out the window of his office, beyond the palace walls, the kingdom's rolling hills stretched toward the horizon, a tapestry of emerald green and golden wheat. 

The distant mountains rose, their peaks shrouded in mist, like sentinels guarding ancient secrets. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky transformed into a kaleidoscope of pinks, oranges, and purples, casting a magical glow over the landscape.

As Tristan's words echoed in her mind, Lucy realized her destiny was intertwined with his. She was no longer just a slave or a prisoner; she was the key to a new era.

She wondered if he truly understood what she was capable of, or if he was simply using her for his own gain. Deep down, she hoped it wasn't the latter, because even though she didn't truly trust him yet, she knew she had fallen for him.

Lucy's thoughts were a jumbled mess, but one thing was clear: her life would never be the same.

As Lucy tried to navigate her new reality, she struggled to reconcile her feelings for Tristan with the uncertainty surrounding his intentions. Their bond grew stronger with each passing day, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that he was hiding something.

One night, unable to sleep, while exploring the palace, Lucy stumbled upon an ancient text hidden within the library's depths. The worn leather book bore the Lamia pack's crest, and its pages whispered secrets of her ancestors.

As she delved into the book's mysteries, Lucy discovered a shocking truth: Tristan's past was intertwined with the Lamia pack's downfall. His determination to unite the packs might be rooted in a desire for redemption, but at what cost?

With this newfound knowledge, Lucy faced a difficult decision: trust Tristan and join forces to fulfill the prophecy, or forge her own path and risk everything.?

"Tristan, what happened to the Lamia pack?" Lucy asked one night, finally deciding to confront him, her voice barely above a whisper.

Tristan's expression turned somber. "Their downfall was a tragic event, Lucy. A rival pack, seeking power, betrayed and attacked them. Many lives were lost, and the pack was left shattered."

Lucy's heart ached. "And what was your role in this?"

Tristan's eyes locked onto hers, his gaze burning with intensity. "I was young and blinded by ambition. I sided with the rival pack, unaware of their true intentions. My actions contributed to the Lamia pack's downfall."

Lucy's world crumbled further. Tristan's past was more complex than she'd imagined.

Weeks had passed since Lucy's revelation about Tristan's past and her own destiny. She'd thrown herself into learning about her powers, the prophecy, and her new role as Luna.

But amidst the chaos, Lucy began noticing subtle changes within herself. Extreme Fatigue clung to her like a shadow, and her senses seemed extra heightened, plus weird cravings. At first, she attributed it to her growing powers.

One morning, while preparing for a council meeting, Lucy's usually reliable stomach betrayed her. She rushed to the bathroom, her body wracked by violent nausea.

As she splashed water on her face, a nagging thought resurfaced – one she'd pushed aside amidst the palace's turmoil.

"Impossible," "Please no" Lucy whispered, calculating the days since her last cycle.

A quiet knock on the door broke the silence. "Lucy, are you okay darling?" Tristan's voice was laced with concern.

Lucy opened the door, her face pale. "I need to see the palace healer," she said, avoiding eye contact.

Tristan's brow furrowed. "What's wrong?"

He could tell me immediately that something was wrong and he was worried.

"The healer," Lucy repeated, her voice firm.

With a nod, Tristan summoned the healer.

The elderly woman's gentle hands and knowing gaze put Lucy at ease. After a brief examination, the healer smiled softly.

"You're pregnant, Luna. A couple of weeks, perhaps."

Lucy's world tilted. Pregnant. With Tristan's child.

Tristan's eyes locked onto hers as he entered the room, his expression unreadable.

"Is it true?" he asked, his voice low.

Lucy nodded, her heart racing.

Tristan's face transformed, his eyes burning with emotion.

"Ours," he whispered, pulling Lucy close.

Just as Tristan's lips brushed against Lucy's, a sudden chill ran down her spine. A vision flashed before her eyes: a dark forest, a figure lurking in the shadows, and a faint whisper.

"Your child will be the downfall of our kind."

Lucy's eyes snapped open, her heart pounding.

Now what the hell was that?!

Zara's eyes seethed with venom as she gazed at Lucy's portrait, adorned in the grand hall of the Lycan palace. The very thought of her stepsister, now Tristan's Luna, made her blood boil.

"How did she steal everything from me?" Zara's inner monologue hissed. "The Lycan king's heart, the throne, the adoration... it's all mine." "It should've been me!"

Zara's resentment simmered, fueled by her mother's poisonous whispers. "You're the true heir, Zara. Lucy's nothing but a weak, foolish girl."

A knock on the door interrupted her dark reverie. Thorne Gordon, the Comet pack's Alpha, stood in the entrance, his piercing green eyes locked onto hers.

"Zara, dearest," Thorne said, his voice dripping with seduction."I can help you get it back."

"Get what back?" Zara feigning innocence so as not to seem desperate, asked.

"You're a brilliant young woman, love, you know what I'm talking about". Throne replied. "You see, we both want the same thing.I see the fire in your eyes. Together, we can reclaim what's rightfully yours." He purred.

Zara's heart fluttered, drawn to Thorne's charismatic power. Their affair had begun months ago, forged in the shadows of their shared hatred for Lucy.