Chapter 4 Royal Crest

The room went silent after I opened the door and saw those letters.

I held the letter in my trembling hands, rereading the sentence over and over until the words got stuck in my head.

"Lila of Lycan, you must return to Moonveil to fulfill the blood pact."

"Who delivered this?" I asked Mariya, my voice barely rising above a whisper.

"There was no trace or sign of a wolf delivering it," she said, "and if I must say, whoever delivered it is not ordinary."

My heart raced. Not ordinary? What does that even mean? I walked over to where Leo was and wrapped my hands around him in a protective way.

Mariya took the letter from me and tossed it into the fire. "No one must find this."

"But it's too late," I said. "They already know."

Just then, another knock came-louder and heavier. My heart never stopped jumping.

Mariya flung the door open.

Two men in black cloaks stood outside, both bearing the Lycan King's seal.

One stepped forward, bowing slightly. "Lila of Moonveil, by royal decree, you are summoned to return immediately to fulfill the Blood Pact made by your ancestors."

My mouth went wide open in shock." What Blood Pact?"

The other man stretched out a scroll. He unraveled it and began reading:

Upon the merging of the Luna and Lycan bloodlines, it was agreed that in times of crisis, a royal-blooded Omega would be bound in matrimony to a ruling Alpha to preserve balance. With the fall of House Luna and the awakening of the Moon Crest, the pact is hereby activated."

My body became cold.

Mariya stepped forward. "She has a child-"

"The child is not mentioned in the pact," the first man interrupted.

I felt cold all over again.

"Who am I meant to marry?" I finally asked .

Both of them looked at each other before one spoke up.

"Alpha Evan of Blackridge."

I gasped, my heart tearing apart this time.

Mariya's eyes flared with anger. "That arrogant brute? He rejected her!"

"He was chosen by the King," the guard replied. "He is powerful and will protect the bloodline."

Protect it? Or destroy it?

I looked at Leo and remembered everything he did to me-every insult and humiliation.

"They could bind me to Evan, but he can never have my child, " I said inside me.

"Give me one day to prepare," I said, with a weak and flat voice.

They exchanged glances.

"We leave at dawn. Be ready, they said, and disappeared into the woods.

I slammed the door shut and leaned against it.

Mariya stood stiffly in the corner. "We can run. I know a place beyond the Howling packs.

"No," I interrupted. "Running won't protect him anymore." They'll never stop."

She looked at me, shocked. "Then what?"

"I'll go and marry Evan ,but Leo must stay hidden. No one has to know about his existence, not even the King."

Mariya's mouth opened to argue, but I shook my head. "Swear to me, promise me that you will protect him with every strength in you."

She blinked her eyes before nodding. "With my life, I will protect him," she said.

"Good," I said. That was all I needed.

I began to pack quickly. I kissed Leo's forehead a hundred times, memorizing every soft feature.

"You're stronger than you look, my little moon," I whispered. "Stay strong for Mama."

Mariya took him and held him tight. She said nothing, but her eyes shimmered with tears.

Dawn came too soon.

The guards returned with a silver carriage bearing the royal crest.

I stepped inside without a word. As the wheels turned, I stared out the window, clenching my fists.

I was going back to Evan. To Moonveil, a pack that chased me away in shame.

---

Moonveil hadn't changed.

Its towering walls, marble towers, and the ever-glowing Moonstone at its peak were all still the same.

I was escorted straight to the palace, where a servant dressed me in ceremonial robes-pale blue and silver dress, the colors of Luna's blood.

I barely had time to breathe before I was led into the Hall of Kings.

The Lycan King sat on a silver throne.

He studied me. "Lila of Luna, you have done well by returning."

I bowed stiffly-not willing, but just to show courtesy.

He chuckled. "Always the fire. That's why your mother defied me. And why will you not."

I bit my tongue in anger.

Evan appeared and stood beside the King. He, too, hadn't changed; he still looked exactly as I remembered.

He raised his head, and instantly, our eyes locked.

I expected contempt, for him to feel arrogant, but instead, I saw something different-regret.

"This is your bride," the King announced.

Evan said nothing.

The King stood up, "The bond will be sealed under the moon and, until then, you are to remain within the palace grounds. "Any attempt to escape will be considered treason."

I clenched my jaw.

As I was led to my chambers, Evan followed.

Once the guards left us alone, he walked up to me, trying to have a conversation.

"I didn't ask for this," he said.

"Neither did I."

He leaned on the doorframe. "Lila, I-"

"Save it. I'm here for the bloodline and that's all.

He flinched and shook his head.

"You think I don't know what you did? "You rejected me, choosing Clarissa instead, and now you expect me to just smile because I'm going to wear a crown?"

His jaw tightened. "I did what I had to."

"So will I," I said, and walked past him.

That night, I lay awake, staring at the moon.

My heart ached for Leo.

I imagined his smile, his hum, the way he clutched my finger like it was his whole world.

"I will never let Evan be in his life ,I said continuously to myself.

I was still muttering things to myself when I heard a knock at the door. I stood up immediately and rushed to open it. But no one was there. Instead, I saw something terrible happening.

The village was burning.

There was smoke everywhere. People scattered, and wolves ran through the streets.

I looked and saw a figure dressed in black carrying something high into the sky, something that looked so small and tender.

I went down running towards the figure and when I got there, behold, it was Leo, my son.

I screamed and shouted on top of my voice; "Give me my son."