CHAPTER 6: THE LYCAN PRINCESS

The sleek black car pulled through the towering gates of the Lycan palace, and Leila's breath caught in her throat. Even after several days of staying here, the magnificence still overwhelmed her, golden spires reaching toward the sky, ancient stone walls that hummed with power, gardens that seemed to glow with ethereal light.

Prince Darius helped her out of the car, his hand gentle but protective on her arm. "Welcome home, sister," he said softly.

Before Leila could respond, the massive doors of the palace burst open.

"My daughter!"

King William rushed down the marble steps with a speed that defied his regal bearing. His arms wrapped around Leila, pulling her into an embrace that was both fierce and tender.

"Father," Leila whispered, tears streaming down her face as she buried her head against his chest.

The King pulled back slightly, his hands cupping her face as he studied her with eyes that shimmered with unshed tears. "You're home. Finally, after eighteen years, you're home."

"I'm home," Leila repeated, the words feeling both foreign and right on her tongue.

Darius stepped forward, his expression darkening. "Father, there's something you need to know. That Alpha, Adrian Blackwood, he refused to release her. He wouldn't sign the divorce papers."

King William's jaw tightened, his eyes flashing with dangerous gold light. "He dares to keep my daughter bound to him?"

"It's okay, Father," Leila said quickly, placing a calming hand on his arm. "I just want to be free of him. That's all that matters."

The King's expression softened as he looked at his daughter, but steel remained in his voice. "Don't worry, my princess. I will make him sign those papers. No one, not even an Alpha, defies the Lycan King and keeps what belongs to our family."

He took both her hands in his, his voice warming. "But for now, we have more important matters to attend to. The entire realm has waited eighteen years for this moment. It's time to announce the return of our missing princess."

Leila's eyes widened. "The entire realm?"

"Every pack, every clan, every territory under Lycan protection," Darius said with a proud smile. "They'll all come to honor you, sister. To witness the return of the lost princess."

King William nodded. "We'll hold a grand ceremony three days from now. The ballroom will be filled with Alphas, Lunas, and dignitaries from across the continent. They'll all bow before you, acknowledge you as the true Lycan princess."

Leila's hand unconsciously moved to her stomach. "Father, I…"

"You look exhausted, my dear," the King interrupted gently. "You've been through so much. Come, let me show you to your chambers. You need rest."

He guided her through the palace, Darius walking protectively on her other side. Servants bowed deeply as they passed, their eyes wide with wonder and joy.

"This is your wing," King William said as they reached a pair of ornate double doors. He pushed them open to reveal a suite that took Leila's breath away.

The room was enormous, decorated in shades of silver and white that seemed to glow in the afternoon light. A massive four-poster bed dominated one side, draped in silks that looked softer than clouds. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked gardens that stretched as far as the eye could see.

"It's beautiful," Leila whispered.

"It was your mother's," King William said softly, emotion thick in his voice. "I've kept it exactly as she left it, waiting for the day you would return."

Tears blurred Leila's vision. "Thank you, Father."

The King kissed her forehead. "Rest now, my daughter. We have much to discuss, but it can wait. Your brother and I will handle everything."

As they turned to leave, Leila called out, "Father?"

King William paused at the door.

"What will you do about Adrian?"

A dangerous smile curved the King's lips. "Leave that to me, princess. By the end of the week, you'll be free of him. I promise you that."

The doors closed softly, and Leila was finally alone. She moved to the window, staring out at the beautiful landscape, but her mind was far away.

Her hand rested on her stomach, where her precious pup was growing stronger every day.

"Your father doesn't want us," she whispered to her unborn child. "But you and I, we're going to be just fine. Better than fine. You're a prince or princess now. You'll never know what it's like to be unwanted."

Meanwhile, back at the Blue Moon pack, Adrian sat at his desk, staring blankly at the wall. He hadn't slept in two days. Hadn't eaten. The mate bond continued to burn, a constant reminder of what he'd lost.

His phone rang, shattering the silence.

"Alex," Adrian answered, his voice hoarse. "Tell me you found something."

"Alpha, I..." Alex's voice was strange, tight with shock. "I found something, but you're not going to like it."

Adrian sat up straighter. "What is it? Did you find her?"

"I found a medical report from the hospital," Alex said slowly. "From the day you called me to search for her. Adrian... Leila was there."

"What?" Adrian's heart pounded. "Is she okay? Was she hurt?"

"She's fine, but…" Alex paused, and Adrian could hear papers rustling. "Alpha, according to this report... Leila is pregnant."

The world stopped.

"What?" Adrian whispered.

"She's pregnant," Alex repeated. "The report is dated from weeks ago. That must have been why she went to the hospital that day."

Adrian's mind reeled. The memory hit him like a physical blow, Leila on the floor, crying out in pain, begging him to take her to the hospital.

And I left her there. I called her an Uber and walked away.

"How far along?" Adrian asked, his voice barely audible.

"The report says she was carrying a pure Alpha pup. One hundred percent pure bloodline. The doctor noted it was unprecedented for a human to…"

"She's not human," Adrian interrupted numbly. "We know that now."

"Adrian," Alex said carefully. "If she was pregnant weeks ago, and you two were... the timing means..."

"The pup is mine," Adrian finished, the realization crashing over him like a tidal wave. "Oh goddess, the pup is mine."

His hands shook as he gripped the phone. "She was trying to tell me. That day in my office, the gift box she brought. That's what it was. She was going to tell me about our pup."

Guilt, rage, and despair warred in his chest.

"There's something else," Alex said hesitantly. "An invitation just arrived. It's from the Lycan palace."

Adrian frowned, trying to focus through the chaos in his mind. "Lycan palace? What do they want?"

"They're announcing the return of their missing princess. Apparently, she's been found after eighteen years. There's going to be a grand ceremony in three days. Every Alpha and high-ranking wolf in the continent has been invited."

"I don't care about some Lycan princess," Adrian growled. "I need you to focus on finding my wife. Finding my pup."

"I'm trying, Alpha, but she's vanished. It's like she disappeared into thin air. No credit card transactions, no phone signals, nothing. Whoever that man was who took her, he knew how to cover their tracks."

Adrian slammed his fist on the desk. "Try harder! She's pregnant with my child. I need to find her. I need to…" His voice broke. "I need to make this right."

"I will, Alpha. But about the invitation, the Lycan King specifically requested your presence. It would be... unwise to refuse."

"Fine," Adrian snapped. "I'll attend their damn ceremony. But the moment it's over, I want every resource back on finding Leila. Understood?"

"Yes, Alpha."

Adrian ended the call and dropped his head into his hands.

"Pregnant," he whispered. "She was pregnant, and I called her a gold digger. I accused her of cheating. I left her bleeding on the ground."

His wolf howled inside him, a sound of pure anguish.

Our mate. Our pup. We abandoned them.

"I'll find you, Leila," Adrian vowed into the empty room. "I'll find you both, and I'll spend the rest of my life making this up to you. I swear it."

But even as he made the promise, a terrible fear gnawed at him: What if, when he finally found her, it was too late? What if she could never forgive him?

What if she never wanted him back?