The Lost Beta 5 - The Weight of the Crown

Emily stood frozen before the rogue crest, its intricate carvings glowing under the flickering torchlight. The weight of Lucien’s words pressed against her ribs.

"You were meant to rule."

The whispers of the gathered rogues filled the chamber, a mixture of awe and anticipation.

She was their heir. Their leader.

And yet, a part of her recoiled from the thought.

Emily clenched her fists. “Why should I believe you?”

Lucien’s smirk was patient, as if he expected her hesitation. “Because the truth has always been inside you.” He gestured to the crest. “Touch it.”

A strange compulsion urged her forward. She placed her palm against the cold stone…

And the world shattered.

---

Pain lanced through her skull.

Visions flashed before her eyes:

—Her father, Lucien, standing tall before a gathering of rogues, his voice echoing through the night. “She will be our salvation.”

—A younger version of herself, hiding behind a tree, watching as warriors swore loyalty to her.

—Then fire. Blood. Betrayal.

Emily inhaled sharply, reeling back as the memories surged through her thoughts like a tempest. She grasped her temples, panting heavily.

Lucien was at her side instantly. “You’re remembering.”

She looked up, her eyes burning. “You lied to me.”

Lucien’s expression didn’t waver. “I did what I had to. For you. For us.”

But if she had once been part of this world, why did it feel so wrong?

---

Alexander was pacing like an animal left in a cage back in the Moonshadow realm.

His entire being begged him to pursue Emily. Restless and enraged, his wolf tore at his psyche.

“Let me lead a team,” he growled.

Alpha Gregory shook his head as he stood behind his desk. "There are not enough of us to fight the rogues."

Alexander balled his hands into fists. "This isn't about war. It’s about getting her back.”

Gregory sighed. “And what if she chooses not to come back?”

The words struck like a knife.

However, Alexander was convinced that he would not let her leave without a fight.

---

In the rogue stronghold, Emily stood before a crowd of warriors.

Lucien’s voice was steady. “They need to see your strength.”

A tall, scarred rogue stepped forward. “She may be your daughter, but she hasn’t proven herself to us.”

Lucien inclined his head. “Then let her prove herself.”

Emily’s stomach twisted.

The rogue threw a knife at her feet. “A challenge.”

Emily swallowed hard. She had never fought like this.

Her body trembled as she picked up the knife.

She had no choice but to survive.

---

The rogue lunged.

Emily barely dodged, her muscles reacting before her mind caught up. Years of surviving in the wild had honed her instincts, but this was different, this was calculated.

The rogue was bigger, stronger. His strikes came fast, but she was faster.

She rolled beneath his arm and dodged. He attacked her once more, but this time she saw his next move coming.

She twisted her knife sharply and pressed the hilt into his ribcage.

He grunted, staggering back.

Silence filled the air.

Then, a gradual smirk grew across Lucien’s face.

"She is one of us."

 ---

Emily sat in her room that night and gazed at her image in the broken mirror.

The girl who was staring back at her had changed.

She had lost her weakness.

But, she wasn't certain that she appreciated the individual she was evolving into.

A knock at the door surprised her. Lucien entered, his expression unreadable.

“You did well today.”

Emily’s voice was quiet. “Did I?”

Lucien stepped closer. “You’re beginning to understand your place.”

She swallowed. “And what if I don’t want this place?”

Lucien’s eyes darkened. "You had no other option."

---

That night, Emily didn't get much sleep. Her mind spun with doubts.

She had wanted the truth but was this it?

A rustling outside her window made her stiff.

Her heart pounded. Slowly, she moved toward the sound, pushing the curtain aside.

Golden eyes glowed in the darkness.

Her breath caught.

Alexander.

He was here.

And he had come for her.

---

Emily has begun proving herself to the rogues, but Alexander isn’t willing to let her go. As he risks everything to reach her, Emily must decide where her loyalty truly lies before it’s too late.