Chapter 7: The Lycan King
**Thelma Zane’s POV**
A tall man entered the room, his commanding presence instantly making the spacious chamber feel smaller. His aura was so overwhelming that I found it hard to look away, though I didn’t dare meet his eyes directly.
“Helena, that’s enough,” he said, his deep voice gentle yet firm as he approached the woman who had been crying beside me. With a tenderness that seemed out of place for someone of his stature, he wrapped his arms around her trembling frame. “Don’t embarrass yourself in front of the children,” he added, softly stroking her back until her sobs began to subside.
As her crying quieted, he shifted his attention to me. His gaze was intense, searching, and filled with an emotion I couldn’t quite name. From the pocket of his immaculate coat, he produced a folded piece of paper. His hands trembled slightly, though he tried to appear composed.
“Hello, Daughter,” he said, his voice steady despite the faint quiver of his hands. “I know this must be overwhelming, and you may not believe me. But it’s true–we are your biological parents. I’ve had DNA tests done in three separate laboratories, and every result confirms it.”
My heart pounded in my chest as I hesitated, then reached out to take the paper from him. The weight of the moment made my hands shake as I unfolded it and scanned the text. The truth was undeniable. The results were clear. They were my parents.
My throat felt dry, as though every word I wanted to say had vanished. For years, I’d known I wasn’t the biological child of my adoptive parents. I’d often wondered what my real parents might be like, though I’d never truly expected to meet them. Despite the love I had for my adoptive family, there had always been an invisible barrier between us, a sense that I didn’t quite belong.
They would scold my brother, Rhode, for his mistakes, but they never raised their voices to me. They treated me with care–too much care, at times–which left me feeling like a guest in their home rather than a true part of the family.
And now, here they were–my real parents.
The man took a deep breath, as if to steady himself, before saying, “Now, we can confirm it beyond any doubt. You are the daughter we lost eighteen years ago. Princess Madeline.”
The words hung in the air like a thunderclap.
“You… I…” My voice failed me as my thoughts tangled into incoherent fragments.
Tears welled up in my eyes, spilling over before I could stop them. My heart felt heavy with a mix of emotions–relief, disbelief, fear. It was as if I had been thrust into the pages of an unbelievable story. Could this truly be my life? Could I really be a princess? The absurdity of it
almost made me laugh, though I was far too overwhelmed to do so.
“Welcome home,” he said with a soft smile before pulling me into a warm embrace. My mother joined him, her arms encircling me as well.
“I thought…” I began, my voice choked with emotion. “I thought I was dead…”
My mother gently brushed a tear from my cheek, her green eyes–the same as mine- glistening with unshed tears. “Oh, my sweet chilld,” she whispered, her voice trembling but tender. “You’re a Lycan. Did you truly think something as small as death could take you away from us?”
Lycan.
The word hit me like a second shockwave. My breath caught in my throat as I stared at her, trying to process what she had just said.
“I… I don’t understand,” 1 stammered. “I thought I was human.”
My father’s expression darkened, his frown deep and foreboding. “How could you think that?” he asked, his tone tinged with both concern and anger. “You carry the scent of orchids
a mark of the Lycan bloodline.”
He stepped closer, his gaze sharp and probing. “But tell us, my dear. What happened to you? Who hurt you? Why were you so gravely injured when we found you by the river? If I hadn’t arrived in time, you would’ve been lost to us forever.”
His words stirred something deep inside me, emotions I had tried to bury for years. My lips quivered as I fought to hold back more tears, but the dam broke, and the flood came rushing out. All the pain, the fear, the loneliness I had carried for so long poured forth in a torrent of
sobs.
They didn’t interrupt me. They waited patiently, their presence steady and reassuring, until I could finally speak.
“I… I jumped from the cliff,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Why?” my father asked, his voice taut with barely restrained emotion.
grew up in a wolf pack,” I explained, my words tumbling out in a rush. “But I was the only human in it. I was different. Weak. I couldn’t run as fast or jump as high. I was always a burden to the pack. I couldn’t take it anymore…
”
My mother’s eyes flashed with anger, though it wasn’t directed at me. “I won’t let you speak about yourself that way,” she said firmly. “You’re not weak. You’re my daughter, and you have the strength of a Lycan within you. You only needed more time to grow into it.”
I looked at her in confusion. Lycans were born powerful, weren’t they? Why would I need time to grow?
“Don’t worry about those things right now,” she said softly, her expression softening.
Chapter : The Lycan King
“But… did you say I’m a princess?”
My father’s demeanor shifted. His posture straightened, and an air of regal authority seemed to radiate from him. “Of course,” he said. “I am Victor, the Lycan King. As my only heir, you are Princess Madeline. One day, you will inherit my position and become the Lycan Queen Regent.”
His voice was steady, resolute, and left no room for doubt.
But my mother placed a gentle hand on his arm. “Victor,” she said sternly, “this isn’t the time. to discuss such matters. Madeline has just woken up. Let her rest.”
Victor sighed but nodded. “Very well. For now, let me formally introduce myself. I am Victor, your father. And this beautiful, strong woman is my mate–your mother, Helena.”
I couldn’t help but notice the way her cheeks flushed at his words. She playfully punched his arm, though he didn’t budge. It was clear he was used to her affection.
“Madeline,” he said, his tone softening, “we’ve waited so long for this moment. We’ve always known this day would come.
His words were comforting, yet they brought with them a new wave of uncertainty.
“I…” I hesitated, unsure of how to ask the question burning in my mind. “You said Lycans. choose their mates. Does that mean I have to choose someone too?”
He smiled. “Lycans are not bound by the Moon Goddess’s will as ordinary werewolves are. You are free to choose who you want by your side.”
My mother leaned closer, her gaze tender. “Do you have someone you care for, sweetheart?“, I hesitated before whispering, “I… I had a mate. But he rejected me.”
Their faces fell, sorrow and anger flashing in their eyes. But I could only look down, feeling like a child who had done something wrong.
