The King’s Daughter

Realization

The drive to my father’s estate is long, but time feels irrelevant now. The world outside the window passes in a blur—trees, fields, the roads I once thought I’d never leave. Everything is familiar but also distant. It feels like a lifetime ago that I was a princess, destined for a life I could never choose.

But now, as the car rolls past the gates of our land, there’s a sense of homecoming. The estate looms in the distance, a sanctuary I’ve not seen in so long, but it’s still as grand as I remember. It’s my father’s world, where the weight of history and tradition wraps around us like a second skin.

When the car comes to a stop in front of the grand entrance, I step out, feeling the gravel beneath my boots. It’s strange how something so simple can feel so grounding like I’m finally in a place where I can breathe again.

I don’t realize I’m holding my breath until I see him—my father, standing on the steps, his tall frame silhouetted by the setting sun. His face is lined with age, but his eyes are as sharp and wise as ever. He doesn’t speak, but the look on his face says everything.

“Chloe,” he says softly, walking toward me with long strides.

I drop my suitcase, and before I know it, I’m in his arms, the warmth of his embrace feeling like a shield against everything I’ve been through. I’ve always been his daughter, his pride, and for the first time in so long, I feel like I’m finally allowed to be that again.

“I’m sorry, Dad,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. “I was so… impulsive. I should’ve come back earlier. I shouldn’t have—”

He pulls back just enough to look me in the eyes, his hands gently cupping my face. “Chloe,” he interrupts, his voice calm but firm. “You don’t need to apologize. You’ve been through enough. What matters now is that you’re here. And you’re safe.”

The tears I’ve held back for so long fall freely now. For the first time, I didn't try to stop them. I’m tired of pretending I’m fine.

He guides me inside, and I can feel the weight of the place wrapping around me. It’s all so familiar, but it’s not the same as it once was. The tension in my chest eases with every step I take, but there’s still a part of me that feels like I don’t belong here anymore like I’ve left a piece of myself behind in the world I tried to build with Dylan.

As we enter the grand hall, my father speaks again. “We’ll take care of everything, Chloe. You don’t need to worry about anything.”

I nod, though I don’t feel entirely reassured. There’s a long road ahead of me. Rebuilding my life will take time, but I can’t help but feel that maybe—just maybe—I can start fresh here.

I sit with my father in his study, the room where we spent so many nights discussing pack politics, royal affairs, and everything in between. The weight of the world felt lighter here, under the protection of my family’s legacy.

But there’s something I need to ask. Something I need to understand before I can truly move forward.

“Dad,” I start, my voice steady but unsure. “I need to know… I need to know why you let me go.”

He looks at me, his brow furrowing slightly. “What do you mean?”

“Why did you let me marry him? Why didn’t you stop me? I was so young. I was so blinded by love. I… I thought I was doing the right thing. But look at what happened. I gave everything up for him, and he—” I falter, the sting of betrayal cutting through me again. “And he never cared. He wasn’t even faithful.”

My father leans forward, his gaze steady. “Chloe, I never wanted you to be in that position. But you were your own person. You chose him. I respected that. You were always meant to be the Luna of your pack, and I thought… I thought you would be happy. But you weren’t, were you?”

I shake my head. “No. I wasn’t.”

He nods, as though my words confirm something he already knew. “I knew you were strong, Chloe. But I didn’t realize just how much strength it would take for you to walk away from him. From everything you had built.”

“I don’t know what’s left for me now,” I admit, my voice small. “I don’t even know who I am anymore. I’ve been so caught up in trying to be the Luna he wanted… the Luna they wanted. And now—now I don’t know what to do with myself.”

“You’re my daughter,” my father says firmly. “And no matter what happens, that’s who you are. You’ll find your path, Chloe. But for now, you have time. Time to heal, to find your purpose. And you won’t be alone in this.”

His words settle over me like a blanket, warm and safe. For the first time in years, I feel like maybe, just maybe, I can find a place for myself in this world.

I sit back, letting out a long breath, feeling the weight of the past slowly begin to lift. It’s not gone yet. But it’s a start.

Let me know if you’d like to continue or change anything! The path ahead for Chloe seems to open up with her return home, and there’s room for growth and new revelations.

Dylan’s p.o.v.

The past two days had been an exercise in frustration. My pack, the Bloodfangs, had scoured every corner of the city, searching for any sign of Chloe. But the result was the same each time: nothing. She had vanished without a trace.

I hated this feeling. I hated that I couldn’t control it, that I couldn’t force her to come back to me. After all, she was mine to command, wasn’t she? She should have stayed. Instead, she had run and disappear like smoke in the wind.

I leaned against the desk in my study, trying to steady my breathing. “What do you mean, you’ve found nothing?” I asked, my voice eerily calm. I wasn’t angry—at least, not outwardly. But inside, the frustration churned.

Kade, one of my most trusted warriors, stood before me, his expression stone-cold. “We’ve looked everywhere, Alpha. She’s gone. We’ve asked around the other packs as well. No one’s seen her. It’s like she just… vanished.”

I let out a sharp breath and ran my hand over my face, masking the mounting tension in my chest. “She can’t just disappear. She’s too stubborn to go that quietly.”

But Kade’s expression didn’t change. “It’s true. No one knows where she went. I’m sorry, Alpha.”

I said nothing more. There was nothing left to say. Chloe was gone, and I was left in the dark.

Just as the weight of that reality began to settle, the door to my study opened, and Serene stepped in. She moved with that same grace, that calm presence that always managed to soothe me. But today, I could tell she was paying close attention to the mood in the room.

“Dylan,” she said softly, her voice smooth like honey, “still looking for her, I see?”

I turned to face her, my jaw clenching involuntarily. “Of course I am. Do you think I can just let her slip away like this?”

Serene closed the distance between us, a small smile playing on her lips. “She’s gone, Dylan. You’ve already done everything you could. She’s not coming back. And even if she did, you know it won’t be the same.”

I knew she was right, but that didn’t stop the lingering feeling in my chest. I wasn’t ready to admit it. Not yet.

But Serene pressed on, her touch now resting on my shoulder. “Let it go. She’s just trying to keep her last bit of dignity. She’s hiding somewhere in the countryside, clinging to whatever little self-respect she has left. But let’s be honest here—she’s nothing without you. You made her. And she knows it. She’s not strong enough to go on without you.”

Her words were exactly what I needed to hear, the kind of validation I’d been craving. The doubt that had started to creep into my mind faded as I let her words settle in.

“You’re right,” I murmured, the tightness in my chest easing. “She’s nothing without me.”

Serene’s smile deepened. “Exactly. You’ve always known it. She’ll never be able to forget you. You were her world.”

Before I could respond, the door opened again, and Seth—my Beta—stepped inside, his expression serious, his usually confident demeanor replaced by something more urgent.

“Alpha, there’s something you need to know,” Seth said quickly, his voice low.

I nodded, motioning for him to continue.

“There’s a royal event coming up. A welcome party,” Seth explained, his eyes flicking to Serene before returning to me. “The King’s hosting it. It’s a big deal. And—”

I raised an eyebrow. “What does this have to do with me or the pack?”

Seth looked uncomfortable but pressed on. “The King’s daughter… she’s coming out into the public. The party’s for her. He’s been keeping her hidden, but now he’s ready to introduce her to the world. It’s the first time anyone will see her.”

I leaned back, absorbing the information. The King hadn’t been seen in public for years after the tragic death of his wife and son. But now, he was throwing a party to celebrate his daughter, his only remaining family.

“And we’re invited?” I asked, trying to understand why this was important.

Seth nodded. “Yes. Every pack’s invited. The whole city’s going to be there. It’s going to be a spectacle.”

Something about the way he spoke struck me as odd, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Still, I nodded. “Fine. We’ll go. But we’re not attending a royal parade. I’ve got better things to do than mingle with the King’s nobles.”

Seth hesitated. “There’s more. The rumors…”

“What rumors?” I asked, irritation seeping into my voice.

Seth swallowed before responding, his voice barely above a whisper. “The rumors are that… It's Chloe. She’s the King’s daughter. His hidden heir. No one knew until now.”

I felt the blood drain from my face, the shock hitting me like a punch to the gut. Chloe? The King’s daughter? It couldn’t be.

I stared at Seth, my mind racing, but there was a distinct unease in the air. He hadn’t said much, but the way he looked at me, the hesitation in his eyes—it was enough to make me pause.

“The King’s daughter,” I repeated, trying to make sense of the words. “Is anyone sure it’s really her? No one knows her, do they?”

Seth nodded, his eyes darkening as if he was carrying the weight of this information. “No one knows who she is, Alpha. That’s the point. She’s been kept hidden all these years. The King’s only spoken of her in whispers.”

I clenched my fists at my sides. The mystery surrounding the royal family had always intrigued me, but I’d never expected it to collide with my personal life like this. Chloe—was she really the daughter of the King? I had no idea, but everything in me screamed that something was off. This… this party had to mean something more.

I turned my gaze back to Seth. “We’re going,” I said, trying to push the uncertainty out of my mind. “But don’t mention her name to anyone. I’ll handle this.”