Chapter 44 The Hidden Heir

• There’s something about seeing yourself reflected in the eyes of others that makes you realize the weight of who you are. Since I’d been forced to reveal myself as a red Lycan, I felt as though I’d become both a beacon and a target, drawing people to me with a mix of hope and hatred.
• Every day now, there were new faces among the rogue camps. Lycans, wolves, even some humans who had learned to keep their lips sealed about what they saw. Each one brought their own story, their own reasons for finding their way to me. Some sought freedom from the tyranny they claimed was poisoning the kingdom; others had revenge in their hearts, fueled by losses and betrayals I could only begin to understand. And then, there were the wary eyes, the ones who lingered just long enough to judge me and decide if I was more ally or adversary.
• Late one evening, after an exhausting day of strategizing and training, I slipped away from the main campfire. The sounds of laughter, chatter, and even a few disagreements faded into the background as I wandered out to the edge of the forest. I needed a moment alone, a place where I could just be Amelia, not the “Hidden Heir” that everyone else was starting to believe I was.