THE SEERS WARNING.
982 Words
Three days after the storm, Lucien stood before the royal council with a face carved from ice.
No one in the chamber knew that the Alpha King had barely slept.
No one knew that his wolf had been restless since he left Willow's apartment.
And certainly no one knew that every time Lucien closed his eyes, he saw Willow standing beside her bed, looking at him as though he'd broken something inside her.
The engagement ceremony was approaching.
The council wanted preparations finalized.
Lucien wanted silence.
"Your Majesty."
The High Elder cleared his throat.
"The Vale alliance is essential to the stability of the eastern territories."
Lucien stared at him.
"I know."
"Then the announcement must proceed."
Lucien's jaw tightened.
"Leave."
The council went silent.
"My King—"
"I said leave."
One by one, they bowed and filed out.
Only Kael remained.
He waited until the doors closed.
"You don't want to marry her."
Lucien looked toward the window.
"No."
"Then why are you doing it?"
"Because kings don't always marry the women they love."
Kael studied him.
"That's not an answer."
Lucien's eyes darkened.
"It's the only one you need."
Kael sighed.
"You're lying."
Lucien turned.
"Careful."
Kael didn't flinch.
"I've known you my entire life. You don't look at Seraphina the way you looked at Willow."
Lucien said nothing.
Kael stepped closer.
"You went to her."
Lucien's expression hardened.
"That isn't your concern."
"It becomes my concern when my king starts making decisions that could destabilize the entire kingdom."
Lucien's wolf stirred.
Kael noticed.
He raised his hands.
"I'm leaving."
"Good."
Kael reached the door.
Then stopped.
"For what it's worth..."
Lucien looked at him.
"You've never been more miserable than when you were pretending you didn't want her."
The door closed.
Lucien remained alone.
Then a cold voice echoed from the corridor.
"Your Majesty."
Lucien frowned.
The royal seer entered.
She looked pale.
Older than she had the day before.
And frightened.
Lucien had never seen fear in her eyes.
"What happened?"
"I had a vision."
Lucien's expression changed.
"Of what?"
She looked at him.
"Willow Cross."
His entire body went still.
"What about her?"
The seer approached.
"She is pregnant."
Silence.
Lucien stared at her.
For the first time in years, the Alpha King's control slipped.
"Impossible."
"I saw the child."
His wolf surged violently.
Our pup.
Lucien's hand curled into a fist.
The seer continued.
"The conception occurred during the storm."
His eyes closed.
Willow.
That night.
His chest tightened.
Lucien immediately turned toward the door.
The seer caught his arm.
"There is more."
Lucien stopped.
"What?"
Her fingers trembled.
"The child is connected to the prophecy."
Lucien's expression hardened.
"I thought the prophecy was about Willow."
"It is."
"Then explain."
The seer swallowed.
"The prophecy was never about power."
Lucien stared at her.
"The child will not be stronger than you."
"I know."
"The child will not carry an ancient bloodline."
"I know."
"Then why does the prophecy care?"
The seer looked directly into his eyes.
"Because the child will be the first heir born from the king and the woman destined to bring him to his knees."
Lucien went silent.
The seer whispered,
"The kingdoms will fight over that child."
His wolf growled.
No.
They wouldn't.
Not if Lucien had anything to say about it.
He turned toward the door.
"I'll go to Willow."
The seer stepped in front of him.
"Wait."
Lucien's eyes flashed gold.
"Move."
"You cannot go to her yet."
His voice dropped.
"Why?"
"Because your choices are already being watched."
Lucien stared at her.
"By whom?"
"The ancient bloodlines."
The room seemed to grow colder.
"They know about the heir?"
"Not yet."
"Then who knows?"
The seer looked toward the window.
"I saw another figure."
Lucien's instincts sharpened.
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"Describe them."
The seer closed her eyes.
"A man."
"Which bloodline?"
"I couldn't see."
Lucien stepped closer.
"What did he do?"
The seer's eyes opened.
"He stood beside Willow."
Lucien's wolf snarled.
"And?"
The seer whispered,
"He touched her stomach."
The room became deadly silent.
Lucien's eyes turned completely gold.
"Find him."
"Your Majesty—"
"Find him."
The seer shook her head.
"I don't know who he is."
Lucien's voice became frighteningly calm.
"Then find out."
He walked toward the door.
The seer called after him.
"Lucien."
He stopped.
"Remember the prophecy."
He looked over his shoulder.
"What part?"
The seer's voice trembled.
"When the king chooses his mate, kingdoms will either unite beneath their crowns or burn because of their love."
Lucien's expression was unreadable.
Then he said,
"Let them burn."
_____________________
Willow sat alone in her apartment, staring at the pregnancy test in her hand.
Two lines.
She had taken three.
All positive.
Her hands trembled.
Pregnant.
The word felt impossible.
She placed a hand over her stomach.
There was no visible change yet.
Nothing she could feel.
Yet somehow, knowing there was a tiny life inside her made the world feel completely different.
A baby.
Lucien's baby.
Her heart broke at the thought.
Because she knew what came next.
The engagement.
The crown.
Seraphina.
She had spent years learning not to expect anything from Lucien.
She couldn't start expecting now.
Her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
She answered cautiously.
"Hello?"
A woman's voice whispered,
"Run."
Willow froze.
"What?"
"Leave the city."
"Who is this?"
"Don't tell Lucien."
The call ended.
Willow stared at her phone.
A cold sensation moved through her.
She slowly looked toward the window.
Across the street, beneath the shadow of a tree, a man stood watching her apartment.
She couldn't see his face.
But she knew one thing.
He wasn't human.
And he wasn't there by accident.
Willow instinctively placed both hands over her stomach.
For the first time, she understood something.
Whatever Lucien had been protecting her from all those years...
had finally found her.
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