Chapter 175

Chapter 175
Sophia‘s POV:
With Elena finally gone, I breathed a sigh of relief, thinking I could have some peace at last. But then I noticed Marcus still standing nearby.
He lingered near the doorway, his expression thoughtful yet cautious. After a moment of silence, he cleared his throat gently.
"Sophia," he began. "I couldn't help but notice that you and Alpha Lucas seem to have... reconciled."
I studied his face carefully, wondering where this conversation was heading."So?"
Marcus continued, choosing his words with obvious care. "Given this development, and your decision to remain in the pack, may I ask... how do you plan to handle the situation with your child?"
The question hit me like a cold wave.
I remembered all too clearly the cruel words he'd spoken about my pregnancy before, his suggestion that my child should be given away to another werewolf family for adoption.
The memory still stung, even though I understood he had been acting out of loyalty to Lucas and concern for Starlight Pack's interests.
But no mother could tolerate insults directed at her child, regardless of the reasoning behind them.
As I looked at him now, however, something seemed fundamentally different. Gone was the aggressive, confrontational Marcus I remembered.
His stance was respectful, almost deferential. There was none of the hostility that had marked our previous interactions about my pregnancy.
"Tell him the truth about who the father really is," Amy suggested through our mindlink.
"Absolutely not," I replied firmly. "Lucas shouldn't learn about his child from his Beta. Besides, the celebration banquet is tomorrow – all secrets will be revealed then."
But how could I explain the situation without revealing my royal identity or the child's true parentage?
"Marcus," I said slowly, "I appreciate your concern, but this is my personal matter. I'll handle it, so you don't need to worry."
To my complete shock, Marcus nodded respectfully.
"Of course, I trust that you'll handle this matter wisely." His voice carried genuine respect and belief.
I blinked, certain I'd misheard him.
"I... thank you," I managed, feeling a warmth spread through my chest at his unexpected support.
"If you need any assistance or support in the coming days," Marcus continued, "please don't hesitate to ask. The pack stands behind you."
He gave a respectful bow before turning to leave.
I stood there for a long moment, staring at the empty doorway.
"Well, that was unexpected," Amy commented, her tone amused. "Marcus is actually so respectful to us"
"I'm as surprised as you are," I replied, still processing the interaction.
"It's because you're finally showing them who you really are," Amy said proudly. "Your strength, your mind – they can't ignore it anymore."
I thought about the lab technicians I had saved during the Moonrise Pack attack, how they had looked at me with genuine gratitude and respect.
I remembered the gradual shift in the pack's attitude toward me – not because of Lucas's approval, but because of my actions and strength.
The realization struck me like lightning. All this time, I had been wrong about something fundamental.
The way to earn respect wasn't solely through gaining the leader's recognition. I had earned their respect through my merit, my courage, my worth.
More importantly, I was beginning to understand that my value as an Individual had never been built upon anyone else's approval or recognition at all.
My worth wasn't determined by Lucas's acceptance, or the pack's opinions, or even my royal bloodline. It came from within me – from my strength, my choices, my character.
The warmth in my chest grew stronger as this truth settled over me.
---
The morning of the celebration banquet arrived with golden sunlight streaming through our bedroom windows.
I stirred in Lucas's arms, feeling unusually content and peaceful.
"Good morning, beauty," Lucas murmured against my hair, his voice still husky with sleep. He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead, then another to my cheek, making me smile softly.
"Someone's in a good mood," I teased, turning to face him. His golden eyes were warm and playful as he pulled me closer.
"Can you blame me?" he said, capturing my lips in a sweet kiss. "I have the most incredible woman in my arms, and she said she would give me a surprising surprise today."
I laughed as he began trailing kisses down my neck, his stubble tickling my skin. "Lucas, stop," I protested halfheartedly, trying to squirm away from his playful assault. "We need to get ready."
"Do we?" he asked mischievously, rolling me onto my back and hovering over me. "I can think of better ways to spend the morning."
His lips found mine again, and for a moment I was tempted to forget about everything else. But then I remembered the importance of today quickly.
"You have the Alpha Council meeting this morning," I reminded him gently, placing my hand on his chest. "And then the celebration this evening. You can't be late."
Lucas sighed dramatically, resting his forehead against mine. "Always so responsible," he said with mock disappointment. "Fine, I promised to be there on time."
I whispered, stroking his cheek. "I trust you."
Lucas smiled, pressing one more lingering kiss to my lips before reluctantly pulling away. "I should get ready for the council meeting then. The sooner I finish with the pack business, the sooner I can focus entirely on you."
As I watched him move around the room, getting dressed for his duties, I felt a mixture of anticipation and nervousness.
In just a few hours, everything would be revealed.