Chapter 7 Shadow of the Past.

Lily's breath hitched as the weight of her own words settled in the space between them.

"My biggest enemy in the world... the one who killed my father."

The moment she said it, the air in the small schoolyard seemed to thicken, pressing against her like an unseen force. The words tasted bitter on her tongue, like poison that had festered inside her for too long. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, her whole body trembling with the sheer force of her emotions.

Fred took a cautious step forward, his expression unreadable, but the concern in his eyes was impossible to miss. "Lily..."

She shook her head violently, stepping back as if his presence was suddenly too much. "No. Don't." Her voice cracked, heavy with the weight of years of buried pain. "Don't try to tell me it's in the past. Don't tell me to let go."

Fred didn't say anything for a long moment. His gaze remained steady, unwavering. Then, slowly, he reached out, his fingers brushing against her wrist-warm, steady, grounding.

"I won't," he said softly. "But I need you to breathe, Lily. Please."

She tried, but every breath felt like fire in her lungs.

"Do you even know what he took from me?" she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "He didn't just take my father. He destroyed everything. He made my mother a widow. He made Morgan the Alpha. And because of that, Lucia and her friends never let me live a day in peace. Because of him, I've been treated like I don't belong." Her voice wavered, her chest tightening as old wounds reopened. "I lost everything."

Fred's grip on her wrist tightened slightly, his warmth anchoring her to the present. "I know," he murmured. "I can't change what happened, but I can listen. Let me."

Her vision blurred, but she nodded.

She needed to tell this story. Maybe then, the pain wouldn't feel so suffocating.

__

They sat in the dimly lit corner of the schoolyard, away from prying eyes. The moon cast long shadows across the ground, making everything feel heavier, like the past itself was lurking in the darkness, waiting to be spoken into existence.

Fred sat beside her, close but not intruding. He didn't push, didn't rush her.

Lily stared at the ground, her fingers tracing invisible patterns in the dirt as she spoke. "It all started years ago. Before I was even born, our packs lived in peace. More than just allies-we were like family."

Fred nodded slightly, encouraging her to continue.

"For over twenty years, Blue Pack and Diamond Pack thrived together. We had a system-one that ensured fairness between us. Every three years, one pack would take leadership over shared lands, resources, and trade. It was a cycle that worked. My father, Alpha Charles, and Alpha Derek of the Diamond Pack honored this system. They trusted each other."

A wry smile ghosted her lips, but it didn't reach her eyes. "But trust is fragile, isn't it?"

Fred's gaze darkened slightly. "What changed?"

Lily exhaled shakily. "The war over power."

Fred frowned. "I thought the system was fair."

"It was. Until my father was granted an extra three years of leadership."

Fred's brows furrowed. "Why?"

"To fix things," she said bitterly. "Blue Pack had faced unexpected disasters-crop failures, rogue attacks. My father asked for more time to stabilize everything, and the Elders agreed."

Fred stayed silent, absorbing every word.

"But Diamond Pack didn't agree. They saw it as betrayal." Her voice trembled, and she gritted her teeth. "They said we were trying to keep control forever. Alpha Derek demanded a council meeting, but when my father explained his reasons, the tension only grew. The first negotiation ended in failure. The second? The same."

She took a shaky breath, her hands clenching into fists.

"Then came the third negotiation."

Fred's expression darkened. "The one where Derek was killed."

Lily nodded.

The Night of the Third Negotiation – Ten Years Ago

The Blue Pack's great hall was filled with tension that night. The negotiation was supposed to bring peace, but from the moment Alpha Derek arrived, it was clear there would be none.

The room was dimly lit, with torches flickering along the stone walls. Shadows danced across the faces of the warriors standing guard, their hands resting lightly on their weapons. No one spoke unnecessarily-every breath felt measured, every movement calculated.

Derek stood tall, his presence commanding, his expression hard as stone. Beside him were his strongest warriors and advisors, their eyes filled with suspicion.

On the other side of the room, Alpha Charles-her father-stood firm, his expression carefully controlled. But beside him, lurking in the shadows, was Morgan. His sharp eyes glimmered with something unreadable.

"We've tried negotiations," Derek said coldly. "Twice. And both times, your excuses were nothing but empty words."

"My reasons are valid," Charles responded, his voice calm but unwavering. "Blue Pack has suffered. The extra time is necessary."

"You expect us to believe that?" Derek snapped. "You expect us to watch as you claim what is rightfully ours?"

Morgan stepped forward then, his lips curling into a smirk. "Rightfully yours? You mean the power you're so desperate to snatch?"

Derek's eyes darkened. "Enough of this. Either the leadership returns to Diamond Pack, or we take it by force."

A murmur spread through the room.

Alpha Charles lifted a hand, silencing them. "We don't need to fight. There's a way to settle this peacefully."

Derek scoffed. "There is no peace when you steal from us."

Charles sighed, looking at him with something almost like regret. "Derek, we were friends once."

Derek's expression flickered for a moment, but he didn't lower his guard. "That was before you betrayed us."

The tension thickened to a suffocating level.

Then-before anyone could react-it happened.

A sharp, pained gasp tore through the air.

Derek staggered. His eyes widened.

Blood bloomed across his chest. A dagger-black as night-was buried deep in his heart.

A chorus of gasps filled the hall.

The room erupted into chaos.

Derek fell to his knees, choking on his own blood. His gaze flickered to Charles, confusion and betrayal flashing in his eyes.

Charles stepped forward, horror twisting his features. "No! This wasn't-"

But it was too late.

Derek's body hit the ground.

A single breath. Then nothing.

And just like that, the fragile peace between the packs shattered.

---

Back in the Present

Lily's voice wavered as she finished, her entire body trembling. "No one knows who did it. Some say it was a rogue assassin. Some say it was my father. But the moment Derek died, everything spiraled."

Fred's jaw tightened. "And then what happened?"

Tears burned in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Her voice broke. "I lost everything."

Fred reached out, gently cupping her hands in his. "You didn't lose everything, Lily."

She let out a bitter laugh. "Didn't I?"

He shook his head, his gaze soft but unwavering. "You're still here. You're still fighting."

Lily swallowed hard, looking away. "What's the point?"

Fred exhaled slowly. Then, in a quiet voice, he said, "Because you're not alone."

Lily's breath caught.

Fred watched her, his mind racing.

There was more to this story-something she hadn't said. And somehow, he knew the past wasn't done haunting them yet.