Chapter 1 - THE SISTER UNDER THE TREEThe courtyard had never been this quiet.
Not when Alpha Adrien had returned from war covered in blood.
Not when the Alpha King had arrived with half the council.
Not even when the legendary Siberian war dog, Rex, had once torn through an entire enemy formation to save thirty wounded wolves.
But now, every breath seemed forbidden.
Adrien stood beneath the ancient tree, holding the unconscious girl in his arms.
Blood stained his hands.
Her blood.
His sister's blood.
"Nora."
The name came out broken.
For a long moment, nobody moved.
Then Elder Morrison whispered, "Impossible."
The Alpha King stared at the girl's face.
"That's Nora?"
Adrien did not answer.
He already knew.
The tiny scar above her eyebrow.
The silver crescent birthmark hidden beneath her left ear.
And most of all, her scent.
There was no mistake.
This was the little girl who had once chased him through the training grounds with a wooden sword, screaming that she would become stronger than him.
The same girl who had slept beside Rex during thunderstorms.
The same girl Adrien had sent away eight years ago because enemies had begun targeting his family.
He had promised her she would never be harmed again.
He had failed.
"Doctor!"
The shout shook the courtyard.
Several healers rushed forward.
"Careful!" Adrien snarled. "If anyone drops her, I swear..."
His wolf slammed against his consciousness.
KILL.
The word came with such force that Adrien nearly lost control.
He lowered Nora onto a stretcher.
The healer examined her throat.
"Wolfsbane poisoning."
Adrien's eyes darkened.
"And these?"
He pointed at the bruises.
The healer swallowed.
"Beating."
His jaw tightened.
"Who?"
Nobody answered.
Adrien slowly lifted his head.
The two Delta guards were trembling.
"You said Assistant Celeste ordered it."
"Yes, Alpha."
"Bring her to me."
One guard hesitated.
Adrien's voice dropped.
"Now."
The guards ran.
The Alpha King stepped closer.
"Adrien."
"I don't want explanations."
"You need to hear them."
Adrien turned.
The king lowered his voice.
"Your sister was believed dead."
Adrien's eyes flashed.
"I buried no one."
"Because you never found a body."
Adrien froze.
Elder Morrison looked toward the mansion.
"Perhaps someone wanted you to believe Nora disappeared."
Adrien's expression changed.
"Why?"
Nobody answered.
Then a healer suddenly shouted.
"Alpha!"
Adrien spun around.
Nora's body jerked violently.
Her fingers curled.
Her breathing became shallow.
"She's waking."
Adrien rushed to her.
"Nora."
Her eyelids fluttered.
For several seconds she stared at him without recognition.
Then her lips moved.
"Rex..."
Adrien's heart cracked.
"He's here."
A lie.
His voice almost failed.
Nora's eyes filled with tears.
"No..."
She grabbed his wrist.
"He..."
Her breathing broke.
"He saved me."
Adrien leaned closer.
"What happened to Rex?"
Nora stared at him.
She looked terrified.
"They killed him."
Adrien went still.
"Who?"
Nora tried to speak.
But the words never came.
Her body went limp.
"NO!"
The healer pushed Adrien back.
"Alpha, she needs treatment."
Adrien stepped away.
His hands were shaking.
Rex was dead.
The old dog had lived through wars.
He had survived poisoned arrows, silver traps, freezing nights, and the collapse of an enemy fortress.
And Celeste had killed him.
Something inside Adrien broke.
He turned toward the mansion.
"Lock every exit."
The guards obeyed instantly.
"No one leaves."
The Alpha King frowned.
"What are you planning?"
Adrien looked at him.
"I'm going to find out how my sister became a thief in my own house."
Footsteps thundered across the courtyard.
Celeste appeared at the entrance.
She wore a silver dress.
A smile was painted across her face.
She stopped when she saw the blood.
Then she looked at Adrien.
"Alpha."
Adrien stared at her.
Celeste walked forward.
"I heard there was an accident."
"An accident?"
She looked toward the stretcher.
"Is that woman alive?"
Adrien said nothing.
Celeste's smile returned.
"She stole from your study. I thought discipline was necessary."
Adrien took one step toward her.
"Come closer."
Her eyes lit up.
She obeyed.
"I knew you would understand why I had to protect your reputation."
Adrien looked at her for several seconds.
Then he raised one blood-covered hand.
He held the crystal necklace in front of her.
Celeste's face changed.
"You claimed this belonged to you."
She nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Adrien's eyes became terrifyingly calm.
"Then tell me why my mother's necklace was around Nora's neck."
Celeste went white.
The courtyard erupted in murmurs.
Adrien stepped closer.
"Tell me."
Celeste opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Then, from somewhere deep inside the mansion, a scream pierced the night.
"ALPHA!"
Every wolf turned.
A guard came running.
His face was drained of color.
"Rex..."
Adrien's chest tightened.
"What about him?"
The guard dropped to one knee.
"We found his body."
Adrien's gaze shifted.
"Where?"
The guard looked toward the old kennels.
"He's not dead."
Everyone froze.
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The guard swallowed.
"He's alive."
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