Chapter 4 - THE GIRL WHO WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO EXISTThe courtyard filled with wolves.

Hundreds.

Then thousands.

Every warrior in Adrien's pack stood ready.

Across the gates, Northern wolves waited beneath black banners.

At their center stood a woman wearing a crown of bone.

Adrien stared.

Nora whispered from behind him.

"Queen Seraphine."

The Alpha King turned sharply.

"You know her?"

Nora shook her head.

"I know her voice."

Seraphine stepped forward.

"Adrien Blackthorn."

His eyes narrowed.

"Leave my territory."

She smiled.

"You finally found your sister."

Adrien raised his sword.

"You have ten seconds to explain why your army is here."

Seraphine laughed.

"Your sister isn't yours."

Adrien stepped forward.

"Watch your words."

"She belongs to the Northern bloodline."

"She is my family."

"That is exactly why she is dangerous."

Seraphine's gaze moved to Nora.

"Do you remember the fire?"

Nora's breathing stopped.

Adrien looked back.

"What fire?"

Nora whispered.

"I remember."

Seraphine smiled.

"Tell him."

Nora shook her head.

Adrien turned toward her.

"Tell me."

"Brother..."

"What are you hiding?"

Tears filled her eyes.

"When I was taken, they told me our parents weren't my real parents."

Adrien froze.

"What?"

"They said Mother adopted me."

The Alpha King's face went pale.

Adrien turned toward him.

"Is that true?"

The king said nothing.

Adrien's wolf roared.

"ANSWER ME."

The king finally spoke.

"Nora was born during a celestial eclipse."

Silence.

"Her mother was not from our pack."

Adrien stared.

"Who?"

The king looked at Seraphine.

"The last royal bloodline of the Northern wolves."

Nora closed her eyes.

Adrien's world tilted.

"My mother..."

"Your father knew."

Adrien's hand tightened around the sword.

"You lied to me."

"We were protecting you."

"From what?"

Seraphine laughed.

"From her."

Nora stepped forward.

"What happens if I remember?"

Seraphine's smile disappeared.

"Then every Alpha in this land kneels."

Adrien moved closer to Nora.

Seraphine lifted a hand.

Her warriors raised their weapons.

"Give her to me."

Adrien shook his head.

"No."

Seraphine sighed.

"Then I'll show you why your father was afraid."

She snapped her fingers.

Two Northern warriors dragged someone forward.

Adrien recognized him.

Thompson.

The old gardener.

He had blood on his face.

Adrien's eyes changed.

"Let him go."

Seraphine smiled.

"Tell me, gardener. What did Celeste ask you to hide?"

Thompson stared at the ground.

Adrien looked toward Celeste.

She had disappeared.

"Nora."

A voice came from the mansion.

Everyone turned.

Celeste stood at the balcony.

In her hands was a small wooden box.

Adrien's mother's box.

"You want answers?" she shouted.

"I have them."

Adrien stared.

"Celeste."

She smiled.

"But there is one problem."

She opened the box.

Inside was a blood-red crystal.

And the moment Nora saw it, she screamed.

Her wolf broke through.

Silver light exploded from her body.

The ground cracked.

Everyone fell to their knees.

Adrien couldn't breathe.

Nora's eyes became pure silver.

A voice came from her throat.

Not Nora's voice.

An ancient voice.

"I have returned."

Seraphine slowly bowed her head.

The Northern army followed.

Even the Alpha King dropped to one knee.

Adrien remained standing.

His sister looked directly at him.

Then whispered:

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"Run."

The entire mansion exploded behind them.