EVAN'S POV

　　As we prepared to venture into the North Light Pack, my heart ached for home and for our father, whose absence cast a shadow over our mission. Whenever we were confused or felt lost he was always there to guide us. We lost our mother a long time ago, it was only him and King Rufus who helped us in dark times.

　　I dropped a message to my brother, informing him that I would meet him at the border in half an hour, and then set off for a run to clear my mind.

　　When the designated time passed and Brandon failed to show up, my frustration reached its peak. I retraced my steps back to the pub, where the noise and chaos had only intensified. Despite the commotion, Brandon was nowhere to be found among the throngs of partygoers.

　　Resigned to my fate, I made my way to the VIP rooms, where I found him in a compromising position with an unfamiliar, unclothed female. Disgust and anger churned in my gut, but I swallowed it down and focused on the task at hand. Ignoring the protests and struggles of my inebriated brother, I firmly grasped his arm and dragged him out of the room.

　　"What the heck, Evan! Let go of me this instant!" he slurred, attempting to wriggle free from my grip.

　　"Enough is enough, Brandon! I'm tired of your antics. We were supposed to leave for the North Light Pack tonight, but instead, we're stuck here because of you!" I snapped, my frustration boiling over as I forcibly escorted him out of the pub.

　　"Did you fail to understand the importance of our mission, or are you simply not ready for this responsibility?" My words struck a nerve, and Brandon retaliated by pushing me back. Fortunately, I managed to maintain my balance, fueled by my sobriety and frustration.

　　"Look, Evan—" Brandon's sentence was abruptly cut off by a sudden blow to his head, causing him to groan in pain. Before I could react, we found ourselves surrounded by a group of menacing figures, their intentions unclear but undoubtedly ominous.

　　Instinctively, I shifted into a defensive stance, ready to confront these potential adversaries.

　　As the hostile figures closed in, adrenaline surged through my veins, sharpening my senses. With a quick glance at Brandon, who was still recovering from the blow to his head, I knew I had to act fast to protect us both.

　　With a sudden, searing pain, I felt the sharp bite of a blade sinking deep into my abdomen. Agony lanced through me, followed by a burning sensation that signalled the presence of poison coursing through my veins. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't free myself from the deadly blade lodged in my flesh.

　　I woke to the rumble of an engine and the heavy breaths of someone nearby. As my senses slowly came back to me, I found myself lying in the backseat of a car, the stinging sensation in my abdomen a grim reminder of the recent attack. With blurred vision, I struggled to sit up, only to be met with a wave of pain that forced me back down.

　　"What happened?" I croaked, my throat raw and scratchy.

　　"We were attacked, and you were nearly dead," he replied matter-of-factly, though I sensed a trace of guilt beneath his words.

　　"Brandon?" I called out tentatively.

　　"What?" he snapped.

　　"I'm sure the knife was laced with..." I began, but he cut me off.

　　"Wolfsbane and silver," he finished, confirming my suspicions.

　　My heart skipped a beat at the revelation. Wolfsbane and silver were rare and highly dangerous substances, particularly lethal to our kind.

　　"Who were those people?" I demanded, my mind reeling with questions. "Did you offend anyone? Why did they attack us?"

　　But Brandon remained silent, his jaw clenched tight as he focused on the road ahead, leaving me to ponder the unsettling mystery of our attackers' motives.

　　I didn't offend anyone, Evan. The attack was planned, and I think it was orchestrated by the same person who killed our father. Someone doesn't want the princess to be found," Brandon confessed, his voice heavy with frustration and determination.

　　"How are you so sure that it was planned?" I pressed, my mind racing with the implications of his words.

　　"The knife. It bears the emblem of our kingdom," Brandon explained, his tone somber. "I think it's someone from the nobles. I'm keeping it safe so I can show it to the king later on. I didn't think it was safe to stay there any longer. They know where we are, and I think they'll try to attack us again. I thought it would be safe to leave at night, as it will make it harder to trace our whereabouts."

　　As Brandon spoke, his guilt was palpable, his admission of responsibility weighing heavily in the air. "You were right, brother," he continued, his voice trembling slightly. "Someone wants us to fail, and if it weren't for me, we would have found her by now. You were attacked because of me, and you nearly died because of me."

　　His words struck a chord deep within me, stirring a mix of emotions ranging from frustration to sympathy. Despite his faults, Brandon was my brother, and I couldn't fault him for his determination to make things right.

　　"I'm glad your head's in the right place now," I admitted, reaching out to place a hand on his shoulder. "To complete this mission, it's important for us to be on the same page."

　　The attack, while terrifying, only served to fuel our determination further. With a renewed sense of purpose, we set our sights on the North Light Pack, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead in our quest to find the missing princess and uncover the truth behind our father's death.

　　"So... is this the point where you finally apologize to me and admit that I was right all along?" I teased, hoping to lighten the mood and ease the tension between us.

　　"Ugh! No, this is the part where I say that next time you're stabbed by someone, I'll leave you there to die," Brandon shot back, his words dripping with sarcasm.

　　I chuckled, unable to resist the opportunity to banter with my brother. "Now we both know you're not capable of doing that. You loooovvvveee me, Brandon," I taunted playfully.

　　"If you don't shut up now, I'm going to throw you out of this car, and then you're on your own," he warned, though I could see the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

　　Despite the seriousness of our situation, I couldn't help but enjoy these moments of levity with Brandon. Normally, he was the jolly one, always ready with a joke or a prank. But now, the tables had turned, and I was relishing the chance to tease him.

　　As we neared our destination, Brandon made a sharp turn, causing me to brace myself against the sudden movement. But before I could even question his driving, he slammed on the emergency brake, nearly sending me flying out of my seat.

　　"What's wrong with you, Brandon? I didn't even say anything this time!" I exclaimed, frustration evident in my voice.

　　He simply pointed ahead, and I followed his gaze to see a group of male wolves gathered nearby, their attention focused on someone or something in the distance. Without a word, Brandon and I exited the car and approached cautiously, unsure of what we might find.

　　As we drew closer, it became apparent that the wolves were following someone, their movements purposeful and determined. Brandon and I exchanged a wary glance, silently agreeing to keep our guard up in case they proved to be a threat.

　　As their mysterious figures disappeared from view, a sense of urgency gripped me, compelling me to follow them despite Brandon's protests. His voice faded into the background as my focus narrowed on the faint sound of rapid breathing nearby.

　　"Brandon, quiet," I hushed him, my heart pounding in my chest as I strained to listen. There was someone here, I was sure of it. A flicker of movement in the bushes ahead confirmed my suspicions, and I motioned for Brandon to follow as I crept forward and sure enough the sight that met my eyes was both shocking and heart-wrenching.

　　Hidden amidst the foliage lay a girl, her frail form betraying the harshness of her circumstances. She was battered and bruised, her vulnerability laid bare for all to see. But it was not her physical state that stole my attention.

　　No, it was the glint of a familiar necklace around her neck, the same one worn by the missing princess in the photograph King Rufus had shown us.

　　My breath caught in my throat as realization dawned. Could this be….

　　My heart raced with a mixture of hope and disbelief as I exchanged a bewildered glance with Brandon. It seemed too incredible to be true, yet the evidence before us was undeniable. The necklace was a distinct and irrefutable link to the royal family, and if our suspicions were correct, then our mission had just taken an unexpected turn.

　　"Evan, do you think...?" Brandon began, his voice tinged with uncertainty as he trailed off, unable to voice the question that hung in the air between us.