I arrived at my dad’s place and froze in the doorway.

The house smelled of spilled liquor and dust, thick enough to sting my nose. Empty bottles

littered the floor. Crumpled notes covered the rug, each one written in the same hurried,

desperate handwriting.

My trembling fingers picked one up.

“Selena, please come back. I can’t lose you. You’re all I have. I’m sorry for not being a father

after Adrian rejected you. Please come back.

”

The words blurred as a tear slid down my cheek. A gentle hand clasped mine. My mom, Liora,

stood beside me, her eyes soft with grief I didn’t understand but felt in my bones. I turned into

her arms and broke, sobs shaking me as I buried my face against her shoulder.

From behind us came the innocent voices of Elias and Elara, their confusion clear.

“Mommy, why are you crying?” Elara whispered, her small hands clutching her dress.

“We’ve

never seen you cry before, Mommy. You’re strong, remember you always said we are strong.

”

“Don’t cry, Mom,

” Elias added, his voice quivering.

cry too.

”

“You always tell us not to cry, so please don’t

Their little fingers brushed my tears away, and I forced a smile that didn’t reach my heart.

both stay here, okay? Grandma and I have some cleaning to do.

”

“You

“Okay, Mom. But… don’t cry again,

” Elara said in a shaky whisper.

Liora and I began to clean in silence, the quiet only broken by the clinking of bottles being

gathered into bags. Then suddenly, Liora stilled, something glinting in her hand.

“Fenris still kept this?” she murmured.

I rushed over, and my breath caught.

birthday gift.

”

“Wait, that’s mine. Dad gave it to me when I was eight. My

Liora’s eyes softened, but pain lingered there.

“No, child. He gave this to me first, on my

birthday. It explains everything now. Fenris wanted you to forget me… to believe I was truly

dead.

”

Her words cut deeper than a blade. My father’s lies tangled with truths I hadn’t asked for. I

turned away, clutching the bracelet, my chest aching with questions I wasn’t sure I wanted

answered.

Meanwhile, at the Alpha’s gates, Damien stood tall, heart pounding. He had passed, he got the

job.

“I told you I’d get you in. No pressure,

” a voice teased lightly.

He turned to see Dora, her smirk, mysterious.

“Why are you helping me? Who are you?”

She tilted her head,

“Because I don’t want you caught. I know what you are. If my father, the

King Alpha, finds out you’re foreign, he’ll think you came for our blood. I’m Dora. His daughter.

Not the prince’s, the King Alpha’s.

”

Damien’s thoughts swirled dangerously. If she could sense his bloodline, she could destroy

everything. He forced his expression into calm, burying every thought she might catch.

“Want me to give you a tour?” she asked, voice playful.

He nodded, following her through endless halls lined with portraits of Alpha's past. At last, she

handed him a sealed letter.

“Open it. Let’s see your post.

”

Damien unfolded it slowly…

“Damien Stormrider, you have been accepted as a loyal guard at King Alpha’s home. You will be

stationed at the prison cells.

”

Dora’s eyes glittered, unreadable.

“I’ll be the one helping you. So, when do you start?”

Before he could speak, another presence cut in. Victoria.

Her gaze was fire, her fury barely restrained as she looked between Dora and Damien.

“Everything good?” Dora asked.

Victoria said nothing, her silence sharp as claws.

Damien felt the tension strangling the air.

“Uh… I’ll get going. Dora, I’ll start tomorrow. Thanks.

”

The moment he disappeared down the hall, Victoria’s mask cracked.

“That’s him. The wolf I told

you about. The one I prayed the goddess would pair me with. I love him, and you’re standing

too close. You’re not being a good friend, Dora. Stay away before the goddess chooses you

instead.

”

Dora blinked slowly, then her voice turned cold.

“I didn’t know he was the one. And I don’t want

him. I only helped a stranger. Don’t tell me to back off when I’ve done nothing wrong. If you want

him so badly, maybe bribe the goddess.

”

Her heels clicked against the stone as she walked away, leaving Victoria’s heart splintering

behind her.

That night, Damien lay awake, his mother’s words echoed like a warning: My father was an

Alpha. Could Dora be family? His cousin? No. He shook the thought away. He couldn’t afford

such distractions. He needed this job. He needed to survive.

The next day, he arrived in plain trousers and a shirt, ready to begin.

“No, no, no,

” Dora said, exasperated.

“That’s not the uniform. You’ll wear this.

”

She shoved a guard’s attire into his hands, and after he changed, she led him to his post. As

she turned to leave, Damien called after her.

“Um, Dora… this may be too much to ask, but… do you know Selena?”

Her steps faltered. For a heartbeat, silence stretched. Then, without a word, she hurried away,

her thoughts racing. How does he know her?

Back at my father’s house, Liora and I scrubbed until the floorboards shone. Elias and Elara

grew restless, peppering us with questions, and Liora bent to explain gently, softening truths for

their young minds.

Later, as I collapsed into my bed, something sharp pressed against my hand. I reached under

my pillow and pulled out a small stack of folded papers. My heart warmed,at first, I thought they

were mine. I had a habit of writing, reminders of hope tucked under my pillow.

But when I unfolded one, my breath caught. It wasn’t mine.

“Selena, where are you? It’s been three days. Please come back.

”

The second note shook even more.

“Selena, this distance has made me decide, it’s time I finally tell you the truth.

”

There were only five notes in total, each more desperate than the last. My thoughts raced. I’ve

been gone for years… so why are there only five? And what truth did he mean to tell me?

The next morning, my father still hadn’t returned. He had never once stayed out overnight.

If he doesn’t return today, I won’t let this go.

When Liora asked if I was alright, I lied with a smile and said yes. I dressed Elias and Elara,

prepared their breakfast, and hid my unease behind a mask of strength.

But inside, dread grew heavier.

And then Damien’s world cracked open.

“Damien,

” Charles’s voice came through the enchanted button their mother kept.

“You probably

don’t know because you left without telling me. I came to see you and Mom… only to find the

door open and her lying on the floor. She wasn’t breathing. I’ve rushed her to the hospital.

”

Damien’s entire body went numb, when he heard the news from the necklace.

His mind split in two. Should he abandon his new post and run to his mother? Should he stay,

knowing any absence might cost him his place here?

Selena… how do I find you?

For the first time in his life, Damien didn’t know which path to take.