CHAPTER 3 - THE GIRL THEY FEARED

I didn't sleep that night.

How could I?

Daniel's handwriting was still burned into my mind. Five words had managed to turn everything I believed upside down.

He is not who you think he is.

What did that mean?

Was my brother involved in the murder of Xavier's father? Had he betrayed the pack? Or was someone deliberately trying to make me doubt the only family I had left?

I paced around the unfamiliar bedroom, occasionally glancing at the door.

Xavier had insisted I stay inside the mansion until his men investigated the message. He called it protection.

I called it imprisonment.

A knock interrupted my thoughts.

"Come in."

Margaret entered carrying a tray.

"Breakfast, Miss Voss."

"I told you I wasn't hungry."

"Alpha's orders."

I sighed.

"Does that man ever do anything without giving an order?"

For the first time, Margaret almost smiled.

"You'll get used to him."

"I sincerely hope not."

She placed the tray on the table but didn't leave immediately.

"Can I ask you something?"

I looked at her.

"That depends."

"Your brother. What kind of man was he?"

My expression softened.

"Daniel was kind. Stubborn sometimes, but kind. He always protected people who couldn't protect themselves."

Margaret's face became unreadable.

"Even when protecting them meant putting himself in danger?"

"Especially then."

She looked away.

"Then perhaps you don't know everything about him."

Before I could question her, she walked out.

I stared at the closed door.

Something was wrong with this place.

And Margaret knew more than she was willing to admit.

---

By noon, I had decided I was done waiting.

I slipped out of my bedroom and followed the hallway toward the eastern wing. The mansion was unusually quiet, with most of the guards stationed outside.

I passed several doors before hearing voices coming from one of the rooms.

"She cannot remain here."

That was a man's voice.

"She is connected to the missing ledger," another replied.

"Or she's the reason the ledger disappeared in the first place."

I moved closer.

Then I heard Xavier.

"Enough."

His voice was calm, but there was something dangerous beneath it.

"Until I know the truth, nobody touches her."

I stepped backward.

Unfortunately, my heel struck a decorative vase.

The sound echoed through the corridor.

The door opened.

Xavier stood there, his expression darkening when he saw me.

"Lena."

I straightened.

"Good afternoon."

"What are you doing here?"

"Taking a walk."

"Outside your assigned room?"

"Do I need written permission to use the hallway?"

He stared at me before looking over his shoulder.

"Everyone out."

The two men inside immediately obeyed.

Once they were gone, Xavier approached me.

"How much did you hear?"

"Enough to know your people think I'm responsible for something."

"You're listening to conversations that don't concern you."

"My brother concerns me. And apparently, everything happening here concerns him too."

His jaw tightened.

"Come with me."

---

We entered his office.

Xavier closed the door and walked toward his desk.

"You want answers? Fine. I'll give you some."

He opened a drawer and removed a photograph.

I recognized the man immediately.

Daniel.

But he wasn't alone.

Standing beside him was a younger Xavier.

I stared at the photograph.

"You knew my brother?"

Xavier remained silent.

"How long?"

"Since before my father died."

My stomach twisted.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I wasn't sure whether you were involved."

I laughed bitterly.

"You've been treating me like a criminal."

"I've been treating you like a potential threat."

"There's a difference?"

"There's a very important one."

I placed the photograph on his desk.

"What happened between you and Daniel?"

Xavier looked at it for a long moment.

"He saved my life once."

I wasn't expecting that answer.

"Then why are you searching for him?"

His expression hardened.

"Because the last time I saw your brother, he was standing over my father's body."

The room became painfully silent.

I shook my head.

"No."

"I saw him, Lena."

"You're lying."

"I wish I were."

I stepped away from the desk.

My brother couldn't have done that.

He couldn't.

Xavier watched me carefully.

"There's something else you should know."

I looked up.

"What?"

He hesitated.

"Your brother wasn't human."

My heart stopped.

"What are you talking about?"

He held my gaze.

"Daniel was born into a wolf bloodline."

I stared at him, unable to understand what I had just heard.

And then Xavier said the words that changed everything.

"So were you."