THE PAST FIVE YEARS

Helen took a long, shaky breath and let it out slowly, staring at the floor. "After our pack fell, the territory was destroyed. But the war debts stayed. Your father, Alpha Hertos, couldn't handle the pressure from the victorious packs. That's why he took the poison."

Valkira closed her eyes for a second. She already knew the basics. But hearing it out loud still cuts deep.

"I had to settle those debts to keep us alive," Helen continued. A fresh tear cut through the dust on her cheek. "I sold everything the pack owned. I gave our land and weapons away for nothing to the turncoats who betrayed us. They wanted to cut all ties with our family."

"Who was the worst?" Valkira asked. Her grip tightened on her knees.

Helen's face twisted with old bitterness. "Lucas. He was the first to abandon our alliance. He became the new Alpha of the Silvermoon Pack. He took our remaining allies and left us to rot in the dirt. Eventually, they drove me out into this Forbidden Forest. I barely got by running this tiny shop."

"But then something changed,” Her sad eyes softened as she looked down at the little girl.

 "A stranger came to my door one night. He was carrying Yana in his arms. She was just a baby. He looked at me and said the child belonged to you and him. From that day on, I raised Yana with everything I had. I always believed you would come back to us."

Valkira's heart pounded against her ribs. She knew there was more to the story. "His child? Who was this man, Mother?"

"He called himself Xavier," Helen said. “Yana looks so much like him.” "He looked strong, but his eyes were kind. He had a sharp scar right across his chin. And a birthmark shaped like a crescent on his left wrist."

Valkira's breath caught. A memory flashed in her mind. The mysterious man she had spent that night with during her coming-of-age ceremony. She had never learned his name before he vanished. But he had those exact features. Xavier was her fated mate.

"Did he say anything else before he left?" Valkira pressed.

"He left behind a lot of gold," Helen said. "Then he disappeared into the woods. Over the years, supplies kept showing up at the door. Anonymous packages of food and medicine. I always knew it was Xavier. The money he left is the only reason Yana and I managed to clear the pack debts."

Valkira clenched her hands into fists. Xavier had taken care of her family while she was trapped on the island. He had kept them from starving. And she didn't even know his face.

"Where is he now, Mother?"

Helen hesitated. Her eyes widened with terror. "He came back a year ago. A gang of debt collectors attacked the shop. My life was in danger. Xavier appeared out of nowhere. He killed their fighters, but he got hurt badly in the process."

Valkira's blood ran cold. "Is he still alive?"

"I wanted him to stay and recover," Helen whispered, shaking her head. "But a group of armed strangers came and took him away. Before he left Xavier told me we must never try to find him. Even if you came back."

Valkira stood up. Her hands were shaking. She was going to find Xavier, no matter the cost. She reached out through the mind-link to Chris.

Chris. Search the mainland networks. Find any news about Xavier. Scar on his chin. Crescent birthmark on his left wrist. Find out who took him.

Chris gave a firm nod from the back of the shop. I'm on it, Alpha. I'll find him.

Valkira turned back to her mother. "Mother, If Xavier paid off the debts a year ago, why are the debt collectors still coming here?"

As Helen opened her mouth to answer.

A sharp KNOCK hit the wooden door.

Valkira spun around. Her muscles tensed. She moved to the entrance and pulled the broken door open. No one was there. She stepped out and scanned the street, but whoever had knocked was already gone.

 A small blade had been driven into the door. A white note was pinned underneath it.

Valkira pulled the note free and unfolded it. She read the short lines:

Pay the remaining six hundred coins, Helen, or you won't live to see another day. Bring the money. Come alone. 

Valkira's eyes moved to the note, hot fury rushing through her veins.

The handwriting was familiar. 

She had seen this exact handwriting a thousand times before her downfall. On personal letters. On the fake treaties that had sealed their fate five years ago.

It was Lucas's handwriting.