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Flora's POV

“Be careful!” I cried as I scurried toward the maid, who was on the verge of falling down the stairs.

Fortunately, I reached her in time. She looked up at me with wide, startled eyes. "Thank you so much, Miss. You are so kind,” she said, bowing deeply.

Pleased, I smiled warmly. “Of course. You’re all like family to me.”

“Miss Flora,” called a house servant as she hurried over, holding my phone. “It’s Kayla. She's been trying to reach you.”

I accepted the phone and barely got it to my ear before Kayla’s voice burst through the line. “Where have you been? I’ve been calling forever!”

“Sorry. I’ve been busy overseeing the decorations and everything else for tonight’s celebration.”

I was supervising the preparations for the ceremony marking the return of my fiancé, Zack Larkin, the fiercest warrior in the East Hallow Pack. Though my father was the alpha of our pack, Zack had contributed the most to its success. He made me so proud; I couldn't begin to express how much I loved him.

“Oh, come on, Flora,” Kayla said. “It’s just Zack coming back from the border. It’s not like it’s the alpha king.”

I froze mid-step. “The alpha king?” I asked, my brow furrowed. Why would she be mentioning the alpha king?

“Yeah! Guess what? Word is, he’s coming to visit our pack soon.”

Aron Elton, the alpha of all alphas, ruler over countless realms, was coming to visit our pack?

“They say he’s incredibly attractive,” Kayla added in a singsong voice. “The dreamiest of dreamy men will be here! Can you imagine?”

Dreamy? Maybe. Ruthless? Definitely. The stories were legendary.

After a few more words of excitement from her, we ended the call, and I got back to the preparations, while thinking about the news she’d conveyed.

My loyalty was to Zack, so other men, no matter how dreamy, didn’t interest me. I also didn’t understand why so many women seemed to fall for this alpha king, considering his reputation for cruelty.

Regardless, I had never met him, and frankly, I didn’t care to. Why would I want to bother when I already had the man of my dreams, a man I’d fallen for at first sight? At the time, I was sixteen; he was nineteen. Now, I couldn’t believe how quickly three years had flown by. Perhaps people lose track of time when they’re in love?

We weren’t fated mates, but we didn’t care about the mate bond. We had chosen each other and, before he departed, Zack left me with a promise that echoed in my heart. “When I get back, I’ll give you the biggest wedding.”

That was three months ago, and it was the longest we’d ever been apart. My father had sent him to deal with rebel rogues at the border, but not before he approved our engagement. As the pack’s Beta, Zack had fulfilled his duty with honor, and now, he was finally coming home.

“Flora.” One of the older maids caught my attention. “You’d better go and get ready,” she said with a warm smile, while tapping her wrist.

I nodded and headed to my bedroom suite. After a shower, I approached the gown I had chosen for the evening. As I was about to touch it, footsteps sounded outside my room. I assumed it was Milani, my lady’s maid, who would no doubt urge me to hurry.

As she entered, I smiled. “I’ll change in a minute. Stop rushing me.”

But Milani wasn’t wearing her usual smile. Her face was flushed, her expression tense.

I frowned, turning to face her fully. “What’s wrong?”

She hesitated, then bowed her head. “Miss... Zack is waiting for you in the lobby of the packhouse.”

“Zack is back?” I breathed, excitement bubbling within me.

I was about to change when Milani interrupted again. “Miss...”

Something in her voice made me pause. Her gaze flicked to mine—worried, almost anxious.

“What is it?” I asked, my heart sinking slightly.

She sighed before speaking carefully. “Zack brought a woman with him.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the stomach. My breath caught, and my heart skipped a beat.

“A... woman?” I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.

Where had this woman come from? And what was her role in his life? “Maybe she’s just a friend,” I muttered, forcing myself to stay calm. Still, I rushed to the lobby, where the sight of Zack with a petite woman nestled in his arms brought me to a screeching halt.

My chest tightened. Please don’t let this be what it looks like.

Zack saw me, his face lighting up with a smile. He approached and took my hands in his. “Flora,” he said gently, “I found your sister.”

I stared at him, stunned. “My... sister?” I wasn’t aware I had one.

I’d been adopted, yes, but my father had never mentioned another child. Nonetheless, as my gaze shifted to him, tears and recognition shone in his eyes.

He approached her with open arms. “I finally found you, my dear,” he said, embracing her tightly.

His joy left me speechless as he turned to me. “Take care of Alora, Flora,” he said, his voice filled with emotion. “She has suffered greatly. We need to make it up to her.”

I nodded, still reeling from the revelation.

Then Alora turned to me, her voice trembling. “Sister, you’re so beautiful and capable. I’m so grateful to be here...”

I was about to comfort her, but Zack’s hands slipped from mine.

I froze as he moved to Alora, pulling her into his arms.

“It’s not your fault,” he murmured, patting her back. “This is your home now.”

I stood there, watching him wipe her tears and offer her soft words of comfort. “Welcome to the East Hallow Pack,” he said warmly.

I took a shaky breath, a sinking feeling in my chest. Something told me my life was about to change.