Chapter 7: The Truth They Couldn't Hide

Adrian

For several seconds, I stood in the doorway, staring at the empty room.

Wren's suitcase was gone. The wardrobe stood open, its shelves completely bare, and even the few books I'd seen scattered around yesterday had disappeared.

I stepped inside and opened the dresser.

Empty.

"Unbelievable."

My sister had actually packed her belongings and left.

I almost admired her dedication to this little performance. Almost.

Did she genuinely believe disappearing for a night would frighten me into apologizing? I'd been managing Hawthorne Pack for years. I wasn't about to lose my composure because an eighteen-year-old girl decided to throw a tantrum.

I pulled out my phone and called her.

No answer.

I tried again.

Still nothing.

"Very well, Wren. Have it your way."

Opening the pack mindlink, I contacted the security captain.

Captain Harris, I want every available patrol searching the territory. My sister has decided to disappear without informing anyone.

Understood, Alpha. Should we alert the border guards?

Immediately. I want to know if anyone has seen her.

I ended the connection and looked around the room once more.

Wren had taken everything, right down to the little wooden box she kept beside her bed.

Something about that bothered me.

I dismissed the feeling. She'd return once she realized nobody was going to beg her to come home. And when she did, we'd have a serious conversation about respect.

"She's actually gone?" Silas nearly spilled his whiskey when I returned to the ballroom.

"Her room is empty," I replied. "I've already ordered the guards to locate her."

His expression changed. "Empty? As in she's taken her belongings?"

"Every last one."

"Adrian, that's not like her."

I gave him an impatient look. "Clearly, she's decided to become more dramatic."

Silas frowned, glancing toward the ballroom entrance. "She seemed serious yesterday when she said she didn't want me anymore."

"Silas, you're an intelligent man. Surely you can recognize an attempt at manipulation."

He didn't answer immediately.

I understood his frustration. Wren had spent years seeking his attention, and he'd grown accustomed to her constant efforts to please him.

Her sudden indifference was bound to unsettle him.

"She'll be back," I assured him. "She has nowhere else to go."

"What about that cottage where she grew up?"

"An old house in the countryside? She's spent five years enjoying everything this family provides. She wouldn't last a week without it."

Silas nodded, although he continued watching the entrance.

Then Elodie approached us. "What's going on? You both look upset."

Silas sighed. "Wren's disappeared."

Elodie blinked before lowering her head. "Oh, no. Is she doing this again?"

I frowned. "Again?"

"She used to do things like this whenever she was upset at school. She'd avoid everyone until people started worrying about her."

That sounded exactly like Wren's recent behavior.

"Then she can stay wherever she's hiding until she's ready to apologize," I declared.

Elodie touched my arm. "Please don't be too angry with her. I think she's just upset about losing her academy admission."

"That was her decision," I reminded her.

"I know, but maybe she's jealous because I'll be attending instead."

Silas rubbed his forehead. "Well, it was a significant opportunity."

Elodie looked wounded. "Are you saying I don't deserve it?"

"Of course not, Ellie." His expression softened immediately. "You deserve every opportunity to succeed."

I nodded in agreement.

Precisely.

At least Silas understood that supporting one daughter didn't mean abandoning the other.

Unfortunately, the conversation had attracted attention.

"Excuse me, Alpha Adrian?"

I turned toward Mrs. Whitmore, the wife of Elder Whitmore.

"Yes?"

"I couldn't help overhearing. Did you say Wren lost her academy admission?"

Elodie answered before I could. "Unfortunately, Wren won't be attending anymore. I'm sure she'll find something else."

Mrs. Whitmore looked puzzled. "But wasn't Wren the highest-ranking student in her graduating class?"

"She was," I replied.

"Then surely she received an admission offer?"

"Of course she did. We've simply made alternative arrangements."

Another guest joined the conversation.

"That's strange. My daughter attended the same graduation ceremony, and I distinctly remember Wren being awarded the highest academic distinction."

"She was accepted into the Alpha Academy," someone else added. "Her name was at the top of the list."

Elodie's smile became strained. "Well, circumstances changed."

I felt my irritation rising.

This was a private family matter. I had no intention of letting a group of guests turn it into gossip.

"Wren voluntarily surrendered the pack's sponsored admission," I explained. "Elodie will be attending in her place."

Mrs. Whitmore blinked. "She gave away the placement she earned?"

"It was a family decision."

"But Elodie didn't qualify for admission, did she?"

The question came from a young man standing beside the refreshments table.

Elodie's face flushed. "That's incredibly rude!"

He looked embarrassed but continued. "I'm only asking because my brother applied too. He didn't meet the entrance requirements, so he wasn't accepted. I thought the academy was supposed to be fair."

"It is fair," I answered sharply. "The sponsored placement can be reassigned with the original student's consent."

"Even if the replacement doesn't qualify?"

I straightened to my full height. "Are you questioning my authority?"

The young man immediately lowered his gaze. "No, Alpha."

"Then I suggest you remember your manners."

A heavy silence settled over the surrounding guests.

Good.

I didn't appreciate having my decisions challenged, particularly in my own home.

Unfortunately, the whispers resumed as soon as I turned away.

"So Wren really gave up her position?"

"Why would someone with her grades do that?"

"Wasn't she the student who won the regional combat competition too?"

"Imagine working that hard only to give everything to your sister."

My jaw tightened.

Elodie began sniffling. "I knew this would happen. Everyone thinks I stole Wren's opportunity."

Silas immediately wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Ellie, don't listen to them."

"But they're right, aren't they? I'm not smart like Wren. I don't have her grades, and now everyone thinks I'm worthless."

"Enough," I ordered.

I allowed my Alpha authority to settle over the group. The nearby pack members instinctively straightened.

"This discussion is finished. Wren made her decision, and I expect everyone to respect it."

"With respect, Alpha, that's not quite how it happened."

I turned.

Instructor Calder stood near the entrance, his weathered face unusually stern.

I'd invited several academy instructors to the celebration as a courtesy. I hadn't expected any of them to involve themselves in Ashford family business.

"Calder," I greeted coolly. "I wasn't aware you were part of this conversation."

"I wasn't planning to be."

"Then perhaps you should remain out of it."

His expression didn't change. "I've spent years training Wren, Alpha. I think her accomplishments deserve some acknowledgement."

I folded my arms. "Nobody is denying her accomplishments."

"Then why is everyone celebrating an academy admission she earned as though it belongs to someone else?"

Elodie gasped. "Instructor Calder!"

He looked at her. "Miss Ashford, I don't intend to embarrass you. However, Wren achieved the highest examination scores in nearly twenty years. She earned that admission through years of dedication."

"I'm aware of her grades," I replied.

"Are you also aware that she regularly stayed after classes to train? That she competed against students with awakened wolves and frequently defeated them?"

I frowned.

Wren had mentioned staying late for training, but I'd assumed she simply needed extra assistance because she couldn't shift.

Calder continued before I could respond. "She overcame disadvantages that would've discouraged most students. Instead of celebrating her achievements, this family asked her to surrender the opportunity she'd worked so hard to earn."

Elodie burst into tears. "You're making it sound like we forced her!"

Calder sighed. "I'm saying she deserved better."

The accusation struck a nerve.

I took a step toward him. "Be very careful, Instructor. You're speaking about my family."

"I'm aware."

"Then you should understand that I make decisions based on what's best for this household."

Calder looked directly at me. "Was it best for Wren?"

I stared at him.

The audacity of the question was almost impressive.

"My sister has a home, financial security, and every advantage that comes with being an Ashford. I've provided her with opportunities most girls from the countryside could only dream of."

"And yet she worked for something of her own."

"She can work for something else."

Calder's expression hardened. "Perhaps she already has."

Something about the way he said that irritated me.

"What exactly is that supposed to mean?"

"Only that Wren has always been more capable than people give her credit for." He stepped back. "Enjoy your celebration, Alpha."

I watched him walk away, furious that he'd dared to challenge me publicly.

Silas approached my side. "Adrian, do you think we should reconsider what happened with the admission?"

I turned sharply. "No."

"But perhaps Wren—"

"Wren agreed to the arrangement. I'm not going to entertain accusations simply because someone thinks her feelings should take priority over the family's needs."

Silas fell silent.

I adjusted my jacket and looked toward the ballroom entrance. I'd already wasted enough of my evening dealing with Wren's behavior.

Once the guards found her, I'd personally explain why disappearing without permission was unacceptable.

And this time, she would listen.

My phone suddenly vibrated.

Alpha, we've searched the grounds and nearby roads. There's no sign of Miss Ashford.

I frowned.

Then expand the search.

A second message appeared almost immediately.

Understood. However, there's something strange. None of the border patrols received a notification when she left the territory.

I stared at the screen.

Every registered pack member was connected to Hawthorne's territorial magic. An unauthorized departure should've triggered a notice at the border.

Unless...

I remembered the sudden pulling sensation I'd experienced in the hallway several days earlier... and the document Wren had asked me to sign.

My expression darkened.

What exactly had that girl done?