Chapter 5

Esme's POV 

I glanced at my bedroom door. It was closed, locked from the inside. No one had come in while I was training with Dorian. At least, no one I saw. But someone had been here. Someone had walked into my room, placed this envelope on my bed, and left without a trace. The thought made my skin prickle. Nightfall Pack was supposed to be safe. Xavier said so. He promised me I was protected here, that no one could hurt me anymore. But if someone could slip past all the guards, all the security, and leave something on my pillow, then how safe was I really?

I sat down on the edge of the bed, the envelope still in my hands. My heart was beating too fast, my palms damp with sweat. Part of me wanted to throw it away, to pretend I never saw it. But I couldn't. Curiosity burned in my chest like a flame I couldn't put out. I needed to know what was inside. I needed to know who sent it and why. So I slid my finger under the wax seal and broke it. The sound seemed too loud in the quiet room, a sharp crack that made me flinch.

Inside was a single piece of paper, folded once. I pulled it out with trembling fingers and unfolded it slowly. There were only a few words written in black ink. I read them once, twice, three times, but they didn't make any more sense no matter how many times my eyes traced over them. "They're lying to you. Meet me at the old oak tree tonight if you want the truth about your mother." That was it. No name. No explanation. No clue about who had written it or why they wanted to meet me. Just those words that made my entire world tilt sideways.

They're lying to you. Who was lying? Xavier? Soren? Lucian? Dorian? My brothers who had welcomed me with open arms when I arrived at Nightfall? My brothers who had trained me, protected me, and told me I belonged here? What could they possibly be lying about? And why would someone warn me like this, in secret, in the middle of the night? My hands wouldn't stop shaking as I stared at the letter. The truth about your mother. My mother. The woman I never knew. The woman who died giving birth to me, or at least that was what I had always been told.

I walked to the window and looked out at the night. The moon was full and bright, casting silver light across the grounds. Somewhere out there was an old oak tree. I had seen it a few days ago when Lucian took me on a walk around the territory. He pointed it out and told me it was ancient, older than the pack itself. It stood alone in a clearing, massive and twisted, with branches that reached up toward the sky like arms trying to grab the stars. I remembered feeling small when I stood next to it, like I was nothing compared to something so old and powerful. Now someone wanted me to go there. Tonight. Alone. At least, I thought they wanted me alone, because the letter didn't say to bring anyone with me.

Should I tell Xavier? He was my brother. He was the Alpha. He would want to know if someone was sneaking letters into my room. He would want to protect me from whatever danger this might be. But what if he stopped me from going? What if he said it was too dangerous and locked me in this room for my own safety? I had been locked up enough in my life. I had been told what to do, where to go, who to talk to. I had been invisible and controlled and hurt for eighteen years at Shadow Pack. I didn't want that anymore. I wanted answers. I wanted the truth. And this letter was offering me exactly that.

A knock on my door made me jump. I quickly folded the letter and shoved it under my pillow, my heart racing. "Yes?" I called out, trying to keep my voice steady and calm. The door opened slowly, and Soren poked his head inside. His face was warm and gentle, like always. He was wearing his usual calm expression, the one that made me feel like everything was going to be okay. "Hey, Esme," he said softly. "I just wanted to check on you before bed. You seemed tired after training today." He stepped into the room, his green eyes scanning my face with concern. "Are you feeling alright?"

"I'm fine," I said quickly. Too quickly. I forced myself to smile, even though my hands were still trembling slightly. "Just tired, like you said. It was a long day." Training with Dorian had been exhausting. My muscles still ached, and my legs felt like they might give out at any moment. But that wasn't why my heart was pounding. That wasn't why I couldn't see Soren's eyes. 

Soren studied me for a moment, his expression thoughtful. He was always watching, always analyzing. It was part of being a doctor, I guess. He could see things other people missed. "Are you sure?" he asked gently. "You look like something's bothering you."

"I'm sure," I lied, my voice steady this time. "I'm just not used to all of this yet. The training, the pack, everything. It's a lot to take in." 

Everything had changed so fast. Just a week ago, I was scrubbing floors and getting slapped by Lydia. Now I was living in a mansion with four powerful brothers who claimed I was one of them. It was overwhelming, like trying to drink from a waterfall.

Soren nodded slowly, seeming to accept my answer. "That's understandable," he said. "You've been through a lot, Esme. It's okay to feel overwhelmed. Just remember, we're here for you. If you need anything, anything at all, you can come to us. You're not alone anymore."

The kindness in his voice made my throat feel tight. I wanted to tell him about the letter. I wanted to show him the words and ask him what they meant. But I couldn't. Not yet. Not until I knew the truth. "Thank you, Soren," I said softly. "That means a lot." He smiled and stepped back toward the door. "Get some rest. Tomorrow's another training day, and Xavier doesn't go easy on anyone." He chuckled softly and closed the door behind him. 

I heard his footsteps fade down the hallway, and then the house was quiet again.

I sat on my bed and waited, fully dressed, listening to the sounds of the house settling for the night. I heard Xavier's door close down the hall. Then Lucian's. Then Dorian's. One by one, my brothers went to their rooms. 

The house grew silent except for the occasional creak of old wood and the distant hum of the wind outside. I pulled the letter out from under my pillow and read it again. The words hadn't changed. They were still there, still warning me, still promising answers. Meet me at the old oak tree tonight if you want the truth about your mother.

I had to go. I had to know. Whatever the truth was, whatever lies had been told, I deserved to hear it. I had spent twenty years living in darkness, being lied to, being used, being hurt. I wasn't going to spend one more day not knowing who I really was or where I really came from. 

So I stood up on shaky legs and slipped on my shoes. They were new, bought for me by Xavier just a few days ago. Everything I owned now was new because I had left Shadow Pack with nothing but the clothes on my back and a heart full of pain. I tucked the letter into my pocket and moved toward the door.

This was it. Once I stepped outside, there was no going back. I would be choosing to trust a stranger over my brothers. I would be choosing answers over safety. I took a deep breath and turned the lock. It clicked softly, and I pulled the door open just enough to slip through