“I know,” she said gently. “But Aria… he may be the only one capable of helping you.”

Her voice softened.

“And you don’t have the luxury of pride anymore.”

My thoughts immediately turned to Marcus lying motionless in the infirmary.

“You have Marcus.”

Silence stretched between us.

Finally, I nodded.

“I trust you.”

Relief flashed across her face.

“Good.”

The following morning, a messenger wolf delivered the address Lily had promised.

The moment I saw the location written on the parchment, unease crawled up my spine.

The territory was… familiar.

Too familiar.

It lay dangerously close to the lands dominated by the Lutherford pack.

My nerves were already stretched thin when I arrived.

I had barely stepped onto the street when something small crashed directly into my legs.

“Oof—!”

I stumbled back in surprise.

A little boy—no older than six—had run straight into me like a reckless pup.

I crouched quickly, steadying him by the shoulders.

“Careful,” I said gently, brushing dust from his clothes. “Running near the road is dangerous.”

Instead of answering, the child stared at me with wide, searching eyes.

Like he was trying to recognize a scent buried deep in memory.

Then he whispered softly.

“Angel.”

I blinked.

“Angel?”

Before I could react, he threw his arms around my neck and hugged me tightly.

“Hey—easy,” I murmured, instinctively catching him so he wouldn’t fall. “What’s wrong?”

He buried his face against my shoulder.

“I knew my angel would come back,” he whispered sleepily. “Mama said my angel would return.”

A strange chill crept along my spine.

Still, the child didn’t seem afraid.

Only desperate.

I lifted him carefully into my arms.

“Alright,” I said gently. “Where are your parents?”

He pointed toward a towering stone building nearby.

My brows knit together.

It was the same place Lily had mentioned.

Confused but concerned, I carried him inside.

---

Moments later, a servant rushed toward us in alarm.

“Young Master!” she exclaimed. “Your father has been searching everywhere for you!”

She tried to take him from my arms.

The boy immediately tightened his hold around my neck.

“Don’t force him,” I said calmly. “Just tell me where his father is.”

The woman hesitated… then nodded reluctantly.

She led me through several long corridors before stopping at a massive office door.

Raised voices echoed inside.

The servant visibly paled.

“You may go in,” she said quickly before hurrying away.

I knocked.