"Is it just ," Viola said slowly in a low, uncertain voice, "or does sothing feel... off?"
Erald blinked and glanced out the window as the car pulled to a stop in front of the Western Shadow Fang estate.
The familiar stone courtyard stretched before her, the neatly trimd hedges, the sa marble pillars, the sa grey-stone steps leading up to the double doors like they always had.
But sothing in the air had changed. The sun was out, the gates were open, but...
"It’s quiet," Erald murmured.
"Too quiet." Viola’s tone had sharpened.
The driver stepped out and opened the door for her. Erald stepped down, half-expecting the front door to swing open and a pair of maids to co rushing toward her with excited greetings.
But no one ca.
No welco party, no maids rushing to greet her, no smiling guards or familiar faces gathered by the steps with flowers or flags. After all she’d been through, she thought coming ho might feel like a breath of fresh air.
Instead, it felt like soone was holding their breath.
She adjusted her bag over her shoulder and walked toward the entrance, her boots echoing against the stones. A pair of guards stood flanking the door. They nodded at her but didn’t say anything.
Erald frowned, but said nothing.
The taller of the two guards opened the door silently.
Inside, it was the sa strange atmosphere. She passed two maids in the hall who dipped their heads respectfully.
"Oh! Alpha...," one said quickly, bowing her head.
"Welco ho," the other added, not eting her eyes.
"Okay, I don’t like this," Viola muttered.
"Thanks," Erald said slowly, stepping inside. "Where’s my uncle?"
The girl froze, eyes wide.
Then she turned to the other maid near her, but neither of them said a word.
"Hello?" Erald asked in a harder voice now. "Did you hear ?"
Still, nothing.
Before she could press further, a familiar voice broke the tension. "Em?" Nessa’s voice rang from the upper floor.
Erald looked up as Nessa descended the stairs quickly in hurried steps. She looked a little flushed, like she’d been caught in the middle of sothing.
"You’re... you’re here already," Nessa said with a forced smile.
"Yeah," Erald replied slowly. "You forgot I was coming back today?"
Nessa shrugged with a sheepish expression. "It just slipped my mind. I’ve been all over the place. I’m so sorry."
Before Erald could say anything else, Nessa looped an arm through hers. "Co on, you’ve got to be exhausted. Let’s get you settled in. You two! Bring her bags to her room."
Erald hesitated. The unease was still twisting in her gut, but Nessa’s presence felt familiar... safe even, and she let herself be guided down the hall.
Once they entered her bedroom, the tension dropped a notch. Her bed was made, the windows cracked open just the way she liked. Warm sunlight poured across the floor.
Nessa plopped onto the bed dramatically. "Okay, spill. What happened over there? I need all the juicy details. And I an all, from arrival to departure. And don’t leave out the kissy stuff."
Erald raised a brow, setting her bag down on the bench by the door. "You sure? It’s not exactly spa and sunsets," she said, walking toward the window.
"Well?" Nessa asked, eyes glittering. "Start talking."
Despite herself, Erald laughed and began recounting everything... well, most things. The near-death encounters, the rogues, Talia, the betrayal, the burning cabin.
Nessa’s eyes widened with each passing revelation. "So wait... she set you on fire?"
"Tried to," Erald replied, rolling her eyes. "Twice."
"And Lucien? He just... watched you burn?"
Erald’s voice tightened. "It’s complicated."
Nessa whistled. "Girl, you need a vacation from your vacation."
She paused, then grinned. "But hold up... he nad an entire holiday after you?"
Erald laughed again, cheeks flushing. "Yeah. ’The Day of Eralds.’ Can you believe that?"
"Oh my Moon. You’re basically royalty. I want a holiday nad after ," Nessa pouted. "I’m going to need to find a mate ASAP... or mates... Preferably the ones in trouble."
Erald snorted. "You’d be bored in a week."
Before Nessa could fire back, a maid entered with a tray of food: soup, bread, fruit, and water. She set it down quietly and curtsied before leaving just as silently.
Erald looked at the tray, then back at Nessa. Her laughter faded as the off-feeling from when she just arrived returned.
"Ness... what’s going on?"
Nessa blinked. "What?"
"This whole place is off. People are avoiding eye contact, barely speaking. The guards didn’t even say welco ho. You forgot I was coming back. What the hell happened?"
Nessa’s smile faltered. "Eat first. You’ve had a long journey."
Erald stepped closer. "Nessa." Her tone was sharper now, almost like a quiet command.
Nessa looked away, fidgeting with the hem of her blouse. "He made promise not to say anything."
Erald froze. "Who?"
"We didn’t think you’d be back so soon," Nessa mumbled.
"What are you talking about?"
Nessa looked up slowly, guilt swimming in her eyes. "There was... another attack. A few days after you left."
Erald’s heart dropped. "What kind of attack?"
"An invasion. They sent more assassins. Rogues. I think they assud the territory was vulnerable without you here."
"And no one thought to tell ?"
"My dad made sure no ssages would get to you," Nessa said quickly. "Said you were safer away from it. Plus, you were with the Midnight Fang; that place was completely sealed off."
Erald backed away a step. Her voice dropped low. "How bad was it?"
Nessa didn’t answer.
Erald’s chest tightened. "Nessa," she said more forcefully. "How bad was it? Was anyone hurt?"
The silence that followed was answer enough.
Erald’s hands trembled as she whispered, "Where’s Uncle Darius?"
Nessa looked away, avoiding eye contact with Erald.
That was all it took.
Erald pushed past her and ran.
"Erald, wait—!"
She didn’t. She tore through the hallway, her boots echoing off the stone floors, the sound of her own heartbeat roaring in her ears.
Not again.
Not again.
Not again.
mories surged... mories of the day she ca back to the pack estate to find her father was dead months before her return. That sa dread now crawled back up her spine.
She ran faster.
"Erald, wait!" Nessa’s voice rang behind her. "Please!!!"
But she didn’t stop.
She turned the corner, skidded down the final hallway, and reached the heavy wooden doors to Darius’ chambers. Her hand closed on the handle and flung them open...
The room was empty. The bed was neatly made, and there were no guards around. There was no sign of her uncle, not even his scent. Erald stood still, feeling frozen in place.
The silence scread.
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