The third horn sounded.
This time, no one in the stronghold mistook it for a warning.
It was an alarm.
Lena stood at the edge of the training grounds, frozen for only a second before the Alpha moved past her.
"Inside."
She followed.
The stronghold had changed in an instant. The laughter from earlier was gone. Doors slammed shut. Guards hurried through the corridors, weapons being gathered as elders called orders from every direction.
Lena had never seen the pack afraid before.
She had seen anger.
She had seen grief.
But fear was different.
Fear made everyone look toward the same door.
"What is happening?" Lena asked.
The Alpha didn't answer immediately.
They reached the main hall, where several warriors were gathered around one of the elders. A map had been spread across the table.
A black mark had been placed near the western border.
"They're not attacking," one of the warriors said.
The Alpha looked up.
"No?"
"They stopped at the boundary."
That made the Alpha's expression harden.
"They want us to know they're here."
Lena's stomach twisted.
A voice came from behind them.
"They aren't here for the pack."
Everyone turned.
An older man stood in the doorway. His hair was silver at the temples, and one side of his face carried a long scar disappearing beneath his collar.
He looked directly at Lena.
Not the Alpha.
Not the elders.
Her.
His expression changed.
For the briefest moment, Lena thought she saw recognition.
Then the man whispered, "She survived."
The room went silent.
Lena's breath caught.
The Alpha stepped between them.
"You know her."
The stranger's mouth curved slightly.
"I knew her father."
The Alpha's eyes narrowed.
"Name."
The man hesitated.
Then he bowed his head.
"Kael."
A murmur passed through the room.
Lena didn't know the name, but everyone else seemed to.
The Alpha's voice became colder.
"Kael of the Black Ridge."
The stranger smiled.
"So you've heard of me."
"I've heard enough."
Kael looked around the room before returning his attention to Lena.
"Your father was supposed to die without an heir."
Lena's heart dropped.
"My father is dead?"
The words left her before she could stop them.
Kael studied her.
"You didn't know?"
Lena shook her head.
"No one told me anything."
Something unreadable crossed his face.
"Of course they didn't."
The Alpha turned sharply toward him.
"You will explain yourself."
Kael laughed quietly.
"Your pack has spent years pretending the girl doesn't exist. And now you want answers?"
"She is under my protection."
"That's exactly why I'm here."
Lena's fingers tightened around the fabric of her sleeve.
The Alpha moved slightly, blocking Kael's view of her.
"You have crossed my borders to threaten a child."
"No."
Kael's gaze remained fixed on Lena.
"I crossed your borders because her father left something unfinished."
Lena felt the room tilt beneath her.
"What?"
Kael's eyes finally met hers fully.
"A claim."
The Alpha went completely still.
Kael continued.
"Your father was not simply a powerful wolf. He was the last surviving heir of the Black Ridge bloodline."
Lena swallowed.
"I don't understand."
"You don't need to," Kael said. "Not yet."
The Alpha's voice cut through the room.
"You will leave."
Kael smiled.
"You can't keep her hidden forever."
"We aren't hiding her."
"Then you should have no problem bringing her outside."
Lena looked at the Alpha.
He didn't look back.
And somehow, that frightened her more than anything Kael had said.
Because she realized there was something he wasn't telling her.
Something about her father.
Something about her blood.
Something that had terrified her mother enough to lock her away for sixteen years.
Kael turned toward the door.
"I'll give you three days."
The Alpha's voice was dangerously quiet.
"For what?"
"For Lena to decide where she belongs."
Kael paused.
Then looked over his shoulder.
"With you…"
His eyes settled on Lena.
"…or with the blood that came before you."
The door closed behind him.
No one moved.
Lena stared at the empty doorway.
Then she turned toward the Alpha.
"What did he mean?"
He was silent.
"Alpha."
Still nothing.
Her voice broke.
"What aren't you telling me?"
The Alpha finally looked at her.
And for the first time since she had met him, Lena saw something in his expression that frightened her.
Not anger.
Not authority.
Fear.
"You're going to tell me," she whispered.
He held her gaze.
"Yes."
A pause.
"But not here."
Lena's heart began to pound.
"Why?"
The Alpha glanced toward the closed doors.
"Because if Kael is telling the truth…"
His voice lowered.
"…your father didn't leave your mother for another Luna."
Lena stopped breathing.
"He was running."
The room seemed to disappear around her.
"Running from what?"
The Alpha's eyes darkened.
"From the people who are coming for you now."