Prologue

XAVIER’S POV

Twenty years.

That’s how long it had been since I last saw my brother’s face. Twenty years ago, my brother Silas was banished.

Our father, the Alpha King at the time, had no choice but to enforce the laws of our pack. Silas had committed a crime—one so severe that exile was the only punishment. The laws were clear: those who betrayed the pack, those who violated the sacred rules, had to be cast out. And Silas, my brother, had crossed a line that couldn’t be undone.

His exile was meant to last twenty years, a punishment for his actions, and no one had heard from him since.

I still remember the day he left. "You know the laws, Silas," Father had growled, his voice like gravel, heavy with the weight of duty. "You betrayed your own blood."

It wasn’t the angry shouting, the curses from our father, or even the tear-filled eyes of our mother. It was the look on Silas’s face—a mix of defiance and regret.

He knew he had messed up, but he also knew the laws. I saw him turn and walk away, his silhouette disappearing into the distance, and I never thought I’d see him again.

But now, after all these years, I was holding a letter from him. "See you soon, Xavier." The words sent a chill down my spine.

For twenty years, Silas had been a ghost—his name rarely mentioned, his existence almost forgotten. But now, out of nowhere, he sends me a letter, telling me he’ll be seeing me soon. I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that gripped me. How could he be coming now? Why, after all this time?

And why now, of all times, when I’ve lost my Lycan?

I ran my fingers over the letter again, the words burning into my mind. Silas’s return could mean anything. He could have come back to take what he thought was his—our father’s throne. Or maybe it was to exact revenge for being banished all those years ago. Or perhaps he had other plans entirely.

I didn’t know what to think. All I knew was that I was powerless right now. The Lycan inside me—my strength, my connection to the wolf that made me who I am—was gone. And it left me vulnerable, more vulnerable than I had ever been in my life.

I had to find a healer. I had to find someone who could help me, someone who could restore what I had lost. The longer I waited, the closer Silas got, and the more uncertain I became about what his return would mean. I wasn’t ready for this. I wasn’t ready for a confrontation when I couldn’t even shift anymore.

The thought made my stomach tighten with fear. But I couldn’t show that fear to Hannah, to my kids, to anyone. They needed to think I was still strong. But inside, I was unraveling, piece by piece. And Silas was coming. I had no time to waste.

I had to find that healer, and fast. The clock was ticking, and Silas was closing in on me, on my family. I just prayed it wouldn’t be too late to fix what had been broken.

I could hear the rustle of movement behind me, and a soft voice pulled me from my thoughts. "Xavier?"

I turned to find Hannah standing in the doorway, her expression a mixture of concern and love. Her presence brought a small sense of comfort, but even her warmth couldn’t shield me from the storm brewing inside me.

She stepped closer, her voice gentle. "You’ve been quiet ever since Liam brought that letter. What’s going on?"

I didn’t want to tell her. I didn’t want her to worry, to see the fear in my eyes that I’d been hiding for so long. But it was getting harder and harder to keep the truth from her, and with Silas’s return imminent, I knew there was no hiding anything anymore.

I exhaled sharply, leaning against the stone railing. "It’s Silas. The person who sent that letter. He is my brother!"

Hannah’s brow furrowed, the name clearly unfamiliar. "Silas? Your brother?"

"Yes," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I never mentioned him because he’s been exiled for twenty years, but now he’s coming back. He sent me a letter, and now he’s coming to see me as soon as his exile expires."

Her hand found mine, squeezing it as she stepped closer. "I don’t understand. Should we be worried about his return?"

"I don’t know," I admitted, running a hand through my hair. "But I’m afraid he’s coming to take something. Maybe even to destroy everything we’ve built."

Hannah’s expression paled, the worry in her eyes intensifying. "Xavier, maybe he is coming back because he misses you. But I guess losing your Lycan is enough to make you wary of others."

I forced a smile, though it didn’t reach my eyes. "I’m not worried about me, love. I'm more worried that I can’t protect you, or the kids, without my Lycan. And Silas... I can’t predict what he’ll do when he arrives."

She stood there for a moment, silent, and then pulled me into an embrace. "We’ll find a way to make this right. We’ll figure this out, Xavier. You’re not alone. And the kids are stronger than you think."

I held her tightly, savoring the warmth of her touch, even as the fear continued to claw at my insides. But then, the reality hit me harder than ever.

I couldn’t protect her. I couldn’t protect our family if I couldn’t shift. If I couldn’t regain the strength of my Lycan, Silas’s return would be my downfall—and that of my family.

I pulled back from the hug, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. "I need to find a healer, Hannah. I need to get my strength back before Silas arrives. He’s dangerous, and I won’t be able to stop him if I’m powerless."

Hannah nodded, her gaze unwavering. "I’ll help you. We’ll find one. You’re not giving up."

Her words gave me a little more strength, but the fear still lingered, gnawing at the edges of my resolve. How could I face Silas again when I was so vulnerable? What if he was stronger than ever?