"W-what?" I stammered, my voice trembling with fear.
"I heard the wolves have been standing at the castle gates for hours, demanding an audience. They claim they’ve come in peace, saying the Lord Protector has something that belongs to them," Freya explained, her words sending a fresh wave of dread coursing through me.
"And they were let inside the castle?" I asked, my tone sharp with panic.
Freya hesitated. "They must’ve said something that finally convinced the Lord Protector to grant them entry."
My heart pounded erratically as my mind spiraled into chaos. How had they known I was here? Was there a spy among the castle staff reporting back to my father? Or perhaps someone at the auction recognized me and alerted the wolves? I couldn’t stop the wave of panic washing over me.
I hadn’
