The Ruthless Alpha's Hidden Mate

Chapter 4

Kaelan didn't sleep that night.

The old parchment lay on the table in front of him.

He had spent hours staring at the silver wolf beneath the crescent moon, trying to remember where he had seen it before.

Nothing came.

But one thing was certain.

The symbol was connected to Nora.

He folded the parchment and slipped it inside his coat.

Then he stood.

There was only one person who might know where it came from.

Mrs. Hilda.

Morning had barely broken when Nora entered the kitchen.

She immediately noticed the strange silence.

Lily was already there, preparing breakfast.

"You're early," Lily said.

"I couldn't sleep."

"Neither could I."

Nora placed the basket on the table.

"Did you hear anything last night?"

Lily shook her head.

"Just the guards changing shifts."

Nora lowered her voice.

"I keep thinking about what we saw yesterday."

"The eyes?"

Nora nodded.

Lily looked toward the kitchen door.

"Don't say it too loudly."

"Why?"

"Because Mrs. Hilda will hear you."

Nora almost laughed.

Then she noticed Mrs. Hilda standing at the other end of the kitchen.

She had heard them.

Her face was unreadable.

"Nora."

"Yes?"

"Come with me."

Nora followed her into the small storage room beside the kitchen.

Mrs. Hilda shut the door.

For a moment, she simply stared at Nora.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Mrs. Hilda sighed.

"Because I need you to listen to me."

Nora's expression changed.

"What happened?"

"Nothing has happened yet."

"Yet?"

Mrs. Hilda closed her eyes.

"Stay away from the forest. Stay away from the eastern path. And if anyone you don't know tries to speak to you, walk away."

Nora stared at her.

"Who would try to speak to me?"

"I don't know."

"That's not true."

Mrs. Hilda's eyes met hers.

"You think I don't know when you're lying?"

The older woman looked away.

Nora stepped closer.

"Who am I?"

Mrs. Hilda froze.

Nora's voice softened.

"I've asked you before. You never answer."

"Because I promised."

"Promised who?"

Mrs. Hilda swallowed.

"Someone who wanted you alive."

Nora's heart skipped.

"What does that mean?"

Mrs. Hilda immediately regretted the words.

"Nora..."

"Who wanted me dead?"

Before Mrs. Hilda could answer, a knock sounded on the door.

Both women turned.

"Mrs. Hilda?"

A servant's voice came from outside.

"The Alpha is asking for you."

Mrs. Hilda's face went pale.

Kaelan waited outside the kitchen.

Darian stood beside him.

When Mrs. Hilda appeared, she lowered her head.

"My Alpha."

"I need to speak with you."

"Of course."

His eyes moved briefly toward Nora.

She stood several steps behind Mrs. Hilda.

Their eyes met.

Kaelan felt the familiar pull.

His wolf stirred.

Nora quickly looked away.

Kaelan forced himself to focus.

"Privately."

Mrs. Hilda nodded.

They walked toward the inner courtyard.

Darian followed, but Kaelan raised a hand.

"Wait here."

Darian stopped.

Kaelan turned back to Mrs. Hilda.

"You raised Nora."

"Yes."

"How long has she lived here?"

"Most of her life."

"That's not what I asked."

Mrs. Hilda remained silent.

Kaelan's voice hardened.

"Her records are almost empty."

"I know."

"Why?"

Mrs. Hilda looked down.

"Because they were never meant to be found."

Kaelan stared at her.

"Who erased them?"

"I can't tell you."

"You can."

She shook her head.

"If I tell you, I put her in greater danger."

Kaelan stepped closer.

"She's already in danger."

Mrs. Hilda's eyes lifted.

"You don't understand."

"Then make me understand."

For several seconds, she said nothing.

Finally, she whispered:

"The people looking for Nora have been searching for her for years."

Kaelan's expression changed.

"Why?"

"I don't know everything."

"But you know something."

Mrs. Hilda looked toward the servants' quarters.

"I know enough to be afraid."

Nora stood near the kitchen doorway, trying to hear what they were saying.

She couldn't make out the words.

But she could read Mrs. Hilda's face.

She was frightened.

Again.

Nora stepped back before they noticed her.

She didn't want to be caught listening.

But one thought had already settled in her mind.

People were looking for her.

Why?

---

By midday, Silver Crest was under tighter guard.

Kaelan had doubled patrols around the castle.

No servant was allowed near the eastern forest.

The guards had also been ordered to report anyone seen near the walls.

Darian returned from the western grounds with a worried expression.

"We found more tracks."

"How many?"

"Four wolves."

Kaelan looked up from the map.

"Heading where?"

"Toward the castle."

Kaelan's jaw tightened.

"Did they cross the wall?"

"No."

"Then why are they getting closer?"

Darian hesitated.

"Maybe they're waiting."

"For what?"

Darian didn't answer.

Kaelan already knew.

That afternoon, Nora was carrying clean clothes toward the servants' quarters when she heard voices outside.

She slowed.

Two guards were speaking near the side entrance.

"...they're definitely watching the castle."

"How do you know?"

"Because we found tracks again."

"Near the eastern gate?"

"No."

The guard lowered his voice.

"Near the servants' quarters."

Nora stopped.

Her fingers tightened around the clothes.

The servants' quarters.

Her quarters.

She stepped away before they could notice her.

Her heart was beating faster.

For the first time, the strange events around Silver Crest no longer felt like something happening somewhere else.

They were getting closer.

To her.

That evening, Mrs. Hilda returned to her room.

She locked the door.

Then she crossed to an old wooden chest hidden beneath her bed.

Her hands trembled as she lifted the lid.

Inside was the same wrapped cloth she had kept hidden for years.

She unfolded it.

The silver wolf beneath the crescent moon stared back at her.

Mrs. Hilda touched the symbol.

"I kept my promise," she whispered.

A sound came from outside.

She froze.

Someone was standing in the corridor.

She quickly wrapped the cloth and pushed it beneath the blankets.

The door opened.

Nora stood there.

"Nana?"

Mrs. Hilda's heart nearly stopped.

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to talk."

Mrs. Hilda forced a smile.

"About what?"

Nora stepped inside.

"About me."

Silence.

Mrs. Hilda knew there was no avoiding it forever.

Nora looked directly into her eyes.

"Who were my parents?"

Mrs. Hilda looked away.

"I don't know."

"That's a lie."

The words were quiet.

But they hurt.

Mrs. Hilda sat on the edge of the bed.

"Nora..."

"I heard the guards."

"What did you hear?"

"They're searching the castle."

Mrs. Hilda's face tightened.

"They're searching for me, aren't they?"

No answer.

That was answer enough.

Nora's eyes filled with tears.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I was trying to protect you."

"From what?"

Mrs. Hilda reached for her hand.

Nora stepped back.

"You keep protecting me from the truth."

Mrs. Hilda lowered her head.

"I'm sorry."

Nora turned toward the door.

Before she could leave, Mrs. Hilda spoke.

"You were not abandoned."

Nora stopped.

Mrs. Hilda's voice trembled.

"You were hidden."

Nora slowly turned around.

"Why?"

Mrs. Hilda opened her mouth.

Nothing came out.

Then a horn sounded from the courtyard.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

An alarm.

Mrs. Hilda stood immediately.

"What happened?"

A guard shouted from outside.

"Rogues at the eastern wall!"

Nora's heart dropped.

Mrs. Hilda grabbed her arm.

"Stay here."

But Nora pulled free.

"Why are they here?"

Mrs. Hilda stared at her.

For the first time, she didn't try to hide the fear in her eyes.

"Because they found you."

Kaelan was already in the courtyard when the alarm sounded.

Warriors rushed toward the eastern wall.

Darian ran toward him.

"Alpha!"

"How many?"

"We don't know."

"Then find out."

Kaelan drew his sword.

Another horn sounded.

A warrior came running from the eastern side.

"They're not attacking the gate!"

Kaelan frowned.

"What?"

"They're moving along the wall."

"Toward what?"

The warrior swallowed.

"The servants' quarters."

Kaelan's blood ran cold.

He turned immediately.

"Nora."

And for the first time, he stopped thinking like an Alpha protecting his territory.

He ran.