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I had spent years pretending Adrian didn’t exist, forcing myself to erase every memory of him, convincing myself that he was nothing more than a ghost of the past, a shadow that no longer had the power to haunt me. And yet, in a cruel twist of fate, he was here, standing in my home as if he had every right to be, as if the years of silence and betrayal had never existed.

Worse, he was smiling at my mate.

The sight of it sent a visceral, gut-wrenching rage through me, sharp and uncontrollable, but I held it back, forcing my body to stay still, my breathing measured, my expression carefully blank. Not here. Not now. Not in front of Cassandra.

Adrian, ever the showman, tilted his head, a lazy smirk stretching across his lips as he regarded me like some puzzle he was eager to solve. "Come on, little brother. No welcome home?"

I clenched my jaw so tightly it ached. "You aren’t welcome."

He let out a dramatic sigh, as if my response was exactly what he had expected, yet still somehow disappointed him. "Still bitter, I see."

Slowly, deliberately, I stepped forward, my movements controlled, placing myself between him and Cassandra. The weight of her gaze burned into my back, but I didn’t turn. I knew what she wanted—answers. And she deserved them. But first? I had to deal with him.

"You need to leave," I said, my voice low, even, but carrying the unmistakable promise of violence.

Adrian’s smirk widened as if he found my hostility amusing. "And miss all the fun? No, no, I think I’ll stay awhile."

I felt Cassandra tense behind me, but before I could react, she did something unexpected—she stepped forward, moving to stand beside me instead of behind. A show of strength, of defiance, of unwavering courage.

Her chin lifted, and when she spoke, her voice was steady, unwavering. "Why are you here? After all this time? Why should we believe anything you say?"

Adrian’s gaze flickered with something akin to amusement before he let out a low hum of appreciation. "Oh, I like you."

I snarled, my claws itching to extend. "Don’t talk to her."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Protective, aren’t we?" Then, as if tiring of the game, his expression shifted ever so slightly, the teasing glint in his eyes dulling, the smirk fading just enough to make my stomach tighten.

"I came to warn you," he said slowly, deliberately. "Because war is coming."

The words sent a chill through me, an icy dread coiling in my chest. Cassandra inhaled sharply beside me, and I could feel the way her body stiffened, mirroring my reaction.

Adrian ran a hand over his jaw, exhaling. "And if you don’t start preparing now, Alexander... you’re going to lose everything."

For the first time in my life, my brother wasn’t smirking, wasn’t taunting, wasn’t playing games. He was serious. And that? That terrified me more than anything else.

He must have seen the way I hesitated, the way I warred with myself because his expression softened just slightly. "I know you don’t trust me. I don’t blame you. But I’m not here to cause trouble. I made mistakes, Alec. I chose wrong. But this? This is my chance to set things right."

I didn’t answer, but my silence was enough for him to press on.

"You don’t have to forgive me. Hell, you don’t even have to believe me. But I had to come back. I had to warn you." He took a breath, steel in his gaze. "Because I can’t let them destroy what’s left of our family."

My fists clenched, the war raging inside me growing louder. Every instinct screamed at me to tear him apart, to throw him out and never look back. And yet—

I let him go.

Because if, by some cruel twist of fate, he was telling the truth?

Then we needed to be ready.

---

The second Adrian was gone, the air in the room shifted, heavy with unspoken words and unrelenting tension.

I turned to Alec, my heart still hammering. "What the hell was that?"

His jaw tensed, silver eyes dark with frustration. "Not now, Cassandra."

I narrowed my eyes. "Yes, now."

He let out a sharp breath, running a hand through his hair, looking like he was waging a war inside himself. I could see it, the hesitation, the conflict, the ghosts that haunted his gaze.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he turned to me, his expression unreadable. "He shouldn’t be here."

I crossed my arms, refusing to back down. "And yet, he is."

Silence. Heavy. Unyielding.

I stepped closer, searching his face. "You told me you didn’t have a brother."

His fists clenched at his sides. "Because he’s not my brother."

I froze. "What?"

Alec exhaled, his voice quieter this time. "Not anymore."

Something about the weight of those words sent a chill down my spine.

I swallowed, my voice softer now. "Then tell me, Alec. Who is he?"

For a moment, I thought he wouldn’t answer. Then, his gaze flickered, his jaw tightening before he finally spoke.

"Adrian was supposed to be king."

My breath caught in my throat.

Alec looked away, the memories thick in his voice. "He was the heir. The perfect son. Strong. Smart. Unstoppable. The kind of leader people would follow without question."

A pause. A tightening of his fists.

"And then, one day... he betrayed us."

I felt my stomach twist. "What did he do?"

Alec’s silver eyes darkened, something dangerous flickering beneath the surface. "He sided with the enemy."

I stilled, the weight of those words sinking in.

Alec exhaled sharply. "My parents stripped him of his title. Banished him. I was forced to take his place. I had no choice." His voice was edged with something raw, something painful. "From that day on, Adrian ceased to exist. I made sure of it."

I hesitated, my mind spinning. "And now he’s back."

Alec nodded, the muscle in his jaw ticking.

I took a slow breath. "Do you believe him? About the war?"

His gaze met mine, hard, unreadable.

Then, finally, he spoke.

"I don’t trust anything he says."

"But," I pressed, my voice barely above a whisper, "if he’s telling the truth?"

Alec's eyes held mine, and in them, I saw the weight of a decision that could alter everything.

Then, at last, he answered.

"Then we’re all in danger."