Freya's POV The man turned toward me, his deep, steady voice cutting through the hum of the ballroom. "Miss, do you need something?" My breath caught. That voice-low, composed, with the same faint rasp that used to carry through the corridors of Stormveil Hall when my brother called my name. My chest tightened as my vision blurred. Could it be him? For a heartbeat, the lights, the crowd, the orchestra-all faded into silence. All I could hear was the sound of my pulse drumming in my ears. I took a shaky step forward, my throat tightening. It wasn't a dream this time. He was standing right there-alive, real, within reach. "Eric…" I whispered, though my lips barely formed the word. My hand lifted almost of its own accord. I wanted-no, needed-to touch him, to feel the warmth of his skin, to confirm that he wasn't a ghost conjured by my desperate mind. But just as my fingertips brushed the air near his cheek, another hand smacked mine away with sharp force. "Who do you think you are? How dare you touch my brother!" The voice was sharp, young, and venomously possessive. I blinked, jolted back into the chaos of the ballroom. The girl at his side-dressed in glittering silver, her fingers coiled around his arm like a claim-was staring at me with pure disdain. "He's your brother?" My voice trembled, disbelief twisting through me. "Who else would he be? Certainly not yours," she shot back with a sneer. A few people nearby turned their attention toward us. I caught the glint of amused, cruel smiles-the kind that always gathered when blood scent hit the air. "Everyone knows Parker only has one sister-Jenny," a man nearby said, his tone laced with mockery. Another woman laughed softly, lifting her glass. "This one's clearly trying to climb her way into his pack. Pathetic, really." "She doesn't even look like she belongs here," another added, eyes raking over me.Their words fell like shards of ice around me, but I barely heard them. My gaze was locked on the man before me. "Parker Williams," I said, forcing my voice steady. "My name is Freya Thorne." The name hung between us-my name, our name-something that once tied us together by blood. I searched his eyes for recognition, for even a flicker of memory. But his expression didn't change. He only looked at me with calm indifference, like a stranger who'd been inconvenienced. A cold ache spread through my chest. My heart sank lower with every heartbeat. No… it couldn't be. If he wasn't Eric, then who was he? And if he was-why did he look at me as though I didn't exist? "Ha!" Jenny's voice rang sharp with laughter. "She even knows your name, Parker! She's definitely been planning this." "She's bold, I'll give her that," someone else snickered. "Shameless little thing." "She's probably just some nobody sneaking in to hook a rich Alpha," a man said loudly. "Security should throw her out." "Your name," Parker said finally, his voice low, detached. "What does it have to do with me?" "Let go." Only then did I realize I was still holding his wrist, my fingers trembling against his pulse. I gripped tighter, desperation burning through me. I couldn't let go-not yet. There were too many questions clawing at my throat. "Wait-" I began. But the sharp crack of a slap silenced me. My head snapped to the side, my cheek stinging, the world spinning for a second before I caught my breath. Jenny stood before me, eyes blazing, her hand still raised. I hadn't even seen her move. "You disgusting woman! If you don't let go of him right now, I swear I'll have someone break your hand!" she shrieked, lifting her arm again. This time, I caught her wrist before her palm could reach me."Ah-!" she yelped, face twisting in pain. I could feel the tremor in her bones beneath my grip, the scent of her fear breaking through her arrogance. Then a stronger force seized my other wrist. Parker. His fingers locked around mine with a strength that made my breath hitch. "I don't know what you want," he said evenly, though a shadow passed through his gaze, "but the Williams family isn't someone you can afford to provoke." A sharp pain shot through my wrist. I gasped and instinctively loosened my hold. Jenny immediately yanked her hand free, clutching it with a whimper before turning to him. "Parker! She hurt me! She actually hurt me-look at this! You should crush her hand for that!" Her shrill voice scraped at my ears. My heart hammered painfully. "Crush my hand?" I repeated quietly, staring at him. "You'd really do that?" He didn't answer, but the silence between us said more than words ever could. I saw nothing in his eyes-no recognition, no warmth. Just distance. If this man truly was my brother… he would never have stood by while another woman struck me. He would never have let her insult me without a word. Once, Eric Thorne had been my shield. When others mocked me for being the unwanted child of Stormveil's fifth branch, he stood in front of me and dared anyone to lay a hand on me. Once, he'd nearly lost his life protecting mine. That brother would rather bleed than see me cry. This man-this Alpha before me-looked at me as though I was nothing but trouble. Unless… there was something I didn't understand. Unless he had to do this. My chest ached, confusion warring with a faint, fragile hope. If he was my brother-if he had to pretend not to know me-then I wouldn't let him make the mistake of hurting me for the sake of his lies. I twisted my arm sharply, slipping out of his hold, using his own momentum to free myself. I stepped back, steadying my breathing. My wolf stirred uneasily beneath my skin, its instincts prickling with warning and pain.If he wasn't Eric, I wouldn't allow him to harm me. But if he was… then I wouldn't let him bear the guilt of doing it. Either way, I would not stand there and break beneath his hand. I straightened my spine and met his eyes head-on. "If you're truly who I think you are," I whispered, voice trembling but sure, "then you already know-I won't fight you. But I won't let you destroy me either."