Freya's POV What met my eyes were patches of uneven skin. Burn scars. Not just on his shoulder-those marks extended across his chest, abdomen, even his waist, a silent testimony to pain I couldn't imagine. "How… how did you get all those burns?" I asked, my voice trembling before I could stop it. My fingers itched to reach out, to touch the roughened skin on his shoulder, as if that could confirm he was real. But before my hand even brushed him, he pulled his shirt back on. His movements were sharp, precise-like someone used to hiding every weakness. "You've seen it now," Parker said evenly. "My shoulder bears burn scars. Not the kind of wound you showed me in that photograph." Burn scars… My heart twisted. Could it be… from that fire five years ago? No. That couldn't be right. In the footage Jocelyn had shown me, my brother's shoulder had still carried that mar. Then who was this man standing before me? "When did this happen?" I asked quietly. "Three years ago," he replied. "A fire. That's all." His tone was calm, detached. "Now, Miss Thorne, I've answered your questions. I'm not the man you're looking for. May I go now?" My throat tightened. "Could we… do a DNA test?" He fastened the last button of his shirt with cold precision. "After all that, you still believe I might be your brother?" "I just…" I swallowed hard. "If I'm going to give up, I want to do it completely. No doubts left." Because the truth was-something about him felt like my brother. Everything but the way he looked at me. My brother would never look at me like that-cold, distant, unreadable.He met my gaze with eyes as hard as ice. "And why should I agree to that? Just because of your wild speculation? Miss Thorne, I've made myself clear-I'm not your brother." For a heartbeat, the air between us froze. My chest ached, as if my heart had fallen into a frozen lake. He wasn't my brother. He said it plainly. But why did I still refuse to believe him? Because if I stopped hoping now… I might never find my brother again. After leaving Parker's place, I returned to my hotel room. The silence of the hallway pressed against me like fog. No matter how many times I replayed our conversation, I couldn't let it go. Even if he claimed he hadn't lost his memory-those scars could have easily hidden an older wound beneath. I needed proof. A DNA test. Only then could I be sure-whether Parker Williams truly wasn't my brother Eric. He had refused me today, but that didn't matter. There were other ways to get what I needed. I was deep in thought when I reached my room. Then I froze. Someone was leaning against my door. Silas. He stood there with his arms crossed, head bowed slightly, eyes closed-as if asleep. Had he really fallen asleep outside my room? I hesitated before stepping closer. The Alpha of the Ironclad Coalition-resting against my door? The thought alone made my pulse jump.His tall frame leaned lazily against the wall. Because of his lowered head, a few strands of dark hair fell across his forehead, making the sharp lines of his face even more striking. The hallway light spilled softly over him. His lashes were long, brushing faint shadows over his cheekbones. He looked almost peaceful… if not for the faint darkness under his eyes. I frowned slightly. Was that bruising? No, it didn't look like he'd been hit. No one would dare strike Silas Whitmor. Then it must be lack of sleep. Without thinking, I reached up and lightly touched beneath his eye. The skin there was warm, not tender. But before I could pull away, his lashes fluttered. I froze. A moment later, his hand came up, wrapping around my wrist-firm, unhurried, unmistakably awake. His eyes opened slowly, those mesmerizing silver-gray irises meeting mine. "Freya," he murmured, my name leaving his lips like a sigh. "You're… awake," I said awkwardly, trying to pull my hand free. But instead of letting go, he guided my hand, tracing it along the same path I'd just touched on his face. His skin was warm beneath my fingertips. "I wasn't asleep," he said softly. Heat shot up my neck. Moon above-he'd been awake the entire time? "So you were just standing here in the middle of the night?" I demanded, trying to sound composed. He smiled faintly, though exhaustion dulled the edge of it. "Couldn't sleep. I thought if I stayed close to you… maybe I could." My heart skipped. "What do you mean by that?" "I don't know," he said quietly. "Maybe I just needed to feel your presence." He looked genuinely tired. The Alpha who usually commanded every room now seemed… human.I took a slow breath. "I went to see Parker Williams," I said finally. "Now-let go of my hand, and let's talk inside." Silas hesitated, then reluctantly released me. I swiped the WolfComm card through the scanner, the door unlocking with a soft click. Stepping inside first, I flicked on the lights. He followed close behind, silent as a shadow. As the door shut behind us, I caught the faint scent of him-cedarwood and cold iron. Familiar, grounding, and dangerously comforting.