Third Person's POV Under the weight of restless anticipation, Freya slowly loosened the flap of the report envelope. Her fingers trembled as she drew out the folded papers inside. Her heart drummed so hard she could feel it in her throat. Even though she had already suspected it-deep down, she had always known Parker Williams might be her brother-the moment her eyes landed on that decisive line, her breath caught. "Genetic correlation supports a full-sibling relationship. Probability ≥ 90%." The sterile words blurred as her vision misted. She had braced herself for this, told herself to stay calm, but all the anxious tension she had been holding in suddenly dissolved into an overwhelming rush of joy. Tears spilled freely down her cheeks. She clutched the report against her chest, laughing through the sobs. "He's my brother," she whispered, voice trembling. "It's really him. I've found him!" After all these years of searching, of hoping-she had finally found the only family she had left. "Dad, Mom," she choked out softly, eyes lifting toward the faint sunlight bleeding through the window, "I found him." Beside her, Kade reached out and brushed away her tears with his thumb. "Don't cry, Freya," he murmured, his voice low and gentle. "I can't help it." She laughed through her tears, shaking her head. "I'm just… so happy. I finally found my brother." To her, Eric Thorne had always been more than a name, more than a missing piece of the past-he was her blood, the only tie that still connected her to the home she had lost. A short distance away, Silas watched them in silence. Freya's face was streaked with tears, radiant with joy, while Kade's hand lingered near her cheek, comforting her with quiet tenderness. Silas's jaw tightened. His lips pressed into a thin line, jealousy flashing in his silver eyes. It should've been him beside her. He should've been the one she turned to, the one she smiled at through her tears. "Alpha Whitmor," murmured Wren, his attendant, keeping his voice cautious, "aren't you going to go over?"Silas had followed her here after seeing Freya and Kade leave the hotel that morning. He knew today was the day-the day she'd receive the DNA report she'd been waiting for. He had wanted to be there when she learned the truth. But as soon as he saw the scene before him, the warmth between them, something in him twisted too hard to bear. He turned abruptly, striding back toward his car. "No. Not now." If he went to her like this-burning with envy, driven by emotion-he might lose control. He might say or do something she could never forgive. And then… she would only drift further from him. "Where is Parker Williams now?" Silas asked as he walked. Even without hearing the words, he already understood from Freya's expression: Parker was Eric Thorne. Inside the car, Freya and Kade left the genetics center and headed straight for the hotel where Parker was staying. She could barely stay still in her seat; her entire body thrummed with nervous energy. She couldn't wait to see him-to look him in the eye and tell him the truth. Even if he denied it at first, even if he tried to push her away, the test results didn't lie. If there was some reason he couldn't acknowledge her, she would understand. She would do anything to help him. She had a thousand things to tell her brother, and a thousand more to ask. Halfway through their drive, Kade's WolfComm suddenly buzzed with an urgent tone. He answered, and within seconds his expression darkened. Without a word, he swung the steering wheel hard, the tires screeching as the car veered in another direction. "What happened?" Freya asked sharply, her pulse spiking. Kade's voice was grim. "I just got word-Jenny Williams has been kidnapped. Parker's on his way to pay the ransom himself." "What?" Freya's blood went cold. "Do you know where he's meeting them?" "I do," Kade replied. The young Alpha had plenty of connections-even here, far from the Capital. He had people stationed near Parker's movements, and his informant had been quick. Without hesitation, he hit the gas, and the car surged forward like a hunting wolf. Freya's hands clenched in her lap. Her chest felt tight. She had just found her brother-she couldn't lose him again. Not like this. "Don't worry," Kade said quickly. "From what I know, Parker contacted the authorities before going. He's not alone. The local enforcement team is tailing him." But that didn't ease her worry. This was D-Country, where firearms were common and organized crime ran deep. Kidnappings weren't rare-they were business. She had come too close to losing her family once before. She couldn't bear the thought of it happening again. The car sped through the narrow streets until the abandoned dockyard came into view-a grim stretch of rusted containers and shadowed warehouses. The air reeked of salt and metal. Freya reached under her seat and pulled out a compact pistol. Both she and Kade had armed themselves when they first arrived here-it was standard precaution for outsiders. She hadn't thought she'd actually need it. "Kade," she said, checking the chamber, "you stay in the car. I'll go see what's happening." He caught her wrist. "No way. I'm coming with you." She met his eyes, her tone firm. "This is about my brother. I have to protect him. You don't need to risk yourself for this." He gave a low growl, quiet but defiant. "If you're protecting your brother, then I'm protecting you. We move together, Freya. You know it's safer that way."