The betrayal was unexpected.

And that was why it cut so deeply.

Tristan Mendez only had two things he held dear: his family and his music. After his dazzling debut at the opera house, the world seemed within reach. Applause still echoed in his ears, the bow still warm in his hand. For one fragile moment, he believed the future was bright.

Then the ground was ripped from beneath him.

Accused of theft by his own brother, and met with silence from the family who should have defended him, his sentence was sealed, and he was cast into a merciless mining camp under the orders of Lady Arriane.

There, days blurred into years. Cruelty, hunger, and despair stripped him down until even his music was silent. The boy who once lived for melody nearly vanished in the dust.

But one man remembered.

Lord Shannon, Alpha of his clan, had been among the audience that night, transfixed by the young musician’s song. When Tristan disappeared, disbelief turned to determination. Refusing to accept the impossible, Shannon searched, uncovered the truth, and found what no one else dared to look for.

Freed from chains, Tristan faces a world both familiar and foreign. The past has left scars that will not vanish overnight. Healing will not be easy. Trust must be relearned. But at his side stands the Alpha who swore to protect him, even against shadows that wait to strike again.

This is a tale of betrayal and survival. Of music once silenced and a voice reclaimed. Of an Alpha’s unshakable vow and the fragile soul he refuses to let fall.

Tara barely slept the night she received Tristan's letter.


When the wagon driver delivered it to the manor, she was in the middle of sorting ledgers. The moment she saw her son's handwriting, her hands began to shake. She broke the wax seal and read the first line.


We found them- Grandma and Grandpa. They're alive.


For a long moment, she couldn't breathe. Her knees gave out, and she sat heavily on the nearest chair. Tears welled and fell before she could stop them.


Therese rushed in, startled. "Mother? What's wrong?"


Tara handed her the letter, unable to speak. Therese read it quickly, her lips parting in disbelief. "Grandfather and Grandmother?"


Tara nodded, pressing a trembling hand over her heart. "After all these years…"


She rose and took a deep, steadying breath. "Pack some things. The wagon driver agreed to fetch us on his way back to the village in three days."


Chapter 187 - Homecoming