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.

Tristan tried to sound composed, but his grip on the kitchen doorframe betrayed him. 


"I've been gone only several days," Shannon said with a faint smile. "But it felt like weeks. I see you haven't been idle. Improvements everywhere."


"Stew, porridge, or bread? Or all three?" Marla asked, ladle already in her hand, as if she'd been waiting to pounce on him with food.


"Yes," Shannon said without hesitation. "All three. One serving each. What about you, mate?" He turned to Tristan, pressing a few coppers into Therese's waiting hand.


Tristan blinked, color rising to his cheeks. "You're… paying?"


"For the excess orders beyond the staff allocation," Shannon explained evenly, passing the coins over. "Even Alphas shouldn't eat for free."


Tristan fumbled for words, but Marla cut in with a snort. "Finally, a paying customer I don't have to chase with a ladle."


Chapter 132 - Welcome Back