Fleur looked at Dmitri strangely. She understood the situation immediately. How could Dmitri know anything about her? Very patiently, she answered,

"Dmitri, I am Fleur. I have been sent by the wizard kingdom to protect our queen until she wears her crown. Ever since we came to know that Adrianna is our queen, there has not been a day where the people of the kingdom have not wanted to see her. There is a lot of danger lurking here and it is extremely unsafe to say here. We have to take her back. She is one of ours.

"

Dmitri started to get up from his place.

"Shut up!

"

Adrianna stopped him.

"Dmitri, wait!

"

Howard knew that it was a very sensitive matter and that it had to be handled with care. Fleur was too young and inexperienced to deal with it. He looked towards Ed for help.

Ed nodded and said politely,

"Dmitri, first hear us out before you make a decision, okay?

"

Dmitri settled down a bit and looked at Ed with a thousand questions in his eyes.

Ed started narrating.

"Adrianna is the daughter of Shira and Kuro. Shira was the queen of the wizard kingdom. She had come to the wolves' territory to suppress a rebellion. Over here, she met Kuro. Kuro's first wife had died after giving birth to their third child and he was, at that time, at a loss of a mate. When he met Shira, it was more of an attraction than love. Although for Shira, it was pure love, she didn't know that Kuro was not interested in her until, one day, she found herself pregnant with his baby. Upon knowing that she was pregnant, Kuro abandoned her because he didn't want illegitimate children. Shira could never go back to her kingdom because of the shame she had brought upon them. So she stayed in the wolves' territory insignificantly until she gave birth to her child. She had informed me about her pregnancy because she trusted me. I was the one who had been informing her and helping her suppress the rebellion.

"Shira continued with her pregnancy because she could not abort the child of her love. When Kuro came to know about it, he threatened to kill her, but he had forgotten that Shira was the queen; he couldn't even touch her. Shira had planned to give birth to her baby and leave the child with me to return to her kingdom. However, nature had its ways. Unfortunately, Shira died after giving birth to the child. She had given me the responsibility of taking care of the baby. However, I was not capable of taking care of a baby since I was very unsettled during that time. So, I had only one option. I had handed the child to Kuro to take care of. Kuro was reluctant because he did not want to be reminded of Shira, but I had threatened him with dire consequences if he didn't take her under his custody. What I threatened him with is another story for another day...

"Kuro was thus forced to take you under his guardianship and rear you as his legitimate child.

"The reason why Adrianna shines so much when she is happy and turns into a wolf involuntarily during the full moon is because the moon goddess, Selene, had been present during her birth to bless her.

"For many years, the wizard kingdom had been sending teams to find Shira. Finally, they came to know that Shira had died after giving birth to a baby. So they started searching for her baby, who was now, by birth, the rightful ruler of their world.

"

Ed stopped at this juncture and looked at Howard.

Both Dmitri and Adrianna were listening to Ed with rapt attention. Even Adrianna hadn't known so much about her past.

"So I am not entirely blood related to my siblings?... This is the reason why Kuro dislikes me so much? Grandfather, why didn't you tell me all this earlier? I had to undergo so much heartache... I had always wondered why I looked so different compared to my siblings...

"

Dmitri enveloped her in his embrace.

"Shh…

"

Howards looked at Adrianna and Dmitri.

"Adrianna, even I didn't know that you were our queen. Ed had been extremely tight-lipped about it because he was also uncertain of whether or not you were the future ruler of the wizard kingdom. Kuro hated you a lot and hence, when you were younger, Ed had to settle down and bring you to his cottage to take care of you. Kuro had always been afraid that you would usurp his title anytime because you were far more powerful than any of his sons. By hating you, he kept you at bay. Emotionally torturing you was the best way he could keep you away from himself, as well as his sons. The only thing he didn't expect was that while fighting against Dmitri, Dmitri would imprint on you. He tried his best to bring Kayla into the picture, but he had failed miserably. This only proves one thing – Kuro is undoubtedly scared of you.

"

"I only wanted them to love me… I had been so starved of their love… I didn't know that there were so many vicious plans going on…

" Adrianna started becoming gripped by a feeling of despair.