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The furniture had been pushed aside and the main rug removed, exposing an opening in the floor where our coffee table usually stood. Two guards pulled huge metal panels out of it and passed them along a line of soldiers. At the other end, more guards locked them together, adding to a barrier that already stretched across part of the room.

“Are they building a barricade?” I asked, but the noise was so loud I wasn’t sure anyone had heard me. Something was very, very wrong, and nobody would tell me what was happening.

“Darius!” I called as a physician hurried past us. He wasn’t one of mine, and he wore the Stormforge insignia I’d only ever seen on our guards. I turned back to the Alpha beside me. “Where is Darius?”

“He is in the residence, my lady. We must keep moving.”

By the time we reached my bedroom, I was struggling to catch my breath. Seven armed guards entered with us and spread through the room. Unfamiliar Alpha scents filled the one place I’d always felt safe, and unlike Eira and me, they were all wearing boots. I could see dirt on them as they walked across my rugs.

Eira and the female Alpha carefully lowered me into my nest, then began speaking to each other in the High Mountain language while I struggled to move to the centre. Even when I reached it, I couldn’t settle. My room didn’t feel right anymore, not with all these people in it.

“Outside,” I said, my voice wobbling. “Please wait outside.”

The female Alpha glanced towards the adjoining rooms. “We must check every room, my lady.”

I reached for Alaric’s pillow and pulled it to my chest, burying my face in his familiar scent. I could breathe a little more easily until another Alpha passed close enough for his scent to cover it.

“I’m sorry, but you can’t stay here.”

“They are only checking the rooms, Elowen,” Eira said. She knelt beside me, keeping her voice low. “And I am staying with you.”

My breaths were shallow now, but holding her hand helped until two guards entered the nursery.

“No! That’s the babies’ room.”

“They must make certain it is secure, Elowen, nothing more,” Eira said gently.

I understood what she meant, but these strangers were entering my daughters’ room before the girls had even slept there. Their boots would dirty the rugs, and their scents would cling to every teddy, every blanket and tiny piece of clothing.

“Get out.” I pushed a pillow aside and tried to stand. “Eira, tell them!”

She reached for my hand. “Elowen, listen to me. They are only making sure the room is empty.”

One of the Alphas was already moving the chairs away from the large windows, and watching him rearrange my babies’ room made me tremble with anger and fear.

Before I could get out of the nest, the Alphas came back through the nursery doorway.

“Clear, my lady,” one of them said before they rejoined the others.

I should’ve felt better now that they were out, but looking at them only made me feel worse. “I gave you an order.”

The female Alpha glanced at me, but none of them moved towards the door.

“Okay, then. I’ll get you out myself.” I moved to the edge of the nest and stood up, wobbly legs and all.

“Elowen.” Eira caught my forearm and stepped beside me. “You cannot walk like this. Please, let me help you back into your nest.”

“Let go, Eira.”

She tried to turn me back towards the mattress, but I pulled against her, then pushed her away. The room shifted beneath my feet, and Eira caught me under my arms as my knee gave way.

The female Alpha moved to help, but Eira stopped her. “No closer. Give her space, please.”

The Alpha stepped back and ordered the nearest guard to do the same, but it wasn’t enough. I could still smell all of them.

“You!” I pointed at her. “Get them out!”

“They are our guards, Elowen,” Eira said.