CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINE - FROZEN EXPECTATIONS

With a nod of acknowledgment, Anna left the office, her mind whirling with this new information and the implications of Freya's words. As she made her way back to her duties, she felt a spark of optimism that she hadn't experienced since arriving at Ulfheim. The mansion suddenly felt less like a prison and more like a puzzle to be solved. And for the first time, Anna felt like she might actually have a chance at figuring it out. As she walked through the hallways, her steps lighter than they had been in weeks, Anna allowed herself a small smile. She didn't know what the future held, or what new challenges Ulfheim would throw her way. But for the first time since her arrival, she felt ready to face them. The mysteries of Ulfheim – its ancient traditions, its complex relationships, and the secrets that seemed to lurk in every shadow – were still far from solved. But Anna was beginning to see that she might have a place in unraveling them. And with that realization came a renewed sense