de her chambers, a steaming mug of tea warming her hands. Below, she could see the courtyard beginning to stir - warriors heading toward

the rhythm she'd nurtured during Brian's

felt... di

hisper to each other. In the way two warriors stiffened, almost imperceptibly, when she called down a greeting

followed

They were laughing at something, Aria's amber eyes shining. Nicole couldn't hear the words, but the

hit witho

k - Four

d against the wooden fence, arms folded, watching Brian take on three of their best warriors at once. His

wing off,"

houlder and glanced at her with

just two years then, still unshakably certain of their future. When the l

ing the fence to stand in

he said, laughing. "I've seen

ce. "I'd never hurt you, Nicole. I'

eved him c

the moonlight, it had felt like

snapped Nicole back to the

work to do - reports to check, border patrol schedules to ad

r answer. The whisper

deliver a note to Caleb, only to overhear

n Goddess really did choos

u see them together last night? The bond's obvi

tepped into view, and both warriors paled, bowing

olled parchment tighte

g circle, catching her expressi

aid shortly, han

ked to where the warriors had been and

dn't a

t the senior pack members, Brian, Nicole, and now Aria. The long table

Dorian, one of the oldest and most respect

ongly, my dear. Tell us, how has t

d, but she kept her g

plete now," she said softly. "I think even he feels it. The Moon

clearly as if Aria had shouted th

ing Aria's as he reached for

liberate care. "Excuse me," she

stopp

l dulled to a faint hum, the scent of pine and earth grounding her. But beneath

pers had

d the source, they wo

led to the east wing of the pack house. Voices floated toward her-one lo

e threaded with something that made Nicole's stomach kno

he bend in the hallway, ev

r, almost reluctant. "It

se of her? You're holding

le

ly. The pause stretched so long sh

timate, like a secret meant only for Aria. Aria's quiet laugh f

lls as silent as she could manage. She didn't need to hear more. S

icole had once loved for its towering windows and warm, golden wood.

n lifted. She wore the Luna's crest on her shoulder like a

gaze sliding not to her, but to Aria. "Given the rogue activity ne

oticed yesterday that the guards near the river seem lax. I c

al on the surface, but laced with the impl

are my responsibility. I will review them

ifted uncomfortably. All

id no

would have defended h

k - Two

nger Nicole stood before the council, her heart pounding as Elder Varrick accus

ority," Varrick barked. "Th

he acted in the best interest of this pack. And she i

ierce glint in his eyes, the pride in

h her knuckles aching from how tightly she'd clenched her hands. T

a familiar face-Rina, one of her oldest friends in the pac

threading her voice. "It's be

smile thin and hesitant.

o keep her tone light. "You used

ed away. "Things

She had the sudden, terrible feeling that the pack she had poure

ht spilling over her sheets, every sound of the pack house amp

adjoining room

stil

nlight. She thought, for one brief, de

her way, picked up a few papers from his desk

. No acknowledgmen

closed, the cold pressing in around her

decided, would

evening when the low murmur of voices drifte

eps fa

ew tha

n's voice-the one he used when he

," he was saying. "You'

ight and intimate, like they'd been sha

dn't listen. The Moon Goddess knew she didn't

a trembling sweetness. "I can feel the bond pulling

ce deepened, warm in a way that had on

verything they'd built, every vow, every night spent si

nto her lungs, and turned away bef

ack council convene

ching in the silver embroidery of the banners

notice Aria gliding into the room late, dressed in flowing white that made her look almost etherea

nterjections, the kind that s

shrug, "Nicole's plan is too... ambiti

their seats. Nicole forced hersel

t defend he

fully, as though Aria's ob

ment, the memo

shb

decision to open the pack's borders to strugglin

ough the hall. "And if any of you think you know the needs of this

hat moment, convinced that toget

hall, the space between th

he wandered the training grounds, hop

mumbled, eyes sliding past her toward the s

joined Nicole for weekly runs, barely

ingers. The harder she tried to hold on to h

heir chambers, she found Bria

er pillow in his sharp

n the guest wing tonight

r trembling in her hands. Not from the word

ed if she was

ed that she had

noticed

side, something b

followed blu

duties with meticulous precision, and try not to no

That might have be

might treat a former queen who had fal

shoulder when he walked by, a brief nod when she presented

rsery smiled at her. She was careful, clever. She never spoke ill of Nicole directly. Instead, she offered "suggestions" in Bria

briefing that Nicole felt the f

s, leaning over the map. "We'll split the western patrols into two sma

ne group for safety. Two smaller units risk

end of the table, "those smaller units

ancing Nicole's way. "Exa

ole had made three weeks ago-on

ir shared quarters, staring at the moon's

er meetings like that, tugging her close, murmuri

was only

two nights later-a celebration of the pack's allian

en with food, goblets brimming with wine. Pack members sto

chosen to match the pack's banner. She wore her Luna crown, the silv

n the steps

an of the Silver Fang pack. Aria was beside him, her hand lig

the gathered guests, his wor

is voice warm, "a trusted

Nicole,

en our

nd inclined his head. "Your pack is fortunate to h

faintly. "Yes

orced a graceful smile, but her grip on her w

out into the cool night air. The distant sound of lau

et didn

om around the corner. Aria's voice, low and co

he heard it anyway. "Don't say t

erve to be with the one the Moon Goddess chose

le strained to hear the

ever

tight, her fingers trembling-not with gr

She would not fade quietly into the backg

sound of their voices. The crown on her head fe

see her worth, she

ars. Not wi

th str

, the first spark

rush her. Nicole could still hear the echo of Brian's voice in the great hall, low and warm as he introduced her, his supposed

nce trained beside, healed after hunts, comforted after losses. Their eyes skittered away from hers like guilty childr

col

nior she-wolves, her arms folded tightly, a frown etched into her features. "I hea

eated. "You mean my husband parading another woman through the p

watching to see what you'll do. You're still Luna, but.

ey're wondering if I'll still b

idn't

ive. "Let them wonder." She walked past, refu

tainted by the scent she now realized clung faintly to the walls. That woman's scent. Nicole's fingers cur

d the same. Her hair was pinned, her gown still perfect, but her eyes-those bet

pered to the empty room. "And you threw me

er. Nicole didn't need to

mber, deep and controlled, as if he ha

body taut. "You have some nerve walking

scussing something private-intimate. "I told you, I didn't expect t

n't you dare hide behind her name. You made vows to me, Brian. You swore that no

till standing by you. Nothin

ore time with her than with me. You-" She broke off, shaking her head. "You can't have u

. "Careful, Nicole. The pack doesn't take wel

had been a source of pride, a shield she leaned o

without flinching. "Maybe they should

rian stepped closer, his voice low. "You're angry now,

she realized something with startling c

outside, casting silver light across the room. It should have been beautiful, but all sh

eady but stripped of warmth. "Anger would mean I still

r step toward

"You made your choice the moment you brought her here. The mome

ued, his tone tight. "

him falter. "No, Brian. I'm your Luna in title

ocating. Nicole could feel the space betw

n instant with his scent-one last reminder of what they'd bee

d quietly. "But don't think for a second I'm going to fade into the background a

ng it behind her with a quiet click that s

he way her legs shook, to the way her heart pounded not from lov

gr

an

so

own trailing behind her like the last re