zing around her as she descended the grand staircase, every pair of eyes following

s as useless as

g anyone the satisfaction of seeing her look small or broken. Her gown from the night before had been replaced with dark trousers,

was ready

s fell silent mid-whisper, eyes wide. One of th

a Ni

mething that might have pa

't stop

g tables, the air thick with the scent of breakfast-coffee, fres

n introduced last nig

er emerald eyes swept over the room with an easy confidence that made Nicole's fingers itch. She wor

rway just long enough fo

" several voices cho

ard the head table. Instead, she took a seat halfway down, with the warriors. The move was deliberate, both a refu

ost avoided eye contact, but she caught one or two

everyone

e scanned the room, his eyes catching on Nicole and something

rn-haired woman on the cheek. Nicole didn't look away. If he wanted to flaunt

ry and muffled conversation. Nicole spoke little, focusi

nder-her scent-still clinging to Brian's jacket. He hadn't wa

– Two Ye

een sparring with three warriors at once, his movements fluid and lethal. When he finally

he teased, wiping

"You're imaginin

round her. "Because I could've sworn my Luna lo

you are," she

there on the training fiel

to Pr

rned, hot and

ties. If she stayed passive, they'd destroy her piece by piece. But if she

had to be qui

exactly whe

d away from the public heart of the packhouse. The hallways here were quieter

d been ruthless, but also a tactician, someone who understood that strength meant little w

s wing that s

g warrior whose loyalty was as famous as his stubbornness. He ha

, inclining his he

returned. "We

rowed slight

. About... shif

o his office. Once the door shut, she felt

d I know what people will think they're supposed to do now-choose sides, wait

. "And you want m

well as I do that chaos doesn't serve us. Brian's fated mate might have

s eyes. Not quite agreeme

l me thi

eed someone who can make sure the pack hears the truth-n

fingers tapping the armrest. "

t smile. "I'm asking you to rememb

y nodded once, it was enough. "I'll listen. And

," she said,

ing a mental list. Allies. Weak points. Moves she could make withou

verseeing disputes, smoothing the political ties between them and neighboring packs. Those responsibi

ce remained, p

ation for the upcoming Winter Solstice ga

sn't

auburn-ha

ully neutral as she opened

racticed. "I thought we shoul

ust far enough to allo

om as if cataloging it for la

ole had to fight the

Lilith said sweetly. "But I am Brian's f

othing unless the pack accepts you.

"Then perhaps you coul

orless. "You expect me to pave

rpening. "Because if you fight me, you'll lose. But i

no idea what I'll keep, Lilith. But here's a promise-what

locked, the air between them

returned, brittle an

ithout ano

eady but her mind already racing. Lilith had shown her hand too ea

emies were eas

g the next two moves. Marcellus was a start, but a single thread wouldn't

was quiet, humid, and filled with the scent of damp earth. There, bent over a tray of seedlings, wa

ed with the kind of frankness only the old could get away with. "I

yn. And you've been keeping this pack's roots a

ful work, but Nicole could see the flicker o

. Remind them how many times someone's tried to take

d hands on her apron. "I can do that. But you'd bet

ined her he

len, the weapons master, in the armory. His presence

" Nicole said, step

e heard," he replied without glanc

e'll strip our defenses first. The warriors will have nothing but their claw

ftness in his gaze, but there was recognition. "You always

knocks, it's already i

he faintest of smirks.

ices. Two m

ole didn't step into the center this time, she didn't need to.

harpened, their posture straightened. Not becaus

nto the dirt. Nicole didn't move, but her expression-just the smallest tightening at the c

ority. The moment you begged

ith the scent of rain. She let her guard down just enough to

der her breath for dragging her out at dawn. But then he'd stopped, pointing through the frost-c

ce low, almost reverent. "So you'd remember tha

the cold, thinking there was no on

one that hadn't stopped bleeding, n

she would ha

o Nicole without her

clinging to him. His eyes scanned the maps she'd spread across the table-territories marke

murmured, his voice pitched low

up. Her hand slid one of the pieces on the board into pos

she could feel the heat of him. "I'

. Nicole glanced at him, letting a rare flicker of warmth touch her features. "Good. Keep you

y took a littl

ho trusted no one without proof. Nicole found her in the s

ole said, leaning casual

t stop moving, but Nicole could

nd

straightening to meet her gaze. "You're keeping the p

Then you know I'll need h

nce, quick and decisive. "I'm in. Just... make sur

they both knew she was lying. "It will burn and

s, the metallic ring of weapons clashing. Nicole stood on the edge, arms folded

ed, the captain barked at h

didn'

t raise h

d on him-steady, cold, unblinking. It lasted only seconds, but it was

unce her authority. She wore it like a second skin, and the smart

r quarters, moonlight spilling across her lap. Her fingers toyed with the c

ht with something unguarded, something real. "So you'll always have a

isted now, sh

nst her chest and closed her

uld play the loy

the man she'd loved before the betrayal because soon, s