To My Dearest Brother, Alpha Riven Ashbane,

  I write to you bruised, bloodied, and humiliated.

  The bastard omega threatened me in my own quarters. Grabbed me. Choked me.

  She is trying to wind up in the Alpha's bed chambers.

  Please give me aid to discreetly deal with her or summon her back to the Ashbane pack.

  Your loving sister,

  Meredith Ashbane

  ???

  The training yard stretched wide and green, sunlight spilling across it in uneven bands.

  "Come on," Elle said, pulling Nova along. "They don't bite. Often."

  Three boys were sprawled near the weapons rack, just finishing drills. One was still catching his breath, the second was stretching like he'd pulled something (probably pride), and the third leaned lazily against a sparring dummy with the bored look of someone who was only deadly when he was motivated.

  They looked up as the girls approached.

  "Boys," Elle said. "This is Nova. Play nice. I like her."

  The one with tousled sandy hair and a nose that had clearly been broken at least twice gave a crooked grin. "She's got that haunted-librarian-who-secretly-kills vibe. I like it."

  "Ignore Milo," Elle said. "He's been dropped on his head. Recently."

  "Once," Milo said with a shrug. "Just... really hard."

  The boy beside him with sharp cheekbones and easy confidence straightened. "I'm Ash. This is Rael," he nodded toward the quiet, stone-faced one with pale eyes, "and Milo, who loses most of our spars but wins at never shutting up."

  Ash tossed Nova a sparring stick from the rack.

  "Wanna go a round?"

  Nova hesitated. Her throat still pulsed where Meredith's grip had left fingerprints. But...why not?

  "I've never sparred before," she admitted.

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  Ash stepped back, rolling his shoulders and twirling his own. "Alright, Moonveil. Let's see what that Ashbane tower training did for you."

  Nova's jaw dropped for a second.

  He shrugged. "Word gets around."

  Elle groaned. "He means he eavesdrops."

  "I observe," Ash corrected. Then he pointed at Nova's stick. "Now come on. Show me what tower life taught you."

  Nova shook her head, still baffled that strangers knew pieces of her she hadn't spoken aloud.

  Ash grinned. "Trust me, they only know the boring parts."

  Elle smacked him again. "Stop before you ruin this entire friendship."

  Nova laughed, lifting the stick. "Friendship? Already?"

  Elle shrugged. "Good point. That's bold."

  Ash tapped his stick against hers. "Now hit me. Gently. Or don't. Surprise me."

  Milo leaned over to Rael. "She's definitely going to destroy him."

  Ash huffed and struck, but Nova blocked it. She swung, catching him on the thigh.

  He grunted. "Oh, okay. You're mean."

  "I've seen toddlers dodge better." Nova said, giggling.

  Milo threw his hands up. "Ash, she called you a toddler. I can't defend you anymore."

  They circled, trading blows and quips. Ash was fast, but Nova was unpredictable — patient when he expected boldness, reckless when he expected caution.

  ???

  Fin stood on the high west balcony, arms folded behind his back. His eyes were on the training yard below. Jax stood beside him.

  They were both pretending to listen to Elder Halsten recount the latest update from Beta Valehart's mission.

  "We've confirmed three more border breaches near the Duskwind cliffs. Beta Valehart's message indicated rogue numbers are higher than expected. Coordinated movement. Tactics, not chaos."

  Fin's gaze was locked on a girl with hair the color of moonlight. She was in the yard below, entirely too slender with a bruise on her throat. She held a wooden staff and laughed as she sparred with three boys, too close for comfort.

  Jax said nothing, but Fin could feel his gamma tense beside him.

  "They've requested backup from the outer garrisons," the Elder continued. "But Valehart is holding position until you give the order."

  Fin didn't answer. All of his focus was below and he wasn't bothering to hide it anymore. Nova spun, ducked, and cracked her staff across Ash's shoulder. The boy stumbled back, laughing, and said something that made the others laugh too.

  Jax finally cleared his throat after a few seconds. "We'll prepare the second garrison by sundown. Cael's team will hold for another day."

  "Very good," the Elder said, bowing slightly. He was about to leave, but his attention was also on the girl below. He squinted and blinked a few times, as if his eyes were deceiving him.

  "Pardon me, Alpha. Is that not the girl who was... kept in the Ashbane tower?"

  Fin didn't respond.

  The Elder continued anyway, more to himself than anyone. "Strange. A girl like that shouldn't know how to fight like that. Not unless someone taught her."

  He gave a small, respectful nod and left the balcony.

  Neither Fin nor Jax moved.

  Nova spun the stick, then flipped it behind her back catching it with one hand without looking.

  A simple motion. A devastating one.

  Fin's wolf prowled under his skin, claws scraping for release.

  Jax exhaled, crossing his arms, shoulders bunching like he was resisting the urge to leap off the balcony.

  Silence stretched thin between them.

  Below, Nova laughed softly at something Elle said. Ash handed her a water flask with far too much enthusiasm. Rael stared like he was memorizing her for later.

  Fin's knuckles whitened against the stone ledge.

  Two men.

  Two wolves.

  Two very different tempers cracking at the same fault line.

  And both thinking the exact same thought:

  Why are three boys talking to her? And who, in the gods' name, are you really, Nova Moonveil?