(Lyra’s POV)

    In a luxury territory hotel, I stepped out of the shower, wrapping myself in a plush towel. The warm water had washed away the scent of the territory gathering, but not the satisfaction of my little scheme. I was patting my hair dry when my pack device rang, the screen illuminating with an iing call.

    I snatched it up, my lips curving into a smile. That smile froze when I saw the caller ID.

    Nathan Snowfang.

    With a flick of my finger, I epted the call, schooling my face into a pleasant expression. “Alpha Snowfang, what a surprise.”

    Through the screen, I could see him standing by a window, the moonlight casting harsh shadows across his angr features. His blue eyes were narrowed, a dangerous sh of ruthlessness evident in them.

    “Are you still ying games, Lyra?” His voice was deceptively calm, like the territoryke before a storm.

    I swallowed, my grip tightening on the device. “I don’t understand what you mean.’

    “Let me make this very clear,” Nathan continued, his voice dropping to a lethal whisper. “Your usefulness to me is conditional. If you disobey, I won’t hesitate to abandon you to the mercy of rival packs. Remember who knows your true identity.”

    A chill ran down my spine despite the steam-filled bathroom. I clutched my pack device tighter, summoning my most innocent expression.

    “What have I done to anger you, Alpha?” I asked, my voice trembling just enough to appear genuinely afraid.

    Nathan’s eyes hardened. “You poisoned Audrey Winter at the territory gathering tonight.”

    The usation hung in the air between us. I widened my eyes, an expression of shock spreading across my features. Inside, however, I was seething. How had he found out so quickly?

    “What? That’s-that’s absurd!” I stammered, injecting just the right amount of indignation into my voice. “I would never! How could anyone dare to do such a thing at an event with so many high-ranking wolves present?”

    I paused, then added with deliberate concern, “Is she alright? What kind of substance was it? That’s terrible!”

    Nathan’s expression remained stony. “Don’t y innocent with me. Your acting might fool Luna Riverwind, but I know exactly what you are.”

    I pressed my hand to my chest, feigning hurt. “I wouldn’t dare disobey your warnings, Alpha. Besides, where would I even obtain such a substance?”

    “Perhaps the same ce you obtained the materials to impersonate Serena Shadowcrest two years ago,” he replied coldly.

    The reference to my past deception made my stomach clench, but I maintained my facade. “I’ve learned my lesson from that mistake.”

    Nathan’s jaw tightened. “I’ve reviewed the territory gathering den’s surveince recordings. You instructed a Beta server to deliver the drugged herbal tea to Audrey.”

    My mind raced. The surveince! I hadn’t considered that. But wait there was still a way out of this.

    “If you’ve seen the recordings, then you know I never touched the herbal tea myself,” I argued, grateful for the blind spot in the surveince system. “I simply asked the server to deliver a drink. How was I to know it was tampered with?”

    I leaned closer to the screen, lowering my voice conspiratorially. “Perhaps you should investigate who had ess to the beverages before I arrived. I was merely trying to take care of the future Alpha’s mate.”

    Nathan’s expression darkened, his voice dropping to a menacing growl. “Don’t meddle in matters beyond your

    Inwardly, I wasughing. His anger wasn’t about the drugging itself—it was about who had rescued Audrey afterward. Male wolf possessiveness was so predictable. If he had been the one to take Audrey away tonight, he might have thanked me instead of threatening me.

    How pitiful that Audrey was liked by this despicable, selfish wolf.

    “I understand, Alpha,” I said, lowering my eyes submissively.

    Nathan’s expression shifted, his business-like tone returning. “I hear you’ll be appearing at Luna Silvertail’s inter-pack showcase next moon cycle.”

    I nodded eagerly, grateful for the change of subject. “Yes! Luna Silvertail invited me personally. I think she wanted to do Luna Riverwind a favor.”

    Just as I finished speaking, the door to my room opened. Beta Thornwood entered with a tray, freezing when she heard me mention Luna Riverwind.

    Our eyes met, and I saw the sh of disapproval in hers. She had overheard enough to realize I wasn’t speaking about her Luna with proper respect. I could almost see the thoughts racing through her mind-how sincerely Luna Riverwind had treated me, and how I was repaying that sincerity.

    I quickly covered the screen of my pack device. “Beta Thornwood! I was just, um…”

    Beta Thornwood’s expression was carefully neutral. “Did I hear you address Luna Riverwind by her name without proper title?

    “Oh!” I gasped, pressing my hand to my mouth in feigned horror. “Did I? I’m still getting used to the formal pack protocols here in Central Territory. In my previous pack, we were more casual…”

    Beta Thornwood’s lips thinned, but she simply ced a ss of warm moonlight tea on my bedside table. “From your mother, ” she said, emphasizing thest word slightly before turning to leave.

    The door closed behind her with a soft click, and I felt a re of annoyance. That self-righteous Beta could be a problem. I might need to deal with her soon before she poisoned my rtionship with Luna Riverwind.

    I turned back to my pack device, immediately adopting a pitiful expression. “Oh no, Alpha Snowfang! Beta Thornwood overheard me. Do you think she’ll tell Luna Riverwind? I’m so worried!”

    Nathan’s coldugh cut through my performance. “And here I thought you were better at maintaining your charade. Can you handle this, or is your position as Luna Riverwind’s ‘daughter’ alreadypromised?”

    “I’ll fix it,” I promised, forcing a tremble into my voice. “Beta Thornwood won’t say anything.”

    In truth, I wasn’t concerned. I had Luna Riverwind wrapped around my finger. Her maternal guilt was the perfect leverage— she believed she had missed out on the first twenty years of my life. She would forgive any small transgression.

    “She feels so guilty about not being in my life earlier,” I continued, unable to keep a hint of satisfaction from my voice. “One tearful apology, and she’ll forget all about this. She’d probably even reprimand Beta Thornwood for upsetting me.”

    Nathan’s eyes shed with cold approval. “At least you understand how to manipte maternal instincts. Make sure you keep it that way.

    I nodded, my confidence returning. “I’ve been carefully studying her reactions. Every time I mention my ‘difficult childhood,’ she practically drowns in guilt. It’s almost too easy.”

    Nathan leaned back, lighting a wolfsbane cigar. The pungent smoke curled around his face, giving him an even more sinister appearance.

    “At the inter-pack showcase, you should know what to say and what to do,” he warned. “I don’t want to clean up your mess.”

    His eyes hardened further. “Don’t draw unnecessary attention. Don’t try to outshine anyone important. Just y your part as the grateful, recovered daughter.”

    I nodded vigorously. “I’ll be perfect, I promise.”

    The showcase was critical for maintaining my image among Central Territory’s elite. If my lies were ever exposed, I needed a safety-connections, resources, rare hunting grounds. I would never again live a life where one small venison portion had to be split into two meals!

    “I understand the importance,” I assured him. “This is my chance to secure connections beyond Luna Riverwind. I won’t waste it on petty games.”

    “See that you don’t,” Nathan replied coldly. “You’re walking a dangerous line, Lyra. Don’t forget that I can destroy yourfortable new life with one word to the right ears.”

    The threat hung in the air, but I refused to show fear. Instead, I smiled sweetly. “I appreciate your guidance, Alpha Snowfang. I won’t disappoint you.”

    Nathan’s eyes narrowed suspiciously at my sudden cooperation, but he merely nodded. “I’ll be watching closely.”

    “Okay, thank you,” I said demurely, ending the call.

    As soon as the screen went dark, I allowed a smile to spread across my face. The danger from Nathan had passed for now, and my n was still in motion. With time, even he would be unnecessary to my ambitions.

    I walked to the window, gazing out at the glittering lights of Central Territory City. From this height, the wolves below looked like ants, scurrying about their insignificant lives. Soon, I would have enough power that no one-not Nathan, not Beta Thornwood, and certainly not Audrey Winter-could threaten me.

    I wondered idly if Audrey had formed a mate bond with Arthur Moonstone by now. The thought of Nathan’s reaction to such news made me giggle out loud. He would be furious, believing she had returned to her former mate after all his efforts to win her.

    The more I thought about it, the brighter my smile became.