(Audrey’s POV)

    “Okay, thank you, Cassandra,” I replied, tapping the send button on my packm-link.

    Sarah leaned over my shoulder, her curiosity piqued. “Florian Stormhowl’s message?”

    “No, his cousin Cassandra’s,” I exined, showing Sarah my pack device. “She’s inviting us to Florian’s birthday celebration tomorrow. Want to go have some fun together?”

    Sarah’s expression darkened instantly. The afternoon’s confrontation with Kevin was clearly still raw in her mind. She crossed her arms, her lips forming a tight line.

    “After what his friend did to our business application? You can’t be serious.”

    “It must be a misunderstanding,” I insisted, touching her arm gently. “Kevin will probably be there too. Why not see them tomorrow and ask him in person? If it’s truly a misunderstanding, it’s a good opportunity to clear things up.”

    Sarah gave me a look of mock disappointment, shaking her head at my optimism. “For your sake, fine!” she conceded with an exaggerated sigh. “But don’t expect me to y nice if that Beta gives me any trouble.”

    “Thank you,” I said, giving her a quick hug before turning my attention to Leo, who was ying quietly with his territory puzzles. I picked him up, his little body warm against mine. “Leo, would you like to go pick out a gift for Uncle Florian’s birthday tomorrow?”

    I already had a gift prepared for Florian – a custom-blended healing salve I’d formted specifically for his leg injury. But if we were going to be surrounded by his friends, something so personal might raise eyebrows.

    Leo’s eyes widened with excitement, pure joy lighting up his face. “Yes! Can I choose it? I know what Uncle likes!” He bounced in my arms, his enthusiasm infectious.

    “Of course you can help choose,” Iughed, setting him down. “We’ll go to the pack market tomorrow morning.”

    (Third-person’s POV)

    Morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows of the Alpha’s office at Storm Territory Technology. Melody Moonhowl sat behind her desk, quickly reviewing the information her Beta analyst had just delivered. Her eyes narrowed as she processed the surprising details.

    Everyone in their circles had assumed Audrey Winter had been peacefully living as Luna Moonstone in Central Territory for the past two years. Yet ording to these records, she had actually gone to the Sunstone Territories. And what’s more troubling the reports indicated she had suffered from severe spirit sickness and had attempted to end her life by cutting her wrists with silver.

    “Was this attempt because of Florian Stormhowl?” Melody murmured to herself, tapping her manicured ws against the polished wooden surface of her desk.

    She considered what Florian’s reaction might be if he discovered this side of Audrey Winter. The information could devastate him or worse, intensify his obsession. After a moment of careful deliberation, Melody extracted one data-te from the pile and handed it to her Beta analyst.

    “This information,” she said firmly, “has never been shared, seen, or investigated. Do you understand?”

    The Beta analyst nodded silently, taking the data-te with practiced efficiency.

    “Dispose of it immediately,” Melody added, her tone brooking no argument.

    After the Beta analyst left to incinerate the data-te, Melody leaned back in her chair, her mind working quickly. She had just removed the most damning evidence of Audrey’s suffering-evidence that might have convinced Florian that Audrey hadn’t simply abandoned him for another wolf.

    The door to her office opened again without warning. Beta Kael strode in, his expression suspicious.

    “You just had that data-te destroyed,” he said without preamble. “Wasn’t that concerning the matter Alpha asked us to investigate?”

    Melody maintained a casual facade, though her heartbeat quickened. “My, aren’t you a nosy wolf today,” she chided, her tone deliberately light. “Have you forgotten the Alpha’s rule of minding one’s own pack business?”

    Kael’s eyes hardened as he stared at her. “Don’t forget Audrey Winter’s ce in Florian Stormhowl’s heart,” he warned. ” You’re ying with fire by interfering in her affairs.”

    Melody smiled, the expression not reaching her eyes. “No one will know if you don’t tell,” she pointed out sweetly.

    “This is betrayal,” Kael used, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl.

    In response, Melody began to loosen her formal pack tunic, letting it slide slightly off one shoulder. Her movements were deliberate, calcted to distract and disarm.

    “Is it betrayal to protect our Alpha from pain?” she asked, her voice dropping to a seductive purr. “You’ve seen how he suffers. Wouldn’t you do anything to spare him more anguish?”

    Kael swallowed hard, visibly fighting to maintain hisposure. “Respect yourself and your rank,” he said stiffly, averting his gaze from her exposed skin. “This behavior is beneath you.”

    Melody’s smile turned knowing. “You don’t find me appealing, Beta Kael?” she asked.

    (Audrey’s POV)

    I heard Leo’s excited voice from the living room, where he was supposed to be napping. Curious, I peeked in to find him clutching my pack device to his ear.

    “Happy birthday, Uncle!” he was saying, his little face alight with excitement. “Are you at your territory den or at the Storm Territory Technology office?”

    There was a pause as he listened to Florian’s response.

    “Den,” Leo repeated, nodding seriously. “Can we go to your birthday party tonight? Aunt Audrey said we’re going to bring you a present!”

    Another pause.

    Leo’s expression suddenly shifted, his little brow furrowing in confusion. “Which Sister?” he asked, clearly responding to something Florian had said.

    Whatever Florian’s reply was, it made Leo’s ears droop slightly. “Okay, Uncle,” he said, his voice smaller now. Seeing my opportunity, I walked over and gently took the pack device from Leo. “Hello? Florian? What’s wrong?” There was a long pause on the other end of the line, so prolonged I thought he might have hung up.

    “Wait for me at the pack transport bay at six,” he finally said, his voice curiously t.

    Before I could respond, the line went dead. I stared at the device in surprise.

    “Well, that was abrupt,” Sarah remarked from where she sat at the dining table, sorting through business documents.

    “Something’s wrong,” I murmured, a feeling of unease settling in my stomach.

    Sarah snorted. “His attitude suggests this ‘misunderstanding’ with Kevin might not be what you think,” she said, making air quotes around “misunderstanding.” “Perhaps your understanding of Florian isn’t as clear as you believe.”

    “Sarah!” Iughed, surprised by her vengefulness. “Are you still that angry about the business application?”

    “I always hold a grudge when ites to matters concerning you,” she dered unapologetically. “I can’t tolerate anyone who hurts you, especially not some self-important Alpha who thinks he can control your life.”

    (Third-person’s POV)

    Florian Stormhowl ended his call with Audrey Winter, his finger already hovering over Melody’s name on his pack device’s caller ID. He connected the call immediately.

    “Did you find anything?” he asked without preamble, his voice tight with anticipation. “What happened to Audrey two years ago?”

    “Alpha,” Melody replied, her tone carefully measured, “I can confirm that Audrey Winter went to the Sunstone Territories as you suspected. The relevant encrypted files have been sent to your secure pack data-channel.”

    Florian’s grip tightened on his device. “And?”

    “She was apanied by Nathan Snowfang,” Melody continued, her words precise and deliberate. “She lived in his estate in the Sunstone Territories for the duration of her stay.”

    The information hit Florian like a physical blow. He inhaled sharply, his golden eyes narrowing to dangerous slits. “Is this verified?” he demanded, his voice dropping to a near-whisper.

    “Absolutely,” Melody affirmed, adding fuel to the fire. “Nathan Snowfang spent over a moon cycle with her in the Sunstone Territories before returning to Snowfang Pack territory for pack business. Even after that, he frequently traveled to visit her.” Florian remained silent, a nameless fire raging in his heart. All this time, while he had been fighting for his life, enduring endless therapy sessions and painful treatments, Audrey had been with Nathan Snowfang. The thought was unbearable.

    “What was she doing there?” he finally asked, his voice dangerously calm. “What was she doing in the Sunstone Territories for the past two years?”

    “Studying advanced healing formtions,” Melody replied smoothly. “She became a close apprentice to Master ra. This arrangement was also facilitated by Nathan Snowfang.”

    The sound of Florian’s knuckles cracking as he clenched his fist was audible through them-link. A dangerous aura seemed to emanate from him, palpable even through the distance.

    “I will not let go of any clue,” Melody assured him, her voice softening with feigned sympathy. “Perhaps she thought you died in the explosion, which is why she made such decisions.”

    There was a loud crash from Florian’s end, followed by static. Melody Moonhowl smiled in satisfaction as she ended the call and returned to her work. She had learned long ago that in matters of the heart, only sess matters-and she intended to seed where Audrey Winter had failed.

    In his den, Florian’s golden eyes were bloodshot, his body trembling with rage. He had just kicked a waste receptacle across the room, scattering its contents. Ever since Audrey had reappeared in his life, he had be less prone to these outbursts of anger. But now, the fury burning within him was even more intense than before.

    With shaking hands, he reached for the vial of potent spirit-calming elixir on his side table. He uncapped it and swallowed a few drops without water, grimacing at the bitter taste. Then he copsed onto his sofa, his gaze unfocused, betrayal coursing through his veins like poison.

    (Audrey’s POV)

    “Hello, the packm-link you dialed is temporarily unavable…” The cold, mechanical voice echoed in my ear for the fifth time. Frustrated, I tossed my pack device into my travel pack and looked down at Leo.

    “Uncle Florian still isn’t answering,” I told him with a worried frown. “Should we go up and knock on the door?”

    I had spotted Florian’s pack transports still parked in their designated spots in the territory building’s bay. Unless he’d left on foot or with someone else, he should still be in his den.

    Leo nodded eagerly, clearly excited at the prospect of seeing his uncle. Sarah, who was speaking on her pack device about some business matter, gestured for us to go ahead.

    “I’ll wait for you here,” she mouthed, holding her hand over the device’s speaker.

    Taking Leo’s small hand in mine, I led him to the elevator. The ride up to the fifth floor was quick, and soon we were standing outside Florian’s territory den. I pressed the doorbell, my heart inexplicably racing.

    The door opened almost immediately, revealing Florian. The moment I saw his face, I knew something was terribly wrong. His expression was icy and distant, his normally warm golden eyes now devoid of any light. He leaned against the doorframe with casual indifference, but there was nothing casual about the coldness radiating from him.

    “Florian?” I asked hesitantly. “Is everything alright?”

    His lip curled in a sneer. “Audrey Winter, aren’t you tired of acting?” he drawled, his voiceced with venom.

    I took a step back, stunned by the hostility in his tone. “Acting? What are you talking about?”

    His gaze shifted downward toward Leo, who was clutching my hand tightly. “You’re acting like you really like me?” he continued, the words dripping with sarcasm. “Taking such good care of my young cousin… it’s quite the performance, isn’t it?

    Leo released my hand and stepped forward, his little face flushed with indignation. “Uncle! You are talking nonsense!” he protested, stamping his foot. “Aunt is very nice to me, extremely nice! You are not allowed to bully Aunt!”

    Florian reached down and grabbed Leo’s arm, pulling him away from me with surprising gentleness despite his obvious anger. “You should not call someone ‘Aunt’ who doesn’t want to be your Aunt.”