(Arthur’s POV)

    My pack device buzzed against my chest at midnight, jolting me from restless sleep. The caller ID showed Florian Stormhowl’s name. My first instinct was to ignore itpletely. Thest thing I wanted was to speak with my romantic rival at this hour.

    But something made me answer. Perhaps it was the unusual timing, or the memory of seeing Audrey’s bruised lip at the territory gathering.

    “What do you want, Stormhowl?” I growled into the device.

    “Audrey’s in immediate danger.” Florian’s voice was tight with urgency. “Nathan Snowfang has her. I need your help.”

    Every muscle in my body tensed. Whatever personal animosity existed between Florian and myself, Audrey’s safety transcended all of that. She was still the most important thing in my world, regardless of our severed mate bond.

    “Where?” I demanded, already reaching for my clothes.

    “I’m sending you coordinates,” Florian replied quickly. “Meet me there in twenty minutes. Bring your most trusted pack members.”

    I disconnected the call and immediately contacted Daniel Hayes. “Emergency assembly. Five of our best fighters. Full tactical gear. No questions.”

    As I dressed rapidly, my mind raced with terrible possibilities. Nathan Snowfang had always seemed like Audrey’s loyal protector. If he was actually holding her against her will, what else had he been lying about?

    The meeting location was a neutral territory diner on the outskirts of Central Territory. When I arrived, Florian was already there with Beta Kael and three other wolves I didn’t recognize. His usual casual demeanor was reced by barely controlled rage.

    “Talk,” Imanded, sliding into the booth across from him.

    Florian’s golden eyes met mine directly. “Nathan has been manipting events for at least two years. The explosion that nearly killed me, Lyra’s infiltration of the Riverwind pack, even Audrey’s convenient rescue from her darkest moments. All part of his n.”

    My blood turned to ice. “You’re saying he orchestrated her spirit sickness to make her dependent on him?”

    “That’s exactly what I’m saying.” Florian’s voice was deadly quiet. “He created the problems, then positioned himself as the solution.”

    I felt rage building in my chest like molten metal. All this time, I had believed that our mate bond severance was Audrey’s genuine choice. That her emotional distance and eventual breakdown had been natural consequences of our troubled rtionship.

    “That bastard yed us all,” I growled, my hands clenching into fists on the table.

    Daniel Hayes leaned forward, his expression grim. “Alpha, if this is true, then every interaction she’s had with him has beenpromised.”

    “It’s true,” Florian confirmed. “We found documentation in an abandoned warehouse. Communications, timing schedules, detailed ns for territory destabilization. Nathan’s been ying a much longer game than any of us realized.”

    Beta Kael spread a territorial map across the table. “The question is where he would take her. He needs somewhere isted but essible, somewhere he can control the environmentpletely.”

    I studied the map, my extensive knowledge of territorial politics suddenly proving invaluable. Years of managing pack alliances and border disputes had given me intimate familiarity with every significant location in Central Territory.

    “There,” I said, pointing to a remote area near Moonstone Lake. “Old Moonstone hunting lodge. It’s technically neutral territory now, but my family built it decades ago.”

    Florian’s expression darkened. “He’s been using your own resources against you.”

    “The irony isn’t lost on me.” I traced the ess roads with my finger. “It’s perfect for his purposes. Isted, defensible, with only one main approach road.”

    “How well do you know theyout?” Beta Kael asked.

    “Like the back of my hand. I spent summers there as a pup.” Memories shed through my mind. Hunting trips with Elder William, learning pack traditions in those ancient woods. “If he’s holding her there, we’ll need to approach from multiple angles.”

    Florian leaned back in his seat, studying my face intently. “Why are you helping me? You could let Nathan eliminate me and have a clear path back to Audrey yourself.”

    The question hung in the air between us. I could see genuine curiosity in his golden eyes, as if he truly couldn’t understand my motivations.

    “Because this isn’t about you or me anymore,” I replied honestly. “It’s about her safety. Whatever Nathan’s done to manipte her emotions, whatever lies he’s told, she doesn’t deserve to be held prisoner by someone she trusted.”

    “Even if helping me means you’ll lose her permanently?”

    I met his gaze steadily. “Even then. Audrey deserves to make her own choices, free from maniption and coercion. If that choice isn’t me, at least it will be genuine.”

    Something shifted in Florian’s expression. A flicker of respect, perhaps, or understanding.

    “For tonight, we’re allies,” I dered, extending my hand across the table. “Whatever personal issues exist between us regarding Audrey can be settled after she’s safe.”

    Florian sped my hand briefly. His grip was firm, his golden eyes intense. “Agreed. But understand something, Moonstone. I won’t let her go again, regardless of the cost.”

    “I wouldn’t expect you to.” I released his hand and turned to my pack members. “Daniel, coordinate with Beta Kael on tactical approach. Marcus, ensure we havemunications equipment. Sean, check our weapons inventory.”

    As my wolves moved to follow orders, I felt a strange sense of closure washing over me. For too long, I had been driven by possessiveness and the need to control. Tonight, I would act purely for Audrey’s benefit, without any ulterior motives.

    “There’s something else you should know,” Florian said quietly. “Yvette Riverwind is Audrey’s biological mother. The reunion happened just hours before Nathan contacted her.”

    My eyes widened. “Her real mother?”

    “The golden pendant Audrey always wears belonged to Yvette’s daughter. The one who was kidnapped decades ago.” Florian’s voice was heavy. “Nathan likely panicked when he realized Audrey had found her family. It changes his entire calction.”

    No wonder Nathan had moved so quickly. A isted, manipted Audrey was easier to control than one surrounded by newfound family support.

    “Then we don’t have much time,” I said grimly. “He’ll want to solidify his hold over her before she can fully process this revtion.”

    “My thoughts exactly.”

    We spent the next thirty minutes coordinating our approach. Despite years of rivalry, Florian and I worked together with surprising efficiency. Our different strengthsplemented each other well. My territorial knowledgebined with his tactical nning created a solid strategy.

    As we prepared to leave for the lodge, I pulled Daniel aside.

    “If anything happens to me tonight,” I said quietly, “make sure she knows that I’m sorry. For everything. For not protecting her when she needed it most. For not seeing through Nathan’s maniption sooner.”

    Daniel’s expression was troubled. “Alpha, please don’t say such demoralizing things. Luna will be happy to know you came to rescue her.”

    I managed a bitter smile. “Will she? I’m not so sure. But regardless of how she feels about me, I need to do this. For her. For once in my life, I need to act without expecting anything in return.”

    The drive to Moonstone Lake felt endless. My wolf paced restlessly, sensing the approaching confrontation. Everything in our pack hierarchy demanded that I see Florian as a rival to be eliminated. But tonight, he was my ally in the most important battle I had ever fought.

    Strange how rity came in moments of crisis. For years, I had focused on winning Audrey back, on proving that I deserved another chance. Tonight, all that mattered was ensuring she survived to make her own choices about her future.

    Even if those choices broke my heartpletely.