(Audrey’s POV)

“You’re not even going to lie?” Arthur asked, his voice tight with disbelief as I gathered my things.

I couldn’t help butugh. The irony was too perfect.

“What’s the point? I’ve heard too many lies from you before.” I met his gaze directly. “Your half-sister needed you. ‘She ran away from the pack territory, I need to find her.’ ‘She broke her mate bond, I’m worried she might do something rash.’ ‘She was injured by silver, I need to check on her.””

Arthur’s face darkened with each example I listed. His fingers tightened around his ss, knuckles turning white.

“Eventually, you stopped bothering with excuses and simply said: ‘I need to see her.''” I continued, my voice eerily calm. “You always imed you couldn’t ignore your sister. And if Iined even slightly, I was being petty. If I tried to stop you, it would be unforgivable.”

The territory den restaurant suddenly felt too warm, too suffocating. Arthur’s jaw clenched tightly as my words hit their mark. Several diners nced our way, sensing the tension.

“How ironic,” I said, standing up. “This is what wolves call a ‘boomerang’ – something thates back to hit you. You never imagined this day woulde, did you?”

The silverware ttered against Arthur’s te as he dropped it, the sound jarring in the quiet atmosphere of the upscale den. His usualposure cracked, revealing something raw underneath. The mighty Alpha Moonstone, thrown off bnce by his own tactics used against him.

“Do you really have to go?” he asked, his voice hoarse with emotion. His eyes held a plea that once would have weakened my resolve.

I adjusted my travel pack on my shoulder, offering a half-joking smile. “Now you’re being unreasonable. Whenever you needed to leave in the past, I never stopped you.”

His dark eyes shed with recognition at his own words thrown back at him. A muscle twitched in his cheek.

“Besides,” I added, “I’ve severed our mate bond now.”

Since it was a boomerang effect, I might as well make it a two-for-one deal. Everything he’d ever done to me,ing back to haunt him in one perfect moment. The satisfaction was sweeter than any venison dish left untouched on our table.

I walked out without looking back, not wanting to see his expression. The satisfaction I’d expected didn’te, reced instead by a hollow feeling in my chest. Victory tasted more bitter than I’d anticipated.

The night air felt cool against my heated skin as I stepped onto the sidewalk. The streets were crowded with wolves celebrating the Full Moon, couples walking paw in paw, their mate markings disyed proudly for all to see. Their happiness felt like a mockery of myplicated situation.

My territory transport was still parked at the Wolf Medical Center. With the full moon celebration traffic clogging the streets, it would take hours to retrieve it and then drive to Florian’s ce. The thought of wasting more time was unbearable.

I decided to go directly to him instead. My wolf was restless, urging me forward.

The pack transport service line stretched around the corner, filled with young werewolvesughing, touching, their affection for each other obvious and uninhibited. A she-wolf nuzzled her mate’s neck, his arms wrapped protectively around her waist. Another couple shared a quick kiss, their scents mingling in the air.

How wonderful youth is, when love can be so pure and enviable. Noplex pack politics, no painful histories, just simple. devotion.

A couple in front of me couldn’t keep their hands off each other, their scents broadcasting their recent mate marking. The young she-wolf giggled as her partner whispered something in her ear, her eyes shining with adoration.

I looked away, suddenly feeling every day of the past two years weighing on me. The silver scar on my wrist seemed to throb with phantom pain.

When my transport finally arrived, I gave the driver Florian’s address. As we wound through the congested territory, I stared out the window, rehearsing what I might say to him. Would he still be cold? Would his golden eyes still look through me as if I were a stranger?

With a jolt of surprise, I recognized the territory building – the same one where Florian had given me a den two years ago. Not just the same territory building, but as we pulled closer, I realized it was the same structure. The unit was directly below the one that had once been mine – just one floor down.

My heart raced. What did this mean? Was it coincidence, or had he deliberately chosen to be close to a ce meant for me?

I took out my cell phone and messaged him: “What’s the den number?”

His response came immediately: “Building 6, Unit 1, 5th floor.”

My fingers trembled slightly as I paid the driver and made my way to the entrance. The familiar hallway brought back memories of a simpler time, when things between Florian and me hadn’t been soplicated.

Finding the door, I rang the bell and waited. Minutes passed with no response. Just as I was about to try again, the door swung open.

“Who is it?” Florian’szy drawl carried a hint of impatience despite his casual tone.

He sat in his wheeled healing chair, leaning back with deceptive nonchnce. His golden eyes assessed me from head to toe, revealing nothing of his thoughts. His hair was slightly tousled, and he wore a simple ck t-shirt that emphasized his broad shoulders.

“Cassandra said your leg hurts and asked me to check on you,” I exined, pretending not to notice his intense scrutiny. My heart hammered in my chest, betraying my outward calm.

His expression hardened slightly. “I don’t need that.” The dismissal was cold, cutting.

I nodded, stepping back. “Alright, I’ll leave then.” Pride kept my voice steady even as disappointment surged through me.

As I turned to go, his hand shot out with surprising speed, grabbing my wrist. His grip was firm but not painful as he pulled me inside the den. The sudden contact sent a jolt through my body, his touch achingly familiar yet somehow new.

In the entryway, I steadied myself against the wall, raising an eyebrow at him. “I thought you didn’t need help?” I challenged, hiding my confusion behind sarcasm.

Florian’s golden eyes were unfathomable, his voice cold as he replied: “My leg suddenly started hurting again, so now I need it. Is that not allowed?” There was a dangerous edge to his words, daring me to refuse.

“Of course it’s allowed,” I conceded, looking down at my boots. “Can I wear these slippers?” I pointed to a pair by the door, trying to act as if my pulse wasn’t racing.

Florian operated his wheeled healing chair with practiced ease, moving to a scent-lock cab and opening it. He pulled out a new pair of slippers, still wrapped in packaging. The deliberate action spoke volumes – these were purchased with a visitor in mind.

“These aren’t Cassandra’s,” he said, handing them to me. Was there a hidden message in his words? That these were meant for me all along?

I epted them wordlessly, changing out of my boots. The slippers were soft and perfectly sized for my feet. Another coincidence that didn’t feel like one.

“I heard you and Arthur Moonstone went out for the Full Moon Celebration?” Florian’s voice carried a hint of something I couldn’t quite identify – bitterness, perhaps, or jealousy. His eyes tracked my movements with predatory focus.

“No,” I rified immediately, almost too eagerly. “He brought a healing herbs specialist from the Western Territories to examine Grandmother at the Wolf Medical Center today.”

Florian’s eyebrows rose slightly. “And what did they say?” His tone softened fractionally, genuine concern breaking through his cold facade.

“They said she could recover within a month,” I replied, hope coloring my voice for the first time in our conversation. Saying it aloud made it feel more possible.

His expression softened slightly before he asked, “So the dinner was out of gratitude?” He watched me intently, searching for deception.

“What else would it be?” I countered, following him into the living area. The question felt loaded, as if he was testing me. Florian scoffed, wheeling himself around to face me. “Who shows gratitude at a mating ritual restaurant?” The usation hung between us, sharp and pointed.

I stopped in my tracks, genuinely confused. “Mating ritual restaurant?” Heat flooded my cheeks as understanding dawned. I’d spent such a short time in Central Territory before my disappearance that I wasn’t familiar with all the territory dens. I’d assumed it was just an upscale establishment with good venison. The implications of Arthur’s choice now struck me fully.

“I honestly didn’t even know today was the Full Moon Celebration until I arrived at the pack gathering area and saw all the couples,” I admitted, embarrassment making my voice softer.

Florian looked at me, his eyes warming slightly. “Still as clueless as ever,” he remarked, but the edge had disappeared from his voice. For a moment, I glimpsed the old Florian, the one who teased me with affection rather than cruelty.

I ignored hisment and moved closer, removing the nket from his legs without asking permission. His muscles were visibly tense beneath his lounge pants. Without ceremony, I sat cross-legged on the carpet and began massaging his calves with practiced motions.

As my fingers worked the tense muscles, I noticed something concerning. The flesh beneath my touch felt worse than before – harder, more unyielding. “Why has your leg injury gotten worse?”

His muscles tensed beneath my touch. Florian’s golden eyes shed with irritation as he red down at me. “It’s your fault.” The usation was sharp, unexpected.

“My fault?” I repeated incredulously, my hands pausing their work. “How could it possibly be my fault?” Indignation colored my tone.

Something seemed to snap inside him. His jaw clenched as he growled, “Just be quiet, you’re annoying.” The words stung, but beneath the harshness, I sensed vulnerability.

I was about to stop talking, sensing his vtile mood, but then remembered something important – something I needed to know.

“Do you remember that person Emma Shadowcrest found to rece me?” I asked, my fingers resuming their careful work on his injured leg.