(Florian’s POV)

    I was still on the packm-link with Melody, discussing who might have had ess to the refreshments atst night’s territory gathering, when another call came through. Cassandra.

    “I’ll call you back with that information,” Melody said professionally.

    “Good.” I ended the call and immediately switched to Cassandra’s.

    “Cousin dear,” Cassandra’s voice held that familiar teasing lilt, “care to exin why you instructed the pack cleaning Beta to leave a certain grey territory robe untouched in your den? That’s not like you at all.”

    I pinched the bridge of my nose, already regretting picking up her call. “Is that why you called? To pry into my personal affairs?”

    “Of course,” she replied without hesitation. “That’s what family is for, isn’t it? Besides, it’s not like you to get sentimental about clothing items.”

    I growled softly. Cassandra always knew how to push my buttons.

    “If you must know,” I said, leaning back in my chair and wincing slightly as my leg throbbed, “Audrey Winter was herest night.”

    There was a moment of stunned silence before Cassandra’s delighted squeal nearly burst my eardrum. “Already? Well, aren’t you moving fast! And here I thought you were nning to use my poor son as bait in your borate courtship scheme.” “It’s not what you think,” I cut in sharply. “She was drugged at the territory gathering. I brought her here to recover.” “Drugged?” Cassandra’s yful tone vanished instantly. “By whom? That’s a serious pack vition!”

    I exhaled slowly, gathering my thoughts. “I have my suspicions. I’ve already checked the guest list from the gathering. Audrey only had significant interaction with Alpha Luna Riverwind and her circle.”

    “You think Luna Riverwind drugged her? That seems…unlikely. She stands to gain nothing from it.”

    “Not Yvette Riverwind,” I corrected, my ws tapping impatiently on the armrest. “Her supposed daughter, Lyra Riverwind. The same she-wolf who impersonated Serena Shadowcrest two years ago.”

    “Wait,” Cassandra said slowly, her voice dropping to a whisper, “you’re saying Alpha Luna Riverwind’s daughter is the same wolf who pretended to be Serena Shadowcrest? That’s… disturbing on multiple levels. How did you make that connection?”

    “I recognized her immediately when I saw her with Audrey at that pack gathering,” I said grimly. “Same face, different name, supposedly different background. Too much of a coincidence.”

    “Precisely,” I confirmed, tapping my ws against the armrest of my chair. “Yvette Riverwind seems genuinely fond of Audrey. She’s been actively promoting Audrey’s healing formtions to her high-ranking connections. But her daughter…”

    “Has a history of deception and targeting Audrey,” Cassandra finished for me. “But why would Luna Riverwind’s daughter impersonate Serena Shadowcrest in the first ce? What’s the connection?”

    I stood up, ignoring the sharp pain in my leg, and moved to the window. “That’s what I’m trying to figure out. Something doesn’t add up. I need answers, Cassandra. I need the truth.”

    My cousin hummed thoughtfully. “Investigating someone with Luna Riverwind’s influence won’t be easy. She’s notoriously private about her personal affairs. Only her most trusted Beta – what’s her name, Beta Thornwood? – would know the full extent of her rtionship with this daughter.”

    “Then find a way to approach Beta Thornwood,” I urged, turning back to face the room. “You’re a high-ranking she-wolf yourself. You can navigate that kind of delicate conversation better than any male wolf could.”

    Cassandraughed. “You know me too well, cousin. I do excel at extracting pack secrets over moonlight tea.”

    Her voice became more calcting. “But such high-level pack intelligence gatheringes at a premium, you understand? My connections don’t work for free, and Beta Thornwood is notoriously loyal.”

    I sighed, already knowing where this was going. “What do you want this time?”

    “Well,” she said innocently, “there was that collection of rare moonstones and enchanted herbs I’ve had my eye on in the Northern Territory market… You know, the ones guarded by that grumpy old Alpha from the Stone w pack?”

    Normally, I might have bargained or outright refused such an extravagant request. But today, with my leg throbbing and the memory of Audrey in my arms still fresh, I simply didn’t have the energy to haggle.

    “Fine,” I conceded. “I’ll authorize the transfer. Just get me the information.”

    “So generous!” Cassandra eximed, genuine surprise coloring her voice. “Thank you, cousin dear. I’ll start making inquiries immediately. You must really be worried about this Audrey situation.”

    I grunted in acknowledgment, not wanting to admit how right she was.

    Cassandra’s tone suddenly shifted to something more serious. “Florian… how are you feeling? Has your Mind-Healer mentioned anything about your spirit sicknesstely? You seem… more intense than usual.”

    I reached for the wolfsbane cigar on my side table, lighting it and taking a deep drag before responding. The calming herbs mixed with the tobo helped steady my nerves.

    “I’m stable. Mostly.” I exhaled a plume of smoke. “As long as Audrey Winter doesn’t provoke me and behaves as she didst night.”

    “And what exactly did she dost night?” Cassandra probed cautiously. “You’re not usually this generous with pack resources unless something significant happened.”

    I hesitated, not wanting to reveal too much. “Nothing… substantial.”

    “Nothing?” Her skepticism was evident. “Come now, Florian. I’m not one of your pack subordinates you can dismiss with a growl. What happened with Audrey?”

    The memory shed unbidden in my mind – Audrey in my arms, her soft arms around my neck, her lips meeting mine with an eagerness that had nearly shattered my control. Her auburn hair had spilled across my arm, a vivid contrast against her fair skin. The scent of her- pine and winter flowers – had filled my senses.

    It had taken every ounce of my willpower not to take what she was so clearly offering in that moment. The wolf inside me had howled in frustration when I pulled away.

    “Florian? You’re growling,” Cassandra’s voice pulled me from the memory.

    I cleared my throat, embarrassed to have been caught so lost in thought. “She kissed me,” I admitted reluctantly. “While under the influence of the drug.”

    “And you…?” Cassandra’s voice held equal parts curiosity and concern.

    “I stopped it from going further,” I said, not without a hint of regret. “She wasn’t in her right mind. I wanted her consent to be real, not drug-induced.”

    “Such restraint,” Cassandra marveled. “I’m impressed. Did you at least use the opportunity to ask her about the past two years? Find out where she’s been, why she never contacted you?”

    I shook my head, though she couldn’t see it. “No. I was too focused on controlling myself while she was… vulnerable.” The word felt inadequate to describe how fragile and ufortable Audrey had clearly been beneath her drug-induced boldness.

    “You had a drugged, willing she-wolf in your arms – one you’ve been obsessed with for decades – and you didn’t even get answers from her?” Cassandra sounded incredulous. “You’re either a saint or a fool, cousin.”

    There was a moment of thoughtful silence before Cassandra asked, her voice uncharacteristically gentle, “What answer do you want to hear, Florian? Do you want to know that she’s been doing well without you? Or that she’s been suffering?”

    The question hit me like a physical blow. My grip on the cigar tightened, nearly crushing it between my fingers. My golden eyes grew dark as I truly considered her question for the first time.

    What did I want to hear?

    For over twenty years, I had pursued Audrey Winter with single-minded determination. Through all that time, I had only ever wanted her to be well and safe, regardless of whether I was by her side.

    But after the explosion… after believing I had lost her forever, only to discover she had gone back to Arthur Moonstone… something had changed in me. Now I wanted her to be well, yes, but with me. Only with me.

    The thought of Audrey with another wolf – any other wolf – made my blood boil. She was too trusting, too gentle-hearted for this treacherous pack world. She needed my protection, whether she realized it or not.

    And if she had been doing well without me these past two years… what did that say about my ce in her life?

    “Florian? Are you still there?” Cassandra’s voice cut through my increasingly possessive thoughts. “Your silence is starting to worry me.”

    I cleared my throat, forcing myself back to the present. “I heard you.” My voice came out tter than I intended. “I hope she was doing well. Better than me.”

    “I see,” Cassandra said softly. “I understand now.”

    “Understand what?” I challenged, suddenly irritated. “Please, enlighten me on what you think you understand about my situation.”

    Cassandra simply sighed.