Suddenlyb, /bJack’s eyes sh–ba /bbrilliant shade bof /b-his bjaw /btensing bas /bhis gaze unfocuses for a moment.

    Someone’s mindlinking himb. /b

    I tilt my head. “What bis /bbit/b?”

    He blinks, then exhales. “Fury. He says Jasmine wants to see usb. /bThey’re on their way to the house now.b” /b

    My heart skips with a jolt bof /bbjoy/b, and a grin spreads across my face. Jasmine?” I breathe, already turning back toward the bforest /bpath. “Gods, I’ve missed her. I can’t believe she’s finally free of that bastard.”

    We start walking, feet brushing through the underbrush, the scent of pine and damp soil thick in the air.

    Curiosity gnaws at me. “How… how did she break the bond with Khoas?” I ask carefully, my voice soft.

    Jack’s shoulders stiffen slightly. He runs a hand through his hair and sighs. “She had to lose her wolf.”

    I stop mid–step. “She-” My voice catches. “She gave up her wolf?”

    He nods, lips pressing into a thin line. b“/bbIt /bwas the only way. Dark magic. She was losing herself and would’ve rather died than remain bonded to him for another second. She chose herself… but the price-” He trails off. He doesn’t have to finish.

    A pang of grief stabs my chest. I swallow hard. “Khoas isn’t dead… is he?”

    Jack’s smirk returns, cold and razor–sharp. “No. Not yet. But he’s going to live a very long time–chained in a pit so dark and deep, he’ll wish for death every single day. He’ll pay for what he did to Jasmine and you. Slowly.”

    “Good” My voice is cold. “Death is too merciful for him.”

    We reach the house, stepping up onto the porch just as the front door swings open. And then I smell it–cinnamon and

    moonstone,

    Jasmine.

    The second I see her–standing in the middle of the living room, her arm still looped through Fury’s–we both freeze. Then we bolt toward each other.

    “Jas!” I throw my arms around her, holding her tight, but careful. Her frame is lighter now, her energy softer… almost human.

    “I missed you so much,” she whispers against my shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Kali. For what he did to you… for everything.”

    I pull back and hold her face gently. “No. Don’t do that. None of this was your fault. I’m just d you’re free of him. You’re glowing, Jas. You look… like you again.”

    Her smile trembles, and I know she hears the truth in my voice. But before I can say more, Fury suddenly straightens beside us, nose twitching. His expression darkens as he slowly sniffs the air, then starts scratching at his nose like it’s bothering him.

    Jack narrows his eyes. “What’s up with you?”

    Fury’s gaze sweeps the room, sharp and disturbed. “It almost smells like… Lady Celestia was here.”

    That immediately gets all our attention. She was his ex–mate, after all.

    Jack scoffs, arms folding across his chest. “There’s no fucking way she would daree into my pack–let alone my house.”

    But Fury shrugs, his brows still furrowed. “You’re not Alpha anymore. The patrols are weak, and let’s not forget–she is the Alpha King’s daughter. That gives her more ess than we’d like to admit.”

    Jack clenches his jaw. b“/bStill. She wouldn’t be that stupid.”

    I step forward, resting my hand on his arm, a slow smirk curling my lips. “Oh, I think she dide. Masked her scent.”

    Jack turns to me, eyes narrowing. “You think?”

    1 nod. “She’s desperate. I told you–she’d go crawling to your uncle the moment things started slipping through her fingers. And I guarantee he told her there was only one way to secure her position.”

    Fury tilts his head. “What way?”

    I meet his gaze. “By taking my ne.”

    Jasmine gasps beside me. “The same ne you showed me? The one that looks exactly like the Alpha Queen’s?”

    “Yes,” I confirm softly. “That one.”

    Jasmine frowns, confusion all over her face. “But how is it possible you own something that sacred, Kali? With all due respect, that ne is priceless. There’s no way you could have that…”

    Jack steps in before I can answer, his tone sharp. “Because she’s the Alpha King’s daughter.”

    Jasmine stares at me, eyes wide as her hand flies to her mouth. “Fuck… Oh Moon Goddess. You’re her? The lost daughter? The one who went missing all those years ago?”

    I nod. Jasmine shakes her head, still trying to process. “I definitely didn’t see thating.”

    While she continues rambling in disbelief, I turn on my heel and head down the hallway to the bedroom where I had left the ne–intentionally. It rested in a ck velvet pouch tucked inside the top drawer of the dresser. No lock. Just temptation

    I pull open the drawer and smile.

    The pouch is still there but it’s empty.

    And even more telling–the scent in the room has changed. Burnt flesh.

    My smile sharpens.

    If Lady Celestia were truly of royal blood, the ne wouldn’t have harmed her. But it had. The acrid tang of scorched skin clings to the air–undeniable and damning.

    She touched it—and it burned her.

    Which means only one thing.

    She’s not of the Alpha King’s bloodline.

    She’s not my sister.

    And I’ve never felt more relieved.

    “Right on time,” I murmur, brushing my fingers over the velvet before walking back into the living room.

    They all look up as I enter.

    “She took it,” I announce coolly. “Lady Celestia was here. And she went straight for the ne.”

    Jasmine shoots up from the couch, panic in her eyes. “But… aren’t you worried? Without it, how will you prove you’re the Alpha King’s daughter?”

    bI /bshake my head. “I don’t need to prove anything.”

    Fury narrows his eyes. “Wait… are you saying she’s not the Alpha King’s daughter?”

    A slow, wicked smile curves my lips. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. When I entered the room, it reeked of burnt flesh- something that should never happen if she were of royal blood. The ne is enchanted. It was created to recognize the Alpha Queen’s lineage. It would never harm her child. But it burned Celestia.”

    Jasmine gasps, the truth dawning in her eyes.

    I continue, my voice cold and clear. “She’s not of royal blood. She’s not my sister. And I’m fucking d.”

    Jack grins like a wolf catching the scent of blood. “Which means,” he drawls, “she walked right into your trap.”

    I casually flick invisible dust from my sleeve. “All I did was give her the bait.”

    Jasmine exhales shakily. “But what if people believe her? What if she maniptes the truth?”

    “They might,” I admit. “Especially if she ys with dark magic to twist perception. But let her try.”

    I nce toward the window, voice like ice over steel.

    “She may wear the crown in public… but the throne won’t recognize her when it matters. The blood always tells the truth—and the truth burns.”

    Jack steps beside me, his arm slipping around my waist. He leans bin/bb, /bhis voice low against my ear.

    “You’re terrifying when you’re like this.”

    I grin. “Good. I want her to be terrified.”