Hot water scalds my hands as I scrub dishes in mindless monotony. Anger. Fear. Despair. They all churn together in a toxic mix that threatens to drown me.

    I have to stay strong, stay focused. Alpha Renard has made his intentions clear.

    The plates clatter against each other as I rinse them, the sound almost therapeutic in its familiarity. This is what my life has been reduced to—cleaning up after my family, tiptoeing around their expectations, their rules, their control. A mere shadow in my own home.

    Muted voices drift in from the other room, and it''s impossible not to overhear the tense exchange between Phoenix and my father.

    "...even more reports of rogues crossing the border," Phoenix growls, his voice laced with anger. "We can''t let them encroach on our territory."

    My father''s response is quieter, but no less stern. "Have you confirmed the sightings? This has to be done carefully, or else the Council can intervene."

    "We can''t afford to be complacent," Phoenix snaps.

    What does the Council have to do with rogues? Every pack has the right to deal with rogues as they wish. My confusion has me straining my ears to hear more.

    "Easy, son." My father''s tone is placating, but there''s an undercurrent of steel beneath it. "Just handle this discreetly. As long as we''re only touching the rogues, no one can do anything. They''re just learning from our game. As long as there''s no evidence, the Council can''t touch us."

    "That means the Council can''t touch them, either," Phoenix growls.

    "All in due time. We just have to wait a little longer, and everything will be set."

    "It would have been better if Jessa had managed to stay there."

    "She didn''t, so there''s little point in worrying about it."

    Phoenix scoffs, and I can practically see the contemptuous twist of his lips. "Westwood sent her back as a challenge. Lucas is getting bolder. We should respond."

    My heart stutters at the mention of that name, memories of intense golden eyes and searing touches flooding my senses. Lucas.

    If I can somehow get word to him, would he...?

    Instead, I shrug, aiming for nonchalance. "Nothing, really. Just wanted to chat, I guess. It''s been a while since we''ve had a chance to talk, just the two of us."

    Jessa''s gaze narrows, and I can practically see the gears turning in her head as she tries to decipher my motives. "Since when do you want to talk to me?" she asks, her voice laced with suspicion.

    I force a smile, hoping it doesn''t look as strained as it feels. "I know we haven''t always seen eye to eye, but we''re still sisters, aren''t we? I just thought..." I trail off, unsure of how to finish that sentence.

    Jessa studies me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, with a shrug, she turns her attention back to her phone. "Whatever. I''m busy, Ava. If you want to talk, find someone else."

    The dismissal stings, but I try not to let it show. Instead, I glance around the room, noting the absence of the usual guards. It''s strange, being left alone with Jessa like this. Almost as if...

    Almost as if this is a chance. A chance to escape, to find my way back to the life I''ve fought so hard to build.

    But just as I think that, I dismiss the possibility. If it''s anything, it''s a test.

    I can''t get any suspicions up right now.

    "It''s nice to have you around instead of the other shifters," I offer, trying another olive branch.

    Jessa ignores me.

    "I heard Dad and Phoenix talking last night," I say, watching out of the side of my eye as her fingers slow, then still. "They said I''m going to be mated to Alpha Renard."

    She looks at me, her face blank. "So? You should be grateful to have such an honor as a defect."

    I lower my eyes, but keep her in my peripheral vision. "I''m worried about Phoenix. If I''m really this omega they keep talking about, what if I give Alpha Renard an heir? Wouldn''t that be bad for Phoenix? For us?"

    Jessa watches me for a long time, before returning her attention to the phone in her hands. "Don''t think so much, Ava."

    I let out a little sigh, but inside, I feel the faint stirrings of triumph. There''s a slight quaver in her voice, and she''s pushing on her screen harder than she had been just a minute earlier.

    Yeah, Phoenix and Jessa have always been close.

    If I want to escape, I''m going to need them to be on my side.