Aysel's POV Fenrir blinked at me, stunned. "But tonight's performance is the only one the Moonspire Theater is hosting." Even in our world of sprawling territories and ancient Pack alliances, the Moonspire never ran two shows at once. Too much chaos. Too many wolves in tight spaces. Too much risk of dominance fights breaking out among Alphas and their retinues. Before I could respond, a lilting, honey-poison voice drifted from behind the Moonvale pack, straight out of the shadowed archway of the theater. "Well, well. I've seen wolves fight over parents, money, even roles on stage... but fighting over who gets to visit the practice hall?" Julia drawled, her scent sharp with sweat and smugness. Every head turned. Julia-my dear troublemaker from the chorus line-stood in her training leathers, breathing hard from a sprint, braced against a marble pillar as she caught her breath. She must have run the moment someone told her Magnus and I were at the main entrance, not slipping through the VIP tunnels. She'd gotten here just in time to watch the Moonvale Pack embarrass themselves. And of course she wasn't going to waste such a golden moment; half of these wolves had made her life hell in rehearsals under Celestine's iron heel. A chance to bite back-no wolf with a spine would ignore that. She flashed me a grin the moment her gaze met mine. She already knew. Her "mysterious investor" was me-her Alpha-ally in the shadows. And standing with me was the continent's strongest Alpha, my Rafe. Exactly the kind of "coincidence" Celestine's enemies should see. I smiled back and slipped the bouquet from my arm, offering it to her. "Sorry. I won't be able to attend tomorrow-my schedule's full. So I came today for an early visit. Wishing you all the blessing of moon and fang for your performance." Julia lit up, genuine warmth flickering beneath the sass. "Aysel, you remembering us is more than enough. Truly. Without you, half of this production would've crashed and burned."Her voice softened-rare for her-because she wasn't wrong. Celestine's sabotages had been relentless. And with the main sponsor traveling abroad, Julia had been told to follow my directives. I hadn't even needed to lift a finger before things went wrong: the understudy's blocked technique, the prop smith's disastrous error. I sent in my own people, clean and efficient. The stage was saved. Their reputations salvaged. And the crucial showcase for Madame Sophia Holland's team? They'd nailed it-and word of potential collaboration had already spread. Julia turned to Fenrir, chin high. "Just because your Celestine Ward has a performance doesn't mean the rest of us are forbidden from training. This isn't her territory. We did not steal her stage. So... would you mind moving?" Fenrir's jaw twitched. He stepped aside, stiff and humiliated. Whispers immediately rippled through the gathered wolves: "So she wasn't here for Celestine Ward?" "Moonvale Pack reacted like she was-can't blame anyone for misreading." "I knew it. After everything they've done to her? No way Aysel would come running back like a loyal pup." "Moonvale just doesn't have the fate to climb high, huh?" "And she came with Magnus Sanchez, no less." "And did no one notice who she's visiting? Julia-Celestine's rival." "One wolf comes to support the underdog. Another wolf waits at the door, desperate for her attention. Clear where her loyalties lie." Their commentary wasn't subtle. Nor did anyone bother to lower their voices. Moonvale Pack flushed a deep, ugly red. "Y-you don't have to destroy Celestine's debut like this," Luna Evelyn murmured, disappointment thick in her tone. Unlike Alpha Remus or his sons, Luna Evelyn actually recognized Julia the second she saw her. Celestine's greatest rival. The she-wolf Celestine had spent years undermining behind the scenes. By walking in with Magnus and gifting Julia flowers in front of the whole theater, I'd effectively thrown Julia a banner of Pack-blessing. Tomorrow every wolf with a nose for gossip would be sniffing around her instead of Celestine. Two debut performances. One inevitable comparison. And they all knew which side I'd chosen. I cut off Evelyn's rebuke with a low, cold growl curling beneath my voice. "Luna Evelyn, Celestine's mother you may be. But you hold no authority over me. Whatever principles you use to leash your own children-keep them for them. I am not yours. I will do exactly as I choose." My wolf surged beneath my skin, teeth pressing against reality. And the Moonvale Pack finally shut up.