Aysel's POV "Riiiing-" The shrill howl of my phone dragged me out of sleep. I writhed deeper into the blankets, eyes shut tight, one hand flailing blindly until my fingers finally brushed the device. My head pulsed with the faint ache of dried moon-wine and overused wolf senses. Half-conscious, I answered the call. A woman's amused voice spilled through the speaker. "Aysel, you've got some nerve. The sky outside has practically torn itself open." Serena. Of course. She had been calling since last night-call after call, all cut off. Eventually she must have gotten the notification that my phone was powered down entirely. No wonder she sounded like her patience had been skinned alive. I blinked at the call log. She really had tried to blow up my phone. And it wasn't hard to guess whose claws had actually pressed the power button for me last night. "Serena..." I mumbled, rubbing my cheek against the pillow, my voice muffled. "What's so urgent?" She went straight for the jugular. "You told me the Moonvale elders and Damon would come running to rescue Celestine Ward. They haven't shown up." "They probably got tangled up. But with their personalities, they won't abandon her." I paused, irritation prickling. "And what-Ironhowl has nothing better to do? You have to hover over a minor matter like a hawk?"Serena's tone oozed bored menace. "No choice. The old Alpha is in a foul mood lately. Everything I do annoys him. I need him to vent somewhere else so I can have some peace." Since she and I teamed up to crush Knox Draven, Serena and I had kept close contact. If Moonvale hadn't been so entertaining recently, the whole continent would still be gossiping about Ironhowl's pampered young master-rumors of him being into males, indulging in chaotic nights at bars, and publicly clinging to Moonvale's second heir at a pack banquet. Knox left the country with half a life left. The Ironhowl patriarch had been forced to give him up entirely-stripped from the family, not reassigned or exiled with grace, but expelled, disowned, dumped in South without pack protection. But the old wolf never forgot resentment. Celestine, Moonvale's darling, was the spark that ruined Knox's reputation and forced his downfall-his bitterness toward her ran as deep as a scar burned into bone. Causing Moonvale to lose a few projects or delaying processes could never ease the pain of losing his beloved grandson. Even Serena, the future successor, had suffered from his constant nitpicking. So the moment Celestine fell into trouble, Serena had recognized it for what it was: The old wolf's long-awaited chance to breathe easier. Celestine had been taken into custody. With how cautious she was, she shouldn't have left much evidence. Her transfers and communications were covert. At worst she'd face a charge for instigating violence. And Agnes-though she had wrapped herself up like a corpse-would be easily proven uninjured. Which was why Serena and I staged Celestine's arrest publicly, in the crowd, under cameras. After that, pretending innocence would be impossible. Once inside the halls of justice...Well, Ironhowl had a few old roots running deep in those structures. One tug on the right thread, one delayed process, one severe recommendation-very easy. And with Serena's grudge toward Knox and Celestine? Intervening to kick the fallen wolf was only natural. If Moonvale or Damon wanted to save Celestine, they'd have to offer something massive. Serena was already prepared to rip two large chunks of benefit from both packs. She was a businesswoman-profit first, sentiment last. If enough incentives touched her interest, she might even loosen her claws a little. But I was her partner. This opportunity had been delivered by me. She couldn't eat all the meat alone. So now she wanted to know- from my mouth- how far I wanted Celestine to fall. As the dealer at this table, she had to satisfy both sides. I thought for a while. "Agnes won't sign any forgiveness. Clearing Celestine completely is impossible. So their effort should focus on reducing her sentence." "What you take from Moonvale and Damon is not my concern. I only have two conditions." Serena's voice sharpened. "Go on." "First-long or short, she must serve the sentence. And the record stays. She leaves with the stain branded onto her." "Second..." My wolf stirred with cold, old memories of Celestine's deceit. "...she must never dance again."Serena hissed softly. "Tch. That won't be simple."