Aysel's POV I'd gotten addicted to hotpot lately-dangerously addicted, according to Magnus. But every time he tried to stop me, all I had to do was lift my eyes, let a bit of my Moonvale pleading-scent slip out, and look at him like an abandoned pup. Shadowbane's mighty Alpha, the strongest wolf on the continent, folded instantly. So he started researching "healthier hotpot bases" like his life depended on it. He even dragged the old flame-born dishes-trained chef out of the Sanchez ancestral manor and personally forced him to tutor him on broth, chili pastes, and spirit-herb condiments. Sure, he could've just hired the chef and had him come over every night. But Magnus had gotten addicted too- Not to hotpot. To cooking with me. Well, to him cooking, and me "charging" him by leaning against his back, tugging his apron strings, or nuzzling his neck when he chopped ingredients. Unless he was too busy... or I was too lazy to leave the couch... we practically lived in the kitchen, wrapped around each other like two wolves sharing a den. And honestly? I loved it. And he loved that I loved it. Which meant he was willing to learn anything, just to ensure that whenever I wanted something, I got it immediately. So when Bastien finally had a rare craving for something spicy and went searching for "the chef he'd fought his old glutton friends half to death to secure," he discovered the truth: His beloved chef had already been abducted by his unfilial grandson. He called Magnus, demanding the chef back. Magnus didn't even blink. "He's staying. Aysel likes spicy food. Unless you want her coming to the ancestral manor to eat every day?" Silence.Long, tortured silence. That night, the old Alpha was so angry he ate half a bowl less. Magnus, meanwhile, used the opportunity to "offer flowers in another's vase"-showcasing the new dishes he'd learned. I enjoyed his cooking so much that my wolf tail nearly came out. I followed Magnus around the kitchen afterward, practically a little shadow, chanting: "Magnus, you're amazing." "So good." "Love it. Love you. Love everything you cook." Every compliment made his Alpha ego fluff up until he was grinning like a wolf who'd stolen the moon. But later that night, when he was finally ready to claim the rewards of his hard work-when we were tangled, breathless, and he was just about to shift his weight and take me- My communicator chimed. Then chimed again. Then exploded with frantic voice notes and sticker-spam. I froze. Magnus froze. Magnus's entire body froze. And I... like the shameless rogue I evidently was... pushed him off, scrambled for clothes, and bolted upright. Half an hour later, in the cold halls of the city authority station, Magnus stood beside me radiating enough Shadowbane frost to lower the temperature ten degrees. We stepped in. Two voices burst from the holding area at the same time: "Third cousin-sister-in-law!!""Sister?!" Jenny-bright-eyed, loud, and irrepressible-lit up like someone had turned on the sun. Then she noticed the towering Alpha beside me, leaking territorial threat-scent in visible waves. She shrank like a pup caught chewing her elder's tail. Poor girl. She'd had a bad night-ran into a madman, ended up in a police station, and couldn't call her parents because they'd skin her alive and revoke her allowance. All her usual rescuers were either passed out in taverns or out of the country. Desperate, she'd sent me a tentative message. She didn't expect me to come. Certainly didn't expect me to bring Magnus, the continent's most terrifying Alpha wolf. After the incident with Rudi falling into the river, Jenny had sided with Magnus and me publicly, and we'd grown close. She was a chatterbox and a pretty one, always leaving comments on my Moonvale social feed. I liked her spirit. We talked occasionally. When I saw her frantic messages-well... I didn't even think twice. Jenny now bounced toward me with the smug aura of a young wolf who'd summoned her elders to deal with her enemies. Except- A voice cut in from the corner: "Aysel." Lykos. Of all wolves. I turned. His face was bruised blue and purple; he looked like someone had used him to mop the floor. He tried again, more pitifully: "Aysel..." I narrowed my eyes. "You can't call people siblings in a police station. Moonvale's young master, I don't have a little brother." He flinched as if I'd struck his ribs again.His wolf whimpered under his breath, tail between its legs. He gazed at me with wounded eyes. "You are my sister. My real sister. Aysel... can we stop fighting? Can we be okay again?" I almost laughed. He hadn't called me "sister" in years. Now suddenly he remembered? Did he think this was a cub-hood playhouse game? Ignoring him, I turned to Jenny. "Tell me. What happened tonight?" Rage sparked instantly in her eyes. She clenched her fists, glaring at Lykos again. "This idiot-first he rammed into me at school today for no reason. Then tonight, when I was racing with friends, his car came out of nowhere and cut me off. I nearly flipped!" She grabbed the tiny black bear charm hanging from her bag-its ear torn off, stuffing showing-and pouted dramatically. "Third cousin-sister, the charm you gave me got ruined." I looked down. Ah. That ugly-cute little black bear. Skylar and I had been wandering around in M-country when I snapped a few pictures and posted them. Jenny, the eternal hype-beast, spammed my feed with comments, especially on the charm she thought was adorable. Of course she'd treasure it. Of course she'd rage if someone damaged it. And of course... Magnus beside me growled low, a warning meant clearly for Lykos. I sighed. This night was only going to get longer.