Third Person's POV By the time Aysel finally returned to the estate that night, the weight of the entire evening clung to her aura like stale smoke. Her wolf, restless under her skin, had paced the whole way home after being forced to endure several "unlucky scents" from people she'd rather never encounter again. The moment she stepped through the door, she collapsed face-first onto the sofa in the living room, limbs sprawled, releasing a long, exhausted huff. Magnus strode in behind her. His towering frame cast a shadow across her body before he leaned down, brushed his lips against her cheek, and murmured with a low chuckle, "Long night, little moon?" Aysel rolled onto her back and stretched both arms toward him-clear indication in their private wordless language: Help me up. "I want another shower," she grumbled. After meeting those unpleasant people, the stink of their emotional rot still clung to her wolf's senses. She refused to bring that into their bed. But Magnus didn't take her hands. Instead, the great Alpha bent, hooked an arm under her knees, another beneath her back, and lifted her effortlessly in a smooth, dominant motion-his version of a "princess carry" was more like a victorious wolf claiming his mate. "I'll help you," he said simply. He didn't ask. He didn't need to. His wolf's possessive warmth wrapped around her like a second skin. Twenty minutes later. A sharp, startled cry echoed from the ensuite bathroom. "Magnus Sanchez!" Aysel's voice trembled-half panic, half something else entirely. She sat in the steaming bath, cheeks flushed a deep crimson. "You said you were only helping," she hissed through clenched teeth. "I don't want to bathe anymore."Water splashed over the edges of the tub. Beneath the surface, Magnus's mischievous "assistance" had created new, rippling stimulation that made her thighs tense. Magnus, who'd just been swatted across the chest for his "help," sounded deeply wronged, almost pitiful-an impressive performance for the continent's strongest Alpha. "Baby... you promised to make it up to me when we got home." He had endured hours of irritation because of Jenny earlier. This-this moment-was his long-awaited reward. Aysel had no words. This man's ability to act pitiful was reaching an advanced level. Jenny's judgment was backward-her third cousin was not icy, distant, or ascetic. He simply poured all his repressed fire directly onto one person: her. She'd originally thought she could slip away tonight, avoid the worst of his pent-up dominance. But the Shadowbane Alpha wasn't fooled for a second. Flushing, she pushed weakly at his chest. "Not here." Magnus laughed softly against her lips, the sound a low vibration that shivered down her spine. "Then we won't take long." Hours later-when the moon was high and the room ravaged by the aftermath of their night-the great Alpha lay back with Aysel sleeping soundly in his arms, her body limp from exhaustion. He lowered his head and kissed her forehead, a contented rumble vibrating in his chest. Then he reached for both their phones, flicked them off without hesitation, and tossed them aside. Jenny had tried to lure Aysel out to watch a "college boys' basketball game" at her school the next morning? Over my dead body, Magnus thought. He could not outmaneuver Skylar-but he could absolutely thwart a meddlesome younger cousin. Feeling victorious, the Alpha deliberately ignored the fact that he was acting possessive to the point of sabotage. With his soft, sweet-scented mate tucked into his arms, he closed his eyes and allowed himself a deep, well-earned sleep. The next day, when Aysel finally woke near noon, there was no surprise that she had completely missed Jenny's "invitation." She reached for her phone-only to find it powered off. Suspicion flashed instantly. She turned to Magnus. She knew him too well. Grinning despite herself, she tugged sharply at his ear. "Magnus Sanchez, you're ridiculous." She hadn't planned on going anyway. Those college boys? None of them were as handsome as Magnus, nor did they have his physique, not his strength-not even their wolves had musculature as firm as the Shadowbane Alpha's. And she already had a giant vinegar jar at home; she wasn't about to invite trouble. Too much stimulation for him... meant trouble for her. The great Alpha, feeling a stab of guilt, allowed her to tug and twist his ear without resistance. When she finally released him, he nuzzled into her cheek apologetically. "Baby... I have a meeting this afternoon. Come to the office with me?" He had, after all, ruined one of her social invitations. He needed to compensate-or risk being banished from her good graces for an entire week. "And," he added quickly, "didn't Serena send you a yacht-party invitation? I'll go with you." That seemed like a suitable offering. Aysel paused. Yes, she remembered-that invitation had arrived together with the birthday invitations for Alpha Bastien Sanchez and Luna Evelyn. Serena had explained the yacht party belonged to a partner company she'd invested in-hosting a high-end leisure event to gain traction among the wealthy packs. At Bastien's birthday banquet, Serena had mentioned it again. Later, Aysel had teased the truth out of her: Serena was enthusiastically promoting it because she herself had invested privately. But Serena always had standards-if the event wasn't impressive, she wouldn't personally invite Aysel. It was meant to be a light entertainment outing. If Aysel felt bored, she could drop in. The event was about ten days away. Aysel touched her chin and nodded. "All right." Magnus had been running nonstop for weeks. A little relaxation wouldn't hurt. She had just completed a commission project for a gaming company; the next few days were open. And after accepting Magnus's "play date," watching his shameless attempts to coax her into following him to work... well, she decided to indulge him this once. She'd settle the score tonight. While the couple entered the Shadowbane Tower hand-in-hand-leaving the entire company bathed in an unusually sweet, affectionate atmosphere-another corporate building across the city simmered with tense, hostile energy. The Blackwood Corporation. Because of an uninvited guest. Celestinehad spent several days in the hospital. The entire time, she had been unable to contact Damon. Her anxiety had grown sharp-edged. Today, with her wounds finally less painful, she decided to discharge herself. She knew Damon. If she allowed the silence to stretch any longer, his heart would harden-and his wolf, always volatile, might shut her out for good.But she couldn't go to the Blackwood estate. Alpha Blackwood and his Luna had made their disapproval of her exceedingly clear; facing them would only invite scorn and icy pack-pressure. And with Luna Blackwood present, Celestine wasn't sure Damon would even be willing to speak to her. After considering her options, she decided to go to the Blackwood Corporation's headquarters instead. The front desk recognized her-she had once been known as Damon's future mate, frequenting the building often. With that history, almost no one attempted to stop her. The company had been unstable lately, laying off employees in waves. Anxiety permeated the halls. Even the secretaries on the executive floor were distracted, overwhelmed. Which was why no one noticed when Celestine pushed open the office door of the President's Suite without warning. What she saw slammed into her like a blow. A woman in a tight, professional dress straddled a man in a disheveled suit-kissing him deeply. Celestine's pupils constricted. "Damon?!" The pair jolted apart immediately. The woman scrambled to fasten her buttons, flustered and breathless. But the man... When he lifted his head, lips still marked with red lipstick, Celestine felt the ground tilt. It wasn't Damon. It was Quentin-the Blackwood Pack's illegitimate son. The new wolf occupying Damon's former position. Quentin wiped his mouth casually, then smiled-slow, amused, mocking-as he looked at Celestine."Well, well. Miss Ward enjoys watching others get intimate?" Celestine's stomach twisted with nausea and dread. She didn't know which truth terrified her more: That Damon Blackwood was openly rutting with another woman in broad daylight- Or that Damon was gone, replaced, his authority stripped, and Quentin was now the one taking up the throne. The woman Quentin had been "entertaining" slipped out the door at his gesture. Celestine forced her trembling legs to move, stepping farther into the office. Quentin walked to the counter, poured a glass of water, then leaned in close to her where she sat rigid on the sofa. "You didn't know Damon has already left the company?" To be precise: Alpha Blackwood had first removed Damon from his role. Then Quentin had pushed until Damon had no place left in the corporation at all. Celestine's fists clenched. She remembered what Damon had said at Luna Evelyn's birthday banquet-that Alpha Blackwood intended to hand the entire Blackwood Pack to his illegitimate son. She hadn't realized the situation had deteriorated this far. Quentin smiled-smooth, serpentine, radiating the confidence of a wolf who believed he'd already won. "As my older brother's former fiancée, you didn't storm in demanding justice. Instead, you sit here calmly, ready to negotiate." He leaned even closer, his breath warm against her cheek, his tone dripping amusement. "You're a clever woman, Miss Ward. I like that."