Third Person's POV The true daughter of the Moonvale Pack had remained silent for years-only to stun the entire wolf aristocracy the moment she bared her true fangs. Moonvale had been handed a ladder straight to the heavens, yet due to their blind favoritism, their own blood daughter had kicked that ladder over with one decisive strike. Their humiliation spread through the upper packs like a winter plague-swift, sharp, impossible to contain. At first, the sight of Magnus sending gifts and crushing rivals for Aysel Vale had left many wolves burning with envy. But once the banquet ended, the gossip shifted. Only mockery remained for the Moonvale Pack. What fine instincts they had-favoring the wrong wolf so thoroughly. Many secretly marveled at the once-forgotten trueborn daughter. Her very first public appearance, and she had burned the world down. In some sense... it made perfect sense she had caught the eye of Magnus Sanchez. Aysel and that Shadowbane Alpha were both ruthless creatures. At the Shadowbane Pack's grand stone hall, the Sanchez family breakfast table was no more peaceful. Rudi, the youngest daughter, glanced toward the head of the table where Bastien was eating in silence. Her eyes gleamed with mischief. She leaned toward her siblings and cousins, whispering loud enough for half the table to hear, "That girl Magnus brought home a few days ago is something else. I heard she turned her own pack upside down and even declared she'd sever all ties with them~" A sharp crack sounded. Bastien slammed his chopsticks onto the stone table, the force vibrating through the hall. Everyone flinched.He glared at his daughter. "Shut that mouth. Less gossip. More sense." As if he didn't know what had happened at the Moonvale banquet. The news of the Crown Prince of the Shadowbane wolves-Magnus-raging for Aysel's sake had flown through the continent on wings. The massive fireworks display that lit the city for half the night was impossible to ignore. He wanted to intervene, truly-but who could restrain Magnus now? Certainly not this cluster of fools he called family. A blade was practically at their throats, yet instead of focusing on survival, they insisted on stirring internal fires. Rudi huffed, bristling like a spoiled wolf pup. "Magnus's mate will be the future Luna Matriarch of the entire Sanchez line. How can a rootless, disrespectful girl like her enter our den? I'm thinking for his sake, as an elder!" The memory of Aysel's sharp tongue and unflinching aura during her last visit made her heart ache with indignation. If that woman entered the family, Rudi's position as the treasured only daughter would crumble. Ulric Sanchez-Magnus's father-poured Bastien a cup of soy milk, his voice cold. "That Aysel Vale... her background truly is lacking." In truth, with Magnus's power, he needed no political alliance. His mate's pedigree meant little. A lower-born mate would even be easier to control-like the soft, pliable Raya once had been. But Aysel Vale? She was a thorned creature. Sharp. Hard to tame. Her severing of ties with her parents showed the brutality of her wolf-heart. Two ruthless wolves together like that...The entire Sanchez estate would know no peace. Ulric kept a hidden satisfaction in his chest. He wanted Magnus's life to go poorly. Ever since that unfilial son broke his leg four years ago, father and son had been nothing less than enemies. If Magnus suffered-even a little-Ulric would enjoy the sight. Bastien pressed his lips thin. He wasn't fond of Aysel Vale either. But Magnus was a grown tiger now-untamable, unstoppable. Nothing Bastien said held any real sway. Which was why he had allowed Rudi and the others to try "introducing candidates" to Magnus-little petty schemes that never worked. He cast a disappointed glance at his incompetent offspring. If they weren't such failures, would they all be sitting here seething in helpless rage? Seeing her father's slight waver, Rudi grew bolder. She sighed theatrically. "At this rate, Shadowbane's glory rests entirely on Magnus. And soon Aysel Vale will join him. We elders might as well queue outside the healer dens." At the far end of the table, Ulva-the widow of Phelan Sanchez-set down her chopsticks quietly. "Rudi," she said, voice cold and brittle, "if you want to use someone as a weapon, at least try subtlety." After Conor Sanchez had conspired with outsiders to assassinate Magnus-only to become a vegetative husk-and his son Caleb crippled to the point of being less than wolf, Ulva had been the only functional member of the entire fourth branch. Her grief had carved her thin, leaving her eyes sharp and dangerous. Rudi sneered. "I didn't mention your branch.""And you-alone, widowed, dragging a disabled son-what authority do you think you hold?" Ulva's eyes flashed with killing intent. "But you, an out-married daughter, think you can bark commands in the Sanchez den?" Rudi lifted her chin arrogantly. "Because the wolf sitting at the head of the table is my father." Even as a lovechild, Bastien's favoritism had sheltered her all her life. She had never learned humility. "Enough!" Bastien's growl cut the air. "Is this the time for your petty squabbling?" Though Magnus now ruled Shadowbane's affairs, Bastien still held shares and a vast inheritance. Even in old age, his shadow loomed. Accalia who married into Runeclaw Pack-curled her lips in silent mockery. He scolded both women, but anyone with half a wolf-brain could see his bias. She despised them all. The more savage Magnus became, the more she enjoyed watching the family tear itself apart. Ulva ate quietly, refusing to waste breath on the squabbling pups. At last, Rollo Sanchez wiped his mouth, watching the drama with amused interest. "We can't control Magnus... but doesn't he have at least one person he cares about?" Kurt's eyes lit up. "Actually... he might." "Who?"