"Just wanted something cool to show Miss Rivers, Lucas mumbled, scuffing his shoe on the carpet. "Everyone else bails. Thought she might stick around if..."


    "That dust is for trained warriors,'' ke cut in. "It''s dangerous for kids whose bodies can''t handle it."


    Lucas''s head snapped up, eyes shing. "You never let me try the real stuff! How am I supposed to get better with baby toys?"


    By nailing the basics first, ke said, crossing his arms. "Three months. No weapons. Back to square one."


    "What?" Lucas''s face fell. "No way! That''s not fair! I need-"


    "Watch it, ke warned.


    Tears filled Lucas''s eyes, but his chin jutted out. "You don''t even see me anymore. You''re just... gone. All the time. His voice caught. "I just wanted you to look at me for five seconds."


    Something flickered across ke''s face-a sh of hurt before the Alpha mask locked back in ce. "This isn''t how you get my attention."


    I bit my tongue, the words he''s just a kid pushing to get out. I caught ke''s quick look my way and remembered our argument. Not my ce to step in. Not yet.


    "Medical, ke told Wilson. "Make sure he''s okay."


    "Yes, Alpha. Wilson guided Lucas out with a gentle hand on his shoulder.


    ke grabbed the forgotten herbs, quickly mixing them with water. He handed me a ss without looking at me. "Drink up."


    The stuff tasted like dirt mixed with old socks. I choked it down while keeping my distance, the dust''s effects already fading.


    The door opened again. "Dad? Is Lucas okay? The staff said something about moon dust?"


    A woman walked in, and my stomach dropped. This was Sophia, ke''s daughter. The girl Jackson had chosen over me.


    Sophia made me want to hate her on principle, but dang it-she was hard to dislike. Tall and graceful in a flowing blue dress, with golden hair in some fancy braid that probably took hours. Her face was like a softer version of ke''s-pretty without being sharp. She was everything I wasn''t-polished, put-together, perfect. Jackson''s perfect trophy.


    My mark ached dully as she entered. Even with the herbs working, I picked up her scent-flowers with an undercurrent of Alpha power.


    Her eyesnded on me with friendly curiosity before turning to ke, "What happened?"


    "Lucas found my training dust," ke said, sounding normal again. "Decided to try it out on us," He added, looking at me.


    Sophia looked at me with concern. "You okay? First time can be rough."


    I touched my neck where the mark now hummed. "Yeah, I''m good. The herbs helped."


    Sophia studied me for a moment, a curious smile ying on her lips. "Dad, is she your new girlfriend? You never bring women home."


    ke actually looked startled. "What? No. This is Lucas''s newbat teacher."


    "Thank goodness," Sophia said with augh. "That kid needs someone who won''t bail after a day."


    Footsteps sounded from the hall. I should''ve known he''d be right behind her- Jackson followed Sophia everywhere like her shadow these days. Every muscle in my body locked up as he rounded the corner.


    He froze mid-step when he saw me, raw anger shing across his face before his politician mask clicked back into ce. My mark red with sudden pain, the old burning kind I knew too well.


    Jackson and I locked eyes in a silent standoff. His rage simmered beneath his perfect smile, but I knew him too well to miss it.


    Sophia caught the tension, her gaze bouncing between us. She crossed her arms, frowning slightly.


    "Jackson," she said slowly, "do you know her?"


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