Ava''s POV


    "Dinner? With me?'' I blinked, caught off guard by Lucas''s invitation.


    Wilson''s mouth pinched like he''d bitten a lemon, but he nodded. "Kitchen''s already set a ce for you." The don''t-screw-this-up undertone in his voice couldn''t have been clearer.


    Lucas scuffed his boot against the floor, his tough-guy mask slipping. "Dad''s always stuck in meetings. Sophia''s never around since Jackson put that ring on her finger. His shoulders hunched. "Wilson usually sits with me, but he''s busy tonight."


    He lowered his voice. "This ce is huge when you''re eating alone."


    My chest tightened. After this morning''s scroll incident, I could see beyond the bratty exterior. This wasn''t just some spoiled Alpha kid - he was a lonely boy desperate for attention.


    "Count me in,'' I said, giving his shoulder a squeeze. "After we eat, I''ll show you some kick-ass wolf tactics."


    The kid lit up like I''d handed him Christmas. He grabbed my arm and practically dragged me toward the dining hall, his excitement rolling off him in waves.


    Wilson''s suspicious re followed us out. Clearly, he wasn''t thrilled about Lucas''s instant trust in me.


    The dining room was ridiculous - all vaulted ceilings and stone fireces straight out of a medieval castle. An oak table that could seat thirty had exactly one ce setting at the far end. The sight of that lonely little te hit me harder than expected.


    A server hurriedly set another ce beside Lucas''s, shooting me a nervous smile. At the head of the table loomed ke''s empty chair - bigger than the others, a not-so-subtle reminder of who really ran this show.


    The meal came - fancy bison with roasted roots, traditional pack food loaded with protein and whatever else growing werewolves needed. My stomach growled so loud the server probably heard it.


    First bite, and I couldn''t hold back a groan of satisfaction. Meanwhile, my mark hummed warm against my skin, way different from its usual burning pain. Being in ke''s territory felt weirdly... right.


    "Kids at Academy can''t even half-shift," Lucas said between bites. "Dad says I''m special, but that means no ying like normal cubs."


    "No fun allowed, huh?" I asked, savoring the perfectly cooked meat.


    ''Alpha''s kids gotta act proper. He rattled it off like a line he''d memorized. "Setting examples and stuff."


    I put down my fork. "That''s bullshit. His eyes widened at mynguage. "Even the toughest wolves need to cut loose sometimes. My dad always said bnce matters most – be a warrior when it counts, but don''t forget to actually live."


    Lucas chewed on that thought along with his food. Watching him enjoy havingpany made me realize I actually wanted to help him - not just to get closer to his dad and save mine.


    After dinner, I stood to help clear tes - force of habit from home. The server looked horrified.


    "We handle that, Miss Rivers, she insisted.


    Lucas nodded. ''Everyone''s got their job here."


    ''Sure,'' I said, “but saying thanks never killed anyone. Respecting people''s work is


    what makes a good warrior, not just knowing how to fight."


    Lucas mulled this over before bouncing up. "Can we do those tactics now?" He practically vibrated with excitement.


    ''Definitely. But we''re learning the fun way."


    The sitting room looked like a cozy museum - ancient weapons on walls, stupidlyfortable leather furniture, and an borate ''Wolf Hunt board game in the center. Not your average Monopoly - this was how pack leaders had trained young warriors for generations.


    I flopped onto the couch beside Lucas and grabbed a ying piece. "See this? Alpha - moves slow but packs a punch. These fast ones are Gammas - quick but need backup. And these little guys?" I picked up smaller pieces. "Regr pack wolves. Weak alone, deadly together."


    Hunter sprawled at Lucas''s feet, those golden eyes tracking our every move.


    I showed Lucas how to surround a stronger force with fewer pieces. The kid caught on instantly, way beyond what most seven-year-olds could grasp. No wonder that dangerous scroll tempted him – regr lessons probably bored him to tears.


    When Lucas nailed aplex strategy and won a round, he shot up like he''d been electrocuted.


    "Got ''em!" he crowed, arms raised. "Just like a real Alpha!"


    Before I could respond, heunched himself at me in a hug that nearly knocked me backward. His small armstched around my neck, face buried against my shoulder.


    One more game?" he mumbled against my shirt. "Nobody ys this with me for real... they just let me win."


    I hesitated, then ruffled his hair. "You''ve earned it, champ. But tomorrow we''re back to the sweaty stuff before any more games. Deal?"


    He nodded, face still glowing.


    "Can you teach me tracking too?" he asked. "My nose isn''t sharp enough yet." "That''s my specialty. I''ll show you how to use wind and terrain to your advantage." Lucas dove back into the game, rearranging pieces with scary focus. The kid had serious leadership potential – just needed someone to nurture it right.


    We yed another half hour,ughing at bold moves and sneaky traps. Hunter asionally grumbled his "expert" opinions from the floor.


    Wilson never showed up to check on us, but I felt eyes watching periodically from the hallway.


    Midway through our third game, Hunter''s head snapped up. A deep growl vibrated from his chest, eyes locked on the door.


    Wilson''s voice drifted in from outside. -ying games instead of proper training. Alpha King, her methods arepletely inappropriate. No instruction in pack history or etiquette! And I question her ability to interpret tactical materials given her... learning disability."


    My jaw clenched. How the hell did Wilson know about my dyslexia?


    The door banged open. ke filled the doorway, power radiating off him in waves that hit me like a physical force. His formal council clothes screamed ''important meetings" - silver threads in his cor catching the light.


    Lucas jumped, nearly toppling the board. I steadied the pieces with a quick hand. "Father!" Lucas''s smile looked stered on. "We''re... studying." His expression already braced for disappointment.


    ke''s eyes swept over the board, taking in theplex arrangement. The air thickened with his presence like a summer storm rolling in.


    "Miss Rivers, his deep voice could''ve frozen fire, is ying games your idea of warrior training?"


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