Ava''s POV


    I kicked off my boots and flopped onto my bed, ke''s fury and that crushing Alpha presence still buzzing in my head. After the whole Steven showdown,


    Tyler had barely dropped me off before I was already thinking about a hot shower to wash away the day''s chaos.


    *nning for tonight already, Miss Rivers?"


    I bolted upright. Steven''s voice slid into my thoughts uninvited, using mindlink without permission.


    "Who said you could pop into my head?" I fired back.


    *Uncle ke said we couldn''t meet in person," his voice carried a smirk I could practically feel, but he never mentioned mind-talking. How about I send a car at eight?"


    I massaged my temples. I''d agreed to hear about Dad''s case, but ke''s warningplicated everything.


    "Can''t you just tell me what you know now?" I asked. "Why the dinner date?"


    Some things shouldn''t be shared through mindlink," his tone suddenly dropped serious. "Shadow Creek''s power games run deeper than you think. I''ve got proof, but you need to see it yourself."


    That caught my interest. Since ke stepped in to stop Dad''s execution, Shadow Creek''s elders had been fuming but nobody dared challenge the Alpha King openly. If Steven really knew something...


    "Fine. Moon Lake it is, I agreed, remembering his earlier suggestion about neutral ground.


    "Perfect, he sounded pleased. "Though they''re sticklers about dress code. Got anything suitable?"


    I nced at my closet - training gear,bat pants, and exactly zero fancy dresses.


    "That might be a problem," I admitted.


    "I could help, he offered. "Brought some designers with me-


    "No thanks," I cut in. "I''ll figure it out."


    "Eight o''clock then, he recovered smoothly. "My car wille by."


    "Nothing shy," I warned. "Don''t need all of Shadow Creek gossiping."


    "Morgans aren''t known for subtle, heughed. "But I''ll try. See you tonight, Miss Rivers."


    After he dropped the connection, I weighed my options. As much as I hated to admit it, I needed help looking like something other than a fighter ready for battle.


    I closed my eyes and concentrated on another mindlink.


    "E?" I called out to my best friend.


    "Ava using mindlink?" Her bright voice bounced back. ''Is the apocalypse happening?"


    "Emergency situation," I said bluntly. "Can you bring... dresses to my ce? Like, now?"


    The connection went quiet before E burst outughing. "Say that again? Did you just ask for dresses?"


    "Don''t start," I growled. "Going to Moon Lake tonight. Need to look non-lethal for once."


    "Moon Lake?!" Her voice shot up. "With who? What''s going on?"


    *Steven Morgan. Says he has information about Dad''s case."


    ''Holy crap! She nearly squealed. "Dark Moon''s heir? The walking werewolf history book?"


    "Purely business," I stressed. "He''s picking me up at eight. Need to not look like I just stepped off a battlefield."


    "Fifteen minutes, she promised. "Don''t touch anything. I''m on my way!"


    Twenty minutester, E burst through my door juggling bags and covered hangers.


    "So," she dumped everything on my bed, eyes sparkling with mischief, "a date with Steven Morgan? Mr. Collects-Every-Pack-Secret?"


    "Not a date, I corrected. "He knows stuff about Shadow Creek politics that might help Dad."


    "And just happened to pick the most romantic spot in three territories?" She raised an eyebrow.


    "It''s neutral ground," I shrugged. "Safe for cross-pack talk."


    "Right, she grinned while unpacking. "Nothing to do with getting you alone under mood lighting."


    "E, I warned with a re.


    "Fine, fine," she pulled out the first dress. "But think about it - ke''s been great, but Steven''s another ally. One with serious connections and information."


    didn''t answer right away. My feelings about ke were a tangle I wasn''t ready to sort through. He''d helped Dad when he didn''t have to, and sometimes the way he looked at me made my skin tingle... but that wasn''t today''s problem.


    "What''d you bring?" I asked, changing subjects.


    *This," she held up a sleek emerald dress, "will make every wolf''s jaw hit the floor."


    I studied it skeptically. Beautiful but impractical. "Too much. Not exactly ''serious business'' material."


    "Men spill secrets faster when they''re distracted," she winked.


    "Not happening," I said firmly.


    She rolled her eyes and pulled out a navy blue outfit. "More professional?"


    Before I could answer, she suddenly tossed both aside and dug into another bag. "Actually, this is perfect for you.


    She pulled out somethingpletely different a deep green dress with clean lines, somehow both feminine and powerful.


    "My sister''s newest design," she exined. "Made for ''women with attitude."


    I stepped closer, surprised to find it surprisingly practical. Sturdy fabric, freedom of movement, and


    best part hidden pockets for weapons.


    "This might work, I admitted.


    "Jackpot! E beamed. "Shower time. Let''s transform you!"


    Thirty minutester, I hardly recognized myself in the mirror. The dress fit perfectly, showing off my strength while still looking elegant. The color made my eyes pop.


    "See?" E said proudly. "Badass can be beautiful."


    I turned slowly, actually liking how I looked. Not frilly or fussy, just clean, powerful lines.


    "One final touch," she added a ck leather jacket with silver ents. "So you keep some edge."


    I slipped it on, discovering more hidden pockets inside. "You modified this?" "Know you too well," she winked. "Never unarmed, right?"


    She styled my hair halfway between warrior braid and elegant updo, adding small moonstone clips that matched my new earrings, Her makeup touch was light - just enough to brighten my eyes and lips without making me feel like a stranger.


    "Remember," she warned while making final adjustments, "charming doesn''t mean trustworthy. Northern wolves y by different rules."


    "I can handle myself," I reminded her.


    "Inbat, sure. In that dress? Different game, she countered. "If ke finds out-


    "He won''t, I cut her off. "This is just for Dad."


    The doorbell rang. E''s face lit up with mischief. "Warrior to princess in thirty minutes t. Go knock him dead."


    "It''s not like that- I started, but she was already shoving me toward the door. silver-gray and deep blue, with his family crest


    I took a breath and opened it to find Steven standing there in traditional northern Alpha formal wear catching moonlight. His silver-gold hair was mostly slicked back, except for a few stubborn strands falling across his forehead.


    When he saw me, his blue eyes went wide. His mouth opened, then closed without words.


    "Wow..." he finally managed, his gaze traveling up and down. "You look like..."


    "Don''t look so shocked," I tried for casual but my voice betrayed me. "I can dress up when needed."


    "A battle goddess straight from Moon Goddess legends," he finished, ignoring myment. "Southern wolves are full of surprises."


    His straightforward admiration caught me off-guard - no games, no calction, just genuine appreciation. Nothing like Jackson''s practicedpliments.


    "You clean up nice yourself," I nodded at his outfit. "Standard northern fancy dress?"


    "Traditional Alpha attire," he smiled. "Future Alpha, anyway. May I escort this beautifuldy to dinner?"


    He offered his arm with a slight bow.


    I hesitated before lightly resting my hand on his sleeve. "This is a one-time thing,


    Mr. Morgan. Just for information."


    Chapter Comments


    Mike


    i feel like this is going to end wrong...


    also feels like steven is behind the scenes helping jackson, probably to take over


    himself


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