Ava''s POV


    1 yanked my jacket tighter as a breeze hit my neck. The Moon Art Festival buzzed around us, way wilder than I''d bargained for. Wolves from every pack crammed the neutral zone, downing moon drinks and howling along to tribal beats while neon art glowed overhead.


    "Remind me why we''re wasting time here? I nudged Steven, keeping my eyes moving. Our forest keeper''s gonna bail if we''re hanging out at a party instead."


    Steven shot me that crooked grin that made him look like trouble in wolf form. "Keeper won''t show till midnight. Why rush? All this pre-moon energy might actually help uster. He gestured to the chaos around us. Loosen up, warrior girl."


    I bit my lip. Since agreeing to this little adventure for Dad''s sake, I''d felt like Steven was calling all the shots. But if this helped clear Dad''s name, I''d put up with the detour, ke had okayed it anyway,


    ke. Just his name in my head made something flutter in my chest. Would he care that I was out here alone with Steven? Would he-


    Stop it. I mentally pped myself. I was here for one thing: evidence. Not to obsess over what my boss might think.


    "One hour," I conceded, tapping my watch. "Then we''re gone."


    Steven reached for my hand, but I sidestepped him, pointing at a glowing sculpture. "What''s that supposed to be?"


    "Moon Goddess,” he said, sliding next to me close enough that I caught his pine- and-snow scent. "Story goes she''s why we can shift and why some of us get stuck with fated mates."


    The half-wolf, half-woman figure gleamed silver in the moonlight. Without thinking, my fingers drifted to my neck where Jackson''s mark sat, a dull throb pulsing under my skin.


    "Speaking of, Steven''s voice dropped lower, "what''s your take on the whole fated mates thing?"


    My shoulders tensed automatically. "Pretty fairy tale. Real life''s way messier." Before he could dig deeper, drums exploded around us. The crowd surged toward an open space, forming dance circles as wolves howled and stomped.


    Steven''s eyes lit up like a kid at Christmas. "C''mon! Moon dance brings good luck. Exactly what we need tonight.


    “Not happening,” I shook my head. "We''re here to-


    "One dance, he cut in, hand outstretched. "Then straight to business. Promise."


    I hesitated. What would ke say? Then a sharper thought: why the hell should I


    care what ke thinks? He''s just signing my checks.


    "Fine. One." I took his hand, surprised by its warmth.


    The drum''s rhythm hit me like a physical thing. My body remembered steps I didn''t know I knew, moving with the circle of dancers. Steven matched me perfectly, his moves sharp but fluid, guiding without pushing.


    "You''re full of surprises," he said after spinning me. His eyes reflected the torchlight. "Warrior on the battlefield, dancer under the moon."


    I didn''t answer, but felt my face warm. When was thest time someone saw me as more than just a fighter? As a woman?


    When the music stopped, Steven''s hand stayed on my waist. For once, I didn''t immediately knock it away. Something about the night, the music, the break from constant vignce felt... good.


    ''Need a drink? His thumb brushed my hand.


    I nodded, watching him weave through the crowd. Steven was trouble, but a


    different kind than Jackson. More honest about it, somehow.


    He returned with cups of something that glowed like liquid moonlight.


    "Moon herb brew,'' he handed me one. Makes your senses sharper. Mighte in handyter."


    I took a sip. It tasted wild-herbs and something ancient I couldn''t name. "Different. Not terrible."


    "Like you," he smirked.


    I snorted, but couldn''t stop a reluctant smile. “Does that cheesy line actually work on northern girls?"


    "You tell me," he shot back, eyes never leaving mine.


    I pretended sudden interest in a nearby fire dancer. "Gettingte. Shouldn''t we-" "One more stop," he touched my elbow lightly. "Something worth seeing." Against my better judgment, I nodded. "Last detour. Then we stick to the n."


    He led me away from the noise to a hidden path. Few minutester, we stood before a small waterfall that caught the moonlight and broke it into rippling silver fragments.


    "Moon Falls," Steven said, voice quieter now. "They say wishes made here on pre-moon night actually happen."


    The air felt different here-charged but peaceful. Just the ssh of water and distant festival drums.


    "Try it," Steven nudged me. "Can''t hurt, right?"


    I hesitated, then closed my eyes. Dad''s face came first-free, name cleared. Then,


    uninvited, ke appeared. Those storm-gray eyes studying me, seeing more than I wanted anyone to see.


    I snapped my eyes open to find Steven watching me, standing closer than before.


    “So?" he asked. "What''d you wish for?"


    "You know the rules," I dodged. "Tell and it won''t happen."


    Moonlight caught in his hair, turning it silver-gold. For a second, he looked like something from an old wolf tale, not quite real.


    "We should go soon," I said, my voiceing out rougher than intended. Steven watched me for a beat, then nodded. "Few more minutes. We''ve got time."


    We sat on smooth rocks by the falls. The silence between us wasn''t awkward, which surprised me. My mind wandered to weird what-ifs: What would life be like if Dad wasn''t locked up? If Jackson hadn''t burned me? Would I know how to let someone in?


    "You look miles away," Steven said.


    I shrugged. "Just thinking."


    He let it drop, just sitting beside me. Then: "Need to tell you something."


    His tone changed, and instantly my guard went up. “What?”


    "Talked to ke about tonight," he said, watching me carefully. "Told him exactly where we''re going and why."


    My pulse jumped. "You told ke? What''d he say?"


    Steven''s eyes held mine. "Nothing much. Just said keep you safe, don''t get hurt." "That''s all?" The words came out too fast. "No... objections? Nothing else?" Steven shook his head. "Nope. Didn''t seem to care that we''re out together." Something sharp twisted in my chest, stealing my breath. ke didn''t care? Not even a little? I''d thought...what? That he might be jealous? Worried?


    Stupid. So fucking stupid. I was just staff to him. Receable. Meanwhile, I''d been tiptoeing around, afraid to disappoint him.


    "Ava?" Steven''s voice pulled me back. ''You good?"


    I forced a shrug. ''Yeah. Just surprised the great Alpha King isn''t micromanaging


    for once,"


    "Were you hoping for a different reaction?" His question hit too close.


    "No," I lied. "Just expected more control-freak behavior."


    Pain shot through my mark, making me flinch. These jolts keptingtely, especially when thoughts of ke popped up.


    The falls seemed to glow brighter suddenly, like they knew something I didn''t. A strange rity washed over me.


    He doesn''t give a damn.


    So why am I holding back?


    "We should go," I stood abruptly, surprised by how steady my voice sounded. "Keeper''s waiting."


    Steven rose beside me. When his fingers brushed my lower back, I didn''t move away.


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