Third Person POV


    Afternoon sunlight streamed through ckwood Manor''s old stained ss windows, painting colorful patterns on the marble floor. Sophia pressed her back against a stone pir carved with moon phases, her violet eyes sharp with calction. She''d been lurking here for ten minutes, waiting for this eamt


    moment.


    Footsteps clicked down the far hallway. A silver figure glided into view like she owned the ce.


    Lyra Starlight.


    Even on a boring Tuesday afternoon, the Northern Lights High Priestess looked like she''d stepped out of some fairy tale. Silver hair twisted into this crazy intricate braid over one shoulder, purple eyes that reminded you of deep water at twilight. Her northern robes caught the light, shimmering between silver and blue. The whole package screamed otherworldly.


    Perfect. The key piece Sophia needed for her little chess game.


    "Priestess." Sophia stepped out from the shadows, voice sweet but with steel underneath.


    Lyra stopped mid-stride, eyebrows pulling together. She barely remembered this Morgan kidst night at dinner, the girl had been all over the ce, acting like some starstruck teenager.


    "Listen, little wolf, Lyra''s tone carried that edge people get when they''re in a hurry, "I''ve got a strategy meeting to get to. Whatever fan-girl moment you''re having can wait."


    "Trust me, you''re gonna wanna hear this first. Sophia''s mouth curved up-not her usual sweet-girl smile, but something sharper. Way too knowing for someone her age.


    Now Lyra actually looked at her. Really looked. Those blue eyes held depths that didn''t belong on a kid''s face. Christ, she really was ke''s daughter.


    "Alright." Lyra turned around, curiosity flickering in those purple eyes. "One minute. Make it count."


    Sophia''s heart hammered with excitement, but she kept her face perfectly controlled. This was it-Lyra''s full attention, exactly what she''d been angling for.


    "I know you want my dad." No beating around the bush. "The way you looked at himst night, sitting right next to him when you could''ve sat anywhere else. Pretty obvious."


    Lyra''s whole body went rigid. Nobody called her out like this. Especially not some teenager who happened to be ke''s kid.


    "Careful.” Her voice dropped to that dangerous whisper priestesses probably practiced in the mirror. "What exactly are you getting at?"


    What I''m getting at is..." Sophia stepped closer, sounding way older than twenty- four, "you actually deserve him Unlike some people, you''ve got what it takes to stand next to an Alpha King."


    That knocked Lyra sideways. She''d been ready for usations, threats, maybe some jealous tantrum. Support? Yeah, that wasn''t on her bingo card.


    "You''re... okay with me going after your father?" Lyra asked carefully, like she was testing for traps.


    "Okay with it?" Sophia let out this littleugh that had ice in it. "Lady, I''m practically begging you to go for it. Lucas and I have been hoping Dad would find someone who actually fits, instead of..."


    She let that hang in the air, watching Lyra''s face.


    ''Instead of what?" Sharp as a de now.


    ''Instead of getting yed by some wannabe/homewrecker." Sophia sighed, putting on this worried-daughter act. "Look, I probably shouldn''t say anything,


    but..."


    Lyra leaned forward, those purple eyes locked on target. "But what?"


    "There''s this woman who''s been circling him like a vulture." Sophia''s voice got serious, the kind of serious that made people fistan. "The aimait about i knows how to hide what she''s really after. But I can see it. The way she''s getting her ws into him."


    The temperature in the hallway seemed to drop ten degrees. Lyra''s robes started that weird shimmering thing they did when she got pissed, silver blue light dancing like she was charging up some spell.


    ''Keep talking." Ice-cold calm. The scary kind.


    Inside, Sophia was doing victoryps. But there was this other feeling too, this sick twist in her stomach. She knew what she was doing-lying. manipting, throwing someone under the bus. Mom would ve hated seeing her like this. When had she turned into this person?


    But what choice did she have?


    Every time Jackson got that faraway look, every time she caught him spacing out when they were together, Sophia knew exactly who he was thinking about. Ava Rivers had sunk her hooks deep, poisoning what should''ve been perfect between them.


    Now that same woman was making moves on her dad? Hell no. Not happening. She''s already screwed up enough of my life. Dad''s off limits.


    ''Her name''s Ava Rivers. Shadow Creek pack." Sophia shook her head like she couldn''t believe it herself. "Technically she''s Lucas''sbat trainer, but that''s just her cover story. She''s always finding excuses to get close to Dad. Shows up at his officete at night, ims it''s about Lucas''s training. Uses work stuff to get alone time with him. And the worst part..."


    Sophia paused, biting her lip like she really didn''t wanna say it. "What''s the worst part?" Lyra''s voice had that dangerous quiet thing going on.


    "She''s living on his privatend now." The words came out soft, but they hit like hammers. "Way up north in the forest. That ce is so private even I barely go there. She spun some sob story about needing protection, and Dad just... gave her a house."


    Lyra''s hands clenched into fists, knuckles going white. She was used to being the most wanted woman in any room. The idea of some nobody warrior trying topete? That was new. And she didn''t like new.


    "This Ava Rivers..." Each word came out sharp enough to cut. "What''s so special about her?"


    "Honestly? I have no clue." Sophia nailed the confused act perfectly. "She''s not prettier than you-not even close. Status-wise, she''s just some disgraced politician''s adopted kid. Talent? All she can do is swing a sword around. But somehow Dad''s totally fixated on her."


    She paused, then went for the kill shot: "Probably ''cause she''s really good at ying the victim. Lost her home, daddy''s in prison, nowhere to go. You know how guys with power get about that helpless act.”


    Bingo. That hit Lyra right where it hurt. Nothing pissed off strong women more than other women who got ahead by acting weak.


    "Priestess!" James Walker''s voice echoed from down the hall. "Strategy meeting''s starting! Everyone''s waiting!"


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