Third person POV


    Rae had expected Moonstone to feel quieter after Ellie left.


    It was anything but. Cassian was a constant presence, thankfully. The two of them were growing closer every day. Rae was aware of the rumors that were spreading around Moonstone that the alpha''s son was courting a


    Back in Silver Fang, that rumor would have been devastating. It would have sparked turmoil and unease. Here, people seemed more amused than anything.


    There was no judgment when she was out with Cassian, no whispers behind her back. It was so unlike what she was used to back home. It made her grateful every day that she''d made the move to Moonstone permanent.


    ire was amon presence now, too. She had always been around, always easy to talk to. With Ellie gone, they''d fallen into a strange, unspoken routine-shared meals, long walks through the city, quiet conversations that stretchedte into the evening.


    It wasforting.


    That, more than anything, was what unsettled Rae.


    They sat together now at a small café near the temple, sunlight filtering through


    wide windows. ire stirred her drink absently, gaze distant.


    "I still can''t believe she went back,” ire said, breaking the silence.


    Rae nced up. “Ellie?"


    "Yes." ire''s mouth twisted. "Silver Fang, of all ces."


    Rae frowned slightly. "It''s her home."


    ire let out a quiet, humorlessugh. "Is it? Or is it just where Nn is?"


    The wordsnded wrong.


    Rae set her cup down slowly. "What do you mean?"


    ire shrugged. "I just don''t understand how she could choose someone like him. After everything we know."


    Rae studied her friend carefully. "What exactly do you think we know?"


    ire hesitated. Just for a second. Then she waved a hand dismissively. "You''ve seen the reports. His temper. The violence. The way people talk about him."


    Rae''s unease deepened. “People talk about everyone. He''s pha of a pack that''s had a lot of issues for decades. I''m not the biggest fan of Nn, either. But he''s changed.''


    ire leaned forward, lowering her voice. "Kieran would never have put her in danger like that."


    Rae stiffened. "Kieran isn''t her mate."


    "That doesn''t mean he wouldn''t have protected her better.


    Something cold slid down Rae''s spine.


    ire took a sip of her drink, then added casually, "And after what happened with Cassian, when Nn was injured... I thought she''d see reason."


    Rae''s breath caught. "What do you mean?"


    ire blinked "You know. The attack. When Nn was stabbed. He was reckless and chasing glory, wanting the praise for protecting Cassian. If he''d died what kind of situation would Ellie and the boys be left in? Not to mention what would happen to Silver Fang. He''s alpha, he has greater responsibilities to consider than his personal friendships. It was selfish."


    Rae stared at her.


    “That reckless action saved her brother''s life," Rae said slowly. “It saved my boyfriend''s life. You think he should have let Cassian die."


    ire''s smile faltered "I-Rae, that''s not what I mean."


    "No," Rae said. "It''s exactly what you meant."


    Silence stretched between them, thick and ufortable.


    ire looked away first. “I didn''t mean anything by it."


    Ree nodded, forcing herself to rx. "Of course."


    But the sense of wrongness didn''t fade.


    It followed Ree all the way back to the apartment, coiling tighter with every step.


    Ellie POV


    "Nn''s fine," I said into the phone, gently. "Healing well. You don''t need to keep apologizing, Cassian."


    "I should have been faster,” Cassian replied. “I should have "


    "He made a choice. You''re both okay," I interrupted. "That''s what mattered."


    I could almost hear him exhale on the other end.


    "How can you be so calm about this?"


    "Cassian, my mate protected my brother. The situation was terrible no matter what. Because of Nn, you both got toe home. Freaking out now isn''t going to change what happened, and it isn''t going to help him heal.”


    “He''s not resting, is he?” Cassian asked.


    "Not exactly," I admitted. "He''s not working too much; he just won''t stop fussing over the boys."


    "Well, that''s probably a good thing," Cassian said, sounding amused.


    "How do you figure that?" I asked curiously.


    "Nn is always so tightly wound. ying with the boys is probably the best stress relief he''s ever had."


    “I hadn''t thought of it that way," I confessed softly. "I was worried he''s pushing too hard because he''s trying to make up for lost time."


    "I''m sure that''s part of it," Cassian admitted. "You aren''t still feeling guilty are you?"


    "How can I not? The bond between them is so obvious and was standing in the way of it. I deprived them all of this because I was selfish and-"