THE NIGHT NAYA MET KAEL

“I ended things with Ethan.” The words hung in the heavy silence of the dinner room, sharp and defiant. Garrick’s cold eyes locked onto her, disappointment and anger simmering just beneath the surface. “You don’t understand the consequences, Naya,” he said, voice low and controlled. “Ethan wasn’t just a boy. He was the bridge between our pack and the North Pack. You broke that bridge.” Naya met his gaze without flinching, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Maybe I’m done building bridges you want to burn anyway.” Her mother, Isolde, looked away, lips pressed tight, while Clara sat quietly, her eyes downcast — silent but carrying the weight of a marriage she never wanted. Lina, the youngest, watched her big sister with wide, hopeful eyes. Naya caught her gaze and softened. Lina was the only reason she stayed tethered to this family at all. “Enough,” Garrick’s voice cut through the tension. “You think this is rebellion? It’s foolishness. And dangerous.” Naya shrugged, pushing back the sting. She was done playing the obedient daughter, done being a pawn. Tonight, she had a new target. Kael. She’d heard the whispers — Alpha of the East Pack, cold, ruthless, already tied to someone else. Perfect. Her plan was clear: get close, cause a little chaos, make her father’s pack pay. No distractions. No attachments. Just the game.