The moon hung low over Astravel, casting silver light on the stone walls of the kingdom. A tense silence filled the war room, where Ashley, Coleen, and his closest warriors stood gathered around a large wooden table. Maps, reports, and hastily scribbled notes cluttered its surface.

  Ashley’s fingers hovered over the map. "The poison is spreading faster than we thought," she murmured. "It’s already in Astravel. That means someone is smuggling it inside."

  Coleen, standing beside her, folded his arms. "And if someone is smuggling it, that means we have a traitor." His voice was dangerously calm, but Ashley could sense the barely restrained fury beneath it.

  Dave, Coleen’s newly returned beta and best friend, leaned forward. His sharp eyes scanned the reports. "It has to be coming through the trade routes," he said. "Merchants, travelers, nobles—someone is moving it past our guards."

  Ashley nodded. "I agree. We need to catch them in the act. If we don’t stop this soon, more werewolves will die."

  Elena, Dave’s mate, placed a protective hand over her stomach. She was pregnant, and the weight of this war sat heavily on her. "Whatever we do, we need to be careful," she warned. "If the hunters have spies in Astravel, they’ll know we’re watching."

  Coleen exhaled sharply. "Then we make our move tonight." His silver eyes locked onto Ashley’s. "Are you ready?"

  Ashley met his gaze, determination burning in her chest. "Always."

  Midnight found Ashley crouched behind a stack of crates in the bustling market square. The air was thick with the scent of spices and burning lantern oil. Merchants whispered deals in the shadows, and nobles in expensive cloaks strolled past, oblivious to the danger lurking beneath their feet.

  Ashley’s gaze swept across the crowd until she spotted something.

  A hunched old man in a tattered cloak moved through the stalls with careful, deliberate steps. In his hands, he carried a small wooden box.

  Ashley’s pulse quickened. That’s it.

  She caught Coleen’s eye from across the square and gave a small nod. He responded with the slightest tilt of his head.

  Silently, Ashley slipped through the crowd, following the old man’s path. The moment he turned into a dark alley, she lunged.

  She grabbed him by the cloak and yanked him back against the wall. "What’s in the box?" she demanded.

  The old man gasped, his wrinkled hands trembling. "I—I don’t know what you mean!"

  Coleen stepped into the alley, his presence like a cold storm rolling in. "Open it."

  The man hesitated, but one sharp glare from Coleen sent him scrambling to lift the lid.

  Inside, nestled in soft cloth, were small glass vials filled with a golden liquid.

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  Ashley’s breath caught.

  The poison.

  Coleen reached for one and held it up to the dim moonlight. The liquid inside shimmered with an unnatural glow. "Where did you get this?" he asked, his voice calm but deadly.

  The old man swallowed hard. "I—I only deliver the shipments."

  Ashley’s grip tightened. "To who?"

  The man’s lips trembled. "A noble. I don’t know his name, but he wears a silver wolf pendant."

  Ashley exchanged a glance with Coleen. A noble. That meant someone high-ranking in Astravel was working with the hunters.

  Coleen’s jaw clenched. "When is the next delivery?"

  The man hesitated, his eyes darting toward the alley’s exit.

  Coleen took a slow step forward, his presence looming. "If you don’t answer, you won’t live long enough to regret it."

  The old man paled. "Tomorrow. Midnight. The river docks."

  Ashley’s mind raced. The docks were outside the castle walls. If nobles were involved, they wouldn’t handle the poison themselves—they’d send someone.

  Which meant...

  It was a perfect place for a trap.

  Coleen gave a slow nod. "Good. Then you’re coming with us."

  The old man’s face twisted in fear. "What? No! I told you what you wanted!"

  Ashley smirked. "Yes. But now, you’re bait."

  The river docks were eerily silent when Ashley, Coleen, Dave, and Lena arrived the next night. The moon cast a cold glow over the rippling water, and the only sound was the distant creak of wooden boats swaying in the current.

  Hidden behind crates, they watched the old man stand near the water’s edge, holding the box of vials.

  Then, footsteps.

  Two figures approached. One was dressed in dark clothing, his face obscured by a hood. The other...

  Ashley’s breath caught.

  It was Marion.

  Coleen went rigid beside her.

  Ashley clenched her fists. She wasn’t just feeding information to the hunters—she was directly involved in the poison trade.

  The hooded figure reached out to take the box.

  But before he could, Coleen stepped forward, his sword gleaming in the moonlight. "Going somewhere?"

  Marion froze.

  Ashley emerged beside him, her voice sharp. "So. Still pretending you’re loyal?"

  Marion’s eyes narrowed.

  Then—without hesitation—she pulled a dagger and slashed the old man’s throat.

  Ashley gasped as the man collapsed, choking on his own blood.

  Marion stepped back, her hands slick with red. "You should have stayed out of this."

  Then—chaos.

  The hooded figure lunged at Coleen. Lena threw herself into the fight, her claws slashing through the air.

  Ashley barely had time to react before Marion turned and ran.

  Ashley didn’t hesitate—she chased her.

  Ashley sprinted through the twisting streets, her breath sharp in the cold night air. Marion was fast, but Ashley was faster.

  She tackled her to the ground, slamming her against the cobblestone.

  "Why?" Ashley demanded. "Why betray your own people?"

  Marion laughed bitterly. "You think I betrayed them? No, Ashley. I’m saving them."

  Ashley’s eyes narrowed. "By working with the people who are trying to kill us?"

  Marion’s lips curled. "You don’t understand. The hunters don’t want all of us dead. They only want you. If I give you to them, Astravel will be spared."

  Ashley felt rage explode inside her.

  "You think they’ll keep their word?" she hissed. "They already poisoned our people. They’re already inside Astravel. They won’t stop with me."

  For the first time, doubt flickered in Marion’s eyes.

  Ashley pressed harder. "You’re being used. They’ll take this kingdom just like they took Crescent Moon. And when they do, they won’t leave survivors."

  Marion’s breath caught.

  Ashley saw the uncertainty creeping in.

  Then—a sharp pain shot through her side.

  She gasped, looking down—

  Marion had stabbed her.

  Ashley stumbled back, blood spilling down her cloak.

  Marion’s eyes were wide, her breathing ragged, like she hadn’t meant to do it.

  Ashley’s vision blurred.

  And then—darkness