I finished changing in record time, pulling on the clothes Luna Ava had packed. Her choices were… strategic, to say the least. She’d included my essentials—underwear, bra, jeans—but every other item belonged to one of the guys. Ethan’s tank top, Ryan’s T-shirt, Aaron’s oversized sweatshirt—all smelling freshly worn. Luna Ava must’ve been in my room too, taking all my other clothes so that I had no choice but to wear her carefully chosen outfit. Sneaky, meddling woman.

Rolling my eyes, I tucked the hem of Ryan’s shirt into my jeans to avoid drowning in it and pushed up the sleeves of Aaron’s sweatshirt. I knew what she was doing, but for now, I’d play along.

Downstairs, Devin waited, arms crossed and looking amused. “Don’t shoot the messenger,” he said, raising his hands in mock surrender as he took in my outfit. “Your brother and I didn’t contribute. But we did help relocate everything else you might’ve worn.”

I shook my head, trying to suppress a laugh. “I’ll remember this,” I said, rolling my eyes as we started walking toward the school.

He handed me a granola bar and a water bottle, a silent gesture but one that said a lot. Despite the show of force, he genuinely cared. “Anyway,” he said, a smile tugging at his lips, “speaking of being your ‘escort’—you’re still going to the ball with us, right?”

“The Mating Ball?” I groaned. “Devin, it just feels… pointless right now. I’m fifteen. My mate isn’t even on the horizon, and I don’t need some fancy dress and dance to parade around like I’m for sale.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “Trust me, I get it. But it’s not just about the mates—it’s also a security thing, especially now. Plus,” he added with a sideways glance, “this might be your last ball for a while, considering your future as an Elite Warrior with the Alpha King’s team.”

I sighed. “Fine. But I’m not there for the ball. I’m there because I promised Kylie. Besides, I don’t want to be one of those girls looking for a status boost.”

“You’re no different,” he said, watching my reaction.

“What do you mean?”

Devin shrugged. “You’re getting paraded around too, Selene. Every other pack warrior, Alpha, and Gamma wants to look your way. They’re all talking about you—and not just for your combat skills.”

I blinked at him, taken aback. “All I’ve ever wanted is to be a warrior. I never imagined myself as someone to ‘level up’ a rank.”

He laughed softly. “Well, we do. And honestly, that’s why we react the way we do around other guys. You’re more than a warrior to us, Selene. You have no idea how others see you, and that’s probably a good thing because you’d never let it go to your head. But it also means that some jerk could come along and take advantage of you. And yes,” he admitted with a smirk, “jealousy is part of it. Even Drew would never admit it to your face, but I’ll bet that Alpha Prince had a moment when you knocked him out cold.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Is it really that big of a deal? Don’t you guys get sick of people fawning all over you?”

He chuckled. “Well, yeah. They’re all after the title, not the life that comes with it. They don’t realize the work, the training, the constant demands.”

I nodded thoughtfully. “I don’t envy any of you. Being paraded around like that sounds miserable.”

As we neared the school, the conversation turned more serious. “Come on, let’s get inside before the principal decides to notify my dad of my ‘tardiness.’ I can’t take another lecture about duty and responsibility right now,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“Trust me, after your speech at the hospital, no one’s going to doubt your dedication.”

We barely reached my locker when Stacey approached, flanked by her minions, Jeanie and Marnie. “Where have you been?” she sneered. “And why are you wearing Aaron’s sweatshirt? He never lets me wear it. Take it off, Selene, now.”

I raised an eyebrow, looking at her outstretched hand as if she’d sprouted another head.

Devin stepped in, a hard look in his eyes. “The Luna herself chose Selene’s outfit today. If you have an issue, take it up with her. And by the way, how did you like your patrols this morning?”

Stacey’s face faltered. “There was a… misunderstanding about our assignments. Daddy will get it fixed,” she muttered, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

Devin crossed his arms, his gaze intense. “No, the patrol schedules are set, Stacey. Your daddy can’t change that. You’re going to have to put in the effort this time.”

A flicker of fear crossed her face before she covered it with a pout. I almost smirked, watching her struggle to maintain her facade. Devin’s eyes softened as he turned back to me. “By the way, Selene, I’ll need your report on Marnie’s performance today.”

I watched the color drain from Marnie and Jeanie’s faces as Devin walked me away, leaving Stacey and her entourage in our wake. “You realize what you’ve just done, right?” I whispered to Devin.

He shrugged. “They can’t make your life any more difficult than it already is, and if they try… well, let’s just say they’re in for a surprise.”

We went our separate ways once inside, but I spent lunch at my usual spot, craving a break from the chaos. I had barely begun eating when Marnie and Jeanie slid into the seats beside me.

“We need your help,” Marnie whispered frantically. “We can’t fail patrols. If Stacey’s dad can’t pull some strings, we need to do better. You have to help us.”

I stared at them, half in disbelief and half intrigued. “You… want my help?” I asked, almost laughing at the irony.

“Yes. Stacey set us up to fail, and we can’t go back to her. Please,” Jeanie pleaded, glancing over her shoulder as if Stacey might appear any second.

I took a deep breath. “Look, patrols require real training. You can’t just show up once and expect to handle it. But if you want a few pointers…”

“Anything,” Marnie said, nodding vigorously.

“Fine. Sleep well, drink water, and wear dark colors. Show up on time, and actually participate in training—every single day. You’ll need your cardio and strength to get through it. Consistency is key.”

They both thanked me and practically flew from their seats. I shook my head, still processing what had just happened when a familiar presence made me tense. I didn’t need to look up to know it was Ethan. His scent was unmistakable—a warm, honeyed calm that both soothed and irritated me. I closed my eyes, bracing myself.

“What was that all about?” he growled, his voice a low rumble.

Taking a steadying breath, I turned to face him, meeting his intense gaze. His expression was unreadable, his jaw set and his eyes cold, but his presence still stirred a warmth I couldn’t shake.