"Ava."


    The sound of my name has me sitting up immediately, even before my eyes open. "What''s wrong?"


    "Nothing''s wrong. Calm down." Lucas pulls me into his arms, and I wrap my arms around his waist as I blink in the dim light, trying to wake my sleepy brain.


    "We''ve made contact with a group of wolves at the border," he says, making my heart skip a beat again. I''ve been asleep most of the past two days. Grimoire said my body needed to recuperate after such a large draw of power.


    This is my first time hearing anyone was even near the perimeter of our pack.


    "And?" Since Lucas is calm, I know it can''t be bad.


    "They''re from Aspen," he says, confirming my thoughts. "While they haven''t been hit as hard as us, they''ve sent out scouting packs to make contact with us and others."


    "How did they find us?" Despite knowing this group isn''t a danger to our safety, that detail makes me nervous.


    "Clayton already knows about this place. He has a safe haven of his own near the coast."


    "Oh."


    Lucas'' voice is steady as he continues, "The leader of these scouts specifically asked for your presence."


    "What? Why didn''t you lead with that?"


    Attempting to jump out of his arms doesn''t go well. He tightens his hold, keeping me in place. "Calm down, Ava. There''s no rush. Get dressed first."


    The hug is lukewarm at best, a perfunctory gesture that lacks any real affection, despite calling my name with such familiarity. I can feel the stiffness in her posture, mirroring my own discomfort. As we pull apart, I search for something to say, grasping for words to bridge the chasm of time and circumstance between us.


    "How are you doing, Ivy?" The question sounds hollow and weak, even to me. It''s a woefully inadequate way to greet someone after all this time, but my eyes flicker to her head as I think of her bleeding in the car.


    A faint smile curves her lips, though it doesn''t touch her eyes. "Long healed." Ivy''s gaze shifts, moving past me to settle on Lucas.


    If I had hackles, they''d raise at the way her eyes travel over him. Maybe it''s just my discomfort in her presence.


    When she speaks again, there''s a strange inflection in her voice, an undercurrent I can''t put my finger on. It isn''t really friendly, but I can''t quite say it''s unfriendly, either.


    "I heard you''re Luna here now."


    "Yes, I am." My shoulders straighten as I respond, pulling myself as tall as I can stand.


    Ivy''s eyes narrow slightly, assessing me. "Interesting," she murmurs. "It''s good to see you doing so well, Ava."


    The tension in the room ratchets up a notch. I''m acutely aware of the other Aspen wolves watching our exchange, but I''m at a loss on why it feels as though I''m dancing some strange political line every time Ivy speaks.


    Then, she smiles, and it''s as friendly and warm as you''d expect from a close ally, as if my strange emotions are nothing more than fanciful thinking. "I''m so happy you guys are here and doing so well. Our alpha was quite concerned about all of you."


    Her eyes flicker to Lucas at the last sentence, as if trying to gauge his response to Clayton''s concern. Or is it just paranoia, after all?


    I wouldn''t be so certain, Selene opines, sounding thoughtful. She seems to have something against you. Maybe she''s upset you didn''t mate her brother, after all.


    But even Selene sounds doubtful. Ivy hadn''t seemed particularly interested in me as a potential sister-in-law back then. You''d think she''d be ecstatic to hear I''m mated to someone else now, leaving her precious brother free and clear of my influence.