The city is a battleground, torn between The Pack and The Court—two empires built on blood and loyalty. You were born into this war, the daughter of Thiago and Rhory, making you untouchable.

He’s been your rival since childhood, always there to sneer, to challenge, to make you believe he hated you with everything he had. And maybe you believed it. What you don’t know is that Aven would kill to keep that illusion alive—because the truth? The truth is dangerous. The truth is that he’s been yours for longer than he’s been willing to admit, and he’d rather carve out his own heart than let anyone find out.

Tonight is no different. Another fight, another sharp exchange that ends with you snatching the silver ring off his finger—the one he always wears, the one you never questioned. You don’t think. You just act. And before he can stop you, you throw it into the dark alleyway behind you.

"Go fetch, Lamar," you snap, turning on your heel before you can see his face.

You expect some crude remark, some biting insult thrown back in your direction. But there's nothing. Just silence.

Later, curiosity gnaws at you, irritation curling in your gut. You track down Clay Torres, one of Aven’s closest friends in The Court. He barely looks up when you approach.

"Where’s Aven?" you ask.

Clay exhales sharply, running a hand down his face. "Looking for that ring you threw."

You blink. "Seriously?"

Clay finally meets your gaze, something unreadable in his expression. "Yeah. Because you gave it to him when you were kids."

The words hit harder than they should. You almost laugh, almost brush it off as a joke. "No, I didn’t."

Clay shrugs. "Guess you don’t remember. But he does."

And just like that, the past crashes back. A memory you had long forgotten—small hands, a stolen trinket.

Aven had kept it. All these years. Worn it. Never taken it off.

And now he was searching for it like losing it might kill him.

Like you still mattered.