The following morning, Kane was nowhere to be found at our scheduled security briefing. His second-in-command delivered the update instead, informing me that Kane had reassigned himself to border patrol duty—effectively removing himself from all Gala preparations.

Two days passed in similar fashion. Any message I sent to Kane regarding event security was answered by one of his subordinates. In meetings, he sent representatives rather than attending himself. The message was clear: he was honoring my declaration that our arrangement did not extend to my "life choices."

I told myself this was exactly what I wanted—professional distance, clear boundaries. Yet each time I saw one of his team members instead of him, I felt an unexpected hollowness in my chest.

On the third day, I was returning from a final walkthrough of the Gala venue when I spotted Raymond heading toward Kane's quarters. On impulse, I followed, keeping a discreet distance. Raymond knocked on Kane's door and entered without waiting for a response.

The door didn't fully close behind him. Driven by curiosity, I approached quietly, positioning myself where I could see through the narrow opening without being observed.

Kane sat behind a desk covered with maps and reports, his expression guarded as Raymond helped himself to a chair across from him.

"You've been scarce lately," Raymond said, an uncomfortable edge to his casual tone.

Kane continued reviewing a document, not bothering to look up. "Border security requires attention."

"Right before a major event with guests from seventeen different packs?" Raymond raised an eyebrow. "Seems like odd timing."

Raymond shifted in his seat, uncharacteristically hesitant. "Look, about the other day... I may have been too harsh. Our friendship goes back too far for a minor disagreement to come between us."

Kane finally looked up, his expression revealing nothing. "Is that what it was? A minor disagreement?"

After a moment of tension, Kane nodded once. "Water under the bridge."

Raymond visibly relaxed. "Good. I've missed having you around. No one challenges me like you do."

"Someone should," Kane replied mildly, though there was an edge to his words.

Raymond leaned forward with renewed confidence. "Actually, I wanted to discuss something with you. The Alpha Council has two vacancies opening up next quarter."

Kane's expression remained neutral. "So I've heard."

"Your uncle will be making the appointments, won't he?" Raymond asked. "As Alpha King, he must have already started considering candidates."

"My uncle doesn't discuss Council business with me," Kane replied.

From the shadows of the corner, a figure I hadn't noticed before shifted slightly—Giana, sitting quietly, observing the exchange. Her sudden movement drew both men's attention.

"The Alpha Council influences territory disputes, doesn't it?" she asked, her voice carrying an unusual intensity. "And trade routes between packs?"

Kane's expression cooled noticeably. "Among other things."

Giana leaned forward, her typical submissive demeanor replaced by something more calculating. "What about Council members like Elder Blackwood? I've heard he controls three votes through his alliances. Is that true?"

"Where did you hear that?" Kane asked sharply.

"Pack gossip," Giana replied with a careful shrug. "Is it accurate?"

Undeterred, Giana continued. "What about voting patterns? If Raymond were nominated to the Council, which members would likely support him?"

The targeted nature of her questions raised the hair on the back of my neck. This wasn't casual curiosity—Giana was fishing for specific political information with unusual precision.

Kane's eyes narrowed slightly. "Curious questions from someone who claims to have no interest in pack politics."

Giana immediately softened her posture, the sharp intelligence in her eyes giving way to practiced vulnerability. "I just want to support Raymond in any way I can. His success is all that matters to me."

"How touching," Kane said dryly. "But since you're not Luna, perhaps you shouldn't meddle in matters beyond your station."

Giana's façade cracked momentarily, a flash of genuine anger crossing her features before she controlled them.

Raymond cleared his throat. "Giana's just trying to help. She cares about my advancement."

As they moved to safer topics, I watched Giana from my hidden vantage point. The mask of the devoted girlfriend had slipped back into place, but I'd seen what lay beneath it—a sharp, calculating mind with specific political objectives.

Realizing they might finish their meeting soon, I slipped away quietly, my mind racing with new questions. Why was Giana so interested in the Alpha Council? What did she hope to gain through Raymond's potential appointment?

---

The next day, I arrived early for the final planning meeting before the Gala. To my surprise, Kane was present, though he stood at the far side of the room, not acknowledging me.

When I presented the venue arrangements, Kane spoke up for the first time in days.

"The eastern entrance is too exposed," he stated flatly. "We need to move the reception line to the northern approach."

I stared at him, caught off guard by his sudden participation after days of silence. "We can't move the reception line now. The decorations are already installed, the staff has been trained on traffic flow, and the invitations specify the eastern entrance."

"Security concerns outweigh convenience," Kane insisted.

"There's been no indication of threats requiring such measures," I pointed out. "And the change would require reworking the entire arrival sequence."

Kane remained unmoved. "Better safe than sorry."

Something about his challenge felt off. The eastern entrance had been thoroughly vetted by his own security team weeks ago. This sudden objection made no sense—unless his goal wasn't security at all, but simply to publicly undermine me.

I glanced at Raymond, expecting him to at least request Kane's reasoning. Instead, he immediately sided with Kane.

"Aurora, make the changes," he ordered without even hearing my explanation. "Security is our top priority."

From her seat beside Raymond, Giana watched the exchange with barely concealed satisfaction. The realization hit me—Kane's abrupt challenge wasn't random. Somehow, Giana had orchestrated this public humiliation, turning Kane's cold war with me to her advantage.

"The changes will require significant last-minute adjustments," I said, keeping my voice even.

"Then you'd better get started," Raymond replied dismissively.

I caught a flicker of something in Kane's expression—regret, perhaps, or frustration. But it vanished so quickly I might have imagined it.

"Yes, Alpha," I said, the formal acknowledgment tasting bitter in my mouth.

As the meeting continued, I noticed Giana leaning close to Raymond, whispering something that made him smile. Her eyes met mine briefly, and in that moment, I saw it again—that calculating intelligence, watching to see how I'd respond to this latest manipulation.

Rather than give her the satisfaction of seeing me affected, I maintained my composure. But internally, pieces were falling into place. Giana's interest in Council politics, her manipulation of both Raymond and Kane, her strategic consolidation of influence within the pack—all pointed to an agenda far more sophisticated than I'd previously suspected.

The question was: what was she really after? And how far would she go to get it?

When the meeting ended, I gathered my materials with deliberate calm. As I turned to leave, I found Kane watching me, his expression unreadable. For a moment, I thought he might approach, might offer some explanation for his unexpected opposition.

Instead, he turned away, leaving me to wonder if I'd lost not just a lover but also an ally at the worst possible time.