Dawn's POV
I was signing patrol rotations in my office when the first whisper reached me.
Theo knocked once and stepped inside, eyes lowered.
"Alpha," he said quietly, "the maids in the east wing are talking. They say… they say while you were away last week, a she-wolf was seen leaving your private study after midnight. Hair messy. Dress wrinkled."
I set the pen down slowly.
"Who started it?"
Theo swallowed. "They say it came from Lena in housekeeping. Lena heard it from her cousin Mira. Mira works in the kitchens under Luna Odessa."
Of course.
I leaned back in my chair. The anger was cold, familiar. Odessa. Always Odessa.
"Bring Lena to me," I said. "Quietly. And tell no one."
Theo bowed and left.
Fifteen minutes later, Lena stood in front of my desk, twisting her apron, pale as milk.
