POV EMMA BELLE
The journey to the southern border was a blur of gray stone and biting wind. Damon and Nathaniel had already surged ahead with the vanguard, their impatience to meet the Council's forces radiating through the mental bond like a fever. But Félix remained by my side, his presence a constant, grounding warmth as we navigated the treacherous mountain passes.
However, the "things to do" Damon had shouted about weren't just tactical. We were heading to the Iron-Oak Outpost, a hidden village where the most vulnerable members of the Northern packs had been moved for safety.
"You're doing that thing again," Félix said, nudging my shoulder with his as we walked through the bustling center of the outpost. "The 'Queen-Stare.' Relax, Little Bird. They're safe here."
"I can't help it, Lixie," I murmured, watching the children play in the snow. "I keep waiting for the ground to shake again."
"Well, if you want someone to talk to who won't give you a lecture on ley lines or roar about honor, I have someone you should meet," Félix said, his eyes twinkling with a secret.
He led me toward a small stone cottage near the infirmary. Standing outside was a woman who looked nothing like the battle-hardened warriors of the Black Crag. She had a crown of messy silver braids, eyes the color of dark honey, and an aura that felt like the first warm day of spring.
"Maya!" Félix called out.
The woman turned, and her face lit up with a grin that was almost as infectious as Félix's. "Lixie! You blonde nuisance! I heard you were too busy playing bodyguard to the Queen to visit your favorite healer."
Félix laughed and pulled her into a brief, brotherly hug. "I brought the Queen to you, Maya. Try to be on your best behavior."
Maya's eyes shifted to me. I expected her to bow, to tremble, or to look at me with the same terrifying reverence the others did. Instead, she walked right up to me, sniffed the air once, and then let out a delighted hum.
"Well," Maya said, crossing her arms over her chest. "You certainly smell like his. And you smell like a mountain that's finally stopped crying. I'm Maya."
She didn't wait for a royal decree. She grabbed my hand—her skin was warm and smelled of dried herbs and lavender—and pulled me toward the cottage. "Come on. These men have been boring you to death, haven't they? Let's get some tea and talk about something that isn't a war."
Félix gave me a wink and a thumbs-up as he retreated to check on the sentries, leaving me alone with Maya.
The inside of her cottage was a sanctuary. Bundles of sage and mountain-mint hung from the rafters, and a small pot bubbled over a modest hearth. For the first time in weeks, the "White Queen" felt the tension in her shoulders drop.
"Sit," Maya commanded, pointing to a chair covered in thick sheepskin. "You look like you've been carrying the weight of the sky, Emma. Can I call you Emma? 'Your Majesty' is a mouthful, and frankly, I've seen Lixie in his underwear, so I can't take his Queen too formally."
I let out a surprised, genuine laugh, the sound bright in the small room. "Please, call me Emma. And yes... they are a lot to handle."
"Men," Maya sighed, pouring a dark, fragrant tea into two ceramic mugs. "Especially Alphas. They think every problem can be solved with a bite or a roar. They forget that a wolf is only as strong as her pack's heart."
She sat across from me, her dark honey eyes watching me with a kindness that felt like a hug. "I was an Omega too, you know. Before the North was unified. My old pack thought my healing was a sign of weakness. They wanted warriors, not girls who knew which root stopped a fever."
"You were an Omega?" I asked, leaning forward. "But your aura... it's so stable."
"That's because I found my sisters," Maya said, gesturing to the village outside. "We don't need a crown to be strong, Emma. We just need each other. Félix told me what happened at the Spire. And I know about the 'Union.' It must be exhausting, having three Alphas wanting to mark you while your heart is already tied to the fourth."
I looked down at my tea, the steam warming my face. "It is. They've accepted the boundary... for now. But I feel their hunger, Maya. Their need to own a part of me."
Maya reached across the table and squeezed my hand. "They can't own what isn't for sale, honey. Your wolf... she knows who her brother is, who her protector is, and who her mate is. Don't let their Alphas' egos confuse your own truth."
We talked for hours. For the first time, I told someone about the fear I felt when the violet light took over. I told her about the blush on Félix's face when I mentioned pups, and Maya laughed so hard she nearly spilled her tea.
"Oh, he's going to be a terrible father," Maya giggled, wiping a tear from her eye. "He'll be the one sneaking them extra treats and teaching them how to prank Nathaniel. But those pups will be the luckiest wolves in the world, Emma. Because they'll have a mother who chose love over power."
Being with Maya felt like finding a piece of myself I hadn't known was missing. She was the sister I never had. She didn't want my power; she wanted my friendship.
"Listen," Maya said, her voice turning serious as the sun began to set. "The battle at the border... it's going to be ugly. Caleb isn't just bringing wolves. He's bringing the 'Silver-Tide'—human mercenaries with silver-laced weapons. Damon and the others are going to be focused on the front lines."
She reached into a wooden chest and pulled out a small, leather pouch. Inside were three vials of a shimmering blue liquid.
"This is Blue-Brier," she explained. "It won't stop a silver blade, but it will keep the heart beating long enough for a healer to get there. Take it. One for you, one for Félix, and one for whoever you think needs it most."
"Thank you, Maya," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "I don't know how to repay you."
"Just come back alive," Maya smiled, standing up to walk me to the door. "And when this is over, we're going to have a proper party. No kings allowed. Just us girls and enough wine to make a wolf forget she has a tail."
I stepped out into the cold night air, the pouch tucked safely into my belt. Félix was waiting for me, leaning against a wooden post, his eyes lighting up the moment he saw me.
"You look better," he said, walking over and wrapping his arm around my waist. "Maya has that effect on people."
"She's amazing, Lixie," I said, leaning my head against his shoulder. "Thank you for bringing me here."
"I knew you needed a friend," he whispered, kissing the top of my head. "Someone who sees Emma, not the Queen."
As we walked back toward the command tent where the others were waiting, I felt a new kind of strength. I had the fire of Damon, the mind of Nathaniel, the shadows of Vincent, and the soul of Félix.
But now, I had the sisterhood of Maya.
I looked at the dark horizon, where the fires of Caleb's army were beginning to flicker in the distance. The war was at our doorstep, but I wasn't afraid anymore.
"Let them come," I whispered to the wind.
My wolf stood tall, her silver fur shining in my mind's eye. We were a pack now. A real pack. And the North was about to show the world that a Queen with friends is more dangerous than a Queen with an army.
"Lixie," I said, stopping for a moment.
"Yeah, Little Bird?"
"After the battle... remind me to ask Maya about that wine."
Félix laughed, the sound a beautiful defiance against the coming storm. "It's a deal, Emma. It's a deal."