Varek’s POV
He sighed.
“Then can I at least ask if you think Cael’s making you Elite Captain this year?
Or do I keep my mouth shut on that too?”
“Captain.” I turned the word over.
Cael was our commander on the Elite Team—a Lycan from another kingdom, a decorated alumnus who’d dominated everything from combat to strategy.
Back in his own Astral days he’d served on the team alongside the king, who never stopped speaking his name with respect.
Declan bobbed his head.
“Wren’s graduating.
Someone takes over.
Be honest—you’re the obvious pick.”
I gave a careless shrug, pretending the thought hadn’t already lived rent-free in my head for weeks.
“Cael hasn’t said a word.
And I’m not going to beg for it.”
“Course you’re not.” Declan grinned.
“But we both know you’re the best there is.”
Captain was a foregone conclusion in my mind—there was no one else fit for it.
But right now I had bigger fires burning.
“Speaking of the team,” Declan went on.
“One of the new recruits—Elora.
She’s Garrett’s little sister.”
I hummed, feigning boredom.
Garrett’s little sister.
I had no use for that guy; worst superiority complex I’d ever met, and that was saying something coming from me.
No surprise they shared blood.
Even if it meant Elora came from a family that mattered a little, it changed nothing.
Small pack.
Still a puppy.
“She’s great,” Declan said, smiling.
My jaw tightened.
“Is that so.”
“Yeah.
I mean—quiet, but funny.
Good healer, from what I hear.
And she’s… beautiful—”
“Shame she’s a puppy.” I kept my face flat while my fists curled at my sides.
Beautiful.
Who the hell was he calling beautiful?
Declan being Declan, he was probably just being kind.
And if he wasn’t, then I’d have to protect him from himself.
If she was unworthy of me, she was unworthy of my friend.
“Not that I want her,” Declan chuckled.
“I just think she’s fun to be around.”
“Speaking of being around,” he continued.
“What’s the deal with you and my sister?
Sabrina’s telling everyone you two might be getting back together.”
I exhaled hard.
From one landmine straight to the next.
“There’s nothing between us.
Your sister and I are done.”
“Then somebody should tell her,” Declan snorted.
“Because that’s not the story she’s spreading.”
I dragged a hand through my hair, frustration crawling up my spine.
Sabrina had always been a problem, and ever since the Lycan King handed down his blessing, she’d only gotten worse.
She thought she was untouchable.
“Where is she?” I asked.
I wanted this settled.
She wasn’t the only girl in my orbit, and she wasn’t going to torch my sophomore year with her games.
“Courtyard, last I saw.”
We split, and I made straight for it.
Sure enough, there she was, laughing with her little circle.
Unless I was inside her, the sight of Sabrina made my blood run hot in the worst way.
I hated rumors.
I hated the untrue ones most of all.
Because every whisper on this campus eventually reached Aethelgard—which meant it reached the king.
She knew that.
She counted on it.
“Sabrina!” I called, and every girl in the cluster turned.
“Oh—I’m sorry.” I let the sarcasm drip.
“Since when do we have so many Sabrinas?”
The rest took the hint and scattered, some with a scoff, some with a smirk.
Sabrina planted her hands on her hips, smug smile firmly in place.