Natalia
The next morning, I woke to find a small folded note slipped under my door. The handwriting was familiar.
“Message received. Meet me at Crescent Moon Tavern, 11 PM tonight. Come alone. -M”
Mila had responded faster than I’d expected. I tucked the note into my pocket, wondering what she knew that would prompt her to schedule a meeting so quickly. The Crescent Moon was in neutral territory, about twenty minutes from Ashmoor’s borders—far enough to be discreet, but not so far that it would raise suspicions if I was spotted.
It was busy when I arrived later that evening, packed with wolves from various territories looking for a neutral place to drink and socialize. I scanned the crowd, searching for Mila’s familiar face.
I spotted her in a dark corner booth, nursing a glass of rum
