Celine barely had time to catch her breath after training when Sasha stepped into her path, her posture too perfect, her smirk just a little too satisfied—like she’d been waiting all day for this moment.
“You’re looking exhausted,” Sasha said, voice syrupy sweet. “Leon pushing you too hard? Or are you finally realizing you don’t belong here?”
Celine rolled her shoulders, sweat still clinging to her skin. She didn’t look away. “That’s funny. I was just thinking the same about you.”
Sasha blinked—just once—but it was enough. Celine had landed the first hit.
Sasha recovered quickly. “You’ve got spirit,” she said, tilting her head. “That’ll make it more tragic when it breaks.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Celine replied flatly, “right after I stop caring about anything that comes out of your mouth.”
Sasha’s lips curled, but her eyes flashed. She stepped closer, the heels of her boots clicking softly on the stone floor.
“The elders had a meeting today,” she said, voice lowered like it was some grand secret. “Guess whose name came up as the most suitable Luna?”
Celine raised a brow. “Yours? Huh. I thought they were looking for someone with a functioning personality.”
Sasha laughed—sharp and humorless. “You really think you're competition? You’re nothing, Celine. A stray with a tragic backstory and doubtful bloodline. You haven’t even shifted.”
“And yet,” Celine said, cool as ice, “Leon trains me. Leon trusts me. Leon spends more time with me in a day than he’s ever spent with you.”
That hit. Sasha’s smirk faltered before snapping back into place. “He’s just keeping you close until he makes his choice. And when he does? I’ll make sure you’re reminded, every day, of exactly where you belong.”
Celine took a step forward, their faces now inches apart. “You’re threatened by me. That’s why you’re here, playing queen before there’s a crown.”
Sasha didn’t move. “Enjoy the scraps of his attention while you can, little wolf. Because when this is over, you’ll be nothing more than a footnote in my story.”
Celine’s eyes narrowed, her voice steady and quiet. “Keep dreaming. But be careful. That story of yours? I might rewrite it.”
For a long beat, neither of them moved. Then Sasha took a step back, smile brittle, and turned on her heel.