It had long been an unspoken oath of hers that she would smite any well-meaning suitor of her siblings who failed to meet her (very) high standards. They had no idea. They didn't need to know. If Nottin had said the wrong thing or had not exuded the sincerity she expected of a worthy partner to her sister, she would have driven him off the edge of the mountain with her own fangs and told the pack she simply saw him slip.

But he was - begrudgingly - perfect in every way. Nottin was not only strong, but dependable and steadfast, and utterly devoted to Dalmatia in ways that far exceeded her wildest hopes.

She smiled.

If you ask me, I think you are her world, she said. And that is enough.

His words on the matter of love did little to sway her opinion that he and Dalmatia made it all look effortless, at least from the outside. She did not say so to his face, but let it rest.

Until he startled her so much she almost choked on air.

Your sister and - I?! she sputtered, exhibiting a rare display of a total loss of composure. Her normally stoic expression, so careful and so benign, was now a strained, bug-eyed disaster of panic mixed with sheer terror.

WhatofyoursisterandI? The words all tumbled together as they fell out. By repeating the question, she subconsciously tried to buy herself more time to both a) understand what the question meant and b) how to answer it.

Well, she knew what the question meant. But she couldn't believe he'd just asked.

Your sister... is... Aurelia forced herself to breathe out slowly. Calm. Peace. Control. ... An incredible wolf. I consider myself lucky - blessed, even, and I do not say that word often - to have her in my life, and a part of this pack.

Careful. Measured.

She casually looked back out toward the stars with the chiseled visage of contentment and screamed internally.