"Nathan, are you ready?" Grayson's voice cut through the air, impatient as always. He raked a hand through his shaggy black hair, pushing it away from those piercing blue eyes. I had to admit—he was hot. Towering at 6'1" with muscles that could rival a Greek god, but he wasn’t my type. Fun to tease, sure, but nothing more. "Almost." I was the Alpha’s daughter. Grayson, my twin brother, was the leader of our tight-knit group—our little pack. He was every girl’s fantasy: sharp jawline, dark brown eyes, and a stubble that somehow made him look even better. Built like a warrior, he carried himself with the confidence of someone who knew his worth. Being his twin meant we looked eerily similar, though he never let me forget he was four minutes older—and thus, the heir to the Alpha title. That left me free to do whatever I wanted, which happened to be tattooing. I’d started at fifteen, and now, just shy of eighteen, I was finishing up Nathan’s latest piece. "I need this done before my date this weekend," Nathan said, flashing a grin. I rolled my eyes. He had a new girl every week—I’d stopped bothering to learn their names. Our school was a mix of humans and werewolves, with three rival packs under one roof. Ours was the Crimson Fang Pack. Then there were the Silvercrest and Nightshade packs. Mostly, we kept things civil, but tensions simmered beneath the surface. "Relax, I’ll make sure you don’t embarrass us," I said, prepping the needle. He was getting our pack’s crest—a snarling wolf with crimson dripping from its fangs. Dramatic? Maybe. But it suited us. "Thanks, Scarlett." That was my nickname. Grayson was "Blaze"—hot, reckless, and impossible to ignore. Me? I was "Scarlett" because of the icy wall I kept around my heart. Long, wild curls, curves that turned heads, legs that went on for days—I could have anyone I wanted. But Grayson had a habit of scaring them off. Once, he’d beaten a guy to a pulp just for kissing me. After that, no one dared cross him. Nathan leaned back as I set up, just as Grayson and the others walked in. "You skipped the last hour?" Grayson asked, arms crossed. Ignoring him, I started on Nathan’s tattoo. He flinched, growling under his breath. "Don’t," I warned. I might be a girl, but Alpha blood ran through my veins. I could put any of them on their asses if I wanted. "Wasn’t ready," he muttered. "Tough." "Scarlett," Grayson pressed, sitting down. Liam, the one I actually wanted but could never have, leaned against the wall. The Beta’s son—quiet, brooding, with honey-brown hair and eyes that made my stomach flip. He was the type to watch the chaos unfold without saying a word. And damn, did I want to climb into his lap and wreck his composure. "I heard you. I didn’t want to go," I said, dipping the needle into ink. Grayson’s voice darkened. "Why? Something happen?" Thankfully, the door swung open, and Sophia walked in. Nathan had been pining after her for years, but she shut him down every time. Now, he dated random girls just to get a reaction—which only made her roll her eyes harder. Sophia was sunshine in human form—strawberry blonde curls, freckles, and blue eyes that could cut through steel. She was also one of the best fighters in our pack—second only to me. "How’s it going?" she asked, leaning over to inspect my work. "Just finishing up Nathan’s tattoo," I said, wiping the excess ink away. "Sissy boy?" Nathan shot me a look. "Relax, it’s a joke." The bell chimed again, and this time, the air shifted. A stranger walked in. And holy hell. He gave Liam a run for his money. Black hair slicked back, green eyes locked onto me like a predator. A leather jacket barely contained his build, and those tight jeans paired with biker boots? Deadly. Shaking off the sudden heat in my veins, I forced my voice steady. "What are you looking for?" "I was told to ask for Evelyn. Heard she’s the best." "That’s me." My tone sharpened. Most called me Evie. Close friends used Scarlett. Only a handful dared use Evelyn. His surprise flickered, but he recovered fast. "I want something like this." He pulled out a sketch—a wolf howling at the moon, intricate and bold. "Where?" "My back. Full coverage. Just got back from training—wanted to mark it." "Name?" Grayson cut in. The stranger turned. "Sebastian. Alpha Benjamin’s son—Silvercrest Pack." He extended a hand. Grayson stood, tension coiling between them. "Grayson Andrews. Crimson Fang Alpha’s son. That’s my sister, Evelyn. Sophia, future Gamma. Nathan, future Beta. Liam, my right hand." Sebastian nodded. "Not here to cause trouble. Just finishing my last year before I transfer." I couldn’t help it. "Transfer where?" Grayson shot me a glare, but Sebastian smirked. "More training." "That piece will run you $1,500. Multiple sessions. Depends on your pain tolerance." "Got references?" I pointed to the portfolio. He flipped through it, and I studied him. Mysterious. Dangerous. But not in the way I expected. When Nathan’s tattoo was done, I cleaned up, snapping a photo for my records. Grayson lingered, reluctance in his stance. "I’m fine," I mind-linked. "Don’t trust him." "Sophia’s here. Dad will skin you if you’re late again." He relented. "Tell me the second he leaves." "Yes, sir," I mocked. Once they were gone, Sophia whistled. "If you don’t climb that man like a tree, I will." I snorted. "Grayson would murder him." "Worth it." Locking up, I caught Sebastian watching me from across the street. His gaze burned through me, sending shivers down my spine. There was something primal in his eyes. Something that called to the wolf inside me.