Victoria
I excused myself to make the call to Leo, stepping into my father’s—now my—study for privacy. He answered on the first ring.
"Victoria." His voice was tense. "Everything alright?"
"We have a problem," I said, explaining Alessio’s intelligence about River Valley’s movents.
Leo was silent for a mont. "This confirms our suspicions. Marcus and Gabriel are coordinating their attacks."
"We need to adapt our strategy," I insisted. "You can’t leave Shadow territory undefended to help rescue Enzo."
"My priority is you," he said firmly. "Tiny and Carson can handle River Valley’s forces."
Frustration welled up. "Leo, be reasonable. Your responsibility is to your pack first."
"Don’t tell my responsibilities," he growled, his Alpha dominance bleeding through the phone. "I’ve arranged additional security at our borders. The rescue mission proceeds as planned."
I paced the study, agitated. "This is exactly what Marcus wants—to divide our attention and resources."
"I’m aware." His voice softened slightly. "Trust , Victoria. I’ve been playing these gas longer than you’ve been alive."
The age gap reminder stung, but I pushed past it. "Fine. But I’m coming to Devil’s Lair now. We need to review the plan with this new information."
"Not yet." His tone brooked no argunt. "Take an hour. There’s sothing you need to do first."
"What could possibly—"
"Visit your parents," he interrupted gently. "Properly, before battle. It’s wolf tradition."
The suggestion knocked the wind from my sails. He was right—I needed that connection, that grounding, before facing what might co.
"Okay," I agreed quietly. "I’ll go now."
"I’ll et you there," he said, surprising . "There are things I should say to them too."
Before I could ask what he ant, the line went dead.
I stared at the phone for a mont, then slipped it into my pocket along with the charm from the Ogas. On my way out, I stopped in the kitchen to tell Rosa where I was going.
"Good," she approved, pressing a small bouquet of fresh herbs and wildflowers into my hands. "Take these. They were her favorites."
The Howlthorne family cetery occupied a peaceful corner of the estate, surrounded by ancient oak trees. My parents’ graves lay side by side beneath the largest oak, my father’s headstone elegant and imposing, my mother’s smaller but no less beautiful.
I knelt before them, placing Rosa’s bouquet between the stones. The afternoon sun filtered through the leaves above, dappling the ground with shifting patterns of light and shadow.
"Hi, Mom. Dad," I said softly, feeling slightly foolish but needing to speak. "I’m sorry I haven’t visited more often. Things have been... complicated."
The breeze rustled through the trees in response, carrying the scent of pine and wildflowers.
"I’m trying to save Enzo, even though he probably doesn’t deserve it." I traced my father’s na on the cold stone.
Only silence answered, but it felt expectant rather than empty.
"I’m scared," I admitted, my voice dropping to a whisper. "Not of dying, but of failing. Of letting down the people counting on . Of not being strong enough."
"You are strong enough."
I startled at the deep voice behind , turning to find Leo standing a few paces away, watching with unguarded tenderness. He wore battle-ready clothes—dark tactical pants and a fitted black shirt that emphasized his powerful build—but his expression was gentle.
"Leo," I began uncertainly. "If sothing happens tonight—"
"Nothing will happen," he interrupted firmly.
"But if it does," I insisted, "I need you to know that I—" The words caught in my throat.
Leo turned to face fully, his hands framing my face. "Tell when we get back. Not as a goodbye. As a beginning."
Before I could respond, he lowered his head to my parents’ gravestone, speaking in the ancient language of wolves—a formal pledge that I understood only fragnts of. The ritual words washed over , solemn and binding.
A commotion at the edge of the cetery drew our attention. People were gathering there—dozens of them, pack mbers from both Howlthorne and Shadow territories. Rosa stood at their head, alongside Lilith, Carson, and Uncle Alessio.
"What’s happening?" I asked.
Leo’s expression softened. "They’ve co to see you off. To offer strength before battle. It’s an old tradition—one I didn’t think anyone rembered."
As we approached the gathering, the crowd parted respectfully. Rosa stepped forward first, pressing a kiss to each of my cheeks.
"Return to us, Alpha Victoria," she said formally, then broke protocol to pull into a fierce hug. "My girl," she whispered fiercely.
One by one, pack mbers approached—so I knew well, others only in passing. Each offered a word, a touch, or a small token. Lilith surprised most, clasping my hands tightly in hers.
"Don’t you dare die out there," she said fiercely. "I’m not ready to be Luna yet."
A startled laugh escaped . "I’ll do my best."
The simple ceremony continued until every pack mber had offered their blessing. The weight of their expectations should have been crushing, but instead, I felt buoyed by their faith. This was what pack truly ant—not blood or tradition, but connection and mutual support.
"It’s ti," Leo said quietly when the last well-wisher had stepped back.
I looked around at the gathered faces—my people, looking to with trust and hope—and felt sothing settle inside . Whatever my heritage, whatever the outco of tonight’s mission, I belonged here. This was my pack. My family. My ho.
"I’m ready," I said, and ant it.
As Leo and I walked toward the waiting SUVs, his hand found mine, fingers interlacing. For the first ti since learning of Enzo’s abduction, I felt truly certain. Not of victory—that was never guaranteed—but of purpose. Of rightness.
Tonight, we would face Marcus Grimwood. And whatever ca after, we would face it together
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