Victoria
I paced nervously across my father’s old study at Howlthorne Manor, my fingers trailing over the leather-bound books that lined the walls. Leo had arrived monts ago, his expression grim as he entered the room. My wolf, Ava, stirred anxiously within , sensing the tension rolling off him in waves.
"Did Tiny confirm what I felt?" I asked imdiately, unable to contain my anxiety. "Is she really alive?"
Leo’s golden eyes locked with mine. Sothing in his gaze made my stomach drop—a mixture of confirmation and concern that told my intuition had been correct.
"Yes," he said, his deep voice resonating through the quiet study. "Your mother is alive, Victoria."
Those five words shattered fifteen years of grief and acceptance. My knees weakened, and I gripped the edge of my father’s mahogany desk for support.
"Where?" I managed to whisper. "Where has she been all this ti?"
Leo moved closer, his powerful fra blocking out the afternoon light streaming through the windows. "Marcus Grimwood has been keeping her captive," he explained, voice tight with barely contained anger. "Our intelligence suggests she’s being held sowhere near Silver Peak Mountains. Carson’s team has been analyzing satellite imagery."
He pulled out his phone, showing images of what appeared to be construction in a remote forest clearing. "We believe this is where he’s preparing for so kind of ritual. The Blood Moon is in three days."
My mind reeled with this information, pieces falling into place. "Trapped. Bound." I murmured. "She weakens."
"Your mother used secret arts to put herself into a slumber in order to evade Marcus. Her current state may not be sufficient to perform the Blood Moon ritual," Leo nodded. "But he now knows you have awakened your fairy abilities—you’re the perfect sacrifice."
The room seed to spin around . I sank into my father’s chair, trying to process everything.
"We need to get to her before the Blood Moon," I said finally, determination hardening my voice.
Leo’s eyes flashed with concern. "Victoria, we can’t just storm in there. Marcus is calculating, ruthless. He’s had fifteen years to prepare for this mont."
"We got Enzo out," I argued, referring to when my half-brother had been kidnapped by Marcus’s forces months ago.
"That was different," Leo countered, moving to stand directly in front of . His presence filled the room, dominant and protective. "Marcus won’t make the sa mistake twice. He’s certain you won’t give up searching for your mother, but it’s likely he’ll imprison you both."
I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the heat building between us. "I can’t just leave her there, Leo. Not when I’ve just found out she’s alive."
"I’m not suggesting we abandon her," he said softly. "But we need a strategy that doesn’t involve sacrificing you in the process."
Our eyes locked, a silent battle of wills. As much as I hated to admit it, he was right. Rushing in without a plan would be suicide.
"I think..." I hesitated, unsure how he would receive my next words. "I think she’s been trying to help prepare without even knowing it."
Leo pulled back slightly, his expression curious. "What do you an?"
"The connection through the plants has been growing stronger," I admitted. "At first, it was just faint impressions, but now... now I’m starting to receive clearer ssages. Images. Instructions."
"Instructions for what?"
"For accessing my fairy abilities," I explained, excitent building despite our dire circumstances. "I think my mother has been using what little strength she has to guide toward developing those abilities."
Leo straightened, looking thoughtful. "If you could strengthen that connection—harness those abilities—it might give us an advantage Marcus isn’t expecting."
I nodded eagerly. "Exactly. He can’t possibly understand the full extent of fairy abilities. I must find a way to rapidly enhance my powers in the next few days."
For the first ti since entering the room, Leo’s expression lightened slightly. "How quickly can you develop these abilities?"
"I don’t know," I admitted. "But I feel like I’m on the edge of a breakthrough. When I was in the garden earlier, I could almost see through the plants’ eyes—sense what they were sensing."
Leo began pacing, the tactical Alpha in him already formulating plans. "We have three days until the Blood Moon. If you can strengthen your connection to your mother through the plants, maybe we can get more information—the exact location where she’s being held, how many guards, what defenses are in place."
"I need to go back to the garden," I said, standing up with renewed determination. "Spend more ti there. Try to establish a stronger link."
Leo nodded, but his protective instincts were clearly warring with the tactical necessity. "You won’t be alone. I’ll have guards—"
"No," I interrupted firmly. "No guards. Their presence disrupts the energy. I need calm, silence, to hear what the plants are trying to tell ."
His jaw tightened. "Victoria—"
"This isn’t negotiable, Leo," I insisted, standing my ground. "If we want this to work, I need space. You can watch from a distance if you must, but no one can be in the garden with ."
We stared at each other, another silent battle of wills. Finally, he relented with a reluctant nod.
"Fine. But I’ll be close by. At the first sign of trouble—"
"You’ll co charging in like my knight in shining armor," I finished with a small smile, trying to lighten the mood. "I know."
His expression remained serious, intense. He stepped closer, one hand coming up to cup my cheek. The contact sent electricity racing through my body, and Ava purred in response to Ronan’s proximity.
"I can’t lose you," Leo said, his voice a low rumble that reverberated through . "Not when I’ve just found you."
My heart raced at his words, the raw emotion in his eyes stealing my breath. "You won’t lose ," I promised softly.
"You don’t understand what Marcus is capable of," Leo continued, his thumb tracing my cheekbone. "The things he’s done... The atrocities he’s committed in pursuit of power."
For the next hour, Leo detailed everything Shadow Pack intelligence had gathered on Marcus Grimwood over the years—his rise to power through bloodshed and betrayal, the rumors of dark magic experints conducted in secret laboratories deep within Crimson Claw territory, his obsession with ancient werewolf legends that spoke of transcending the limits of lycanthropy through absorption of other magical species.
With each revelation, my determination grew stronger. My mother had been suffering at this monster’s hands for fifteen years while I believed she was dead. I wouldn’t fail her now.
"We should contact the Council," I suggested when Leo finally finished. "Surely they would intervene if they knew—"
"The Council moves too slowly," Leo interrupted with a dismissive gesture. "By the ti they deliberate and vote on action, the Blood Moon will have passed. Besides, Marcus has allies there—wolves who owe him favors or are too afraid to move against him."
I nodded, accepting his assessnt. "Then it’s up to us. Shadow Pack and whatever remains of Howlthorne loyalty."
"We’ll need to move quickly," he said, returning to tactical considerations. "Three days isn’t much ti, especially if we need to develop your abilities."
I stood, suddenly feeling the weight of responsibility and possibility pressing down on . "I should get to the garden now. Every minute counts."
Leo nodded, his expression conflicted. I knew he hated the idea of being vulnerable, even for a mont, but he understood the necessity.
"I’ll have Tiny set up surveillance from the house," he compromised. "Far enough not to disturb your concentration, close enough to respond if needed."
"Thank you," I said sincerely, reaching out to touch his arm. "For believing about my mother. For helping ."
His large hand covered mine, warm and reassuring. "We’re bound, Victoria. Your battles are my battles now."
The simple statent carried weight beyond re words. We hadn’t completed a formal mating ceremony, but the connection between us—between our wolves—grew stronger each day.
"I’ll walk you to the garden." Leo said, offering his arm.
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