CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 45 COMEBACK

Victoria

The wind whipped through my hair as Leo’s sleek black SUV pulled up to the gates of Howlthorne territory. I gazed out at the familiar landscape—rolling hills dotted with pine trees, the sprawling Pack house visible in the distance—and felt a curious mixture of dread and determination settle in my stomach.

"You don’t have to do this alone," Leo said for what must have been the tenth time since we’d left Shadow Pack territory. His knuckles were white against the steering wheel, jaw clenched tight. "Let me come with you."

I reached across the console to place my hand over his, feeling the tension in his muscles. "We’ve been through this," I reminded him gently. "If you come, it’ll only reinforce Aurora’s claims that I’ve handed control of Howlthorne Pack to Shadow Pack."

"I don’t give a damn what that woman thinks," he growled, Ronan clearly close to the surface. The protectiveness radiating from him was almost a tangible force in the confined space of the vehicle.

"But I do," I countered, my voice stronger than I felt. "This is my Pack now, Leo. I need to establish myself as their Alpha without you standing behind me. They need to see I can handle Aurora on my own."

Leo turned to face me fully, his dark eyes searching mine. The intensity of his gaze still made my heart skip a beat, even after everything we’d shared. "Promise me you’ll call if anything—and I mean anything—feels wrong. I can be here in twenty minutes."

I couldn’t help the small smile that curved my lips. "Fifteen if you break the speed limit?"

"Ten," he corrected without a hint of humor, leaning across to cup my face. "I mean it, Victoria. Aurora is unpredictable."

"I know," I sighed, turning to press a kiss to his palm. "But I have Beta Jackson and the entire pack security team. And..." I hesitated before admitting, "Ava is stronger now. I can feel it."

This was true. Since our mating, my wolf had grown more confident, more present. Though I was still learning to access her strength and abilities, I no longer felt like the helpless half-human I’d been raised to believe I was.

Leo studied me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "I hate this," he admitted, his thumb tracing my bottom lip in a gesture that sent heat curling through my body. "Letting you walk into that viper’s nest without me."

"It’s my viper’s nest," I reminded him with a wry smile. "And it’s time I cleaned it out."

The kiss he pressed to my lips was both tender and fierce—a perfect encapsulation of the man himself. When we broke apart, both slightly breathless, I could see the war raging behind his eyes: the Alpha who demanded control versus the mate who respected my autonomy.

"Twenty-four hours," he finally said, the words clearly costing him. "If you’re not back or I haven’t heard from you in twenty-four hours, I’m coming for you—protocol be damned."

I nodded, knowing this was the best compromise I’d get. "Deal."

With one last lingering kiss, I forced myself to exit the vehicle, grabbing my overnight bag from the back seat. Leo watched me through the window, his expression darkening as I stepped through the Howlthorne Pack gates.

"I love you," I mouthed to him, my chest tightening as he replied in kind before reluctantly pulling away.

The moment his SUV disappeared around the bend, I squared my shoulders and turned to face the Pack house. Time to reclaim what was rightfully mine.

---

The Howlthorne Pack mansion came into view, its imposing stone facade a sight that once inspired dread in me. Now, I viewed it differently—as a responsibility, a legacy, and most importantly, as mine.

Beta Jackson was waiting for me at the entrance, his tall frame rigid with formality. As Uncle Parrasi’s son, he had always been kinder to me than most, though still bound by pack hierarchy and Enzo’s orders. Now, uncertainty clouded his features as he watched me exit the car.

"Alpha," he said formally, inclining his head in respect—a gesture that would have been unthinkable just weeks ago.

"Jackson," I acknowledged, noticing how his eyes widened slightly at my changed demeanor. Gone was the timid, submissive girl who used to scurry around the mansion avoiding notice. In her place stood a woman who had faced death, awakened her wolf, and claimed her birthright. "I understand there have been some... challenges in my absence."

His expression darkened. "That’s putting it mildly. Perhaps we should discuss this inside."

I nodded, following him through the grand entrance hall where. Once we were safely ensconced in what had been my father’s study—and briefly Enzo’s before his disappearance—Jackson’s formal demeanor cracked.

"Thank the Moon you’re back," he said, running a hand through his hair in a gesture of frustration. "Luna Aurora has been making impossible demands, countermanding orders, and generally creating chaos. The pack is confused about who they should be following."

"The chain of command should be clear. With Enzo missing, I am the Alpha’s daughter and rightful heir, now mated to Alpha Moretti. There is no ambiguity there."

"In theory, no," Jackson agreed, though he remained standing, his posture tense. "But Luna Aurora has been spreading rumors that your mother bewitched your father, that you’re not truly a Howlthorne by blood, that your mating with Moretti is some kind of power play..."

A surge of anger rushed through me, Ava growling in response. "She dares question my legitimacy?" The words came out sharper than intended, with an undercurrent of a growl that had Jackson taking an involuntary step back.

"I’m sorry, Victoria," he said, and for the first time, I noticed the dark circles beneath his eyes, the strain evident in his features. "I should have handled it better. I should have protected your position more forcefully, but without an Alpha present..."

I took a deep breath, reminding myself that Jackson wasn’t my enemy. "You did what you could in an impossible situation. But now I’m back, and things will change."

He nodded, but a flicker of hesitation crossed his face.

"What is it?" I pressed. "If we’re going to work together, I need complete honesty, Jackson."

He seemed to struggle with himself before finally speaking. "There’s something I should have told you earlier. About Enzo..." He paused, his expression pained. "A few weeks before he disappeared, he asked me to run some tests. Blood tests."

My heart skipped a beat. "Blood tests? Whose blood?"

"He didn’t say, but..." Jackson looked away, guilt evident in his posture. "It was a female’s blood sample. I had assumed it might be Lilith’s initially, perhaps for some pregnancy test, but after seeing how he reacted to the results..."

"You think it was mine," I finished for him, a cold feeling settling in my stomach.

He nodded reluctantly. "I’m sorry, Victoria. I should have questioned him, but he was my Alpha, and direct orders..."

"What did the results show?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I don’t know," Jackson admitted, frustration evident in his tone. "Enzo took the complete file and swore me to secrecy. All I know is that when he saw the results, his face went white. He locked himself in this office for hours afterward."

My mind raced with possibilities, each more disturbing than the last. What could have been in my blood that would shock Enzo so thoroughly? And was it connected to his mysterious disappearance?

"I’m sorry," Jackson continued, genuine regret in his eyes. "I should have told you sooner, but with the succession drama and then Alpha Enzo going missing..."

"It’s okay," I assured him, though my heart was pounding. "We—"

The door burst open without warning, cutting off my response. Aurora swept in like a toxic cloud, her perfectly coiffed blonde hair and designer outfit a stark contrast to the venom in her expression.

"Well, well," she drawled, her gaze sliding dismissively over me. "The half-breed returns. Tired of playing concubine to the Shadow Alpha already?"

I felt Ava stir angrily beneath my skin, responding to the insult. Forcing myself to remain calm, I straightened my spine and met her gaze directly.

"Aurora," I acknowledged coolly. "I see you’ve made yourself comfortable in my absence."

She laughed, the sound brittle as glass. "Your absence? Darling, this hasn’t been your home since the day your whore of a mother seduced my husband."

Jackson shifted uncomfortably beside me, but I raised a hand slightly, signaling him to stand down. This was my battle.