296 Back in Stormveil

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    The moment Wanda’s car rolled past Stormveil’s gates, her stomach twisted.

    The familiarndscape outside the window, onceforting, now felt suffocating.

    She pulled her phone from her clutch with trembling fingers and quickly dialed her brother’s number.

    “Levi,” she breathed the second he answered.

    “Wanda? Where are you?” His voice was calm but alert, as though he had been expecting her call.

    “I just crossed the gates,” she whispered. Then her eyes darted toward the driver and the guard seated in front. Both men wore impassive

    faces, but she knew better.

    They were Draven’s trusted people. Every word she uttered could find its way back to him if she wasn’t careful.

    Levi must have caught the tightness in her tone. “Are you alright?”

    “No,” she admitted softly, her nails digging into her palm. “Tell me, is he home?”

    “Yes,” Levi replied after a pause. “Father just got back from a meeting. He’s upstairs, changing for dinner.”

    Wanda closed her eyes, pressing the phone tighter against her ear. “Levi…”

    Her voice cracked, but she stopped herself from saying more because of these ears in the car.

    Levi’s tone softened, as though sensing the words she swallowed back. “Calm down, Wanda. You will be fine.”

    With her gaze fixed on the driver’s stiff shoulders, she lowered her voice further. “Just… stay close when I arrive.”

    “I’m not going anywhere,” Levi assured her firmly. “I will be right here.”

    The line went quiet, but Wanda didn’t hang up immediately.

    She clutched the phone a little longer, as though his voice alone was the only anchor holding her together while the car carried her

    closer to her father’s wrath. 1

    Fifteen minutester, the car rolled to a smooth stop in front of the sprawling Fellowes estate. The tall iron gates nged shut behind them, sealing Wanda’s return.

    The guard in the passenger seat stepped out immediately, rounding the car with crisp efficiency. He opened the door for her with a polite bow.

    Wanda hesitated only a fraction of a second before stepping down, the evening air cool against her skin.

    Ahead, Levi was already striding toward her, tall and broad–shouldered, his presence steady andforting.

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    The moment Wanda saw him, herposure cracked. She closed the distance quickly and threw her arms around him. “Brother.”

    Levi’s arms came up, firm and reassuring, wrapping her in the kind of safety she hadn’t felt since she left Duskmoor.

    Behind them, the chauffeur moved to the trunk and heaved out threerge pieces of luggage.

    Almost instantly, three household servants appeared, bowing briefly before taking the bags with quick efficiency.

    Wanda reluctantly broke the hug, though her hand lingered on Levi’s sleeve as iif /ishe wasn’t ready to let gopletely.

    At that moment, the guard who had been assigned to escort her moved forward. His posture was rigid, his expression respectful but

    detached. He inclined his head to Levi and greeted him.

    Then his gaze flicked briefly to Wanda before returning to Levi.

    “Miss Wanda Fellowes has been reassigned by Alpha Draven. Her new task is to remain in Stormveil and collect intelligence reports for him. And she is to keep him informed of anything of significance.”

    The wordsnded heavy in the courtyard air. Wanda’s chest tightened. She dared not look at Levi, though she could feel the shift in his

    energy beside her, the way his body seemed to tense ever so slightly.

    Levi inclined his head slightly at Draven’s guard, his voice calm but carrying quiet weight. “Understood. I will see that she fulfills her

    duty.”

    The guard gave a final respectful bow before turning away with the chauffeur. Together, they walked back toward the car, leaving Wanda

    in the hands of Levi.

    The moment the engine hummed and the vehicle pulled out of sight, Wanda exhaled shakily. But just as she and Levi turned toward the

    mansion, her breath caught again.

    At the top of the steps, framed by the tall doorway, stood their father, Reginald Fellowes. His expression was hard and unreadable, the

    kind of face that revealed nothing yet demanded everything.

    Wanda’s steps nearly faltered. All at once, the prideful, sharp–tongued woman who always mocked Meredith with so much confidence

    seemed to dissolve.

    She nced smaller and nervous now, like a child noticed in the act.

    Immediately, Levi tightened his hold on her arm, steadying her before she could betray her weakness.

    Next, he bent his head just slightly, his voice a soft murmur only she could hear. “Keep yourposure. Don’t let father sense anything

    wrong

    And almost immediately, Wanda straightened her back and forced her feet to keep moving up the steps. But the knot in her stomach grew tighter with every step closer to her father.

    On the other hand, Reginald’s piercing gaze lingered on them for a long, suffocating moment. Then, without a word, he turned sharply

    and walked back into the house.

    /

    Wanda’s heart lurched. She cast a quick nce at Levi, who gave her a steady look in return. “Remember,” he whispered as they started

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    up the stairs, “speak with confidence.”

    She nodded, though her palm was already damp against her side.

    Inside, the air of the Fellowes mansion was as heavy as she remembered; polished wood, faint smoke, and her father’s presence pressing

    into every corner.

    They followed the sound of deliberate footsteps until they reached the sitting room.

    Reginald stood near the firece, his back straight, hands sped behind him. Then his voice sliced through the air the moment Wanda

    stepped in.

    “Why are you back so suddenly?”

    The question was t, but the weight behind it made Wanda’s throat tighten.

    Levi lingered just long enough to nce at her, then he stepped aside, leaving the response to her because answering on her behalf won’t do her any good.

    Wanda forced a smile and bent her head respectfully. “Father.” Her voice wavered at first, but she steadied it quickly.

    “Alpha Draven reassigned me. He said the rising tensions in Duskmoor required me to return here and focus on collecting reports for

    him that will help prepare for the war.”

    Reginald’s eyes narrowed as he studied her, his silence heavier than his words. It was clear as day he didn’t believe a word she said.

    Levi stepped forward then, his tone measured. “Father, she speaks the truth. One of Draven’s trusted guards who escorted her back,

    directly informed me of her reassignment before leaving.”

    Reginald’s eyes shifted briefly to Levi, as though weighing the im, before returning to Wanda with a stare that made her knees ache to

    buckle.