Chapter 0152

Mom returns to the kitchen with news that dad's coming home early. Barely twenty minutes pass before the front door swings open. "There's my birthday girl," Dad says, though tension lines his face.

"So you've got your wolf? Valeria, is it?"

"Yes! She's amazing, Dad!" I throw my arms around him.

Theron, my father's wolf spirit, nudges forward. "Introduce me to my pup, little one."

Valeria emerges effortlessly this time, the transition smooth. Dad's eyes widen before he crushes us in a bear hug. I cling to him, thrilled he's home early for my celebration.

When we separate, Dad exchanges a loaded look with Mom. "Alpha Vincent wants to meet our newest pack member tomorrow," he says. Their silent conversation stretches uncomfortably long.

"But!" Dad's sudden grin breaks the tension. "I've got a better idea. Let's take that new camping gear and find somewhere spectacular for your first shift. Sleeping under the stars - Valeria would love that."

I turn pleading eyes to Mom. "Please? Can we?"

Their silent communication continues. "They're mind-linking," Valeria observes. "Hiding something from us."

Mom finally nods. "Dinner first. Pack clothes while I prepare food."

"This is going to be epic!"

Nightfall finds us still driving. "Rest, sweetheart," Dad suggests. "First shifts take time and hurt like hell. We'll wake you when we find the perfect spot." Though buzzing with excitement, I doze off in the backseat.

Parental whispers rouse me. "Breaking the pack link will alert him immediately," Mom frets. "Shouldn't we wait until we're farther? They can still track us this close."

"Best time is just before dawn when he's deepest asleep," Dad counters. "With luck, he won't notice until afternoon. By then we'll have ditched the car for the Sierra Madre foothills."

"But her stamina-"

"Theron can carry her for hours if needed."

I bolt upright. "Where are we? Why are we still driving?" When they exchange guilty glances, anger flares. "This was supposed to be my special day! What's really happening?"

Mom meets my gaze. "We had to leave the pack, Seraphina. It was necessary."

"Leave? You mean... permanently?"

"Valeria?" Dad interjects. "Do you understand what you are?"

"A Guardian," she replies calmly.

"Wait - Guardian?" My voice rises. "Explain!"

Mom answers. "Valeria's golden eyes mark her as a Guardian. No ordinary wolf spirit has that glow."

"Why does that mean we have to flee?"

Dad keeps his eyes on the dark road. "You'll become more powerful than any Alpha, little star. Vincent would've forced you to mate his heir to keep that power within his pack. Guardians never leave their birth packs willingly - they're either mated to the Alpha or their successor."

"Every recorded case except one," Mom adds. "And that Guardian was male, already friends with his Alpha. We won't let them chain you to someone before you've even met your true mate."

"So what now?"

"We'll stop soon," Mom says. "After your first shift, we'll renounce the pack bonds and run for the mountains as rogues."

"Rogues?" My stomach plummets. "You mean-"

"We're leaving everything behind," Dad confirms.