Chapter 0331

The final stretch of our journey winds through the Cascade Range. The breathtaking scenery fills me with joy as we return to the Sierra Madre mountains. At the last bus stop, we gather our belongings and step out into the crisp mountain air.

Victor glances at me. "The pack territory is roughly two hours away in wolf form."

"Perfect. Aurora has been itching to run."

We grab a quick meal before disappearing into the dense forest. Shifting forms, I follow Victor as he sets a steady pace. In this form, the world sharpens—the rushing streams, the towering pines, the raw majesty of the mountains.

The scent of other wolves hits me seconds before Magnus howls our arrival. Almost instantly, patrol wolves block our path, guarding their borders. My pulse quickens. This could mean two things—either the pack has thrived in Victor's absence, or someone else has seized control.

Victor shifts back, standing tall before the patrol. "Who leads here?"

One wolf steps forward, shifting into human form. His eyes flicker between us. "I do."

His gaze lingers on me. "Guardian." He dips his head toward Aurora. "I'm Leopold. How may I assist you?"

"Is Donovan still serving as Beta?" Victor asks.

Leopold's eyes narrow slightly. "He is."

"Tell him Victor has returned."

"Alpha?" Leopold's voice wavers.

"Yes."

Leopold bows his head. "We heard rumors you were held captive by a rival pack. We didn’t know you’d escaped."

"I was freed," Victor corrects. "And I found my mate." He gestures to me.

Leopold hesitates. "May I ask which Guardian this is?"

"My mate is Isolde. Her wolf is Aurora. Grant Sinclair fell in battle during the vampire war, and his Guardian spirit passed to them."

"An honor to meet you, Aurora. Isolde." Leopold's tone is respectful. The other wolves lower their heads in deference—to Victor, to Aurora.

"We'll escort you to the packhouse, Alpha. The pack will rejoice at your return."

They shift, and we race toward the heart of the territory.

It's been years since I've stepped onto pack lands. The familiarity is unsettling. As we near the packhouse, howls erupt. Wolves sprint from every direction, joining our run, their excited yips blending with cheers from those in human form. The air thrums with pure joy—no fear, no tension. Just unrestrained happiness at their Alpha's homecoming.

At the packhouse, a man stands waiting. His scent marks him as an Alpha, but something's wrong.

He has no wolf, Aurora murmurs.

Like I once was?

Worse. His wolf isn’t dormant—it’s gone. I sense nothing in him.

This must be Donovan. Victor mentioned his Beta was a wolfless Alpha.

Victor shifts, pulling on shorts before striding forward. "Alpha," Donovan says, clasping his forearm. They embrace roughly, thumping each other’s backs.

The crowd swells. Shifting here feels too exposed, but staying in wolf form means silence. I begin the change—

Victor is there before I finish, draping one of his shirts over me.

"And you’ve brought a Guardian," Donovan observes, stepping closer. "Welcome." His presence is commanding yet disarming—exactly the kind of Beta an Alpha would trust.

"You must be Donovan." I extend my hand.

"Donovan, this is Isolde. My mate. My fated mate," Victor emphasizes. "Isolde, meet Donovan."

Before I can respond, a shriek cuts through the air. A woman barrels toward Victor, leaping into his arms, legs locking around his waist. Her lips crash against his.

Pain lances through my chest—

Aurora moves.

She tears the woman off Victor and hurls her across the yard.

"Mine!" Aurora snarls, standing between Victor and the sprawled woman.

Victor's hands settle on my hips from behind. "Easy, Isolde."

But Aurora isn’t listening.

The woman scrambles up, glaring. "I don’t see a mark on his neck. He’s not yours."

Aurora whirls—

Victor’s stunned face flashes in my vision—

Her fangs sink into his neck.