Mated to My Intended's Enemy novel Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Missing

Victoria

"The only way to survive in our world, ladies, is to understand the delicate interplay of power." Madam Hannah’s voice cut through the elegant classroom like a well-sharpened knife. "A Luna’s greatest weapon is not her claws, but her ability to create harmony where discord threatens to tear apart alliances."

I sat straighter in my high-backed chair, pen poised over my leather-bound. Despite everything happening with Enzo’s disappearance and Aurora’s shocking return, Leo had insisted I maintain my normal schedule.

"Show no weakness," he’d murmured against my lips this morning. "Let them see their Luna is unshaken."

So here I was, in a room full of future Lunas, pretending my world wasn’t unraveling thread by dangerous thread.

"Which brings us to your final assessment." Madam Hannah’s steel-gray eyes swept across the room, lingering momentarily on me with an expression I couldn’t quite read. "In two weeks’ time, each of you will plan and execute a Reconciliation Dinner."

"You will be assigned actual conflicts between real packs," Madam Hannah continued, her voice leaving no room for questions. "Your task is to research the dispute, identify key stakeholders, and create an environment conducive to peaceful resolution. This is not about decorations and menus, ladies—though those details matter. This is about wielding soft power to achieve what Alpha aggression cannot."

When she reached my desk, she paused, her voice lowered for my ears only. "Your circumstances are... unique, Luna Victoria. Given recent events, I’ve assigned you a historical conflict rather than a current one. I trust you understand why."

I nodded, grateful for her rare display of consideration. "Thank you, Madam Hannah."

From across the room, I caught Lilith’s poisonous glare. As Enzo’s official mate, she had always treated me with contempt, seeing me as nothing more than a mongrel servant polluting her perfect purebred world. Today, however, something was different in her expression.

I studied her carefully, noting the slight darkness under her eyes that even expensive concealer couldn’t quite hide, the way her manicured nails tapped an anxious rhythm against her desk. If Aurora had been in contact with Enzo before his disappearance, surely she would have informed his mate?

When class ended, I deliberately took my time gathering my materials, watching as Lilith huddled with her usual sycophants, Cassandra and Vanessa. Their whispered conversation was punctuated by glances in my direction—nothing unusual there. What was unusual was that Lilith seemed distracted, responding to their gossip with half-hearted nods.

Taking a deep breath, I made a decision that surprised even myself. Instead of avoiding their toxic circle as I normally would, I walked directly toward them.

"Lilith," I said, keeping my voice neutral. "May I speak with you for a moment? Alone?"

The shock on all three faces would have been comical under different circumstances. Cassandra recovered first, her perfectly glossed lips curling into a sneer.

"Why would she want to talk to a half-breed like you?" she spat, flicking her platinum blonde hair over one shoulder.

I kept my eyes fixed on Lilith, refusing to rise to Cassandra’s bait. "It’s about Enzo. Something important."

At the mention of her mate’s name, Lilith’s expression shifted. She straightened her shoulders, nodding curtly to her friends. "Give us a minute."

"But Lil—" Vanessa began to protest.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify