Mated to My Intended's Enemy novel Chapter 65

Chapter 65: Chapter 65 New Power

Victoria

We gathered around the makeshift command center in Leo’s private study. Maps and blueprints covered the massive oak table, alongside satellite images and the recovered surveillance footage Carson had managed to extract from the mining facility. The scent of coffee hung heavy in the air, a futile attempt to combat the exhaustion that had settled into our bones after the night’s discoveries.

I stood by the window, palm pressed against the cool glass, feeling something new stirring within me. Since our return from the nexus chamber, my senses had expanded in ways I couldn’t have imagined. The potted fern in the corner pulsed with quiet life-energy. The wooden floor beneath my feet retained whispers of the trees they’d once been. Every living plant, even the cut flowers in the crystal vase, seemed to hum a melody only I could hear.

"Victoria?" Leo’s deep voice pulled me from my trance. His eyes—those penetrating amber eyes that seemed to see right through me—were filled with equal parts concern and fascination. "You’ve been staring at that plant for five minutes."

I turned to face the room, aware that everyone was watching me with varying degrees of curiosity and wariness.

"I can feel them," I said softly, gesturing to the fern. "The plants. They’re... alive in a way I never understood before. They remember things. They communicate."

Lilith, seated at the far end of the table, made a dismissive noise. "Plants don’t talk, Victoria. You hit your head down in those tunnels."

Leo silenced her with a sharp look before stepping closer to me. "Your mother’s heritage," he murmured, low enough that only I could hear. "The fairiesconnection is growing stronger."

I nodded, grateful for his understanding. "It’s like a new sense has awakened. Ava feels it too."

As if summoned by her name, my wolf stirred beneath my skin, pushing forward with eager curiosity. Since our experience in the nexus chamber, the boundary between us had grown thinner, our communication clearer. We were becoming true partners rather than separate entities sharing one body.

Leo’s warm hand settled on the small of my back, grounding me. "Can this help us find Enzo and your stepmother?"

"Maybe," I replied, moving toward the table. "Plants see things we don’t. They remember."

Carson cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable with talk of plant memory. "Speaking of remembering things," he said, tapping his laptop, "I’ve managed to recover about seventeen minutes of footage from the facility’s security system."

The room fell silent as he connected his computer to the large screen mounted on the wall. Grainy black and white footage flickered to life, showing the main floor of the mining facility where we’d found the bloodstains.

Aurora Howlthorne appeared first, her once-impeccable appearance now disheveled, hair hanging limply around a face gaunt with fatigue. Despite everything she’d done, my heart twisted at the sight of her obvious suffering. Four armed guards flanked her, though she didn’t appear to be physically restrained.

Then Marcus entered the frame, his imposing figure instantly commanding the space. Even through the grainy footage, his scarred face and the black eyepatch covering his right eye sent a chill down my spine.

"Where is my son?" Aurora demanded, her voice thin but still carrying that imperious tone I remembered.

Marcus laughed, the sound distorted through the damaged audio. "Your precious Enzo is receiving some... persuasion. He’s been quite resistant to signing over the pack territories."

"You promised you wouldn’t hurt him!" Aurora’s composure cracked. "We had a deal, Marcus. I helped you eliminate Dominic—"

The room collectively inhaled at this confirmation of her betrayal. Leo’s hand tightened on my shoulder.

"—and you promised we’d rule together. That Enzo would be respected as your second-in-command."

Marcus circled her slowly, like a predator toying with wounded prey. "Plans change, Aurora. Your son has proven... disappointing. Weak. Gambling away pack resources, making enemies of powerful allies. He’s a liability."

"He’s young," she protested. "He can learn."

"Perhaps. But time grows short." Marcus moved closer, brushing a finger along Aurora’s jaw in a gesture that made her flinch. "The northern packs are vulnerable. With Dominic gone, with his half-breed daughter unprotected, the time to strike is now."

My stomach churned at his casual reference to me. Ava growled, the sound rumbling in my chest.

"Victoria is of no consequence," Aurora said dismissively. "The pack will never accept her."

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