Mated to My Intended's Enemy novel Chapter 72

Chapter 72: Chapter 72 Our Future

Victoria

"I forgive you, Lilith," I said finally. "But I can’t forgive Enzo. Not yet. Maybe not ever."

She nodded, understanding in her eyes. "That’s fair. More than fair, actually."

"But we can be friends again," I offered, extending an olive branch. "I could use a friend right now."

Lilith’s smile was genuine. "I’d like that very much."

When we returned to the pack house, an unexpected sight greeted us. A convoy of vehicles bearing the Shadow Pack emblem was parked in the circular drive, and familiar figures were unloading supplies.

"Rosa?" I called, spotting the motherly figure directing a group of female wolves.

Rosa turned, her face lighting up at the sight of me. "Victoria! Or should I call you Alpha now?"

I hurried over, embracing her warmly. "Just Victoria to you, always."

She held me at arm’s length, her eyes scrutinizing me in that maternal way that always made me feel like she could see straight into my soul. "You look tired, child. Are you eating enough? Sleeping?"

I laughed, some of the tension of the past days easing from my shoulders. "I’m fine, Rosa. Better than fine now that you’re here."

She gestured to the supplies being unloaded—boxes of food, medical equipment, even weapons. "Alpha ordered us to bring everything you might need. The women of Shadow Pack have been cooking since dawn."

"Leo sent all this?" I asked, overwhelmed by his generosity.

Rosa’s eyes twinkled knowingly. "He said, and I quote, ’Make sure she has everything she needs. Nothing is too much.’"

Warmth bloomed in my chest. Last night’s intimacy—the way Leo had held me in the bath, his whispered confessions, the tenderness in his touch—had felt like something profound shifting between us.

"I don’t know what to say," I admitted, watching as Shadow Pack members integrated seamlessly with my Howlthorne wolves, working together to unload supplies.

"Say nothing," Rosa advised, patting my cheek. "Actions speak louder than words, Victoria. And his actions are shouting quite clearly, don’t you think?"

I felt a blush creep up my neck. "We should help with the supplies."

Rosa laughed, seeing through my deflection. "Of course, Alpha. Lead the way."

For the next several hours, I worked alongside Rosa, Lilith, and the women of both packs, organizing supplies and preparing the pack house for what was to come. The atmosphere was one of focused determination, with occasional bursts of laughter that reminded me there could still be joy even in dark times.

By late afternoon, Jackson approached me with a report on the training progress. "The warriors are working well together," he said. "Your idea to include the females was brilliant—they’ve already identified weaknesses in our perimeter defense that the men overlooked."

Pride swelled in my chest. "Good. What about communications?"

"Garrett has set up a secure network. We’ll be able to coordinate with Shadow Pack in real-time during the operation."

I nodded, satisfied. "And our intelligence on Marcus’s compound?"

Jackson handed me a tablet. "Latest satellite imagery, courtesy of Alpha Moretti’s contacts. The Forest connection you established yesterday has been corroborated—there’s definitely unusual activity in this northeastern sector."

I studied the images, my newfound Forest abilities humming beneath my skin. I could almost feel the plants in that area reaching out to me across the miles, confirming what the satellite had captured.

"We’ll attack from three directions," I decided. "Main force from the south as a distraction, small extraction teams from east and west."

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