Mated to My Intended's Enemy novel Chapter 77

Chapter 77: Chapter 77 When All Is Ready

Victoria

I excused myself to make the call to Leo, stepping into my father’s—now my—study for privacy. He answered on the first ring.

"Victoria." His voice was tense. "Everything alright?"

"We have a problem," I said, explaining Alessio’s intelligence about River Valley’s movements.

Leo was silent for a moment. "This confirms our suspicions. Marcus and Gabriel are coordinating their attacks."

"We need to adapt our strategy," I insisted. "You can’t leave Shadow territory undefended to help me rescue Enzo."

"My priority is you," he said firmly. "Tiny and Carson can handle River Valley’s forces."

Frustration welled up. "Leo, be reasonable. Your responsibility is to your pack first."

"Don’t tell me my responsibilities," he growled, his Alpha dominance bleeding through the phone. "I’ve arranged additional security at our borders. The rescue mission proceeds as planned."

I paced the study, agitated. "This is exactly what Marcus wants—to divide our attention and resources."

"I’m aware." His voice softened slightly. "Trust me, Victoria. I’ve been playing these games longer than you’ve been alive."

The age gap reminder stung, but I pushed past it. "Fine. But I’m coming to Devil’s Lair now. We need to review the plan with this new information."

"Not yet." His tone brooked no argument. "Take an hour. There’s something you need to do first."

"What could possibly—"

"Visit your parents," he interrupted gently. "Properly, before battle. It’s wolf tradition."

The suggestion knocked the wind from my sails. He was right—I needed that connection, that grounding, before facing what might come.

"Okay," I agreed quietly. "I’ll go now."

"I’ll meet you there," he said, surprising me. "There are things I should say to them too."

Before I could ask what he meant, the line went dead.

I stared at the phone for a moment, then slipped it into my pocket along with the charm from the Omegas. On my way out, I stopped in the kitchen to tell Rosa where I was going.

"Good," she approved, pressing a small bouquet of fresh herbs and wildflowers into my hands. "Take these. They were her favorites."

The Howlthorne family cemetery occupied a peaceful corner of the estate, surrounded by ancient oak trees. My parents’ graves lay side by side beneath the largest oak, my father’s headstone elegant and imposing, my mother’s smaller but no less beautiful.

I knelt before them, placing Rosa’s bouquet between the stones. The afternoon sun filtered through the leaves above, dappling the ground with shifting patterns of light and shadow.

"Hi, Mom. Dad," I said softly, feeling slightly foolish but needing to speak. "I’m sorry I haven’t visited more often. Things have been... complicated."

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