Chapter 177

Victoria's POV I returned to my bedroom with a thousand thoughts swirling through my mind, preparing for sleep. After completing my bedtime routine, I found myself staring at the ceiling while my wolf Nora paced restlessly in my head. Mother had loved father deeply. Even in that terrible accident, she must never have regretted being by his side. Though I was young then, I still remembered her holding me tight, shielding me with her own body. That memory sent a dull ache through my chest. They'd been truly happy together. Countless photographs documented their love—family portraits, candid moments, all testament to their extraordinary bond. Sometimes, it seemed, our emotions truly were beyond our control. Despite my fierce denials, whenever Damian Sterling entered a room, my heart would race in ways I couldn't ignore. The unmistakable flutter in my chest—the telltale sign of a mate bond forming—was becoming increasingly difficult to dismiss. My magical bracelet could barely suppress my