Chapter 96

Leo By the time I arrived at the pack house, night had fallen, and most of the lights were out. I made my way quietly through the halls, following Victoria's scent to what had once been her father's master suite. I knocked softly on the door. "Victoria? It's me." For a moment, there was only silence. Then I heard her voice, muffled and tired. "Come in." I pushed open the door to find her sitting on the bed, still in her training clothes from earlier. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and she looked utterly exhausted. The sight of her distress hit me like a physical blow. "You look terrible," she said with a weak attempt at humor. "So do you," I replied, closing the door behind me. "And it's my fault." Victoria's expression grew guarded. "Leo, if you're here to apologize for protecting me—" "I'm here to apologize for disrespecting you," I interrupted, moving slowly toward the bed. "For treating you like something fragile instead of the incredible Alpha you are. For making you feel like a posses