Chapter 97

Victoria I woke slowly, bathed in sunlight streaming through half-drawn curtains. Reaching across the sheets, I found Leo's side of the bed empty but still warm. My wolf, Ava, stirred contentedly within me despite his absence, basking in the lingering scent of our mate. As my eyes adjusted to the morning light, I spotted a folded note on his pillow, written in Leo's bold, elegant handwriting: *Victoria,* *Urgent matters required my attention at Shadow Pack. I didn't want to wake you—you needed the rest after yesterday's confrontation. Breakfast is waiting in the kitchen. I'll return by noon.* *Stay within pack boundaries. Tiny is stationed outside.* *———L* I stretched languidly, allowing myself a rare moment of peace. Last night had been... intense. Leo's apology had been unexpectedly vulnerable, revealing the fear behind his possessiveness. When he'd admitted his terror at potentially losing me to Marcus Grimwood, something had shifted between us—a new understanding that made our conn