Chapter 88: Chapter 88 A Moment of Ease
Victoria
The weight of the Council meeting had lifted, if only temporarily, but I could still feel the echo of Elder Maxwell’s warning resonating in my bones. "Should your control falter, our scrutiny will double." The words haunted me, even as I tried to push them away. My newfound abilities—my fae heritage—remained a tightrope I was forced to walk, with the entire wolf community watching, waiting for me to fall.
"Earth to Victoria!" Emma’s voice broke through my thoughts, her fingers snapping inches from my face. "Are you still with us, or has your mind gone wandering off to your mate again?"
I blinked, focusing on her playful smile. After everything that had happened, Emma’s unwavering friendship felt like the only constant in my chaotic life.
"Sorry," I murmured, smoothing my hands over my jeans. "Just... Council thoughts."
“Which is exactly why we’re doing this,” Lilith cut in, her tone unexpectedly gentle.“Enzo’s still out cold, but the doctor says he’s improving by the hour. So, while we wait, I’m taking you out to experience something other than being Alpha or Luna.” She snapped her fingers dramatically. “Today, you’re not a political figure. You’re a woman who shops.”
Emma linked her arm through mine. "Lilith’s right. One afternoon of shopping, flowers, and absolutely zero talk of Elders, Marcus, or anyone else trying to kill us. Deal?"
I couldn’t help but laugh at her determined expression. "Deal."
The flower shop was our first stop—a small, family-owned place with blooms that spilled from every surface. The scent hit me immediately, sweet and heady, reminding me of spring mornings before everything changed. Before I knew what I was.
Since the attack, the pack house had become sterile and clinical, with healers rushing between rooms and the scent of antiseptic overshadowing everything else. Bringing flowers back would be a small gesture, but sometimes small gestures meant everything.
"What about these?" Lilith held up vibrant orange tiger lilies, their petals splashed with dark freckles. "Bold, resilient—very Shadow Pack."
Emma wrinkled her nose. "Too aggressive. We want healing vibes, not ’prepare for the next battle’ vibes." She picked up delicate white roses instead. "These say peace."
"They also say funeral," Lilith countered with an arched eyebrow.
I laughed, feeling the tension in my shoulders ease slightly. "What about a mix? The lilies for strength, the roses for healing, and—" I reached for sprays of purple lavender, "—these for calm."
"Perfect compromise, Alpha," Lilith said with an exaggerated bow that made Emma snort.
As we selected arrangements for each of the recovering pack members, I felt a strange tingling in my fingertips when touching certain blooms. The sensation wasn’t unpleasant, more like a gentle recognition. Since discovering my fae blood, I’d noticed my connection to natural elements intensifying. The plants seemed to lean toward me, responding to my touch in ways they never had before.
"Victoria?" Emma’s voice was soft, concerned. She’d noticed my distraction.
I quickly withdrew my hand from a particularly responsive bunch of wildflowers. "Just thinking which ones Beta Tiny would hate the least," I covered smoothly.
"Oh, definitely these," Emma grinned, pointing to the most delicate pink peonies. "Nothing says ’fearsome warrior’ like fluffy pink flowers."
Lilith actually laughed—a genuine sound I’d rarely heard from her. "The look on his face would be worth every penny."
We spent nearly an hour selecting perfect arrangements, the shopkeeper growing increasingly baffled by our detailed debates over the symbolism of each bloom. By the time we left, laden with bags of carefully wrapped flowers, my spirits had lifted considerably.
"Clothes next," Emma announced, steering us toward a boutique at the end of the street.
The boutique was upscale but not pretentious, with soft lighting and attentive staff who seemed to sense immediately that Lilith and I weren’t ordinary customers. The perks of walking with wolf royalty, I supposed.
"Try this," Emma said, thrusting a deep emerald dress into my arms almost the moment we entered. "It’ll make your eyes pop."
"And this," Lilith added, selecting a sleek black jumpsuit. "For when you need to remind everyone who’s in charge."
Before I knew it, I was being guided toward a spacious fitting room with an armload of garments. The women outside the curtain made an odd pair—my human best friend and the she-wolf who once despised me—yet somehow they’d formed an unlikely alliance in their mission to revamp my wardrobe.
The emerald dress fit perfectly, hugging curves I usually tried to downplay. The color brought warmth to my skin, making me look less like someone who’d been through hell and more like someone who’d conquered it.
"Let us see!" Emma called impatiently.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed aside the curtain.
Emma’s squeal of approval was immediate. "Oh my god! Leo’s going to swallow his tongue!"
Lilith circled me with an appraising eye. "The Council would never question your authority in this. You look powerful."
"I look like I’m trying too hard," I countered, though I couldn’t help admiring how the fabric caught the light.
"There’s a difference." Lilith corrected firmly.
I tried on outfit after outfit, each one bringing out a different facet of the woman I was becoming. A cream-colored blouse with tailored pants for diplomacy. A midnight blue dress that whispered seduction.
"What do you think?" I asked, emerging in a crimson wrap dress that felt dangerously bold.
Emma’s eyes widened. "That’s the one. That’s definitely the one."
Lilith nodded slowly, approval clear in her expression. "Red is traditionally worn by matriarchs during pack celebrations."
I stared at my reflection, hardly recognizing the confident woman looking back at me.
"This is who you’ve always been. You just needed permission to see it."Emma said, appearing behind me in the mirror.
"We should get ice cream," Emma announced suddenly. "No shopping trip is complete without it."
Lilith looked momentarily scandalized. "Before dinner?"
"Especially before dinner," Emma insisted with such conviction that Lilith eventually shrugged in acceptance.
We paid for our purchases—I insisted on covering everything despite their protests—and headed toward the food court, arms laden with bags. The normalcy of it felt surreal after everything we’d been through. Shopping. Laughing. Eating ice cream like ordinary women without the weight of pack politics and ancient blood feuds hanging over our heads.
"Thank you," I said suddenly, as we sat with our desserts. "Both of you. For today. For... everything."
Emma smiled around her spoonful of chocolate fudge. "That’s what friends do."
Lilith corrected gently. "That’s what pack does."
The word settled around us, comfortable and true. For the first time, I felt it—truly felt it. Pack wasn’t just about hierarchy or bloodlines. It was this: protection, belonging, standing together when everything else fell apart.
As we gathered our bags to leave, I caught sight of a sleek black SUV pulling up outside the mall entrance. Leo. My heart did the ridiculous flutter it always did at the sight of him, my wolf stirring with recognition and longing.
Emma noticed immediately, her lips curving into a knowing smile. "And that’s our cue to make ourselves scarce." She nudged Lilith meaningfully. "We should probably get these flowers back before they wilt."
Lilith caught on quickly, gathering several of my bags. "Absolutely. Very urgent flower delivery. Can’t be delayed."
I narrowed my eyes at their transparent excuses. "You two aren’t exactly subtle."
"We’re not trying to be," Emma replied cheerfully, already backing away. "Enjoy your alone time, Luna Victoria. You’ve earned it."
Before I could protest, they’d disappeared into the crowd, leaving me standing alone with my remaining shopping bags as Leo approached. His powerful frame moved with predatory grace through the throng of shoppers, drawing appreciative glances from women and respectful distance from men who instinctively sensed danger.
His eyes found mine immediately, darkening with approval as they swept over my form. I was still wearing the red dress, having decided to keep it on rather than change back.
"You look..." he paused, searching for words as he reached me, "dangerous."
I raised an eyebrow. "Dangerous? Not beautiful or stunning?"
A smile tugged at his lips, rare and precious. "Those too. But mostly dangerous." His fingers brushed my waist, sending electricity skittering across my skin. "You make me forget myself when you look like this."
"Maybe that’s the point," I murmured, emboldened by the hungry look in his eyes.
His hand tightened possessively. "Careful, little wolf. We’re still in public."
"Then take me somewhere private," I challenged, surprising myself with my boldness.
A low growl rumbled in his chest, too quiet for human ears but loud enough to make my wolf whine with anticipation. "Your wish is my command, Luna."
As he gathered my bags with one hand and kept the other firmly at the small of my back, I leaned into his strength, savoring the heat of him against me. Council threats, Marcus’s schemes, even my uncertain heritage—all of it faded against the promise of this moment with my mate.
For now, just for now, I would allow myself this happiness. Tomorrow would bring its own battles, but tonight belonged to us.