CHAPTER 125: CHAPTER 125 WHERE SHE BELONGED

Leo

I sensed trouble the moment I returned to the villa. My wolf, Ronan, immediately picked up on the distress pheromones permeating our home—Victoria’s scent tinged with the sharp bite of fear and anger.

The suitcase on our bed was like a silver dagger to my chest.

"What the hell is this?" I demanded, my voice rougher than intended as I gestured toward her half-packed belongings.

Victoria whirled around, her beautiful face streaked with tears, those expressive brown eyes I adored now blazing with hurt.

"Are you bored with me already?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Am I just some naive little half-breed you picked up for entertainment while you carry on with your real relationship?"

The accusation hit me like a physical blow. Ronan snarled inside me, furious at the suggestion we would betray our mate. But beneath my anger, something more painful stirred—disappointment that she could think so little of our bond.

"What are you talking about?" I kept my voice carefully controlled, though I could feel my eyes beginning to shift with emotion.

"I saw you!" she cried, her voice breaking. "With Samantha in the market square. Whispering, touching... she gave you something that you hid in your pocket. Don’t lie to me, Leo!"

*Samantha*. Of course. My jaw clenched as understanding dawned. What Victoria had witnessed was entirely innocent, but through her insecure eyes, it must have seemed damning.

"You followed me?" I asked, my temper flaring despite my efforts to remain calm.

"I didn’t have to *follow* you," she spat back. "I was having lunch with Nicos after my art lesson. We just happened to walk through the square when I saw my *mate* in a cozy little rendezvous with his ex."

"So instead of coming over to say hello, you scurried away to pack your bags? Is that how little our bond means to you?"

Victoria flinched, but her chin lifted defiantly. "What was I supposed to think? You told me you’d be busy with pack business all day!"

"That *was* pack business!" I growled, frustration mounting. How could she not see it? How could she doubt me so easily?

"Right," she scoffed, angrily folding another dress into her suitcase. "Very important *business* with the woman who’s been trying to get back with you since the moment we arrived."

I crossed the room in three strides, gripping her wrists to stop her frantic packing. "Look at me," I commanded, my Alpha tone slipping into my voice.

She raised her gaze reluctantly, those doe eyes swimming with tears that tore at my heart.

"Samantha means nothing to me romantically," I said firmly. "Nothing. There is only you, Victoria. Only ever you."

For a moment, I thought she might believe me. Then she wrenched away from my grip.

"Then why lie about meeting her? Why the secret conversations? What was in that package, Leo?"

Of course she had seen that too.

"It’s not what you think," I said, running a hand through my hair in frustration.

"Then what is it?" she demanded, crossing her arms protectively over her chest.

I hesitated, not wanting to ruin the surprise I had planned.

"Fuck you, Leo," she whispered, tears streaming down her face now. "I thought you were different."

"And I thought you trusted me," I countered, my voice dangerously low. "Seems we were both wrong."

She grabbed her phone and ran from the room, slamming the door behind her. I heard the villa’s front door open and close moments later—she was heading down to the beach.

I slammed my fist into the wall, leaving a sizable dent in the plaster. Ronan howled in distress, urging me to chase after her, claim her, make her understand. But I knew we both needed space before we said more things we’d regret.

In the kitchen, I poured myself three fingers of whiskey and downed it in one burning gulp. The bond between us thrummed with pain, a physical manifestation of the emotional chasm that had suddenly opened between us.

How had things gone so wrong so quickly? This morning she’d been warm and soft in my arms, whispering sweet words against my skin. Now she thought I was cheating on her with Samantha, of all people.

My phone rang—Samantha’s name flashing on the screen as if summoned by our argument. I almost ignored it, but if this was about tomorrow’s plans...

"What?" I answered roughly.

"Well hello to you too," Samantha’s voice carried her trademark sarcasm. "Everything still on for tomorrow? Bella is so excited she can barely contain herself."

I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to rein in my temper. "Victoria saw us in the market today. She’s got the wrong idea."

"Shit," Samantha said, sounding genuinely concerned. "Do you want me to talk to her? Explain?"

"No," I said firmly. "This is between mates." The last thing I needed was Samantha showing up now. "But we’ll need to move up the timeline. Bring Bella by tomorrow afternoon instead of evening. I need to clear this up."

"Of course," she agreed. "For what it’s worth, Leo... that girl loves you. Anyone can see it."

After ending the call, I poured another whiskey and moved to the terrace, gazing out at the darkening sea. I could just make out Victoria’s silhouette on the beach below, a small, solitary figure against the vast ocean.

My chest ached with a pain worse than any battle wound. She was my mate—mine to protect, to cherish, to love. And somehow I’d failed to make her feel secure enough in our bond to trust me.

Part of me understood her reaction. We’d known each other such a short time, and she was so young, still healing from years of mistreatment and manipulation. Trust wouldn’t come easily to her. And I hadn’t exactly been forthcoming about my plans for our mating anniversary.

But another part—the primal Alpha wolf that recognized her as my destined mate—was wounded by her readiness to believe the worst of me. Did she truly think me capable of such dishonor?

I took another sip of whiskey, letting the burn center me. I would give her time to calm down, to gather her thoughts. But I would not—could not—let her leave. The mere thought of it made Ronan bare his teeth in protest.

I stared at her distant figure, wondering what thoughts were running through her mind. Did she still believe I wanted Samantha? Did she regret our mating? The possibility sent a fresh surge of pain through me.

No matter what she believed right now, I would make this right. Tomorrow, when Bella arrived with her gift, Victoria would understand everything. I would ensure our first mating anniversary was special, despite this setback.

My fingers tightened around the whiskey glass as I made a silent vow. Victoria Howlthorne was mine—my Luna, my mate, my heart. Neither misunderstandings nor her own insecurities would change that fundamental truth.

The moon rose higher, casting its silver light over the beach. Still, I watched over her, waiting for her to return home, to me. Where she belonged.

Always.