CHAPTER 27: CHAPTER 27 FRIENDS

For just a second, Lilith’s mask slipped, revealing something vulnerable underneath—loneliness, perhaps, or regret. But then Vanessa touched her arm, and the moment passed.

"Don’t delude yourself into thinking your current position means anything," Lilith recovered, her voice hard again. "Enzo may have hit a rough patch, but he has plans. Big plans. And when they come to fruition, you’ll wish you’d stayed in your place."

"My place is beside my Alpha," I stated firmly. "Where’s yours, Lilith? Still cleaning up Enzo’s messes while he gambles away what little remains of my father’s legacy?"

Her hand flew up as if to slap me, but I caught her wrist mid-air, surprising both of us with my newfound reflexes.

*Thank you, Ava,* I thought silently.

"Don’t," I warned quietly. "Not here. Not ever again."

I released her and stepped around the trio, walking away with my head held high despite the trembling in my limbs. Behind me, I heard Cassandra’s hushed voice: "She’s stronger than she looks."

"For now," Lilith replied ominously. "For now."

By the time I pushed through the mansion’s heavy front doors, my composure was hanging by a thread. The confrontation with Lilith had dredged up painful memories—the shock of my father’s death, Enzo’s swift transformation from occasionally caring stepbrother to cruel master, and Lilith’s betrayal of our friendship.

As promised, Tiny was waiting with the car at the bottom of the steps. But there, leaning against the sleek black vehicle with predatory grace, stood Leo. His powerful frame was outlined by the golden late afternoon light, dark hair ruffled by the sea breeze. Even from this distance, his presence made my heart race and Ava stir restlessly within me.

*Mate,* she purred appreciatively. *He came for us.*

The moment Leo’s eyes locked with mine, I felt the bond between us pulse with recognition and longing. He straightened immediately, his keen senses no doubt picking up on my emotional distress.

I tried to compose myself as I descended the steps, but my mask of calm was apparently less convincing than I’d hoped. Leo met me halfway, his expression darkening as he drew closer.

"What happened?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous as his hands came to rest possessively on my shoulders. His nostrils flared slightly as he scented the air. "Someone upset you."

Rather than answering immediately, I leaned into his solid warmth, drawing strength from his presence. "Just Luna politics," I murmured against his chest, breathing in his comforting scent of cedar and spice. "Nothing I can’t handle."

Leo’s arms encircled me, one hand coming up to cradle the back of my head protectively. Over my shoulder, I noticed his eyes scanning the mansion’s entrance, where several of my classmates had paused to observe our reunion.

"Was it Lilith?" he asked, his voice rumbling through his chest against my ear.

I pulled back slightly, surprised. "How did you know?"

A dangerous smile curved his lips. "Enzo’s mate has a reputation for viciousness that exceeds even his. Plus," he added, his thumb gently tracing the slight indentations on my wrist where her nails had dug in, "she left her mark."

His eyes darkened with barely controlled rage as he examined the small crescent marks. "She dared to put her hands on you?"

"Leo," I said softly, placing my palm against his cheek to recapture his attention. "I handled it."

Pride flashed in his eyes, momentarily overtaking his anger. "Did you now? Tell me everything."

I glanced toward the car where Tiny waited with professional patience. "Can we go home first? I’ve had enough of this place for one day."

Leo nodded, keeping one arm wrapped firmly around my waist as he guided me to the vehicle. As Tiny held the door open, I glimpsed Lilith watching from the top of the steps, her expression unreadable.

Once inside the privacy of the car’s back seat, Leo pulled me against him, his lips finding mine in a kiss that was equal parts possession and reassurance. I melted into it, all the tension and hurt from the day dissolving under his touch.

"I missed you," I confessed breathlessly when we finally broke apart, not caring if Tiny could hear from the front seat. "More than I expected to."

Leo’s fingers traced my jawline, his eyes intense as they searched mine. "Good," he replied, his voice a deep rumble that sent shivers down my spine. "Because I found myself completely unable to focus on business matters today. Ronan was... restless without you nearby."

"Ava was the same," I admitted, snuggling closer as the car pulled away from the mansion. "She sensed you the moment we stepped outside."

"And how was your first day with the formidable Madam Hannah?" Leo asked, his arm secure around my shoulders.

I hesitated, wanting to be honest but reluctant to appear weak. "Educational," I finally said. "And challenging. Madam Hannah made it very clear that she has doubts about my suitability due to my mixed blood."

Leo’s jaw tightened. "She overestimates her position if she thinks she can openly disparage my mate."

"No," I said quickly, placing a restraining hand on his chest. "Please don’t intervene. That would only make things worse. I need to earn respect on my own terms."

He studied me for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Very well. But I won’t tolerate actual mistreatment."

I smiled, touched by his protective instinct while still determined to fight my own battles. "Fair enough. Though you should know she gave me the most difficult assignment in the class—hosting a diplomatic dinner for packs that historically hate the Shadow Pack."

To my surprise, Leo chuckled. "Of course she did."

"You find that amusing?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

His smile turned predatory. "I find it telling that she recognizes your potential threat. Madam Hannah doesn’t waste difficult challenges on students she believes will fail spectacularly—that would reflect poorly on her teaching. No, she’s testing your mettle precisely because she suspects you might have what it takes."

I hadn’t considered that perspective. "Really?"

"Trust me," Leo murmured, pressing a kiss to my temple. "I’ve known Hannah Blackwood for many years. She doesn’t waste energy on lost causes."

As we settled into comfortable silence for the drive home, I realized how much I had to learn—not just about being a Luna, but about navigating this complex world of pack politics and ancient grudges. Yet for the first time since my father’s death, I didn’t feel completely alone in the struggle.

I had Leo. I had Ava. And perhaps most importantly, I had something to fight for beyond mere survival—a chance to reclaim my heritage and build something new from its ashes.

*We’re going to prove them all wrong,* Ava whispered in my consciousness. *Every last one of them.*

*Yes,* I agreed silently, watching the coastal landscape blur past the window while nestled securely in my Alpha’s embrace. *We absolutely are.*