CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 36 LETTER

Victoria

The following morning dawned with a peculiar mixture of anxiety and anticipation swirling in my stomach. As Leo drove us to my father’s attorney’s office in downtown, his hand rested possessively on my thigh, a silent comfort that helped calm my racing heart.

"Nervous, little wolf?" he asked, those penetrating hazel eyes briefly leaving the road to study my face.

"A bit," I admitted, fidgeting with the hem of my dress. "I’ve never been allowed to know what’s in my father’s trust. Enzo always kept me away from anything involving my inheritance."

Leo’s jaw tightened at the mention of my brother. "Not surprising. Your brother has been manipulating you since your father passed." His fingers squeezed my thigh reassuringly. "But that ends today."

The law offices occupied the top floor of a sleek high-rise, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the city. Mr. Blackwood himself—a distinguished older werewolf with silver-streaked hair and kind eyes—greeted us personally in the reception area.

"Miss Howlthorne," he said warmly, before his nostrils flared slightly as he caught our combined scent. His eyes widened in recognition. "Or should I say, Luna Moretti. This is... unexpected."

"Recent developments," Leo explained smoothly, his arm sliding around my waist. "Victoria and I completed our mate bond last week."

Mr. Blackwood’s expression shifted to one of genuine delight. "Well, this changes everything. Please, follow me."

He led us into a spacious conference room where a stack of folders waited on the polished mahogany table. Once we were seated, Mr. Blackwood’s professional demeanor took over.

"Your father, Alpha Howlthorne, was very specific about the conditions under which his personal trust for you could be accessed," he explained, opening the top folder. "The trust was sealed until either your twenty-first birthday or until you found a mate—specifically, an Alpha mate."

I felt Leo’s pride through our bond at those words, his wolf pleased that my father had anticipated this outcome.

"Since you’ve now fulfilled one of those conditions, I’m authorized to release everything to you." Mr. Blackwood slid several documents toward us. "The trust consists of multiple components. First, there’s a financial portfolio valued at approximately twenty-seven million dollars."

I gasped audibly. "Twenty-seven million?"

"Your father was an excellent investor," Mr. Blackwood smiled. "The portfolio includes stocks, bonds, real estate holdings, and several business interests that have performed exceptionally well."

My head spun as Mr. Blackwood continued detailing various properties—a villa in Italy, a penthouse in Manhattan, a cabin in the mountains—all mine now. When he finally finished the inventory, he reached for a sealed envelope in a separate folder.

"Your father also left this for you. His instructions were very clear—it was only to be given to you after you had found your mate."

With trembling hands, I accepted the envelope, my father’s familiar handwriting spelling out my name across the front. The weight of it felt far heavier than paper should.

"There’s one more thing," Mr. Blackwood added, his tone becoming more solemn. "Alpha Howlthorne left comprehensive documentation regarding the pack’s financial structure, member registries, alliances, and territories. As his daughter, and now as Luna to an Alpha, these rightfully belong to you and your mate."

Leo leaned forward, suddenly intensely interested. "Are you saying Victoria is the legitimate heir to the Howlthorne pack leadership?"

Mr. Blackwood nodded gravely. "According to pack law, yes. Though Enzo assumed leadership after your father’s passing, the true Alpha bloodline flows through Victoria. With an Alpha mate to complement her claim, she has every right to challenge Enzo’s leadership."

A stunned silence fell between us as the implications sank in. I hadn’t just inherited money—I’d inherited a birthright.

"We’ll need time to process this," Leo finally said, his hand finding mine under the table.

After signing what felt like hundreds of documents, we left with a briefcase full of files and the sealed letter burning a hole in my purse. The drive back to Leo’s—our—mansion was quiet, both of us lost in thought about what we’d learned.

Once home, Leo led me to our bedroom, sensing I needed privacy for what came next. He sat beside me on the edge of our bed as I finally opened my father’s letter with shaking hands.

*My dearest Victoria,*

*If you’re reading this, it means you’ve found your mate—an Alpha worthy of you. I’ve prayed to the Moon Goddess every night that she would guide you to someone who sees your true worth, someone who will protect and cherish you as I have failed to do in life.*

*There is so much I need to tell you, daughter of my heart. First and foremost, know that you were loved—fiercely, completely—from the moment your mother told me you existed. Your human mother, Eleanor, was the true love of my life, though the path that led me to her was paved with mistakes.*

*You’ve been told that Aurora was my fated mate, my Luna. This is only partially true. We were compatible—our wolves recognized each other—but she rejected our bond. Aurora wanted power more than love, and when a more influential Alpha courted her, she left without hesitation. I was devastated, believing the Moon Goddess had forsaken me.*

*Then I met your mother. Eleanor was human, beautiful, kind, and saw me—truly saw me—not as an Alpha, but as a man. With her, I discovered what real love meant. When she became pregnant with you, it was the happiest day of my life.*

*Aurora’s return years later was unexpected. Her Alpha had died, leaving her powerless and alone. I foolishly allowed her back into the pack, believing Enzo needed his mother. This was my gravest mistake. She poisoned my son’s mind against everything I valued—compassion, honor, duty to the pack. By the time I recognized what was happening, Enzo had already become someone I no longer recognized.*

*I feared for you after your mother’s death. Aurora’s influence over Enzo grew stronger, and I saw how he looked at you—not as a sister, but as an obstacle to his inheritance. I created this trust to protect you, to ensure you would have resources beyond his reach.*

*The Howlthorne pack is my legacy, Victoria, but more importantly, it is YOUR birthright. The pack has lost its way under Enzo, but with the right leadership, it could thrive again. The documents I’ve left you contain everything you need—financial records, property deeds, and most importantly, the loyalty oaths of members who remain true to the real Howlthorne bloodline.*

*I don’t know what kind of Alpha you’ve chosen as your mate, but I hope he is worthy of you. I hope he understands that in you flows the blood of generations of Howlthorne Alphas. Your wolf may be dormant now, but she is there, daughter. I’ve always felt her presence in you, waiting for the right moment to emerge.*

*My greatest regret is not being there to see the woman you’ve become. My greatest hope is that you’ll find the strength to reclaim what is yours, if that is what you choose. Whatever path you take, know that I am with you always, my brave, beautiful daughter.*

*With eternal love,*

*Your father,*

*Alpha Dominic Howlthorne*

By the time I finished reading, tears streamed freely down my face. Leo’s arms enveloped me instantly, pulling me against his chest as sobs wracked my body.