CHAPTER 103: DID I SAY SOMETHING WRONG?"

Meanwhile, Victoria and her brothers decided to head back home. The ride was mostly silent, each of them lost in their own thoughts until the familiar sight of the Ashford mansion finally came into view. Once the car stopped, they all climbed out, their footsteps echoing lightly on the stone pavement as they made their way inside.

After exchanging greetings with their parents and sharing lunch together, Victoria and her brothers....everyone except Damien gathered in the courtyard. They settled around a round table spread generously with snacks, fruits, and drinks, the faint scent of fresh pastries mixing with the cool breeze of the afternoon.

Victoria sat quietly, her fingers idly tracing the rim of her cup, her thoughts elsewhere. There was no point in seeking Jamaila out today, she concluded. Meeting her might only make things worse. The best she could do was wait until tomorrow, then ask Jamaila directly about her conversation with Auren.

But right now... her mind was more troubled by the upcoming competition, the one Darius had mentioned earlier.

Lucian was the first to break the silence, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her. "So... how was your training today, sister?" he asked, his tone a careful mix of curiosity and suspicion. "Did you even train? Or did Darius do something to you?"

"Yes, tell us, Victoria," Callum immediately chimed in, leaning forward with seriousness etched into his features. His voice was sharp, determined, almost protective. "And I swear, if he laid a single finger on you, I’ll deal with him myself. I’m not afraid of those three Alphas anymore. If they dare mess with you again, then they’ll learn what it means to be taught a lesson." His back straightened as he spoke, his jaw tightening with conviction.

Victoria let out a long, heavy sigh, the kind that carried more weariness than words ever could. "Alpha Darius didn’t do anything to me," she said softly, shaking her head. "And no, no training happened today... nor on the other days. He told me I’m to train by myself from now on, to prepare for the competition that’s fast approaching."

"What?!" Lucian, Theo, and Callum exclaimed in unison. Their voices rang across the courtyard, blending shock and disbelief so strongly that even the servants nearby froze in place for a moment.

Victoria flinched slightly at their outburst, her brows knitting together in confusion. "What’s wrong with that?" she asked, swallowing hard as unease curled in her stomach. "Did I say something wrong?"

Lucian rubbed his temples in frustration, his exasperated sigh cutting through the tension. "Tell me honestly... are you truly fine with not going to the academy anymore? Have you lost interest, sister? Because if you haven’t, then...damn it!" He let his hand fall against the table with a soft thud, his eyes sharp and filled with concern. The sudden weight of his words made Victoria’s heart skip a beat.

She drew in a shaky breath, then answered firmly, though her voice quivered at the edges. "It’s not that I’ve lost interest, Lucian. I just... I can’t follow the type of training Alpha Darius wants for me. It’s too brutal, too unforgiving. So, I’ve decided instead that I’ll learn from my brothers. I’ll train with you."

Her words sent a visible ripple through them. Theo’s expression froze in disbelief, Callum’s eyes widened in shock, and Lucian stiffened as if she had just announced a death sentence.

"Victoria..." Callum began, panic rising in his tone as he leaned toward her. "Fine, I know you want to learn from us, and of course, we’re willing to help you. But are you even aware of what you’re risking here? Every single question on swordsmanship in the competition will be set by Alpha Darius. Every one! Do you understand? Brutal or not, his teaching is an advantage. With him as your teacher, you’d at least have a clear idea of what questions he’ll set. And with us as your brothers, you’d also gain an advantage knowing what we’ll prepare for our own students." His chest rose and fell sharply as he tried to keep his voice steady.

"But now," he continued, his voice dropping into a more urgent tone, "you’re throwing that away. You’ll only have Alpha Auren’s and Alpha Zephyr’s subjects to guess from and we’ll be blind there. If you had stayed with Darius, you’d already know two subjects. Passing two out of four would’ve been enough to keep you in the academy. But now, you’ve reduced yourself to one. One chance! And that could very well get you expelled."

Theo leaned back in his chair with a groan, running a hand through his hair. His voice was quieter but heavy with dread. "He’s right, Victoria. And don’t forget... the Alphas already despise you. They’d seize any excuse to cast you out. If you go through with this, you’ll be handing them exactly what they want."

Victoria’s lips parted, but no words came. The courtyard seemed to grow colder, the weight of her brothers’ words pressing down like a suffocating blanket.

Then, softly...like a whisper only she could hear another voice slipped into the silence.

"Well... I’m here with you, Victoria."

It was Leo.

"Yes, you’re here and?" Victoria arched a brow, her tone edged with sarcasm as she let out a short scoff. She quickly turned her attention back to her brothers. "I’ll come out victorious in the subjects, brothers. I believe in you all....you’re great teachers, every one of you. And because of that, I know I’ll come out on top."

"I mean, I can teach you too, can’t I? After all, I’m your guardian angel, remember?" Leo’s voice slipped through the air, smooth and steady. "The truth is... you don’t even need to learn everything the hard way. I can tell you all the answers right inside the exam hall when the time comes."

Victoria’s eyes flew wide open in utter disbelief, her breath catching. "Are you serious right now?" she whispered under her breath, her lips barely moving.

"Of course I am," Leo replied with calm certainty. His tone carried both patience and authority. "You need to learn to trust me more, young lady. Whenever I lend my support to one of your actions, you must know this: I’m fully prepared to protect you and to guide you whenever necessary." His words were deliberate, steady, carrying a quiet power that pressed directly against her heart.

A wide smile spread across Victoria’s face, brightening her entire expression. "Oh my goodness... you’re truly a lifesaver, Leo. Thank you," she murmured, her voice trembling with joy.

"Besides," Leo continued with a hint of pride, "I can even train you in swordsmanship myself...everything you’ll need to know...so that when the day of the competition arrives, you won’t look suspicious in the examination hall."

Victoria’s lips parted in astonishment. "You’d really do that...?" she whispered. For the first time in days, happiness danced all across her face.

Turning back to her brothers, who still stared at her with a mixture of shock and concern, she raised her chin with renewed resolve. "We can start training tonight, brothers. Just teach me everything you believe I should know. I promise, I won’t let you down. And even if..." her voice softened slightly, but her determination did not waver...."even if I end up being expelled from the academy, I’ll have no regrets. Not as long as my brothers are behind me, and as long as I know I tried my best."

Without wasting another second, Callum, Theo, and Lucian all rose from their seats at once. Their movements were sharp, almost synchronized, as though the bond of blood guided them. They stepped toward Victoria and, without hesitation, wrapped their arms tightly around her in an embrace so fierce that it nearly squeezed the air from her lungs.

Victoria laughed breathlessly, squirming slightly in their grip. But inside her chest, her heart swelled with warmth.

"What’s even the point of learning from them now?" Leo muttered, arching a brow as he stroked his invisible chin in mock contemplation. "Oh, right... appearances. To avoid suspicion, of course. You’ll need to be seen training under your brothers while I train you privately."

Victoria nodded faintly in response, though her lips curved into a knowing smile.

"Anyway..." Leo’s voice dropped lower, more serious, carrying a weight that cut into the warmth of the moment. "What are you planning to do after this competition? You’re aware, aren’t you, that the Second Moon Ceremony will follow right after? And when it does..." he let out a heavy sigh, his tone shaded with foreboding, "that’s when the real game begins. That’s also when the moon sickness becomes rampant. We can very well say....it will mark the true beginning of your regime."

At last, Lucian, Callum, and Theo loosened their grip and broke away from the hug, though not without reluctance. It had felt like forever, but they finally released her, their warmth lingering even as the air returned to her lungs.