Chapter 71: Chapter 71 Rising Alpha
Victoria
The early morning sunlight filtered through the trees surrounding Howlthorne Pack territory, casting long shadows across the gathering clearing.
I glanced at Lilith and Jackson flanking me on either side. Jackson still looked pale from his injuries, but he stood tall, his presence lending me the legitimacy I needed among the more traditional pack members. Lilith’s elegant posture and encouraging nod bolstered my confidence.
"Howlthorne Pack," I began, my voice carrying across the clearing with surprising strength. I paced slowly before them, channeling the commanding presence I’d observed in Leo. "Marcus Grimwood has taken our Alpha hostage. He believes this will weaken us, divide us, make us easy prey. He’s wrong."
My gaze swept across their faces, meeting eyes that now looked upon me with growing respect. "The Shadow Pack stands with us. Alpha Moretti has pledged his support and resources to our cause. Together, we will rescue Enzo and bring Marcus to justice for his crimes against our pack."
A tentative cheer rose from the crowd. I raised my hand for silence.
"But to succeed, we need organization. Structure. Every one of you has strengths that will be crucial in the coming days."
I turned to Jackson and Garrett, who stood nearby with his arm in a sling. "Jackson and Garrett will oversee our warriors’ training. And yes—" I emphasized, noting the surprised expressions, "—that includes our female pack members who wish to fight."
Several she-wolves straightened, excitement flashing in their eyes. Traditional werewolf society often relegated females to support roles, but I had seen firsthand through Leo’s pack how valuable female warriors could be.
"Those with healing abilities will work with our medical team. Those skilled in strategy will join our planning sessions." I let my gaze linger on the older wolves, their weathered faces marked by years of experience—an asset I refused to waste.
A gruff voice rose from the back. "And what about logistics? Who the hell is supposed to handle that?"
I didn’t flinch. Instead, I let the silence stretch, my eyes sweeping across the restless crowd. Perfect. Let them doubt me—it only makes the next move stronger.
"For our supply lines and logistics," I said clearly, my voice carrying to the farthest corner of the hall, "I’m putting the Omega House in charge. Beta Alessio will oversee it personally."
A ripple of shocked whispers cut through the air. I caught more than one scoff, the old prejudice running deep. To most, Omegas were nothing more than background workers, invisible until needed.
But Leo’s words echoed in my mind: Every wolf has value. Rank doesn’t measure worth.
I squared my shoulders, my tone sharp as a blade. "Does anyone have a problem with that?" My chin lifted in challenge, daring them to defy me.
Silence greeted my question. Then, slowly, the wolves began to lower their heads in submission—a gesture I had never received before. The sensation was both empowering and humbling.
"Then let’s begin. Jackson, Garrett—assemble your training teams. Everyone else—report to your assigned duties. We move against Marcus in three days. Let’s make sure we’re ready."
As the crowd dispersed, Lilith approached me. "That was impressive," she said quietly. "You’ve changed, Victoria."
I smiled thinly. "Necessity is a powerful motivator."
"Shall we head to the Omega House now?" she asked.
"Yes. I want to speak with Uncle Alessio personally."
We took my Jeep, the one Leo had insisted on equipping with enhanced security features. The drive to the Omega House took us through the less prosperous side of town, but I noticed immediate differences from my last visit.
The dilapidated building I remembered had undergone a remarkable transformation. Fresh paint covered the exterior walls, the broken windows had been replaced, and the yard was now landscaped with native plants. A small greenhouse gleamed in the morning sun.
"Leo’s work?" Lilith asked, noticing my surprised expression.
"And Tiny’s," I confirmed, a surge of warmth filling my chest at their generosity. "They promised to help, but I didn’t expect... this."
We parked and approached the building. Before I could knock, the door swung open to reveal Uncle Alessio, his weather-beaten face breaking into a wide smile.
"Little Victoria!" he exclaimed, enveloping me in a bear hug that smelled of herbs and wood smoke. "Or should I say, Alpha Howlthorne?"
I laughed into his shoulder, momentarily allowing myself to be just Victoria again—the girl who had sought refuge in this place when Enzo’s cruelty became too much to bear. "Just Victoria to you, Uncle. Always."
He held me at arm’s length, his keen eyes assessing me. "You look different, little one. The Moon Goddess has been working her magic on you."
"A lot has happened," I admitted, introducing Lilith. "This is Lilith Howlthorne, Enzo’s mate."
Uncle Alessio’s expression cooled slightly as he nodded to Lilith. "We’ve met before, though I doubt she remembers an old wolf like me."
Lilith had the grace to look embarrassed. "I remember. And I owe you an apology, sir. I wasn’t... myself back then."
Uncle Alessio’s eyebrows rose at her humility. "Well now," he said thoughtfully. "Perhaps there’s been more than one transformation in the Howlthorne Pack."
He ushered us inside, and I marveled at the interior improvements. What had once been a cramped, shabby space was now open and welcoming, with new furniture, clean floors, and windows that actually let in light. The scent of fresh bread wafted from the kitchen.
"This is amazing," I breathed, turning in a slow circle. "How did you manage all this so quickly?"
Uncle Alessio’s eyes twinkled. "Your Alpha Moretti doesn’t believe in half measures, it seems. The materials arrived two days after your visit, along with a team of workers who wouldn’t take no for an answer. That giant Beta of his supervised everything personally."
My heart swelled at the thought of Tiny overseeing the renovation, probably terrifying the workers into efficiency with his massive presence.
"And that’s not all," Uncle Alessio continued, leading us to the back of the house. "Come see."
He opened a door to reveal a room that had been converted into a medical supply storage area. Shelves lined the walls, stocked with bandages, medicines, herbal remedies, and other necessities.
"The greenhouse outside is already producing healing herbs," he explained proudly. "We’ve been preparing, Victoria. Somehow, we knew you’d need us."
Tears pricked my eyes. "I do need you, Uncle. All of you. Marcus Grimwood has taken Enzo and my stepmother. We’re mounting a rescue operation, and we’ll need medical support, food preparation, communications—everything a pack needs to function during conflict."
Uncle Alessio straightened, dignity evident in every line of his body. "The Omegas of Howlthorne territory stand ready to serve, Alpha Victoria. Just tell us where and when."
"You’ll coordinate with Rosa from the Shadow Pack," I explained. "She’s handling their logistics and will be working closely with our team."
"The legendary Rosa?" Uncle Alessio’s eyes widened. "It would be an honor."
After discussing the details of what we’d need, I hugged Uncle Alessio goodbye, promising to return soon. As Lilith and I walked back to the Jeep, she was uncharacteristically quiet.
"Something on your mind?" I asked, unlocking the vehicle.
Lilith hesitated, then spoke in a rush. "I need to apologize to you, Victoria. Properly apologize."
I paused, key in the ignition, and turned to face her. "I’m listening."
She twisted her hands in her lap, looking more vulnerable than I’d ever seen her. "Before Enzo changed, before everything went wrong, you and I were almost friends. Do you remember?"
I did remember. Brief moments when Enzo was away, when Lilith would share a book recommendation or comment on my sketches with genuine interest.
"You used to sneak me fashion magazines," I recalled softly. "When Aurora wasn’t looking."
Lilith nodded, a sad smile playing on her lips. "And you helped me with my biology assignments. You were always so smart."
"What changed, Lilith?"
She sighed, staring out the windshield. "Enzo. He started gambling, drinking more. Aurora was whispering in his ear constantly about how you were a threat, how your human blood made you unworthy. And I... I was weak. As his mate, I felt his emotions bleeding into mine through our bond. His resentment became mine. His cruelty seemed justified."
I gripped the steering wheel, old pain surfacing. "You watched him hurt me, Lilith. You stood by when he locked me in that cellar for three days."
A tear slipped down her cheek. "I know. There’s no excuse, Victoria. I can only tell you that I’ve changed—or rather, I’ve found my way back to who I was before. "
Lilith gave me a knowing look. ".What I’m trying to say is that I was wrong about you. We all were. You’re twice the Alpha Enzo ever was, and I... I hope someday you can forgive me."
I started the engine, needing a moment to process her words. The road back to the pack house stretched before us, sunlight dappling through the trees.