Chapter 98: Chapter 98 Threat
Leo
The moment Victoria’s name flashed on my phone screen, my wolf Ronan surged forward with protective urgency. Her voice—trembling and breathless—sent ice through my veins.
"Stay where you are," I ordered, already moving toward the exit of Shadow Pack’s intelligence center. "I’m coming to you now."
Carson looked up sharply from the surveillance monitors, his expression questioning. I covered the phone’s microphone briefly.
"Get Tiny on the line. Tell him to find Victoria immediately and not let her out of his sight."
Carson nodded, reaching for his comm unit as I returned to the call.
"Victoria, listen to me," I continued, keeping my voice deliberately calm despite the fear clawing at my chest. "Are you certain about this? How did you find out?"
Her explanation about the garden and the plants communicating would have sounded insane from anyone else. "I’ll be there in twenty minutes," I promised. "Don’t do anything. Don’t go anywhere. Not even within pack boundaries. Understand?"
Her hesitation was brief but noticeable. "Yes, but Leo—she sounded so weak..."
"I know," I cut in, unable to keep the growl from my voice. "We’ll find her, but not by rushing in blindly. Promise me you’ll wait."
"I promise," she finally conceded.
After ending the call, I turned to find Carson waiting expectantly, his tablet displaying a map of recent territorial incursions.
"We have a situation," I stated flatly. "Elisabeth Howlthorne is apparently alive and being held by Marcus Grimwood."
Carson’s eyebrows shot up. "Victoria’s mother? The human who supposedly died fifteen years ago?"
"Fairy," I corrected automatically. "And yes. Victoria just made contact with her through some kind of... botanical communication."
To his credit, Carson didn’t question the method. "This explains the unusual activity we’ve been tracking," he said, swiping through satellite images on his tablet. "Marcus’s wolves have been moving in patterns that made little strategic sense—until now."
He enlarged an image showing a remote section of forest near the Silver Peak Mountains. Small figures moved between trees, carrying what appeared to be construction materials.
"They’re building something here," Carson continued. "We thought it might be a forward base for attacking Howlthorne territory, but given this new information..."
"It could be ritual grounds," I finished grimly. "The Blood Moon is in three days."
Tiny burst through the door, his massive frame filling the entrance. "Victoria’s safe. She’s in the old garden section of Howlthorne House. What’s happened?"
I quickly explained the situation while Carson pulled up additional intelligence reports.
"We’ve intercepted several unusual supply shipments to Marcus’s territory in the past week," Carson noted, displaying a manifest. "Silver ceremonial bowls, ancient texts from occult dealers in Europe, rare herbs that only grow in fairy territories."
"Blood rituals," Tiny growled. "The old kind. Before the Peace Accords."
My jaw clenched. The ancient blood rituals had been banned for centuries—magic that drew power from sacrifice, particularly sacrifices of rare bloodlines. If Elisabeth was half-fairy as Victoria believed, her blood would be immensely valuable for such dark workings.
"And if he gets Victoria’s blood—mixed werewolf and fairy—the power would be exponentially greater," I said, the realization hitting me like a physical blow. "That’s his endgame. He doesn’t just want Howlthorne territory. He’s after something much bigger."
"Alpha," one of my tech specialists called from across the room. "Incoming video call from an encrypted source. It’s tracing back to Crimson Claw territory."
Marcus. My wolf snarled, clawing for control, desperate to tear through the screen at our enemy.
"Put it through," I ordered, schooling my features into a mask of cold indifference. Never show weakness to an enemy—especially one as calculating as Marcus Grimwood.
The main screen flickered, then filled with Marcus’s weathered face. The older Alpha smiled, the expression never reaching his one good eye.
"Leonard Moretti," he greeted, his voice smooth as poisoned honey. "I was beginning to think you were avoiding my calls."
"Marcus." I kept my tone flat, uninterested. "I’ve been rather occupied cleaning up after your failed assassination attempts. Sloppy work, by the way. I expected better."
His smile tightened fractionally. "Merely testing your defenses, young Alpha. No hard feelings, I hope."
"Cut the shit, Marcus. What do you want?"
He chuckled, leaning back in a chair carved from dark wood. "Direct as always. Very well. I have something—or rather, someone—you might be interested in seeing."
The camera panned, revealing a dimly lit chamber behind him. In the center, surrounded by a circle of silver chains embedded with glowing runes, knelt a woman. Her head hung forward, long brown hair obscuring her face, but there was no mistaking the delicate pointed ears visible through the tangled strands.
Elisabeth Howlthorne. Victoria’s mother. Alive, just as Victoria had sensed.
My expression remained impassive, though inwardly Ronan howled with rage. "Am I supposed to be impressed that you’ve taken an fairy hostage? The Council will have your head for violating the treaties."
Marcus laughed, the sound echoing coldly. "This is no ordinary fairy, as you well know. This is Elisabeth Howlthorne—mate to the late Alpha Dominic, mother to your precious little half-breed Luna."
At his gesture, one of his guards yanked Elisabeth’s head up by her hair. Her resemblance to Victoria was striking—the same delicate features, the same determination in her eyes despite obvious suffering.
"As you can see," Marcus continued conversationally, "she’s alive, though not particularly well. Fifteen years of containment spells take their toll, even on fairy constitutions."
"Your point, Grimwood?" I demanded, fighting to keep my voice level.
"My terms are simple." His smile widened, revealing teeth that seemed too sharp, too predatory even for a werewolf. "I’ll release Elisabeth—in exchange for Victoria. Three days from now, at the Blood Moon ritual grounds in Silver Peak. Victoria for her mother."
"Go to hell." The words escaped before I could stop them, raw and guttural.
"I expected that response," Marcus sighed theatrically. "But consider this, Leo—Victoria will come for her mother regardless of what you say. The question is whether she arrives with your blessing and protection, or whether she sneaks away in the night, alone and vulnerable."
The calculating bastard knew exactly which buttons to push. Victoria’s fierce loyalty and impulsive courage were both her greatest strengths and most dangerous weaknesses. Of course she would try to save her mother, with or without my support.
"And if I refuse?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.
Marcus’s smile turned vicious. "Then you’ll receive Elisabeth in pieces, starting with her pointed ears. And when the Blood Moon rises, I’ll use what remains of her to cast a binding spell that will bring every werewolves in Howlthorne Pack under my control." He leaned closer to the camera. "Including your precious Victoria."
Elisabeth struggled weakly against her guards, managing to look directly into the camera. "Leo, don’t bring her! "
A guard slapped a hand over her mouth, muffling her warning.
"Three days, Moretti," Marcus continued smoothly. "Victoria for Elisabeth at Silver Peak. Come alone, or don’t come at all. The choice is yours."
The screen went black before I could respond, leaving me staring at my own reflection—eyes glowing gold with rage, claws fully extended and drawing blood from my palms.
"Alpha?" Tiny’s voice broke through the red haze of fury clouding my vision.
"Prepare the warriors," I ordered, my voice barely recognizable. "Full combat readiness. And get me everything we have on blood magic rituals involving mixed bloodlines."
Carson nodded sharply. "And Luna Victoria?"
I closed my eyes briefly, already dreading the conversation to come. "I’ll tell her myself," I finally said.