Chapter 17: Victory’s Price

The medical tent was in chaos. Healers worked on both Victor and me, treating our wounds. My leg was badly torn where his teeth had caught me. Deep gashes covered my arms and shoulders. But I’d live.

“You fought well,” Victor said from the other cot. His pride was clearly wounded more than his body. “I underestimated you.”

“Most people do.” I winced as a healer cleaned the leg wound. “About the investigation. When can we start?”

“You’re serious about that? I thought you just wanted to beat me publicly.” He laughed bitterly. “You really care about those abuse allegations?”

“I care about wolves being hurt by those who should protect them.” I met his eyes. “If you’re innocent, you have nothing to fear. If you’re guilty, you’ll face consequences.”

Victor’s expression hardened. “Do what you need to do. I’ll honour the deal.”

After the healers finished, I limped back to my room. Every muscle ached. The adrenaline was wearing off, leaving only pain and exhaustion.

Maya and Dax were waiting, both looking worried.

“You were amazing out there,” Maya said, helping me to the bed. “But you’re hurt worse than you’re admitting.”

“I’ll heal. Wolves always do.” I lay back carefully. “We won. That’s what matters.”

“The whole Summit is talking about it.” Dax grinned. “You’re the young Alpha who took down Victor Kane. Your reputation just skyrocketed.”

There was a knock. Elder Marcus entered with several Council members.

“Alpha Aria. Impressive victory.” He studied my wounds with concern. “Though costly.”

“Worth it if it helps innocent wolves.”

“Indeed. We’ll begin the investigation of Kane’s pack tomorrow. You should rest today.” He handed me papers. “These arrived during the fight. Alliance requests. Five different packs want to establish trade agreements with Crescent Ridge.”

I scanned the papers, stunned. “Five? We’re a small pack.”

“You were a small pack. After today’s display, everyone sees your potential. Your value.” Elder Marcus smiled. “Use this momentum wisely, young Alpha.”

After the Council left, I tried to rest. But my mind wouldn’t quiet. Everything was changing so fast. A year ago, I was nobody. A servant omega with secret dreams. Now I was an Alpha fielding alliance requests from established packs.

“How does it feel?” Maya asked softly. “Getting everything you never knew you wanted?”

“Strange. Like I’m living someone else’s life.” I touched the bandage on my leg. “Sometimes I wonder if I’m dreaming. If I wake up back in the Shadowpine kitchens.”

“This is real. You made it through your own strength.”

Another knock interrupted us. I groaned. “If that’s another Alpha wanting to talk, tell them I’m dead.”

Maya opened the door. Her expression changed. “It’s Kaden.”

My heart jumped despite myself. “Tell him I’m resting.”

“Please, Aria.” Kaden’s voice came from the hallway. “Just five minutes. That’s all I ask.”

Maya looked at me questioningly. I should say no. Should keep the distance I’d worked so hard to establish.

“Fine. Five minutes.” I sat up, trying not to show how much it hurt.

Kaden entered slowly, like approaching a wild animal. He looked at my bandages with visible pain.

“You were incredible today. I’ve never seen anyone move like that. Fight like that.” He stayed near the door. “But you’re hurt. I can smell the blood.”

“I’m fine. It’ll heal.” I kept my voice neutral. “What do you want, Kaden?”

“To tell you something important. About Seraphina.” He glanced at Maya and Dax. “Can we talk privately?”

“Anything you say to me, you can say in front of them. They’re my Beta and head warrior. They should hear the pack business.”

“This isn’t exactly pack business.” He hesitated. “I’ve been gathering evidence. About Seraphina’s activities. Things she’s done that violate pack law.”

That got my attention. “What kind of things?”

“She’s been embezzling from the pack treasury. Funnelling money to her family’s accounts. And there are reports from lower-ranked wolves about abuse. Beatings. Public humiliation.” His voice was tight with anger. “I found communications between her and a rogue Alpha. She’s been paying him to cause trouble in neighbouring territories.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because one of those territories is yours.” Kaden pulled out his phone, showing me messages. “She hired rogues to harass Crescent Ridge. To make you look weak. She wanted you to fail so I’d stop thinking about you.”

Ice ran through my veins. “When?”

“Three weeks ago. Did you have any rogue problems recently?”

I had. A group had tried to raid our northern border. We’d driven them off, but it had been a close fight. Several of my wolves were injured.

“Yes. We thought it was random.” Anger built inside me. “She put my pack in danger because of her jealousy?”

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know until yesterday when I found these messages.” Kaden looked genuinely distraught. “I’m bringing evidence to the Council tomorrow. She’ll face charges.”

“Good.” But it wasn’t enough. Seraphina had tried to hurt my wolves. That couldn’t stand.

“There’s more.” Kaden’s expression darkened. “I found evidence that she might have been involved in my father’s death. He discovered what she was doing and threatened to expose her. Two days later, he was dead. The doctors said natural causes, but the timing is suspicious.”

“You think she killed him?”

“I think it’s possible. I’ve ordered a private investigation.” He finally moved closer, sitting in the chair beside my bed. “Aria, I know I have no right to ask this, but please be careful around her. She’s more dangerous than anyone realised.”

“I can handle Seraphina.”

“I know you can. You can handle anything. You proved that today.” His voice softened. “But that doesn’t mean you should have to face everything alone.”

“I’m not alone. I have my pack. My friends. People who chose to stand with me.” The unspoken words hung heavy. Unlike you.

Kaden flinched. “I deserved that.”

“Yes. You did.” I was too tired to soften the blow. “Is that everything? Your five minutes are almost up.”

“Just one more thing.” He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small velvet box. “I want you to have this.”

“Kaden, no. I’m not taking jewellery from you.”

“It’s not from me. It’s from your mother.” He opened the box, revealing a delicate silver pendant shaped like a crescent moon. “My father kept it after your parents died. I found it in his papers. It belongs to you.”

My breath caught. Something that belonged to my mother. A connection to the family I’d lost.

“How did your father have this?”

“I don’t know. But there’s an inscription on the back.” He turned it over, showing me tiny engraved words. “For our daughter. May the moon light your path home.”

Tears blurred my vision. I took the pendant with shaking hands. “Thank you for bringing this to me.”

“It’s the least I could do.” Kaden stood. “I’ll let you rest now. But Aria, if you need anything. Anything at all. Just ask. Please.”

He left before I could respond. I clutched the pendant, feeling the weight of it. The history.

“That was unexpected,” Maya said quietly.

“Everything about today has been unexpected.” I fastened the pendant around my neck. It felt right there. Like it belonged.

“Do you think Seraphina really killed his father?” Dax asked.

“I think she’s capable of it. And that makes her extremely dangerous.” I lay back down, exhaustion finally winning. “Tomorrow we’ll deal with the investigation. Tonight, I just need to sleep.”

But sleep didn’t come easily. My mind replayed the fight. Kaden’s visit. The pendant against my skin.

So much had changed. I’d proven myself to the Summit. Gained alliances. Protected my pack. Won a major battle.

But somehow, holding this piece of my mother’s memory, I felt more lost than ever.

Who was I really? The rejected omega? The powerful Alpha? The daughter of murdered leaders?

All of it. None of it. Something in between.

The only thing I knew for certain was that I’d keep moving forward. Keep fighting for what mattered. Keep protecting those who depended on me.

Even if I didn’t fully understand who I was yet.

Even if the past kept reaching out to complicate the present.

Even if the boy I’d loved was finally trying to make things right.

Some bridges, once burned, couldn’t be rebuilt.

Some wounds, even with wolf healing, left permanent scars.

And some choices, once made, changed everything forever.

I just had to live with mine.

The way Kaden had to live with his.