CHAPTER 7 - Victoria's Shadow

I didn't sleep.

The anonymous text burned in my mind all night. *Ask Kade about the last Luna who lived in that guest house.*

At six AM, I gave up trying. I made coffee and stared at my phone, debating.

Then I texted the only person who might give me straight answers.

**Me:** *I need to talk to you. About Kade.*

**Sienna:** *Guest house. Twenty minutes.*

She arrived in fifteen.

Sienna didn't bother knocking. Just walked in like she owned the place and poured herself coffee from my pot.

"You're up early for someone who's supposed to be resting," she said.

"Can't sleep when someone's sending me cryptic warnings." I held up my phone, showing her the message.

Her face went carefully blank. "Where did you get that?"

"Anonymous number. Is it true? Was there another woman here?"

Sienna set down her coffee. Looked at the door. Then back at me.

"We shouldn't talk about this here," she said quietly.

My stomach dropped. "Why not?"

"Because Kade doesn't like when people discuss Victoria." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Last wolf who asked too many questions got expelled from the pack."

"For asking questions?"

"For 'threatening pack unity.'" Sienna's jaw was tight. "That's what he called it."

The coffee turned sour in my stomach.

"Tell me what happened to her."

Sienna glanced at the door again. Like she expected Kade to walk in any second.

"Her name was Victoria Hale. Council-arranged engagement. Beautiful. Smart. Everything a Luna should be." Sienna's voice dropped lower. "Three months in, she tried to break it off. Said she'd made a mistake. That she wanted to leave."

"And?"

"Kade refused. Said the council had approved the match. That she'd given her word." Sienna's eyes met mine. "Two weeks later, she disappeared. Middle of the night. No one saw her leave."

My hands were shaking. "Did he—"

"I don't know what happened." Sienna cut me off. "But I saw her the day before. She had bruises on her wrists. When I asked, she said she fell." Sienna shook her head. "But her eyes—she looked terrified."

"Where is she now?"

"No one knows. The council investigated. Then closed the case." Sienna's voice was bitter. "Her family took a settlement and stopped asking questions."

"A settlement for what?"

"For their silence."

The door opened.

We both spun around.

Kade stood in the doorway. His silver eyes were cold. Fixed on Sienna.

"I asked you a question yesterday about loyalty," he said quietly. "I'm asking again."

Sienna's face went pale. She set down her coffee.

"We were just talking—"

"I know what you were doing." Kade stepped inside. The room felt smaller. "Leave. Now."

Sienna looked at me. Something like pity crossed her face.

Then she left. Fast.

The door clicked shut.

Kade and I stood alone.

"You've been asking questions about me," he said.

"I have a right to know who I'm trusting."

"Do you?" He moved closer. Not threatening. But deliberate. "Or do you have a right to believe pack gossip and anonymous texts?"

"Sienna's not gossip. She's your second."

"She's loyal to the pack. Not always to me." His eyes flashed gold. "What did she tell you?"

"That Victoria tried to leave. That you wouldn't let her. That she disappeared."

"And you believe that?"

"I don't know what to believe."

"Then don't believe anything." His voice was flat. "Believe what you see. What you feel. Not what frightened wolves whisper when they think I'm not listening."

"Why would Sienna lie?"

"Because she blames me for Victoria's disappearance. Because guilt makes people create stories that aren't true." He stopped a few feet away. "Victoria made choices. Bad ones. And when she ran, things went wrong."

"What does that mean?"

"It means she's gone. That's all that matters."

"That's not an answer—"

"It's the only answer you're getting." His voice cut like a blade. "Victoria is not your concern. Your father is."

My phone buzzed.

**Unknown:** *He's lying. Victoria's sister tried to investigate. Got threatened into silence. He's dangerous, Della. Run before it's too late.*

I stared at the screen.

Kade's eyes narrowed. "What is it?"

"Nothing."

"Show me."

"No."

"Della—"

"I said no." My voice shook. "You don't get to control everything I do."

Something flickered across his face. Dark. Dangerous.

"I'm not trying to control you."

"Aren't you? You're blocking the door right now."

He glanced down. He was.

He moved aside. Slowly. Deliberately.

"Better?" His voice was cold.

Before I could answer, Kade's phone rang.

He pulled it out. Answered. "What?"

I watched his face go hard.

"How many?" He paused. "When?" Another pause. "I'm on my way."

He hung up. Looked at me.

"Your father's early. He's at the border with thirty wolves." His jaw was tight. "The meeting starts now."

My chest tightened. "How early?"

"Twenty minutes out. He's demanding I bring you immediately."

"What happens if I don't go?"

"I tell your father you're under my protection. He demands proof. I have none to give him." Kade's jaw tightened. "Then he takes you by force and the council backs him because you're not officially claimed."

"And if I go with you?"

"You stand beside me. Let him see you've chosen Shadow Moon over Northern Ridge." His eyes burned into mine. "But it won't be enough. Not unless you accept the mate bond. Not unless I mark you."

"You want me to decide right now?"

"I want you to trust me. But I can't force that." He moved toward the door. He walked out.

I stood alone in the guest house.

Victoria's guest house.

Where she lived before she disappeared.

My phone buzzed again.

**Unknown:** *Victoria's last text before she vanished: "He knows I'm planning to leave. I'm scared. If something happens to me, it was Kade." Her phone was found at the border. After that, no one knows what happened.*

Another buzz.

**Unknown:** *Some people believe she didn't survive. Don't make her mistake. RUN.*

I looked around the room. At the furniture. The windows. The bed.

Had Victoria stood here, terrified, planning her escape?

Did Kade stop her?

A sharp knock made me jump.

"Della!" Derek's voice. "We're out of time. Your father's crossing into neutral territory. If you're coming, it's now!"

I grabbed my jacket.

My hands were shaking.

I didn't know if I was walking toward safety or my own grave.

But I knew one thing—standing in Victoria's guest house waiting for my father to drag me home wasn't an option.

I opened the door.

Derek stood there, tense. "Kade's already at the border. We need to move."

"Wait." I grabbed his arm. "Victoria Hale. What really happened to her?"

Derek's face went carefully blank. "I don't know."

"You're his beta. You know everything."

"I know what I'm allowed to know." His voice dropped. "And I know better than to ask questions Kade won't answer. You should too."

He pulled away and started walking.

I followed.

But with every step toward the border, toward Kade, toward my father, one thought screamed in my mind:

*What if I'm choosing the wrong monster?*