Chapter 38:

The trees blur past us as we drive down the winding road to Moonhaven, their green leaves a streaky haze against the bright blue sky. 

The air conditioning hums softly in the car, circulating Caspian's spicy, rosy scent, which somehow manages to be both comforting and unnerving at the same time. 

My eyes flicker to the vague figures I catch in the woods as we speed by—wolves, probably, patrolling the borders. 

My stomach twists at the thought. This place was my home for twenty-one years. But it was also the place where I was abused, where my mate rejected me, and where my parents were killed. 

And now, I'm back, walking straight into the lion's den.

I glance at Caspian, his sharp profile focused on the road. His grey eyes are narrowed, his jaw set in that familiar, determined way. 

He's calm, collected, but I can feel the tension radiating off him. He knows what we're walking into. He knows the risks. And yet, here we are.

The car slows as we divert from the highway onto a dirt road that cuts through the woods. The trees begin to thin, and soon, the town of Moonhaven comes into view. 

My chest tightens as I take in the familiar sights—the small shops, the pack members going about their daily lives, the pups playing in the streets. 

They look so normal, so innocent. No one would assume they're capable of the cruelty they showed me. 

The windows of the car are tinted, so I can see them, but they can't see me. Still, I shrink back in my seat, my heart pounding as they stare curiously at the car.

We pull up to the pack house, a building I once thought was the biggest in the world, now looks like I could climb to the roof on a single step after my time away at Goldencrest.

Caspian slows the car to a stop, and for a moment, we just sit there, the engine idling. He turns to me, his gaze sharp. "You're pale. Are you okay?"

I swallow hard, my throat dry. "I'm fine. It's just... it's so hard to be back here. To see these people."

He reaches over, placing a firm hand on my thigh. The contact sends a jolt of warmth through me, and I feel my cheeks flush. 

He notices, of course, and his lips twitch in amusement. "Stop blushing," he muses. "I'm trying to reassure you."

I turn even redder with embarrassment, but he doesn't take his hand away. Instead, he leans closer, his voice low and steady. 

"We're here now, and there's no way to turn back. These people wouldn't try to hurt you while I'm here. Do you understand that?"

I nod, my eyes locked on his. He nods back, his expression serious, and I feel a small flicker of confidence. 

"You ready?" he asks.

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to sit up straighter. "Yeah."

"Good."

He turns off the car and opens his door, stepping out into the sunlight. I count to ten, trying to steady my nerves, before I do the same. 

As soon as my feet hit the ground, I feel sick. The scent of the pack—pine, earth, and something uniquely Moonhaven—hits me like a punch to the gut. 

It brings back all the memories, all the pain, and for a moment, I think I'm going to faint.

But Caspian is there before I can fall, his hand gripping mine tightly. He leans in, his voice low and firm. "We're making a grand entrance, Lilah. Don't you dare faint on me."

I offer him a weak smile, but he's glaring at me, his steel grey eyes hard. 

I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Okay, you're serious."

He doesn't let go of my hand as we walk toward the pack house, his presence a steady anchor beside me. 

The pack members who were staring at the car now turn their attention to us, their whispers carrying on the wind. 

I can feel their eyes on me, their curiosity turning to recognition, and then to something darker. 

I struggle to keep my head high, refusing to let them see how much this affects me.

As we reach the steps of the pack house, the doors swing open, and my uncle steps out, his presence commanding and intimidating. 

His dark eyes flicker to me, and for a moment, I see something—surprise—before his expression hardens.

"Prince Caspian," he says, his voice deep and measured. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

Caspian doesn't miss a beat, his tone cool and diplomatic. "We're here on official business. I trust you'll extend your hospitality."

Rowan's gaze shifts to me, and I feel a shiver run down my spine. "Delilah," he says, my name sounding foreign on his lips. "It's been a while."

I force myself to meet his eyes, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. "Alpha Rowan."

He studies me for a moment, his expression unreadable, before stepping aside and gesturing for us to enter. "Come in. We'll discuss this inside."

Caspian's hand tightens around mine as we step into the pack house, the familiar scent of wood and leather filling my nostrils. 

The walls are lined with portraits of past alphas, their stern faces watching us as we walk down the hallway. 

I almost stop at the portrait of my mother, unlike the past Alpha's, she has a soft smile on her face.

I'll get justice, I swear. 

As we enter the main hall, I see Theo standing near the fireplace, his expression a mix of shock and something else I can't quite place. 

He takes a step forward, his eyes locked on mine. "Lilah," he says, his voice soft but strained. "What are you doing here?"

I open my mouth to respond, but Caspian beats me to it. "We're here on official business," he says in that princely authoritative voice of his. "We'll discuss the details with your father."

Theo's jaw tightens, but he doesn't say anything else. Instead, he steps back, his eyes never leaving mine. 

I can feel the tension in the room, the unspoken words hanging heavy in the air.

Caspian had decided that our guise for being here is to try to realign moonhaven under Goldencrest.

They've been operating independently since Rowan took over as Alpha and his father, the king, let it slide.

It's a way to kill two birds with one stone if you ask me. Bring Moonhaven back under the authority of Goldencrest and we gather evidence to prove Rowan killed my parents.

It doesn't get harder, does it?