Scarred Wolf Queen Chapter 179

**Briony's POV**

"Get me an iced lemon water and a slice of whole wheat toast, no butter," Victoria demanded from the kitchen doorway. "Hurry up, Dora, I'm going to be late."

Benjamin and I exchanged glances, deliberately slowing our eating to avoid drawing attention.

"Dora!" Victoria called again. "I said I'm in a hurry!"

Dora didn't even turn around, continuing her work at the counter. "Sorry, no personal breakfast service before six-thirty. Water pitcher's over there, help yourself."

"Then why do I smell food?" Victoria stormed into the kitchen with her hands planted on her hips. "Someone's clearly eating in here."

"Because our future leaders have been working since five," Dora replied, calmly chopping vegetables. "Their schedule is different. Regular breakfast starts in half an hour."

"You seem to have forgotten who I am," Victoria's voice carried a clear threat. "As a potential future Luna, I deserve special treatment."

I felt anger bubbling up, but Benjamin touched my wrist, silently telling me to stay out of it.

"Listen, young lady," Dora set down her knife. "You're staying in Alpha Adam's home and enjoying pack hospitality, but that doesn't make you our future Luna. A true Luna appreciates every pack member instead of making demands. You will never become Luna. Now, pour your own water and get out of my kitchen - you're disrupting my work."

Victoria's mouth fell open. She'd clearly never been confronted by an Omega before and had no idea how to respond.

I couldn't help laughing, catching Benjamin's eye. We quickly finished our food, ready to slip away.

"Miss Briony," Dora said, "where will you and Alpha Benjamin be heading? I can have lunch ready when you need it."

"We're running in Silver Pines first, but we'll be back before noon," I answered. "We can grab it then."

"I'll have it ready," Dora nodded.

"Thanks, Dora," Benjamin squeezed her shoulder. "You're always looking out for us."

"Yes, thank you," I hugged her. "Not just for the food, but for everything."

"For you, child, anything," she hugged me back tightly.

As we left, Victoria and Dora were still arguing. Nice to know not everyone bowed to that family.

When we reached Silver Pines, Benjamin suddenly stopped. I turned back. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, just..." he stared at the forest ahead. "I haven't come here much since that time."

I immediately understood what he meant. "You stopped coming after I left?"

"Not completely, but whenever I pass by, those images come back," his voice dropped. "You in Gamma Thomas's arms, looking half-dead. You have no idea how awful it was waiting to hear if you'd make it."

"I'm sorry you all went through that," I looked down. "I wish I could cut that connection so my pain wouldn't affect you. I never meant to hurt anyone."

"Don't ever think like that," he said firmly. "Without that connection, I wouldn't have found you. You wouldn't be here now."

"What are you talking about?" My heart picked up speed.

"Who do you think found you first in that locker room?" He looked straight into my eyes. "There's something between us that lets me find you when you're hurt."

"What really happened that day?" I asked carefully.

"You went to change, and we were waiting at the training grounds, but you never showed," his eyes darkened. "Then I felt this sharp pain in my chest and ran straight to the locker room..."

He took a shaky breath, a tear sliding down his cheek. "You were covered in wounds. And you actually told me to let go, to let you die."

His voice broke as he dropped to the ground. I'd never seen him like this - this always-strong, silent boy breaking down at the memory. I moved closer to him.

He knelt on the ground, resting his head against my stomach. His arms wrapped around my waist as he buried his face in my clothes. We both cried, his shoulders shaking slightly. He found me. He always finds me.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

"Then they took you away from me," his voice was muffled against my shirt. "No updates, nothing. We only knew you were alive, that's it. That letter was all we ever got."

"That was all I could say," I stroked his hair. "I was alive. That had to be enough."

He gave a bitter laugh but didn't let go or look up.

"I'm sorry, Bri," he took a deep breath. "I'm sorry we only figured everything out after you left. After summer training that year, our dads and Griffin sat us down and told us the truth. I wish you'd trusted us enough to tell us, but I get it - we never earned that trust."

This guy who always seemed fearless was now crying while holding onto me like I might disappear if he let go. In all my memories, he'd never shown such raw emotion, but here, with just the two of us, he'd completely broken down.

This moment belonged only to us - this connection that only we understood. I sent calming thoughts to him, just as he'd done for me so many times.

"If you missed me so much, why are you still mad at me?" I asked, touching his cheek.

"Because you were never this happy or healthy when you were here," his voice steadied. "Even though you're exhausted and dirty, I can see the light in your eyes. Leaving was good for you. That pisses me off - you got better after leaving us. Makes me wonder if we were just holding you back."

I hadn't expected that.

"It's not about which place is better," I said softly. "I just needed space from all this. I needed to see if I could survive without this safety net. Even though things went sideways, I don't regret it. I was always planning to come back."

"What if the Sentinels want you to stay?" he asked roughly. "What if they want you as an instructor until you find your mate - what would you choose?"

"Do you really think that would happen?" I countered.

"Who knows," he shrugged. "You always pull off amazing stuff in no time. Who can guess what you might do when you go back?"

"But right now, I'm here," I said firmly. "And the pack's in danger. I won't leave again until everyone's safe. Even then, I can't just walk away like before. It hurt too much, and I couldn't sleep either. If Alpha King Nathan truly needs me, we'll figure something out. I think we've all grown while I was gone. Now I need to focus on training and studying Juniper's instructions."

He slowly let go and stood, wiping his face. Within seconds, his expression returned to its usual calm mask, as if the breakdown never happened.

"Who is Juniper anyway?" he asked. "What's she teaching you?"

"Juniper's a witch from Mia's coven," I explained. "Because I'm related to Alpha King Nathan, I have certain abilities. She's teaching me basic magic now."