Victoria didn’t respond right away. She let Celeste’s words settle between them, the morning air cool against their skin, the hum of the city far below serving as the only sound for a few moments.
Then she spoke, her voice quieter than before. “You think you’re cursed,” she said, her tone steady but threaded with something heavier. “But our family… we’re the ones who are cursed.”
Celeste’s brows lifted slightly, but she didn’t speak.
Victoria’s gaze stayed on the horizon. “No one’s ever told me how it began. Every time I asked as a child, I got the same look, pity, and silence. But it’s been the same for as long as anyone can remember. No Alpha of our bloodline has ever been blessed with a mate. We’re leaders, but not chosen by the Moon Goddess. Not in the way you were. Our bonds are fo
