Fated reborn - Chapter 230: Chapter 230

Victor's pov.
Dorian was quiet for a moment. Then, “I get that.” he said.
And I believed him.
We stayed a little longer, watching as the younger wolves finished their session. By the time we left, the city had begun its slow shift into the evening routine—lights flickering on, the streets still busy but with a different energy.
Luciano rolled his shoulders, glancing toward Dorian. “So? What do you think?” he asked.
Dorian exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s…different,” he admitted. “Good. Stable.” He met my gaze. “I see why your pack is the way it is.” he said.
That was enough. He didn’t need to say more.
We didn’t push him for anything else, didn’t expect some grand revelation. This wasn’t about that. This was about understanding, about giving him the space to see things for himself.
As the evening settled in, we made our way back toward the heart of the city, the streets still alive with movement, with purpose.
There was still a lot left unsaid, still things Dorian was trying to figure out.
But that was alright.
There was time.
The sun had dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows over the streets as we wrapped up the last stretch of our walk. The city still buzzed with activity, though the energy had shifted—mornings were for work, afternoons for errands, and evenings for gathering.
Marcus and Dorian had been quiet for most of the tour, taking everything in. Marcus, being a pack leader himself, seemed to analyze the structure, the way things flowed, how our people interacted. Dorian, though, was harder to read. He listened, observed, but kept his thoughts to himself.
By the time we made it back toward the pack house, the air had cooled slightly, the scent of fresh pine and burning wood lingering as members prepared their homes for the night.
Luciano stretched his arms behind his head, exhaling. “Well, that should give you a good feel of how things work around here.”
Marcus nodded, his expression unreadable. “It’s efficient. Strong.”
“Because we built it that way,” I said simply.
Dorian finally spoke up. “Not every pack has this level of stability.” His gaze flicked over the large structure ahead of us—our pack house. “It’s… different.”
I glanced at him. “Different good or different bad?”
A beat of silence. Then, “Different good.”
That was enough for me.
The pack house was warm, familiar. The scent of home-cooked food drifted through the halls, and the distant murmur of voices echoed from the dining hall. It was one of the few places where formality was set aside—where rank didn’t matter as much, where we could just exist as a unit, as a family.
As we entered, a few members greeted us with nods and brief smiles. Some eyed Marcus and Dorian with curiosity, but no one intruded. They knew better.
Dinner was already being set on the long wooden table—plates of roasted meat, fresh bread, vegetables, and steaming bowls of soup. Simple, hearty, enough to feed a house full of wolves.
We took our seats, falling into easy conversation as we ate.
Luciano leaned back, swirling his drink in his glass. “So, Marcus,” he started, a knowing smirk on his face. “You really came all this way because you’re scenting your mate?”
Marcus wiped his mouth with a napkin, his expression unbothered. “You sound surprised.”
“I am.” Luciano chuckled. “Never thought I’d see the day.”
Marcus shook his head but didn’t argue. He knew how rare it was for a pack leader to find their mate—how significant it was. A bond like that wasn’t just personal; it could shift the entire structure of a pack.
Dorian, who had been mostly quiet, finally spoke up. “We weren’t planning to stay long. But if his mate is here…” He trailed off, taking another sip of his drink.
I nodded, understanding. “Then you’re staying as long as it takes.”
Marcus met my gaze. “That a problem?”
I smirked. “Not at all.”
Dinner continued with casual conversation, the atmosphere relaxed but charged with an undercurrent of something—anticipation, maybe. Marcus hadn’t scented his mate yet, but he would. It was only a matter of time.
Then, out of nowhere, Dorian’s posture stiffened. His fork clattered softly against his plate as his entire body went still.
We all noticed.
His head snapped to the side, his nostrils flaring slightly as if chasing a scent in the air. His brows pulled together, his expression unreadable but focused.
Luciano frowned. “What is it?”
Dorian didn’t answer right away. Instead, he pressed his lips together, inhaling slowly before exhaling just as measured. Then, his voice came low but firm.
“The smell just got stronger.”
Silence fell over the table.
My gaze sharpened. “Your mate?”
Dorian gave the smallest nod. “They just passed.”
Luciano and I exchanged a glance. That wasn’t something to ignore.
Marcus sat up straighter. “Where?”
Dorian turned toward the dining hall entrance, but whoever had walked by was already gone. He clenched his jaw, pushing his chair back as he stood.
I wiped my mouth and got to my feet as well. “Then let’s go see who just passed.”
Luciano followed, and Marcus wasn’t far behind. We moved toward the doorway, the air charged with something unseen but undeniable.
As soon as we stepped out, the scent hit me—faint but unmistakable. And then, just a few steps ahead, I saw her.
My body halted before my mind even caught up.
Beside me, Luciano stiffened.
And at the exact same time, we both breathed out her name.
“Trini.”