CHAPTER 140: Back home

Callista’s POV

“Mommy!" Jessica’s arms wrapped tightly around my waist, burying her face in my stomach. Relief washed over me, bittersweet and sharp. "Where did you go? Aunt Lily said you left to kill big bad wolves!" I chuckled, the sound raspy.

"Not exactly, sweetheart. I went to help Alpha Cassius and his pack. They needed a little… assistance." Jessica tilted her head back, peering up at me with wide, worried eyes. The resemblance to Cassius, with her sharp jaw and frame, was uncanny. But her eyes—those held a warmth Cassius never possessed, but of mine.

"Did you get hurt, Mommy?" Her tiny hand reached up to touch a bruise blooming on my arm. Guilt gnawed at me. Leaving Jessica, even for a war I couldn't ignore, felt like a betrayal.

"Just a few scratches, honey bee. Nothing a good night's sleep won't fix." I kneeled before her, forcing a smile. Jessica’s concern was a stark reminder of the responsibility I bore—to her, to my pack, and yes, even to Cassius, her father. But un