Chapter 5 The Vial of Hope

Stepping into her old penthouse in Mystic Town, Riana's heart beat a little faster-not with anxiety, but with the quiet hum of homecoming.

"I'm.. home" she sighed with a weak smile hiding the hurt she felt.

The double doors swung open to reveal a sunlit sanctuary. Walls of cream and gold, plush carpets that swallowed sound, the faint scent of sandalwood candles lingering in

the air. Her fingers touched the walls gently while her heart beats in pain.

This had been their first home together before they'd moved to Ambrose-a nest she'd built with her own hands, dreaming of warmth and family for the child growing

inside her.

But Wesley had only ever seen walls. He'd been too lost mourning the mate he thought fate had stolen from him. He blamed her for his sorrow.

Seven years of marriage. Seven years trying to carve warmth into cold marble. Now, the penthouse stood like a museum of the life she'd failed to build-and the one she

was now reclaiming.

"No! I will not think about him. He is my past" She dropped her luggage and padded barefoot across the floor, twirling slowly as her mother's old lullaby escaped her lips. No trace of Wesley's cologne here. No dark leather or Alpha ego.

Just her books. Her scented candles. Her silence.

"Mystic Town," she whispered, pushing open the tall windows. A soft breeze lifted strands of her hair. "I'm truly at home."

She'd bought this place in secret-with Sasha's help. A shell company, a discreet sale Wesley never noticed. He hadn't cared enough to ask who'd purchased it; he was just

glad to be rid of it. Perhaps getting rid of any memory about her.

Exhaustion finally pulled her under. She slept deeply for the first time in months.

Six hours later, a sharp alarm tore through the darkness.

Riana fumbled for her phone, squinting at the screen. 3 AM in Mystic Falls. 7 AM in Amberose City. "Too early"

Then, her eyes opened wide. She recalled it was Willa's breakfast time.

Her thumb hovered over her daughter's contact. She'd set this alarm months ago-a reminder to call, no matter where in the world she was, no matter how short or cold the conversations had become. It was a thread, thin and fraying, but one she refused to let go.

Lately, Willa's replies had dwindled to one-word answers. Fine. Okay. Bye.

And after what she'd overheard. after the birthday night, the rejection, the way her daughter had looked at Delilah as if she hung the moon.

"What's the point?" With a quiet sigh, Riana deleted the alarm. Some threads weren't meant to be held forever. Some you had to let it snap.

In the darkness of a home that was finally hers again, she allowed herself one final tear. Then, she closed her eyes and chose to sleep a little longer.

The morning sun cast long, gentle shadows across her room. When the door clicked open from the outside, Riana's instincts flared. Who could it be?

With a flick of her wrist, a controlled arc of fire shot from her palm. A reflex from her self-defense act.

"Hey! Watch it! It's me!" Sasha sidestepped the flames with vampiric speed, her voice a mix of surprise and amusement. "You must be really tired not to be able to sense me"

Riana blinked, sitting up in bed. She'd returned in such a hurry she hadn't even had time to meet her friends yet. "What are you doing here?"

"Surprise, Wolf-Witch Queen," Sasha bounded onto the bed, pulling Riana into a hug before she could even pretend to be asleep. "Looks like your powers are sharper than

ever. The Winters pack is in for a shock! They're so busy fawning over Delilah's'pureblood' status they never recognized the real treasure right under their noses."

"I'm not their Luna anymore," Riana said, rising. "I signed the papers."

"You signed? And Wesley just. let you? That mangy dog didn't even try to fight for you?"

Her words made Riana laughed while she gave her friend a quick hug. "The divorce agreement was drafted right after we married,"

"What a dick! You were OK with that?"

Riana offered a bitter smile. "My signature is probably the one thing he's been waiting for all these years."

"Oh, Riana," Sasha pulled her into another embrace. "He's going to regret this. He lost a treasure."

"He doesn't matter anymore." Riana glanced at her phone. No messages from Willa. A flicker of pain crossed her eyes, but she buried it quickly. She turned the phone off,

determined to be present. "Hey, let's get some breakfast. Let's not talk about him"

***

(An hour later, still at home)

*

"Earth to Riana," Sasha teased, her amber eyes glinting playfully. "You've been staring at that sandwich for five minutes. What's on your mind? You should be celebrating! Blood?"

"Ew, no," Riana looked up, forcing a light laugh. "Just. planning for the next move. I have plans.. just thinking.. when, how.."

Sasha could read her like an open grimoire. "Riana, you're lying. What's going on with your little heir? Is her fluctuation still happening?"

Riana sighed, finally taking a bite. She could not hide things from Sasha, "Willa will stay with Wesley. For now. Until I get things in order here."

Sasha's voice softened. "Are you okay? No call from your pup today? You used to call her every morning."

"Not today."

"You're hiding something." Sasha got closer to whisper, "That tone in your voice, something is not quite right"

Leaning in, Riana lowered her voice. "I'm planning to attend the Moon Gala."

"No!" Sasha's jaw dropped. "Shut up! This weekend? Oh, you're going to cause chaos."

A wicked grin spread across her face, making Riana laugh genuinely. "All those years of secret training-this performance will be worth it. I hope Carlita can make it on

time."

"I'm excited and nervous. But at least Delilah won't be there this time."

Sasha rolled her eyes. "Don't even play modest. If it weren't for the. unexpected circumstances back then, you would've been the shining new Queen of the Gala, not

that wannabe Delilah prancing around like her homewrecker mother's 'pureblood' line actually means something. She's never had to face real power like yours."

The Moon Gala wasn't just some stuffy party. It served as the grand prelude to the most magnificent festival in werewolf history - the Moon Gathering.

Occurring once every four years, the Moon Gathering was a spectacle of power-a night where alliances were forged in blood oaths and broken with fangs. The winner

gained significant influence, their voice carrying weight in supernatural society for years to come.

Eight years ago, it was supposed to be Riana's debut. Her powers were still stabilizing, but she was confident she would stun everyone. She wanted the packs to see who the true, worthy heir was.

But her unexpected pregnancy changed everything. For Willa's safety and stability, she had to postpone her plans indefinitely.

Riana shook her head, a new light in her eyes. "Enough about the past. I have something to show you."

"A new pair of shoes? New designer dress –"

"No, something better. Hold on"

Riana walked to the bookshelf, slid out a false panel to reveal a hidden safe, and retrieved a crystal vial pulsing with a soft, rose-gold light.

Sasha's eyes widened. "Is that-?"

Riana nodded and winked, "Thanks to Rowan and his R&D team, the latest breakthrough from my company,"

Pride threading her voice. Riana continued, "I'm calling it the Xena Formula. Named after my grandmother. She was the most powerful witch Mystic Town had ever seen. It took us four years and a dozen disasters to make it work. Almost.. blew up the whole lab"

"Does it. work?" Sasha leaned in, mesmerized.

"It neutralizes inherited magical suppression codes. Permanently. Sasha, I can finally access my full potential. We all can. Freely."

"Riana. have you unchained your own powers?" Sasha asked, her voice hushed with concern. "Are you sure this is.. the right thing to do?"

But it was met with a smile from Riana, "Of course. All of it. Unchained"

"That explains the surge I've been seeing in your aura lately. It's like. bottled lightning."

"Well, whatever glow you're seeing, it clearly wasn't enough for Wesley to see my worth," Riana said, a hint of old bitterness surfacing. "He always looked at me like I was impure. Not wolf enough. Not submissive enough. Not pureblooded like Delilah. What he never understood was that my potential was artificially suppressed-dampened by the magical inhibitors they forced on me to control my witch side."

"It held back everything: my wolf's strength, my speed. my light."

"Okay, so Delilah's a coconut-scented bitch, but you're a battle goddess in Louboutins," Sasha declared, squeezing Riana's hand. "And if you get thrown into

supernatural prison for breaking approximately seventy laws, I'm going with you. So will Carlita-I'll make sure of it."

Riana laughed, the sound genuine and bright. "Relax, Sasha. My company will only produce completely legal, carefully dosed vials."

"But mine here," she said, gazing at the shimmering liquid, "is mine."

"It's enough to finally claim what should have been mine all along. And that bitch Delilah is going to have to fight me for it."

Her voice hardened with resolve. "I am the rightful heir to the Regalia Pack, not her."

Glasses were raised-espresso for Riana, a crimson-filled flute for Sasha-in a toast to a future about to be rewritten.