Page 65 of Lone Wolf

Hadria puts a hand on my arm. “Like I told you, Sunny, you have a home here with us—and that extends to your sister, too.”

The word ‘us’ sends warmth through me despite my exhaustion. “Thank you,” I say, because I can’t find the words that might get anywhere near expressing my relief.

“You were part of this victory,” Hadria says. “And I’m the one who should be thanking you.” She actually gives a tiny smile before leaving us alone again. As we wait for Mari, I find myself filled with hope. Real, substantial hope, not the desperate kind that kept me searching when logic said to give up. Hope for Mari’s healing, for my future with Ariadne, for the possibility that broken things can be mended, that lost things can be found.

Ariadne is quiet beside me, lost in thought. I catch her looking at me with an expression I’m still learning to read.

“Just thinking,” she says when I raise a questioning eyebrow.

“About?”

She pauses, and I see her considering, then choosing honesty. “About how far we’ve both come. And how far we still have to go.”

I take her hand, fingers intertwining with hers in a gesture that still feels new and precious. “Like you said, we’ll figure it out together.”

A new path for both of us. Forallof us.

CHAPTER 24

Sunny

SIX MONTHS LATER

The war roomof Elysium looks different tonight. The overhead lights have been dimmed, and the space is lit instead by the glow of string lights someone (Aurora, probably) draped liberally along the walls. The massive table where life-or-death decisions are usually made is now covered with platters of food and bottles of champagne. Music plays from hidden speakers—something with a good beat, not too intrusive. It’s still the war room, but tonight it feels almost…normal. Like a place where people celebrate instead of plan assassinations.

And tonight we’re celebrating our initiation into the Styx Syndicate.

“Never thought I’d see Hadria approve party decorations in here,” I say, accepting the glass of champagne Ariadne hands me.

“She didn’t,” Ariadne replies with that slight quirk of her lips that I’ve come to recognize as her smile. “Aurora did. Hadria just... didn’t veto it.”

I clink my glass against hers. “To us,” I say. “Full members of the Styx Syndicate. Who would’ve thought?”

“Not me,” she admits.

I watch her as she takes a sip, still marveling at the changes I see in her. She’s still Ariadne—still carries herself with that deadly grace, still scans every room automatically for threats. But there’s a softness to her now that wasn’t there before. The ice hasn’t melted away completely, but it lets glimpses of warmth shine through.

Across the room, I spot Mrs. Graves chatting with Scarlett and Lyssa. Ariadne’s mom is wearing a pretty blue dress instead of her usual black, and she looks years younger when she laughs at something Lyssa says.

Ariadne follows my gaze, her expression softening. “Mom looks really nice tonight,” she says. “She told me this morning she’s never been happier.”

The casual way she says “Mom” these days makes my heart expand. That transition wasn’t easy—it took months of careful steps, therapy sessions, and tearful conversations. But seeing them together now, anyone would find it hard to believe they spent years apart.

“Congratulations, bitches!” Vanessa’s voice breaks into my thoughts as she approaches, arms outstretched for a hug that I return enthusiastically. She turns to Ariadne next, who actually allows a brief embrace.

“Back at you,” Ariadne says. “I hear you nailed your final assessment. Lyssa mentioned something about your headshot score.”

Vanessa beams with pride. “Ninety-three percent. Not quite your level, but I’m working on it.”

“You’ll get there,” Ariadne tells her, and I can tell she means it.

Enzo and Matty B join us, both holding plates piled high with food. Enzo looks good—he’s grown up a lot since our early training days. Less swagger, more substance.

“The woman of the hour,” Enzo says, raising his drink toward Ariadne. “Still can’t believe that flip move you pulled during the final physical. I swear you were floating.”

“Years of practice,” Ariadne replies.

“You’ll have to teach me some time,” he says.

---