Chapter 28

VALERIA’S POV The morning sunlight filtered through the thin curtains of my room, casting a warm glow that seemed to seep into my very soul. For the first time in what felt like forever, I woke up with a sense of clarity and purpose. Gone was the weight of doubt and helplessness that had plagued me for so long. Today, I knew what I wanted in life, where I needed to go, and what I had to do to get there. Elijah’s words from the previous night echoed in my mind. He hadn’t just shared his plans; he’d opened my eyes to the possibilities of what I could become. We didn’t have a solid plan yet, but I trusted we’d figure it out. Step by step, we would dismantle the chains Dimitri had wrapped around my life—and the lives of countless others. For now, Elijah had suggested I focus on my training. His reasoning was sound: I couldn’t hope to fight for anyone else until I was strong enough to protect myself. It made sense, but there was a lingering uncertainty in my chest. How was I supposed to fac