Chapter 12

In the intertwined world of humans and werewolves, as Isabella's health gradually mended, the new school semester dawned. Perhaps the tides of fate had shifted, turning sorrow into joy, for her once - beleaguered life seemed to be on an upward trajectory. In this world where werewolf - influenced fashion trends were starting to make waves, her career was finally beginning to bloom.

Isabella’s designs quickly gained traction among her classmates, many of whom were attuned to the subtler werewolf - inspired styles emerging in the fashion scene. The allure of her affordable yet stylish clothing, with its undercurrents of the wild and mysterious, spread like wildfire. Word - of - mouth, a powerful force in both human and werewolf communities, worked its magic. Soon, her customer base expanded beyond the low - end market, reaching into the mid - tier. Her wallet grew plump, and with it, her confidence in forging her own path in the cut - throat world of fashion.

Theodore, a young werewolf in the throes of adolescence, lounged on the bed, his fingers deftly navigating a game. In the werewolf world, such games were sometimes used to hone their reflexes. He casually reminded her, “Sis, even the most resilient of us, be it a powerful werewolf or a determined human like you, has limits. Your energy is finite, and so is your daily output. That means your income will eventually hit a ceiling.”

Isabella, feeling the strain of the increasing orders, leaned in front of Theodore, seeking his counsel. In a world where werewolf wisdom was often respected, she humbly asked, “What do you think I should do to break through?”

Pausing his game, Theodore, with the acumen that came with his werewolf lineage, replied, “Sis, you have two viable paths. The first is to penetrate the high - end market, where the tastes of the elite, both human and werewolf, are discerning. The second is to carve out your own brand, a mark of distinction in this competitive landscape.”

Though his explanation was concise, Isabella, having once moved in the upper - echelons of society as a wealthy wife, grasped his meaning instantly. However, self - doubt gnawed at her. In the werewolf - influenced upper - class world, where certain families held sway over fashion trends, she wrung her hands. “Socialites and wealthy women, whether they be humans swayed by werewolf - led fashion or werewolf aristocrats themselves, usually flock to established big - name brands. Someone like me, with no reputation to speak of, how could my designs possibly capture their attention?”

“Sis, even the most renowned brands had humble beginnings,” Theodore countered, his words carrying the weight of werewolf tenacity.

Theodore’s words kindled grand aspirations in Isabella’s heart. “Should I take the plunge?” A glimmer of hope sparkled in her eyes.

Handing her a client’s order, he said, “If you can exceed this customer’s expectations, she’ll open doors you never thought possible.”

Isabella regarded the order with a tinge of skepticism. “This is just a mid - tier client.”

“Trust me,” Theodore said, his werewolf instincts sensing an opportunity.

On the appointed day, the client, a human woman with a hint of werewolf blood in her lineage, arrived at Isabella’s rented room to collect her custom gown. Eyeing the modest surroundings with a sneer, she scoffed, “How could a place like this churn out a gown with any semblance of luxury? In the world of fashion, where werewolf - inspired opulence is often expected, this seems rather inadequate.”

Isabella, ever the diplomat, appeased the woman’s discontent with soft - spoken politeness. “Madam, while my abode may be humble, it is clean, and I assure you, the gown will exceed your expectations. I have infused it with the care and attention that even the most discerning werewolf - influenced tastes would appreciate.”

Carefully presenting the elegantly packaged dress, Isabella handed it over with deference. As the client peeled back the packaging and beheld the gentle hue and meticulous craftsmanship, her eyes widened with delight.

“I love this color! What do you call it?”

“Oatmeal,” Isabella replied. “Would you like to try it on?”

The client eagerly extracted the gown, revealing an accompanying undershirt. “What’s this?”

“This is a specially designed undershirt to complement the oatmeal - colored cashmere coat,” Isabella explained. “If you don’t mind, it’s my token of appreciation. However, as a complimentary item, it may not match the exact quality of the coat, but it still holds a touch of the style that’s become my signature, influenced by the beauty and mystery of the werewolf world.”

“Oh my, what a generous girl you are! I simply adore you!” the client exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine enthusiasm.

A few days later, the same client returned, this time accompanied by a coterie of socialite friends, some of whom were werewolves in human form. She sang praises of Isabella’s designs, extolling their quality and unique styles. “My friends couldn’t stop asking me where I got my outfit. It made me the envy of the party, especially among those who are attuned to the subtler werewolf - inspired elements in fashion.”

Isabella bowed in gratitude. “Madam, thank you for your kind recommendation. As a gesture of my appreciation, I’d like to design a custom necklace for you, free of charge. I’ll incorporate elements inspired by the werewolf legends that are so dear to our world.”

The other women, intrigued by Isabella’s mention of werewolf - inspired design, quickly joined the conversation, sharing their fashion preferences. Isabella impressed them with her in - depth knowledge of fashion, both human and werewolf - influenced. They eagerly paid substantial deposits before departing in high spirits.

After just a few transactions, Isabella had successfully infiltrated the upper - class fashion circle. Her once - humble apartment became a bustling epicenter for affluent clients, both human and werewolf. Her customer base ascended the market ladder, orders poured in, her wallet swelled, and her professional acumen sharpened.

Within a few short months, Isabella had amassed €100,000. But then her gaze fell upon Theodore, who was engrossed in his game, his werewolf senses on high alert as he felt her eyes on him.

A shiver ran down his spine. Reluctantly, he met Isabella’s piercing stare.

“Theodore, our financial situation has improved significantly. You can now attend the finest school available. In the werewolf - human society, education is key, even for werewolves like you.”

“School makes my head, feet, and stomach hurt… everything hurts,” he protested, his face a picture of reluctance. In the werewolf community, some young ones were known to resist the structured human - style education.

Feigning severity, Isabella replied, “There’s no pursuit more noble than studying. In our world, knowledge is power, whether you’re a human or a werewolf.”

“Studying is like trying to decipher the ancient werewolf runes all over again. It’s that difficult. Instead of squandering money on me, why not pour it into your business?” he countered.

Adopting a stern visage, Isabella reminded him, “Theodore, didn’t you vow to always heed my words?”

Defeated, Theodore sighed. “Fine. I’ll go to school.”

Isabella’s face brightened, and she gently stroked his head. “Good boy.”

After much effort and a significant financial outlay, Isabella managed to secure a place for Theodore in a prestigious international private high school, known for its acceptance of both human and werewolf students. Observing her humble and pleading demeanor as she made phone calls to arrange everything, Theodore’s resistance to the idea of studying began to wane.

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Capital

As the New Year loomed, the Gu Corporation, a powerful entity in the werewolf - human business landscape, readied itself for its annual celebration. As the CEO, Nathan, a werewolf with a high - profile status, was expected to attend with a companion. He would be delivering the opening speech and potentially performing the finale dance, a ritual that carried significance in the werewolf - influenced corporate world.

Nathan's father, a shrewd werewolf patriarch who placed great importance on the company’s public image, called to impress upon him the gravity of the event. “Nathan, this year’s gala is co - hosted by several major enterprises and will be broadcast live across mainstream media. Your image is paramount. Your companion must be your wife, Isabella Moore. In our world, the appearance of a united front is crucial, especially for a family - run business like ours.”

For some inexplicable reason, Nathan’s heart sank. Attempting to negotiate, he replied, “Father, Isabella is abroad…”

“There’s still time to retrieve her,” Moore's father interjected sternly. “Recent rumors about you and Victoria have cast a shadow over the company. Use this opportunity to quash those false accusations of infidelity. You’re a grown - up werewolf; you understand the implications.”

After hanging up, Nathan sat in silence for a moment before unlocking his social media app. Scrolling through his chat history with Isabella, he was jolted by the realization that her last message had been sent over six months ago.

It dawned on him—Isabella had been abroad for far too long. He had promised to bring her back after three months.  

And yet, he had broken that promise.