CHAPTER 12

Isla's POV

"Why is he so fast?" I cursed under my breath as we slipped behind the thicket.

My wolf crouched low when Adrian's wolf's piercing gaze searched for us, an angry growl reverberating through the surroundings. My wolf's silver fur effortlessly blended with the surroundings, making this a perfect hiding spot.

I hadn’t expected Adrian to pursue me so relentlessly. His speed was terrifying, almost as if he could sense where I was going before I did. But my wolf, she was faster than I had ever imagined possible. I could feel the thrill of the chase coursing through her, the adrenaline rush, and the wind howling in our ears as we weaved through the trees.

"But we were faster," My wolf replied. Her voice filled with pride as we watched Adrian from our hiding spot.

"How?" I gasped, surprised that we actually managed to outrun him. Well, I was in shock. How was this even possible? Adrian, the future Alpha, had always been the strongest, the fastest. And yet, we successfully elude him.

"You possess unimaginable strength," my wolf told me, her voice filled with delight.

I didn't know what to say further. I was still trying to understand this power, and on top of that Adrian was looking for me restlessly as he circled nearby. When he couldn't find me, he let out an angry, desperate growl before turning to leave. I held my breath, my heart racing in my chest. But as soon as I saw his wolf disappearing into the shadows, I felt a sudden loss, and an unbearable pull to pursue him, to tell him I was here, to show him my truth.

“Stay still,” my wolf whispered, grounding me, though I could sense the pull she felt toward him. That undeniable mate bond tugged at us, but fear overpowered everything.

We waited, not daring to move, until his scent had completely faded. “You did it,” I whispered to my wolf, amazed at our escape. “We really did it.”

"He is gone," my wolf whispered in my head, and I could finally find the courage to emerge from my hiding spot and shift back to my human form, breathing heavily. I couldn't believe Adrian was so relentless. He almost had me. But at the last moment, I managed to deceive him, luckily.

My mind raced, reeling from what had just happened. It couldn’t be real. It couldn’t be him.

I gasped for air, running a shaky hand through my hair, trying to catch my breath and calm my racing heart. “Did we… Did we mistake Adrian for our mate? Because that was likely the case.” I whispered, the disbelief quite evident in my tone.

Adrian. Of all people, it couldn’t be. He had never looked at me, never given me more than a passing glance, unless it was to scowl or compare me to Elara. He loved Elara. Everyone knew that. He was devoted to her in an almost sickening way, blinded by her beauty and charm. And now, I was supposed to believe he was my mate?

He was the opposite of what I had ever wanted, a gentle, loving, caring mate who would take me away from my problems and this current life. My hope for a happy future was shattered and my heart broke into pieces as I looked in his direction.

“How could he be our mate? He had eyes and a heart only for Elara,” I muttered, pacing under the moonlit canopy of trees. The very thought made my chest tighten with bitterness.

My wolf stirred, her voice calm but firm. “I know. I don't understand either. But it is hard to believe, but Adrian is definitely our mate, Isla. The smell, that pull… It wasn’t just one-sided. He felt it, too.”

I scoffed, letting out a tired sigh. “Nothing in my life is ever easy.” My laugh was bitter, more of a grim chuckle than anything resembling humor. “Of all the people in the world, it had to be Adrian. He is never going to accept us. He will probably think this is all some twisted joke, or worse, he will blame our transformation and find some weird connection to Elara’s death, like he blames everything else.”

My wolf stayed silent, but her presence was steady, grounding me even as the storm of emotions raged inside me.

“You were right,” I finally said, my voice softer now. “We have to keep this a secret. Adrian or anyone at that, would never understand. He will think this has something to do with Elara, or that we are trying to replace her somehow.” I clenched my fists, hating how familiar the ache of rejection felt.

My wolf agreed quietly, her warmth radiating through me as if trying to soothe the wounds before they even had a chance to fester. “We will be careful, Isla. But this… this is something we can’t run from forever.”

“But, we will have to be more careful from now on,” I replied, squaring my shoulders as if I could somehow prepare myself for what lay ahead.

I waited until I was sure Adrian had completely left, and he wouldn't discover my little secret. Only then did I start to head back toward my house, the weight of the night pressing down on me.

As I walked through the woods, I had to ask my wolf the question, tugging at my head. I could still feel her power coursing through me, and I was in awe of it.

"How did we do that?" I asked, still trying to catch my breath, my mind racing.

My wolf was silent for a moment, as if she, too, was trying to understand what had just happened. I was surprised that she was surprised to see her potential and to find her strength.

"I don't know," she admitted, her voice thoughtful. "I never realized we could be this strong."

I could feel her uncertainty, her astonishment. But there was a sense of pride too, an acknowledgment that something about us was different. And in many ways, I felt that too. I was no longer wolfless. In fact, I was powerful.

"Perhaps it's a blessing from the Moon Goddess," she added, her tone soft but reverent. "After all, you have endured six years of being wolfless, of being seen as less than others. Maybe this strength is our reward."

Six years. Six long years of feeling like a ghost, like I didn’t belong. I had waited for this moment, prayed for the day I would finally shift. And now that I had…, it felt rewarding. Maybe even deserving.

I swallowed, my heart still pounding. "A blessing, huh?" The words felt strange on my tongue. I was used to being the cursed child. So how could I ever have thought that I could be blessed? That thought alone sends ripples through me.

"I think so," My wolf mirrored my opinion.

"We have to be careful," I whispered, the weight of what had just happened settling over me. "This power… it’s not something we can let anyone see. Not yet. And it will only make us even more suspicious."