Isla's POVPerhaps today was the most nerve-wracking combat class in the history of the Black Mountain pack. Because the drama won't get over. I could still feel every pair of eyes on the ground locked on me, waiting for me to screw up, fall apart, or do something wrong so that they could get an excuse to belittle me again.But it was Adrian who had my concern. His eyes followed me like a hawk, sharp and unrelenting. I could feel the weight of his attention pressing down on me, making it harder to breathe.Stefan caught up to me as I tried to shake off the eerie feeling to ensure I was still in one piece. Before I could say anything, Lucas walked over, grinning like we were old friends."You have got some history with the pretty alpha boy, huh?" He winked at me, and his golden eyes playful.I rolled my eyes, not wanting to explain anything.Stefan, being Stefan, jumped in and sighed. "Lucas, don’t be nosy." He had always been protective of me like I was some fragile doll.Before I cou
Isla's POV"Adrian!" I blinked in shock, my heart racing as I stood there staring at his dark eyes. "What are you doing here?" I blurted out, my voice full of shock and confusion. He had absolutely no business being in this class. He was a warrior through and through, not a healer.Just then, someone brushed past us, and before I could react, Adrian was pushed toward me. My heart leaped as he collided with me. I was about to stumble when his hands instinctively caught my arms, steadying me.Tingles. Goosebumps. And my heart skipped a beat.For a split second, we were too close. I could feel the warmth of his breath against my skin, the mate bond crackling between us. My pulse quickened, and my face heated up, flustered by the sudden proximity. His scent, oaks and cinnamon, surrounded me, making it impossible to ignore him or the fated connection.But just as quickly as it happened, it ended. Adrian pushed me away, his hands leaving a cold emptiness in my chest. His expression was unre
Adrian's POVAs I walked towards the healing and recovery class, the new elective I had switched to, my focus wavered between the present and the past. That night Elara died, and I kept wandering around the woods searching for her frantically. It still haunted me. I was afraid I was not going to forget it my entire life, the loss still aching in my heart.But there was something more that I had not shared with anyone yet: something off, something I couldn’t shake. I could remember a distinct scent, sharp like wild herbs crushed underfoot. But the scent was more fleeting, something I couldn’t identify but at the same time felt oddly familiar. By the time I tried to track it, it had disappeared into the wind. Yet it was enough to plant a seed of suspicion in my head. I haven’t let it go, not since then. It was my lead, after all.My wolf stirred in the back of my mind. "Something was wrong that night." And I couldn't agree more.“I know,” I muttered under my breath, barely audible.That
Isla's POVNo! No! No! My mind cried as Adrian walked towards Sylvie as if he was expecting this. That smirk on his face told me for whatever reason Sylvie had asked us to stay back, it was not good. Not for me.I fidgeted my fingers restlessly as the rest of the class filtered out. Sylvie’s gaze locked onto the two of us, her eyes narrowing strangely and her demeanor changing to something more serious. My heart pounded uncomfortably in my chest, unsure if it was because of the situation or Adrian’s presence beside me.“Adrian,” Sylvie began, her voice measured, as she flickered her eyes between us, “the tests on Elara’s belongings came back clean."I blinked in surprise, feeling a little bitter. Had he been investigating Elara's death this whole time? He didn't even tell anyone about keeping Elara's charred clothes and some other belongings. There was a strange sense of unease creeping up my spine. I knew how much Elara meant to him, but witnessing his devotion to her firsthand was s
Isla's POVAdrian’s towering form blocked my way, our closeness making it difficult for me to concentrate on what he was saying. I saw his lips moving. But that's that. I was trapped between the cold wall and his rigid body. My heart raced, every inch of me on high alert. His piercing eyes bore into mine, sending a shiver down my spine. His hand shot up to grab my chin, tilting my head, so I had no choice but to meet his fierce gaze.“You still haven’t explained where you went that night?" His voice was low, and he was not trying to restrain his anger. "Tell me, whom did you meet?" One of his hands went on to grab my hand holding Elara's belongings and he laughed bitterly. "Who said you have any right to take Elara’s belongings?” He demanded his voice low and threatening.The way he spat her name stung as if, even in death, she held a higher place in his heart than I ever could. The pressure of his grip made my skin tingle with discomfort and something I didn't want to feel. But I r
Isla's POVAfter Adrian released me, I bolted, my chest tight with frustration and confusion. His grip still lingered on my skin, the weight of his accusations pressing down harder than his hands ever could. I couldn’t get his harsh words out of my mind, or the way his gaze seemed to pull me in and push me away at the same time.As soon as I was out of the building, I steadied myself against a wall, breathing heavily to fill the air in my lungs. It had been intense. And for many reasons, I could still feel his presence hovering around me.But that's when I spotted Stefan and Lucas at the exit, waiting for me. I waved my hand at them. As soon as they saw me, they ran towards me.Stefan's brow furrowed the moment he saw me, concern evident in his voice. "What happened? You look like you have seen a ghost."I shook my head, attempting to brush it off, but my pulse was still racing. I gulped hard, forcing the words out. "Nothing. Just... ran into trouble." My voice was tight, a little too
Adrian's POVI felt restless, as if I had no control over myself, as my thoughts kept spiraling back to Isla; the way she tried to blend in, the vulnerability in her eyes, the sparring match, her strength and speed, her knowledge of herbs and then our little encounter in the empty corridor. I never even spent more than a few seconds on her. But the entire day was about her. Only her.I couldn’t stop thinking about her. No matter how hard I tried, her image kept invading my mind. Her assertiveness, her defiance, and her resolve made my chest feel tightened. No. It wasn’t just out of anger. There was something else I refused to name.I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated. This isn't right. I shouldn't be feeling anything for her, not right after the death of the woman I had loved for years. Elara was gone. And Isla? She was just a constant reminder of that loss. I tried to remind myself again that the similarity of their faces was what was confusing me. She was just a shadow of her s
Isla's POVThe air in the woods was thick with tension as I moved quietly through the woods, the night air cool against my skin. My wolf was the one guiding me, alert and curious. There was something strangely familiar about the scent we were following, though it was faint, almost indistinguishable from the earthy smells of the forest."Do you smell that?" I asked my wolf, wondering where I had smelt this before."Yes, keep following it. We are close," she responded, her voice a low growl.I didn’t question her. I trusted her instincts more than my own. My heart raced, and my mind swirled with too many questions, and too many doubts.As I moved closer to the source of the strange scent, something caught my eye: a glass vial half-buried in the grass, shimmering under the moonlight. I bent down, brushing the dirt away with trembling fingers. It was completely used up. But still, the traces of its contents clung to the edges of the vial. Perhaps someone left it in a hurry. Or maybe they
Isla's POVEvery day since I returned from the ancient forest, all I felt was emptiness. Vast and hollow. It was as if something had been torn from me. They told me I had lost my track while patrolling. But it didn't add up. How could I lose track? I couldn't help but wonder what it was that I was missing so dearly but couldn't remember.When I returned, every muscle ached as if I had been crushed under a mountain. My body bore no visible wounds, but I knew something profound had happened. The ache in my chest wasn’t just physical. There was something deeper, something I couldn’t place. An overwhelming urge gnawed at me. I felt like I needed to search for… someone. Someone important.But who? Why did I feel so empty?No matter how hard I tried to piece it together, the memory was always out of reach. I was beginning to wonder if I was going crazy.For everyone else, life in the Black Mountain pack moved forward as if nothing happened. And as their alpha, I spent the next few days buri
Isla's POVThe world around us stilled, the chaos of the Stone Pack fading as I opened my eyes. We were no longer in the bloodied hall but in the heart of a dense, ancient forest. The air was cool and crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine and wildflowers. Silver moonlight filtered through the towering trees, casting an ethereal glow on the ground.Adrian lay motionless in my arms, his skin pale, his breathing shallow. My heart twisted painfully at the sight of him like this. He was so close to slipping away.“No, no, no,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Adrian, you can’t leave me. Not like this.”As tears spilled down my cheeks, a voice deep within me stirred. But his breathing grew weaker, his body colder.A low, mournful howl rose in my chest, and my wolf’s voice echoed in my mind, strong and resolute. "You are more than what you think, Isla. The power to save him is within you. But it comes at a cost.""What cost?" I choked, desperation clawing at my throat."Everything."Befor
Isla's POVAdrian lay limp in my arms, his breath shallow and strained. His blood soaked into my white gown, and my trembling hands couldn’t stop the warmth from slipping away from his body. He was barely awake, and I couldn't help but keep jerking him to keep him awake.“Adrian…” I whispered, my voice cracking as tears streamed down my cheeks. “Stay with me. Please, stay with me.”His once-brilliant twinkling eyes flickered weakly, breaking something inside me. His gaze focused on me for a fleeting moment as he forced a goodbye smile.“I-Isla…” he murmured, his voice a broken whisper. But his grip on my hand was faltering, his warmth fading.This time when he called me Isla... something stirred inside me. At that moment, everything came rushing back, as if a dam had burst and memories came flooding in, overwhelming my senses.I remembered the cliff.The way Elara, no, my twin, had pushed me with a malicious smile on her face. I knew she never liked me. But we were still sisters. I ne
Isla's POVStefan let out a sharp laugh, his smirk taunting, as he eyed Adrian with nothing but contempt.“You have some nerve, waltzing into my territory, sabotaging my wedding, disrespecting my bride, and demanding what isn't yours,” Stefan mocked, his voice dripping with arrogance. "This is Stone Pack’s territory, Adrian. And you? You’re just a trespasser. Did you think I would just let you take her?”With a single flick of his wrist, a squad of guards stepped forward, forming a strong barrier between Adrian and me. Their golden brown eyes gleamed as they shifted slightly, their claws elongating, ready to strike.A few of his own men stepped beside him, growling lowly, their muscles tensed as if ready to completely shift at a moment’s notice. The tension was suffocating. The guests were frozen, uncertain of whether to stay or run.Adrian didn’t flinch. I knew that look in his eyes. They were blazing with determination, fury, an unshakable will. His stance was unyielding, muscles ta
Isla's POVThe corner of Stefan’s lips curled as he met my gaze. “Nothing has changed.”He said it so effortlessly. But I felt the lie beneath them like a blade pressed against my throat. For a second I wondered if he was the same boy with whom I grew up, the one who had always been by my side, who had laughed with me and cried with me. It was as if those memories had never existed at all.I wanted to believe him. I wanted to reach out and grasp onto something familiar, something that could anchor me in the storm of confusion and pain swirling inside me. But I knew better.Everything had changed.This wasn’t the Stefan I had known. He was gone. This man before me was different: colder, obsessed, and dangerous. His eyes did not give the same vibe of affection but were filled with something I could barely recognize.Hatred. My heart ached, not just for what had been taken from me, but for him too. For the part of him that had been lost to whatever darkness had consumed him.And now, he
Isla's POVAs I crushed the herbs I had been secretly gathering since my captivity with my trembling hands, my heart pounded with anticipation. I mixed them carefully, crafting the sleeping draught. Every step felt perilous, but desperation sharpened my focus. I needed to escape. Now or never.When the maid came over, I threw the powder substance in her face, taking her by surprise. She soon fell unconscious, confirming the effectiveness. I seized the opportunity, grabbing the keys from her. Something primal stirred within me, urging caution.Sliding into the hallways, I pressed myself against the cold walls, my breath shallow. The air was heavy with tension as I tried to move past the guards without getting caught. Every footstep was deliberate, measured. Freedom was just ahead. I could almost feel the night air beckoning me like a promise waiting outside the large wooden door in front of me.But fate, as cruel as ever, had other plans.“Stop her!”The guards’ shouts tore through the
Stefan’s POVThe flickering torchlight in the cavernous chamber made the shadows dance eerily on the stone walls. “She’s still resistant,” I admitted, my tone laced with frustration. “Even after all this time, she won’t submit. She’s regaining her memory, and it’s making her defiant.”Marcus tilted his head, his lips curling into a faint, sinister smile. “Ah, but resistance is merely a symptom of a will unbroken. This will help.”As I paced along the room, the weight of my plan pressing heavily on my mind. Tomorrow, everything will fall into place. Isla would become mine in name and bond, and Adrian... Adrian would meet the end he deserved.The memory of my exile still burned in my chest, a constant reminder of the humiliation Adrian had caused me. He had taken everything away from me. My status, my pack, my pride. Even Isla. My parents died for the Black Mountain pack and in return all I got was suffering. Now, I would take everything away from him. Once he is dead, the pack will st
Adrian’s POVThe tent was stifling, even if it was a cold morning. My fists clenched at my sides, the crumpled wedding invitation lying discarded on the table, a cruel reminder that everything was going awfully according to his plan. The thought of Isla, trapped and manipulated, was a rage I couldn’t contain. "I am going to kill Stefan. How dare he think that he can marry Isla in front of me!" I growled, my voice low and dangerous. “Adrian,” Ryan began cautiously, his voice full of reasoning, “you need to think this through. Stefan is not just inviting you out of arrogance or showing you that he was the one who finally had Isla. This invitation... it’s a bait. He wants you to come. He has probably already planned for every move you might make.”I spun to face him, my chest heaving with restrained fury. “I don’t care if it’s a trap,” I snapped. “I won’t let him marry her. I won’t let him use Isla like some pawn.”“And if she’s there willingly?” Ryan’s question sliced through me, but
Adrian's POVI stood before the map laid out on the table, my fists clenched as my eyes scanned the enemy’s positions. The weight of the situation bore heavily on my shoulders. I should have felt proud to lead such capable warriors. But all I felt was the gnawing ache of loss. Isla’s face haunted me... her wide, confused eyes, the way her voice shook when she told me she didn’t remember me.But I remembered her. Every detail. Every moment.Isla was still trapped in the Stone Pack, surrounded by lies and danger. But most importantly, she was being manipulated by Stefan. I couldn't believe someone could stoop as low as Stefan to win over a woman they claim to love. I would never do that.“You are not thinking straight,” Ryan’s voice interrupted my thoughts.I turned to him sharply. “I am thinking clearly enough to know we can’t sit here while Stefan keeps her under his thumb.” I clenched my fists, my resolve growing stronger. "I will bring her back. No matter what.”Ryan stepped closer,