CHAPTER 48

Isla’s POV

"Adrian," my lips trembled as I spoke his name.

Moonlight filtered through the window, casting a soft glow over Adrian, highlighting his features as he looked at me with an intensity that made my heart race.

He stepped closer, his body towering over mine. And I didn't stop him. The heat of him wrapped around me like a blanket, pulling me in. When his fingers grazed my cheek, the roughness of his touch sent shivers down my spine. I pulled him closer, closing the gap for a kiss. And then as if teasing me, his thumb traced my bottom lip, his gaze darkening with desire.

“You have no idea what you do to me,” Adrian murmured, his voice low. His hands slid down my arms, pulling me closer, his hot breath fanning the sides of my neck.

Well, he had no idea what he was doing to me. I couldn’t speak, couldn’t think, and couldn't ignore this overwhelming feeling inside me.

I gasped and taking this opportunity, he captured my lips in a sizzling kiss that made my vision blur. It wasn’t soft or tentative. It was raw, hungry as if he had been holding himself back for far too long. His lips moved against mine with a desperation that mirrored my own, each twirl of his deft tongue, more insistent than the last.

"Adrian!" I panted as his hands slipped under my shirt. His rough palms brushed against my bare skin, sending fire coursing through my veins. His touch was possessive, claiming me in a way that felt both thrilling and terrifying. But I couldn’t resist it. I didn’t want to.

He broke the kiss, his forehead resting against mine, his breath ragged as he whispered my name, “Isla.”

His hands tangled in my hair as his lips found the sensitive skin of my neck, kissing, nipping, driving me wild. I let out a breathless moan, my body arching into his touch as he pressed me against the wall of the cabin. He leaned over me, his eyes blazing with a hunger that made my heart pound. His lips trailed down my throat, my collarbone, leaving a burning path that made me crave more.

But then, just as suddenly as it began, the dream twisted.

A shadow loomed behind Adrian, dark and menacing. The same shadow from the other night that had hurt Lucas. My heart jumped as I saw it. But before I could scream a warning, the shadow struck. Adrian collapsed, his body limp, his eyes wide with shock as blood poured from his chest. I screamed, falling to my knees beside him, nestling his head in my hands.

"Adrian!" I cried, feeling helpless.

Then a blaring familiar noise woke me up. I jolted awake, gasping for breath, my heart pounding in my chest as I pressed my alarm to stop. I was glad that it was just a dream.

The warmth of the dream still clung to me, but the horror of the ending left me shaken.

I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake the haunting image as I got dressed. It was just a dream, I told myself. But the sinking feeling refused to leave. Today was already shaping up to be difficult enough. Today was the midterm combat test. I sighed, bracing myself. I knew they were all expecting me to fail, but I had to pass. For me. For Stefan.

At the training grounds, I felt more isolated than ever. I used to have Stefan by my side. And later even Lucas joined us. Even if it was just the two of them, I still felt happy with them. But now, everything was different. I looked around for Adrian. He was not going to take the exam because he was the future alpha. But he was supposed to help the instructor by supervising us. Yet, he was late. So, without any of them, suddenly I felt lonelier, especially with the whispers that echoed around me, cutting deep.

“She is a curse on this Pack!”

 “They should banish her along with that monster Stefan.”

I gritted my teeth, refusing to let them show that their words stung. I missed my friends more than I could tell.

"Brainless idiots," my wolf snarled, her fury simmering beneath my skin.

I sighed, tired of the constant judgment. "Let them talk," I whispered back. "It doesn’t matter anymore. I have grown used to it."

But that wasn’t entirely true. I did care. It still hurt to be isolated, to be judged by people who didn’t know anything about me. But I had no choice but to swallow it down. I just wanted to pass this test, so that I could go and investigate the flower shops.

As I took my position between the other trainees, I noticed a stir among the crowd. Adrian had arrived, making a grand entrance like he always did. My heart twisted at the sight of him, the memory of last night’s dream rushing back. But it wasn’t just Adrian that caught my attention, or the others in the field.

It was Chloe.

She stepped out of his car like she belonged there somehow.

The whispers started immediately.

"Chloe? Why is Adrian with someone like her?"

 “Does Adrian have a new girlfriend?”

 “Isn’t she an Omega? How could she be fit for our Alpha?”

 “She doesn’t even have a wolf form! How did she get close to him?”

The gossip rippled through the crowd like wildfire, but Chloe didn’t seem fazed. In fact, she looked like she was enjoying all the attention on her.

My chest tightened. She was no longer the unnoticed quiet Omega she used to be. Today, she was flaunting everything she had. Her fitted clothes clung to her curves in a way that made her transformation impossible to ignore. Jewelry sparkled against her skin, her makeup perfectly done, and her eyes... they met mine with a knowing glint.

My heart pounded in my chest as Adrian and Chloe stood there, side by side, like some sick mockery of what could have been. Every smile Chloe threw his way was a dagger in my gut. I hated that it bothered me. Hated that, despite everything, a part of me still wanted him to choose me.

And then suddenly she moved towards me, her lips curling into a smile. That smile felt anything but sincere.

“Hello, Isla,” she greeted me, her tone soft, as if we were old friends. But there was an edge to it that made my skin prickle.

I blinked, shocked at her audacity. “Chloe?” I managed, trying to keep my voice steady. Her whole demeanor had changed overnight suspiciously.

Adrian stepped forward, drawing the attention of the entire crowd. “Chloe is now my administrative assistant,” he announced, his voice authoritative. “She has played a significant role in solving the recent case.”

My blood ran cold. The words hit me like a punch to the gut.

How did I not see this before? Why didn't I suspect her involvement?

My mind raced, flashing back to the day at the flower shop. She had been at the flower shop that day. The mandrake, the fake handwriting implicating Stefan... it all started to click into place. Could Chloe be behind it all? Could she have framed Stefan?

As I stood there, trying to process everything, Chloe leaned in closer, her voice low enough for only me to hear. “Are you surprised, Isla?”

I narrowed my eyes, suspicion creeping in. I couldn’t ignore the uneasy feeling that settled in my gut.

Before I could respond, Adrian’s eyes flicked to mine. For a brief moment, I thought his eyes gleamed with regret. Conflict. But just as quickly, his expression hardened, and he turned back to the others.

Adrian’s POV

After Stefan was banished from the Pack, Chloe approached me, asking if she could apply for the position of my assistant. I didn’t need one, and I made that clear. But she insisted. She told me she just wanted to earn some extra money to help her family. That was her excuse. But when I was not convinced, she dropped something far more intriguing.

“I know you like Isla,” she had said, her eyes gleaming with something more than just helpfulness. “I can help you see how she really feels.”

Her words stuck in my mind, as much as I hated to admit it. And suddenly I wanted to try this.

If Chloe could help me gauge Isla’s emotions, maybe I would finally understand what was going on inside that guarded heart of hers. Isla was unpredictable, always pulling away when I got too close. Maybe seeing me with another woman would force her to confront her feelings.

So, against my better judgment, I agreed. But as I watched Chloe now, basking in the attention and flaunting her newfound confidence, something about it didn’t sit right with me. I wasn’t stupid. I knew she had her own agenda. But I couldn’t deny the part of me that wanted to see Isla’s reaction.

Isla was standing rigid at the training ground. But I could see the flicker of something in her eyes when she saw Chloe beside me. Jealousy? Hurt?

I wasn’t sure, but I wanted to know if she cared.