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 POV"Aaaaaa" I shrieked in unbearable pain, tears rolling down my eyes.The pain was deeper than I had imagined; the cracking of my bones, the feeling of my skin tearing apart...The moonlight filtered through the trees, sprinkling my naked body as I collapsed under the ancient oak tree, my body still shivering and trembling, my skin slick with sweat. The night air had been particularly colder, making it even more painful. I had successfully endured the breaking of every bone in my body as I shifted into my wolf and back to my human form. The pain still coursed through me, like fire burning under my skin. But despite the agony, I felt happy.I could finally feel it. My wolf. After waiting for six long years... Tonight, on the eve of my eighteenth birthday, I finally transformed. My wolf was just like me - wild and untamed. It finally surged forward and took control, breaking free of the chains that had held her back for so long.Only I knew how hard it had been. Well, harder...
Isla’s POVToday was my eighteenth birthday. Yet nothing was ceremonious or happy.The air was thick with accusations, almost making it difficult to breathe without feeling suffocated. Even the silence was weighing down on me like a double-edged sword. Neither could I bear it, nor did I want them to open their mouths and put all the blame on me somehow. My place, my role, was clear. It had always been like this. So, why would anything be different today, especially when their precious Elara was dead?My father stood at the head of the table, with a grim expression, his lips pressed into a thin, disapproving line. Ryan looked outside the window towards the main gate as if he expected Elara to walk through the gate any moment, his demeanor distant and unforgiving. My mother sat on the edge of her seat, still sobbing, her puffy red eyes full of accusation and more.But it was Adrian's presence that made me the most nervous, even when he stood still in a corner. His bloodshot, unblinking
Adrian’s PoVI watch sadly as they put Elara's charred cloth pieces wrapped in a fine fabric into the casket. We couldn't find her body. Yet everyone was in a rush to say goodbye already.But that was our pack's tradition. The sooner we say our goodbyes, the sooner our loved ones find peace and reincarnate as a werewolf. They believed this kept the bond between the wolf and the human soul intact beyond their death.But for me, I was not ready to let her go! How could I?Elara was my perfect, amazing girlfriend. I wiped a stray tear, steadying myself as I looked at the somber faces gathered around the casket in a tight circle. Her parents and her brother were in shock, trying to accept the harsh reality. But someone was missing. Isla.My doubts about her solidified. Even now, with everything that happened - the preparations, the explosion, the fire, and now her sister's funeral, she was missing. Why? What could be the reason? I can't get rid of this eerie feeling that she was somehow i
Isla’s POVAfter my family and Adrian had left to attend to the guests, the silence felt welcoming, my breathing coming in ragged gasps. I was overwhelmed to hear the accusations scarring my heart deeper. I stumbled backward to the window, leaning on it, trying to catch my breath.With the morning light, more and more pack members were swarming outside, gathering to say their goodbyes to Elara. She had been their favorite, their future Luna. Like always, everyone’s attention was focused on the beloved Elara, while I was left behind in the shadows, forgotten. I felt like a ghost in my own home, an unwanted presence. And it felt bitter. I was still alive.The heavy silence inside the house contrasted sharply with the noise beyond. The guests’ footsteps echoed in the hallway, their voices rising in a chorus of exaggerated grief and adoration. I felt like a ghost in my own home, an invisible presence amid the flurry of activity.I stared at the gate across the window, remembering the day
Adrian’s POVI stood at the back of the crowd, my body stiff and my heart heavy. I couldn't bring myself to stand close to her casket. This day was the gloomiest day of my entire life. The sounds of sobs and whispers filled the air. My hands trembled on my sides, clenched so tight that my nails bit into my palms. But the pain there was nothing compared to the hollowness in my chest."They couldn't even find her body!" Someone cried, making my chest tighter.“She was going to be such a good Luna,” someone sobbed nearby, their voice breaking with grief.Those words twisted my inside like a sharp knife. I glanced over, catching a group of Elara’s friends, their eyes puffy and red from crying.A good Luna. She was going to be my Luna. My fated mate. And now she is gone.How was I supposed to accept this? How was I supposed to let go of her?My mind drifted back to the first time I met her, a memory that felt so distant yet painfully clear. I was twelve, training day in and day out, pushin
Isla's POVDing!I stared at my phone as the screen lit up with Stefan’s message.“Are you alright? Have your parents been too harsh on you?”"Was... Adrian too intimidating?"I laughed, wiping out a stray tear. It was funny how well he knew my situation, even though he wasn't there. He knew me too well. A bitter laugh escaped my lips. One friend and I can't even keep my dignity intact in front of me.Just then, the door creaked open. My mother walked in. Her eyes widened in surprise and disdain when she saw me. As if she had seen a ghost, she scoffed, her voice cold as ice. “Isla, what are you still doing here? Haven't you done enough damage already? The pack is grieving, and here you are, sulking here like some victim."She picked up something she had left and was about to leave when she froze in the doorway. Her gaze turned sharp as she glanced at me with suspicion and disgust as she tried to control the tears in her puffy eyes. "Just let my daughter go in peace. Today is not about
Adrian’s POVThe funeral was coming to an end, and the mourners were beginning to thin. Elara's family was still beside the burial ground looking like their world had collapsed. But I didn't dare go too near. I couldn't accept Elara was dead. I stood in the shadows, the weight of grief pressing down on me. Her absence felt like a void in my chest that nothing could fill.How could she be gone forever? The thought was unbearable, almost suffocating me.My heart refused to accept that she was truly gone. The thought that she might still be alive, despite everyone’s certainty that no one could survive such a fire, gnawed at me. We had searched for her body everywhere. But we couldn't find her body. They said the furious fire burned her entire body to ashes. But I didn't want to believe it. The fact that she left the necklace behind, a symbol of our love and her coming of age, only strengthened everyone's belief that Elara was dead. I clutched the pendant in my hand. They took this as pro
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,