The air between them was thick with tension, charged with something neither of them wanted to acknowledge. The forest around them had fallen into complete silence, as if the world itself was holding its breath.Isabelle stood her ground, fists clenched at her sides, her jaw tight. She could still feel the lingering heat beneath her skin, the fire that had almost consumed her back there. The Shadow Order had retreated, but their words remained, echoing inside her skull."You were never meant to be theirs."She hated that she couldn’t push them away.Gabriel watched her carefully, his dagger still clutched in one hand, his stance relaxed but ready. His emerald eyes studied her, sharp and assessing, as if trying to figure out whether she was still herself—or something else entirely.She exhaled sharply. "Fine," she muttered. "You want to stick around? Then we do this my way."Gabriel raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering across his face. "Your way?""No orders. No controlling me. And n
The deal had been made.Neither of them spoke as they moved through the darkened forest, their steps the only sound cutting through the heavy silence. Gabriel led the way, his posture stiff, his senses on high alert. Isabelle followed, her mind clouded with a thousand thoughts she couldn't untangle.She had agreed to let him stay.Not because she wanted him around.But because deep down, she knew she had no other choice.The Shadow Order wasn’t done with her.Neither was the fire inside her.Every step she took, she could feel it simmering beneath her skin, coiling, restless, waiting. It was no longer just a part of her—it was something separate, something alive, something that was watching."You cannot escape me."A sharp pulse of heat flared through her chest. Isabelle stumbled slightly, but she forced herself to keep moving, swallowing back the panic rising in her throat.She wouldn’t let it control her.She couldn’t.Gabriel suddenly stopped. Isabelle barely caught herself before
Blake stumbled back, his gaze flickering between Isabelle and the scorched earth beneath her feet. The heat from her power still lingered in the air, thick and suffocating, a warning of what was to come.But Isabelle wasn’t done yet.Not even close.She stepped forward, slow and deliberate, her golden eyes glowing with an unnatural light. Every muscle in her body was coiled, vibrating with the fire inside her—a fire she no longer wanted to suppress.Blake had taken everything from her.And now, she was going to watch him break."You look surprised," she said, her voice eerily calm. "You shouldn’t be."Blake's jaw clenched, but he quickly masked his emotions, his lips curling into a smirk. "I should’ve known you’d turn into something unnatural. I mean, you were always a disappointment as a mate. Guess I did the right thing getting rid of you."Isabelle laughed softly.It wasn’t a real laugh.It was cold. Amused.Deadly."You think you got rid of me?" Her head tilted slightly, eyes narr
Isabelle didn’t speak as she followed Gabriel through the dense forest. The tension between them was thick, unspoken but suffocating.Blake’s words still echoed in her mind."Do you honestly think she’ll ever truly forgive you? Once she finds out everything?"She didn’t trust Blake.She never would.But something about the way Gabriel had reacted—**or rather, the way he hadn’t reacted—**made her uneasy.She could still feel the heat of his silence, the way his shoulders had stiffened just slightly when Blake spoke.And that meant one thing.Blake hadn’t been lying.Gabriel was keeping something from her.Something big.The realization settled like a stone in her chest.Gabriel had been the only person she had begun to trust again. He had saved her, protected her, and for the first time in a long time, she had started to believe that she wasn’t alone in this fight.But now?Now, that fragile trust felt like it was cracking beneath her feet.She wanted to demand answers.She wanted to m
Isabelle walked ahead as the wind blew through trees and her footsteps were quickly followed, leaving her mind spinning. She was unaware of her destination, so she had to be away from him.' Away from his lies. Far from the truth she was not prepared to face. But she didn't get far. The sound of a sharp leaf rustling was heard from behind her, followed by swooping and chirping. Isabelle froze. She knew that sound. She had heard it before. The wakefulness of Gabriel's curse. She twisted and turned, her body giving way to a cold frost. Gabriel's hands were pressed into the dirt, his chest lifted and let out in slow motion. Then his expression was revealed as he had long black hair, shaking shoulders and hiding the look. Isabelle had knowledge of the situation. She had previously witnessed it.. The critter that had invaded his space on every full moon was in pursuit of its escape. She whispered, "Gabriele," and slowly stepped forward. He didn't answer. His throat was fill
Even after Isabelle's refusal, the tension persisted. Despite everything, she felt the weight of Gabriel's gaze on her back and the ghostly warmth of his touch against her wrist. Her heart was racing.’ She. Her whole body still shook with excitement after she first touched him, feeling as though his life had been lost beneath her skin. She had stopped his monster. He had something inside him that was beyond his control, and no one could subdue him. And that was terrifying. She had spent a considerable amount of time disliking him, believing that he was just another monster in her tale. He had observed her in that particular way at that moment. Raw, unguarded, vulnerable—. She was shaken by the force of it. Something she didn't want to be aware of.. In an attempt to suppress the thoughts, she breathed deeply. Gabriel was still Gabriel. Arrogant. Cold. Infuriatingly overconfident. She had no intention of changing that in a single moment. The truth about his actions was st
Isabelle's skin was affected by the thick and warm air that stayed on all night. But it wasn't the night. It was him. Despite everything, Gabriel's touch persisted, ghosting over her skin like a brand. She could still hear his smirk in her mind, as though he was already aware of how much a smile made up on his face. And that pissed her off. He followed her with a burst of speed and she was furious. "Don't leave me alone!". Gabriel didn't stop. "Keep going," he said, moving without any hint of reflection. He continued. Isabelle clenched her fists. Arrogant bastard. With her blood boiling, a sense of danger and warmth was tugged at her. She didn't like this. There was no enjoyment felt during that moment. Was unhappy with the way her body had reacted. I found it unpleasant that she had experienced something. It was beyond her rights to feel affection for him.. Her thoughts were whirled as Gabriel spoke. I thought you were quiet,'" added the individual. "What could this
The air between them remained thick with tension as they walked back toward camp. Isabelle kept her gaze fixed ahead, her posture stiff, her hands curled into tight fists.Gabriel had gotten under her skin.Again.Every time she thought she had regained control, that she had pushed him far enough away to breathe, he pulled her right back in.And worse—he knew it.She could still feel the ghost of his touch on her skin, still hear the amusement in his voice when he challenged her, dared her to acknowledge what was happening between them.But she wouldn’t.She refused.Gabriel was a game she had no intention of playing.Because if she did—she wasn’t sure she would win.The moment they entered the camp, the scent of roasted meat and burning firewood hit her. Laughter and deep voices filled the air, and for the first time since she had been brought here, the atmosphere felt different.The warriors were… relaxed.This wasn’t just another tense night in the Blood Moon Pack.This was a celeb
Isabelle held steady beneath the oppressive weight of the betrayal bearing down upon her. The room was too small, the air thick with unspoken danger. Violetta, Caitlyn, and Blake—all of them gathered before her like phantoms of her own past, to eat her whole. Her fists balled at her sides, nails digging into her palms, grounding her. She had already been to hell and back. She had struggled free of shadows before. And if they thought she would crack now, they were mistaken. Caitlyn tilted her head, looking at her with sharp amusement. "I must admit, I'm impressed," she thought. "Despite everything, you're still here. Still so stubborn." She breathed dramatically. "You were always a stubborn little girl." Isabelle's jaw clamped. "And you were always a coward." Caitlyn's eyes flickered with something evil, but her smile never wavered. She turned instead to Violetta, waving her hand languidly in her direction. "Tell me, dear, does it hurt? Seeing her again?" Violetta's eyes narrowed
A new figure stepped out of the darkness, her high heels tapping against the cold stone ground.Isabelle's stomach twisted into a knot the instant she recognized the familiar mess of dark hair, the same icy eyes that had once been warm but now burned with something hard.Violetta.A woman who had been her best friend. The one she had chosen for a sister. The one she had trusted above everyone else.And the one who had betrayed her in the most heinous of ways."Surprised to see me, Isabelle?" Violetta's lips curled into a sneer as she approached.Isabelle's breath stalled, her entire body freezing at the memories that came crashing over her like a tidal wave.The allegations. The gossip. The way Blake's eyes had turned to ice that night he believed she had betrayed him. The way she screamed, begged him to believe her. The way her reputation as Luna had been taken from her, her pride shattered.And Violetta just stood there and watched and smiled as Isabelle had been purchased by Gabrie
The castle gates slammed open with a deafening roar. The cold night air swept inside, reeking of blood and steel. Isabelle barely had time to realize what was happening before the first attacker shoved forward.Gabriel moved like a specter, swift and certain. His sword was a slash of silver as he rushed to engage the invaders. Steel met steel, the clash of it ringing through the air, resonating through Isabelle's very marrow.She stepped back, her heart pounding. The slain guard still lay on the floor in front of her, his empty eyes staring into nothing.A gloved fist closed on her wrist.She whirled around, reflexes overriding her, but before she could strike, she was swept into the solid body of a chest. Gabriel."Stay behind me," he growled, shoving her back as another attacker swung. The knife whizzed inches from her nose, but Gabriel was already battling back, cutting the man down with vicious efficiency.The battle burst out around them.Gabriel's men stormed the hall, steel fl
The air inside Gabriel's castle was thick, weighed down with tension so sharp it could cut. The return ride had taken some time, but Isabelle barely noticed the passage of time. Her head was a whirlwind, revolving around the same question over and over.What now?Gabriel had saved her. He had fought for her. And yet she was smart enough not to conflate his behavior with something so transitory as love. This was survival. A kill-or-be-killed, power play, strategy game, and dominance.She was still a pawn on the board. The only question was: whose game?As she stepped into the grand halls of the castle, the weight of it all fell upon her breast. The torches flickered and threw dancing shadows on stone walls, but even the warmth of the fire could not thaw the ice in her heart.Behind her, Gabriel dismounted, his footsteps following hers like a silent demand. He had been watching her the entire way back, and now, she could feel the unspoken questions hanging between them."You’re awfully
The atmosphere was tense that evening, thick silence between Gabriel and Isabelle as they rode through the thick woods, their entourage riding steadily towards the castle. The rhythmic thud of hooves against the earth road failed to mask the unspoken words that hung between them.Gabriel gripped the reins tightly, his mind a battlefield of conflicting emotions. His entire life had been spent believing he could not love, that his heart had been forged hard by bloodshed, duty, and betrayal years ago. And yet, when he looked at Isabelle—her soft features shining in the light of the silver moon—he felt something shift inside of him.He'd been stupid to have rejected it for so long.She was under his skin, inside his head, in every gasp he breathed. The flame of her passion called to the shadows of his own, and however much he fought against it, he knew—he was hers.But he couldn't. He wouldn't.Gabriel gritted his jaw and willed his eyes straight ahead, trying to ignore the rapid beating
The tension from Caitlyn's visit lingered in the air like smoke.I paced the length of the room, curled fingers into tight fists, jaw clenched.I had dealt with jealous women before.I had dealt with enemies before.But Caitlyn?She wasn't angry.She was calculating.She wasn't going to attack me head-on.She was going to wear me down from the shadows, piece by piece, until there was nothing left.And I was not going to stand for that to happen.I took a deep, deliberate breath, forcing my body to relax its tension.Fine.If Caitlyn wanted a war, she would have one.---Later That Day – The Dining HallThe grand dining hall was packed full by the time I arrived.**Warriors, council members, high government officials—**all those persons who mattered in Gabriel's existence took their proper seats, voicing themselves quietly.And at the head of the long, shining table?Gabriel.His broad shoulders unstrained, his emerald green eyes calm but unreadable.And beside him—Caitlyn.She sat too
Gabriel's presence hung heavily in the room, pressing against my skin like the warning of a storm about to break.He was standing too close.The air between us was heavy, loaded with something unsaid, something undeniable.I should have stepped back.I should have said something cutting, something to remind him that I wasn't intimidated by him.But I didn't.Because I wasn't sure that I wanted to.His green eyes pierced mine, expressionless, intent. His breathing was measured, slow, but his fingers twitched at his sides, betraying the tension he fought to maintain.For an instant—no more than that—his eyes left mine and looked at my lips.A spiking, unwelcome fire shot through my spine.No.I was not going to do this.I was not going to let him into my head.I took a slow breath, tilting my chin."Was there a reason you burst into my room, or did you merely miss me?"His jaw tight.Then finally, he drew back—not very far, but far enough so I could regain my breath."Caitlyn," he spoke
There was an air that was too dense and heavy. Gabriel still hadn't moved. It was a source of offense for Isabelle to notice. She was displeased with the sudden awareness of how his large frame blocked the door, sharp angles in their jaws to each other's faces, and something dangerously close to his eyes. Something that she was hesitant to identify.' The first person to step back was her. The individual who first ceased eye contact. The first to walk away. But she didn't. And neither did he. Instead—they just stood there. Implied in a silent battle, the war was not won by either of them first. The gaze of the emerald was visibly burned into hers, both fiercely and clearly. Finally—he spoke. "You should rest. ". His voice was low, calm. Still there was a layer, something held back and broken.... Then Isabelle made a grimace. "That seemed like something to be done rather than supposed to.". The ghost of amusement was visible across Gabriel's face as he breathed deeply
The main wing's heavy doors were forced to open, opening the vast hallway to warm candlelight. ". With their walls lined with dark wood panelling, the aroma of old books and leather lingering was invigorating. The floors were polished and Isabelle walked inside as she trailed Gabriel. It was quiet. Too quiet. The woman had disappeared by then but the cold gaze of Caitlyn still pressed on her back. But the tension in the castle had changed.". From the moment Gabriel announced that she would be staying in the main wing, Isabelle had sensed it. Caitlyn's anger was barely hidden.. And Isabelle? She wasn't stupid. She was aware that this wouldn't be finished. If anything—it was just beginning. With a deliberate move, Gabriel advanced towards her and opened revolving doors at the door's end. He didn't say a word. Didn't explain. Holding the door open, waiting. With a slight hesitation, Isabelle entered. And then—she froze. The room was massive. The grandiose area is chara