Isabelle, who was busy fighting with the rude maid who smacked her, was so engrossed in the fight that she failed to notice someone else with high authority was probably in the room with them.The voice of the intruder resonated through the walls of the room. It was angelic and calm at the same time. The voice held so much authority.“The two of you come with me.” This was all Isabelle heard and immediately, the girl released Isabelle. The maid's eyes widened as if she just saw a ghost and Isabelle wondered if this woman with emerald eyes held so much authority.Her long, dark hair cascaded down her back, flowing freely. She looks like a fairy; she is so beautiful. Isabelle was sure she hadn't seen the woman in the castle; maybe she was a distant cousin of the Alpha.The room fell silent like a graveyard. And if a pin drops, the sound will resonate through the walls of the room. Isabelle used her hand to brush her hair and follow the woman out of the hall. The girl she fought with g
Gabriel has just gotten back from attending to the pack members after seeing the report that a few werewolves were fed with wolfsbane. He was still trying to find out who the orchestrator was, but he hadn't found anyone suspicious yet. Gabriel took off his boots and tried to take a quick shower. However, amidst everything, he noticed something was wrong and it felt as if a part of him was missing.He didn't know what it was at first but now that he took a deep breath, he noticed the girl wasn't in the room to attend to him like always.Gabriel chuckled lightly as he took a deep breath in and exhaled. He was fucking thinking about Isabelle and he couldn't believe it.He got the girl here weeks back and he is already thinking about her, something he never took notice of before.“I must be going crazy now, '' Gabriel muttered as he walked forward. He dropped the car keys in his hand and buttoned up his shirt.Instead of going into the bathroom, Gabriel decided to have Isabelle sent in.
“Can you excuse me for tonight? I need to have a word with my maid.” Gabriel said with a faint smile on his lips. Caitlyn stood up and walked toward Gabriel in a flirtatious way. She grabbed Gabriel's neck and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek.“Don't reprimand her for too long, she fought with someone and I was the one who gave her punishment,” Caitlyn said. She brushed her hair to the back and added. “I will see you tomorrow, Gabriel,” Caitlyn said, leaving the room.But before she left, she winked at Isabelle, a way of telling her not to forget their deal. Isabelle nodded her head and watched her leave but the intoxicating sweet smell of Gabriel wafted to her nostrils. Isabelle bit the inside of her cheeks in her nervousness and turned to meet Gabriel's penetrating gaze. Even without him close to her, her body came alive, and her skin flushed pink. “I can't believe you are the type to fight anyone despite your background. Did you suddenly feel like you have a say here?” Gabriel
The cold stone beneath Isabelle’s knees sent sharp pangs through her aching body, but she ignored it, focusing on the rhythmic scraping of the brush against the floor. Hours had passed since she started, yet she hadn’t stopped. She refused to.Pain meant nothing.Each stroke of the bristles against the rough stone was more than just cleaning—it was a silent vow. A promise that no matter what Gabriel Phoenix threw at her, she would endure.And then, one day, she would destroy him.Her once-smooth hands were red and raw from labor, but Isabelle clenched her jaw and kept working. She could feel the eyes of the other maids on her, their whispers carried through the hall."She’s still scrubbing?""Pathetic. A fallen Luna reduced to this.""She deserves it."The words stung, but she wouldn’t let them break her. They didn’t understand. None of them did.A shadow loomed over her, blocking the dim torchlight. The atmosphere around her thickened, the weight of a powerful presence pressing again
Isabelle lifted the scarlet gown, its silky texture reminding her of how tightly the trap she had willingly stepped into had ensnared her. He was enjoying himself. Her alpha king had previously claimed to be in possession of Isabelle, and it was his game she was playing. Clearing her mind, she slowly raised the gown and started feeling the beautiful embroidery for what it truly was. It was stunning, far too majestic for a mere servant to wear. This was not just a garment; it was a statement. It was a proclamation. Gabriel needed her to be viewed. She gritted her teeth. He was putting her on display—like a doll he could dress up and place by his side. The thought of being put on display as a trophy deeply angered her and made her blood boil, but there was one thing she understood deep inside: It presented an opportunity. She would need to step into his world if she was truly going to destroy him. Reluctantly, she reached for the red dress. It was soft against her sk
Tension was high inside the opulent property, with the scent of power and dishonesty persistent like a storm surge. Isabelle paused to calm her body as the words she heard infected her thoughts. She then took a deep breath. His is getting better with the actions of her family.’ The. She had knowledge of confidential information about her parents' demise.. She was aware that Gabriel Phoenix had contributed to her downfall.. What was the consequence of her family's actions towards him? Her fingers pressed into the smooth fabric of her gown, her nails penetrating her palms as she struggled to remain calm. The time was not for lashing out. Not yet. Was Gabriel's hand over her shoulder a silent warning or despite the difficulty? She directed her gaze towards him, causing her expression to shift from disinterested. "Alphabet?!". She was captivated by his sparkling eyes for a few seconds before he relaxed and whispered in her ear. Little wolf, you have a terrible habit
Isabelle found herself in a thick coat as she made her way through the cold corridors of the castle, immersed in the night's events. Every utterance, expression, gesture, and insult from the gathering of Alphas was replayed in her mind like a haunting melody. She was consumed by a single question. What was the harm inflicted on Gabriel by her family? Her parents were spoken about by the other Alphas, and Gabriel had cautioned her against going too deeply. Her spirits were lifted by it. She had been so envious of him and held him responsible for everything, that the idea of another unknowable truth was terrifying. Assuming she had been mistaken all along... She knew who wrecked her life. --- A Restless Night. Isabelle quickly removed the crimson gown from her body when she arrived at home. It had served its purpose. After showing her around, Gabriel stated that she was his daughter. But he was mistaken. She belonged to no one. Before resting on
The hall was silent. Isabelle was the only one in the room who remained fixed. Expecting. Her breathing was accompanied by sharp, uneven gasps and a beating in her ears. Alpha Nikolai sat on his knees, with blood streaming from the temple and his hands tied up in iron chains. She watched. The scent of sweat and aged marks lingered over him, but his silver eyes were not afraid. No regret. Only patience. He seemed to be anticipating this moment. His voice sounded like the air, but his words conveyed his longing for the truth. Isabelle couldn't move. Gabriel's words engulfed her body, which refused to comply with her wishes. "This individual was responsible for the death of your parents.". It was not true. It couldn't be true. Her parents had been murdered. Committed in a brutal manner by her most formidable foe. By the man standing at her side. Hadn't they? Her gaze flicked to Gabriel. He was watching her, unreadable as ever, his emerald eyes dark and waiting. She took a
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