The next three days were the longest of my life. Each moment felt stretched, as if time itself was mocking me, daring me to make a mistake, to slip up and reveal what I was planning. I knew I had to be careful—more careful than I had ever been. One wrong move, one hint of suspicion, and everything could fall apart. So, I made a decision. I would play the part. I would be the obedient girl Aiden expected me to be. No arguments, no resistance, no attitude. Just perfect, quiet obedience. The perfect prisoner.It was exhausting.The morning after I had made my decision with Lucas, I woke up feeling both excited and anxious. Three days. That’s all I had to endure. Just three more days of pretending before I would be gone, before I would see my mother again. I could handle three days, right?As I stood in front of the mirror, brushing my hair, I reminded myself to stay calm. To act normal. No one could know what I was planning, not even Marcus, who seemed to be more observant than I gave h
It was the last day before Aiden needed to leave, and only a day before I planned to flee with Luke. I had thought the day would pass like the others—quiet, unremarkable, just me playing the obedient role until I could slip away. But I was wrong.As I woke up that morning, the weight of everything settled on my chest. The plan was almost in motion. Tomorrow, I would leave. Tomorrow, everything would change. I reminded myself of this as I got dressed, trying to keep my nerves in check.I made my way down to the kitchen, deciding to spend this last day exactly as I had spent the previous two—keeping a low profile, doing nothing to raise suspicion. Just one more day of pretending, and I would be free.When I stepped into the kitchen, the familiar sight of Marcus sitting at the table greeted me. He was reading the newspaper, but his eyes weren’t on the print. They were on me. Watching. Observing.I could feel his gaze following me as I moved around the room, and for a moment, I hesitated,
I couldn’t sleep at all. The entire night was spent tossing and turning, my mind spinning in circles with every possible outcome of what could happen the next day. Fear gripped me, tightening like a vice around my chest, but right beside it was something else—excitement. A strange, twisted excitement that mingled with the horror of what I was about to do.Every time I closed my eyes, I pictured my mother’s face, her worried expression as she waited for news of me. But the fear kept creeping back in. What if Aiden found out? What if he caught me before I could leave? What if Marcus saw through my act? The doubts clawed at me, turning my mind into a battlefield of conflicting emotions.I sat up in bed, staring out of the window as the moonlight streamed through the curtains. My heart pounded in my chest, and no matter how hard I tried to calm myself, the anxiety refused to let me go. The silence of the mansion was almost suffocating, each tick of the clock reminding me how close I was t
Just when Marcus’s gaze seemed to narrow, and I could feel the conversation teetering on a dangerous edge, Aiden spoke up, cutting through the thick tension in the air like a blade.“Don’t tell me it’s become hard for you to keep an eye on her after only a few months?” Aiden’s voice was smooth, but there was a hint of amusement beneath it, as if he found the entire conversation to be a joke. His gaze flickered between Marcus and me, and I could feel the weight of his words settling into the silence.Marcus laughed, but it was a short, sharp sound—more forced than genuine. “Of course not,” he said, leaning back in his chair with an easy smile. “I love spending time with her.”My heart skipped a beat at his words, and I couldn’t help the way my breath caught in my throat. *What is he doing?* His eyes locked onto mine, the smile still playing on his lips, but there was something in his gaze—a warning, maybe.“Right, Isabella?” Marcus continued, his tone light but with an underlying edge.
I stepped outside the mansion, trying to appear as casual as possible, even though my heart was pounding in my chest. The bright morning sun shone down, warming my skin, but I felt cold inside. I had to keep reminding myself to breathe, to act normal. *Just a stroll,* I told myself. *You’re just going out to get some fresh air.*I walked slowly, keeping my posture relaxed, my steps measured, as if I had no particular destination in mind. I couldn’t let anyone suspect that something was off. Not Marcus, not the guards, not anyone. If they saw me rushing or looking too nervous, it would raise questions, and I couldn’t afford that. Not now.As I moved further away from the mansion, I stole a glance over my shoulder. No one was following me. Not yet. The tension in my chest loosened slightly, but I knew it wouldn’t last. This wasn’t just a walk. This was my chance to escape, to see my mother again, to take back some control over my life.The path through the woods was familiar, but today
For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. There, in the distance, I could see the car waiting for us. The dark silhouette was a beacon of hope, of freedom. This was the moment I had been waiting for—the moment I had dreamed about. I would finally escape this nightmare. I felt a surge of happiness, almost giddy with the thought that this plan was actually working. My doubts about Lucas seemed to vanish in that instant. He had kept his word. He had come for me. I was going to see my mother again. I was going to be free. Lucas glanced at me, and I could see the same relief in his eyes. “We’re almost there,” he said, his voice low but filled with urgency.I nodded, my heart racing in my chest. The tension that had been building inside me for days seemed to loosen, and I allowed myself a small smile. Maybe I had been overthinking things. Maybe this would actually work. Maybe, for once, I would be the one in control of my own life.But just as I t
The world around me felt like it was closing in, each breath growing heavier as my mind raced. I didn’t know what to do. Every instinct screamed at me to run, to escape, but the truth was, there was nowhere to go. No safe path. No way out.Lucas grabbed my arm again, his grip firm and demanding, but I stepped back, yanking it free. The look in his eyes was one of desperation, but there was something darker underneath—something that made my stomach twist. “Isabella, we need to leave *now,*” he urged, his voice low but frantic. “If we stay, we’re both dead.”I shook my head, taking another step back. My thoughts were a whirlwind, my heart pounding in my chest. How could I trust him? How could I go with these hunters knowing what they were capable of? Knowing that these people were the reason Aiden’s parents were dead? The same people who had hunted his kind for centuries?And then there was Aiden himself. What would he do if he found out I had asked Lucas—who was working with these hun
The world around me was a blur, and all I could do was run. The branches clawed at my skin, leaves slapped against my face, and the ground beneath me seemed to move faster than I could keep up with. But I didn’t stop. I couldn’t stop.I was running from everything. From Darius and the wolves of his pack, from Lucas and the hunters, from the lies and betrayal that had slowly wrapped themselves around my life. Every step felt like an escape, but I didn’t know where I was escaping to.I had no idea where I was going. No plan. No direction. Just an overwhelming need to keep moving, to keep running. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was about to burst out of my chest, and my lungs burned with every gasping breath, but I couldn’t slow down. Not even for a second.The forest around me seemed endless. The trees blurred together, a maze of shadows and flickering light as I sprinted through the undergrowth. Every time I thought I’d found a path, it disappeared, swallowed up by the d
As the sun dipped below the horizon, bathing the orphanage in hues of orange and pink, my mother stood in the doorway, her expression a mix of hesitancy and determination. “Will you both stay for dinner?” she asked, her voice carrying a hopeful note that tugged at my heart. I glanced at Aiden, expecting resistance. He was a man of particular habits, unaccustomed to impromptu changes or the chaotic warmth of my past life. But to my surprise, he nodded. “We’d love to,” he said, his voice calm and reassuring. My mother’s smile lit up her face, and something inside me unfurled—a tension I hadn’t realized I was holding. “Wonderful,” she said. “I’ll set up the dining hall.” As she turned to make preparations, I felt Aiden’s hand squeeze mine briefly. “Are you happy?” he whispered, his eyes searching mine for any sign of distress. “Yes,” I replied, more to convince myself than him. “It’ll be good to catch up with everyone.” He nodded, his gaze lingering on me a moment longer before he r
As the sun dipped below the horizon, bathing the orphanage in hues of orange and pink, my mother stood in the doorway, her expression a mix of hesitancy and determination. “Will you both stay for dinner?” she asked, her voice carrying a hopeful note that tugged at my heart.I glanced at Aiden, expecting resistance. He was a man of particular habits, unaccustomed to impromptu changes or the chaotic warmth of my past life. But to my surprise, he nodded. “We’d love to,” he said, his voice calm and reassuring.My mother’s smile lit up her face, and something inside me unfurled—a tension I hadn’t realized I was holding. “Wonderful,” she said. “I’ll set up the dining hall.”As she turned to make preparations, I felt Aiden’s hand squeeze mine briefly. “Are you happy?” he whispered, his eyes searching mine for any sign of distress.“Yes,” I replied, more to convince myself than him. “It’ll be good to catch up with everyone.”He nodded, his gaze lingering on me a moment longer before he releas
Aiden’s hand was firm around mine, grounding me when my legs threatened to buckle under the weight of anticipation. The creak of the iron gates of the orphanage echoed through my chest, rattling my nerves. Each step felt like walking through molasses, my body betraying me despite my mind’s desperate commands to move forward.“Relax, Isabella, or you’re going to scare them,” Aiden said softly, his voice like a warm breeze cutting through the storm inside me. His lips curved into a slight smile, though I could see the undercurrent of concern in his gaze.I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded, clutching his arm as if letting go would pull me back into the void of uncertainty. Aiden took the first step inside, and I followed, my breath hitching with every inch closer to the truth.The orphanage hadn’t changed much, at least not from what I remembered in fragments—peeling paint on the walls, the faint scent of lavender detergent that lingered in the air, and the distant sound of chi
As spring began to thaw the chill of winter, the team found a temporary respite from their relentless battle against the Black Sun. The fortress in the Pyrenees had been dismantled, and the immediate threat of The Ascendancy had been averted. However, the remnants of the dark network remained a persistent threat, and the team’s mission was far from complete. In their base, the atmosphere was a mix of cautious optimism and ongoing vigilance. The team had succeeded in disrupting the Black Sun’s most recent plans, but their influence was still widespread. The remnants continued to operate in the shadows, their intentions shrouded in secrecy. Isabella, Clyde, Elise, Alessandro, and Marta gathered in the war room, reviewing their latest intelligence. The walls were covered with maps, photographs, and documents detailing the Black Sun’s remaining operatives and activities. Elise, looking over a set of decrypted messages, spoke with concern. “We’ve uncovered several new locations tied to
The drive to the orphanage was quiet. The mood we had woken up with had been ruined, leaving a tension thick enough to slice through. I could see Aiden’s jaw tightening every few seconds, a telltale sign of his internal struggle. He was controlling himself—for me, I knew that much. It was his way. Always measured, always holding back. The world outside the window blurred past, a mix of early autumn trees and gray skies, but I couldn’t focus on any of it. My chest felt heavy, guilt coiling tight around my ribs. After fifteen minutes of silence, the tension became unbearable. I glanced over at him and then back at the passing scenery, forcing myself to speak. “I’m sorry,” I said softly, my voice barely breaking the stillness. Aiden’s eyes flicked toward me, his expression unreadable. His gaze returned to the road almost instantly. “For what?” he asked, his tone polite but distant, as though he were forcing himself to remain calm. I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “For putting you in
“Isabella,” he said, his tone low and firm, “you make the rules here. You break them. No one is superior to you—not Marcus, not me, not anyone in this pack.” The weight of his words settled over me, heavy and unfamiliar. “But… the rules exist for a reason,” I argued weakly, my voice wavering. “And sometimes,” he said, glancing at me briefly, “those rules don’t account for the unique situations we face. That’s why you’re the Luna. To lead. To make the hard calls. The pack looks to you for guidance, not to follow every rule blindly.” I shook my head, my chest tight. “I don’t feel like a Luna,” I admitted. “I don’t feel like someone they should look up to.” Aiden’s hand tightened slightly on my thigh, his warmth seeping through the fabric of my jeans. “That’s because you keep doubting yourself,” he said, his voice softer now. “You’re still thinking like an outsider. But you’re not anymore. You’re one of us, Isabella. More than that, you’re the luna, my mate. It’s time you start actin
The drive to the orphanage was quiet. The mood we had woken up with had been ruined, leaving a tension thick enough to slice through. I could see Aiden’s jaw tightening every few seconds, a telltale sign of his internal struggle. He was controlling himself—for me, I knew that much. It was his way. Always measured, always holding back.The world outside the window blurred past, a mix of early autumn trees and gray skies, but I couldn’t focus on any of it. My chest felt heavy, guilt coiling tight around my ribs. After fifteen minutes of silence, the tension became unbearable. I glanced over at him and then back at the passing scenery, forcing myself to speak.“I’m sorry,” I said softly, my voice barely breaking the stillness.Aiden’s eyes flicked toward me, his expression unreadable. His gaze returned to the road almost instantly. “For what?” he asked, his tone polite but distant, as though he were forcing himself to remain calm.I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “For putting you in a ti
Just as we were about to leave the table, Marcus entered the room. The first thing his eyes caught was our intertwined fingers. I instinctively tried to pull my hand back, but Aiden tightened his grip, his fingers pressing firmly against mine as though silently daring me to let go.Marcus raised a brow, his lips curving into a knowing smirk as he cleared his throat. “Someone is clearly in a good mood after whipping everyone’s ass,” he drawled.Aiden rolled his eyes, the action subtle but unmistakable. “Oh, please,” he muttered, his tone dripping with irritation.We both knew what Marcus was referring to. Aiden had spent the better part of past two weeks commanding everyone on how to deal with Darius. The tension between him and Darius was palpable, almost suffocating at times. I had told him countless times to forget about the man, to let it go, but Aiden had been resolute. I could still remember the dangerous glint in his eyes as he’d said, “I would never forgive anyone for touching
“Do you remember what day it is today?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, but I could feel the weight of my words lingering in the quietness.Aiden’s response was slow, deliberate. He raised one brow in that way he did, and just that one look made my heart skip a beat. If it was a sin to look this handsome first thing in the morning, then he was, without a doubt, the greatest sinner of them all. I found myself stuttering, nerves dancing through me as I tried to find the courage to bring up the topic I’d been holding onto.“You said you’d take me to the orphanage,” I said, my voice hesitant, unsure if this was the right time. Would he remember? Would he care as much as I did?For a moment, he didn’t say anything. Silence crept in, and with it, a growing sense of unease. My mind spiraled, convinced I’d messed everything up. Just as the words started to rise in my throat, desperate to cover up the silence, Aiden leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss on my cheek. His arms wrapp