I returned home late that night, the full moon casting an eerie glow over the mansion as I approached. The cold night air clung to my skin, but there was something else—something in the atmosphere that felt wrong. Tension. Panic. As soon as I stepped into the courtyard, I noticed the frantic movements of the guards, their heads turning in every direction, their eyes wide with fear. It was as though they were searching for something—or someone. I could hear Marcus’s voice, loud and angry, cutting through the night air like a blade.“*How could you let her out of your sight?*” Marcus was yelling at the top of his lungs, his voice dripping with fury. He stood at the center of the courtyard, surrounded by a handful of guards, all of whom looked like they’d rather be anywhere else but here. “She’s just a weak human girl!” Marcus continued, his voice sharp with frustration. “You’re telling me none of you could keep an eye on *one* person?”I froze, my heart dropping into my stomach.
**Isabella’s POV**I crouched beneath the thick brush, my heart racing, my breathing shallow and uneven. The cool night air clung to my skin, but I couldn’t feel anything except the terror gripping me from the inside. My hands shook uncontrollably as I pressed myself deeper into the shadows of the bushes, praying I wouldn’t be found.It’s been a whole day since I’m running to save my life. I didn’t know things would turn out like this, because if I had, I would have rather stayed in the mansion. My feet’s were hurting and bleeding. I couldn’t keep on running in this condition. I didn’t want to die like this. The presence of wolves lingered nearby, their growls low and menacing. I could hear them moving through the forest, their paws rustling against the fallen leaves, their breaths loud and predatory. Every muscle in my body tensed as I held my breath, desperately hoping they wouldn’t come any closer.I didn’t know what to do. I had barely escaped Darius’s attack earlier—only because
I don’t know how I could have fallen asleep in a situation like that, but somehow, the exhaustion took over. My body gave in to the overwhelming fear and stress, and before I knew it, I had lost consciousness. The sounds of the forest, the growls, the rustling of leaves—they all faded into nothing as the darkness swallowed me whole. When I opened my eyes again, the world around me felt different. The thick fog of sleep clung to my mind, making it hard to focus. Slowly, I blinked, my vision clearing, and I realized I was still in the same place, hidden under the bushes. But something was different. I could feel it.I froze when I saw him.Darius. He was sitting right in front of me, his massive figure casting a shadow over the ground. My heart jumped into my throat, and I gasped, my whole body going cold with fear. He was so close—too close. “Good morning, sunshine,” he said, his voice low and mocking.I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. His dark, piercing eyes bore into mine, and
I ran. My legs burned with exhaustion, every step feeling heavier than the last, but I couldn’t stop. I wouldn’t stop. The forest around me blurred as I pushed forward, dodging branches and tree roots, the sound of my breath coming in ragged gasps. The night air felt cold against my skin, but the sweat running down my back made everything feel sticky and suffocating.Behind me, I could hear him—Darius.His footsteps were steady, controlled, like he was toying with me. He didn’t need to run, didn’t need to chase me with urgency because he knew he would catch me. This was a game to him, a twisted, cruel game. And I was the prey.The further I ran, the more the forest seemed to close in on me. The darkness pressed against my vision, making it hard to see, hard to breathe. My heart pounded in my chest, every beat filled with desperation. *Keep running. Don’t stop. Don’t look back.*But no matter how fast I ran, how far I tried to push myself, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Darius was
**Aiden’s POV**I moved through the forest at a speed that made the wind howl in my ears. My heart pounded, anger and fear coursing through my veins like fire. Every step I took was fueled by one thought, one singular purpose: finding Isabella. I didn’t care who stood in my way or what I had to do to get to her.The moment I found out she was gone, something inside me snapped. The rage I’d been holding back for so long burst free, and the only thing keeping me from losing control completely was the cold determination to find her before it was too late.My wolf was close to the surface, ready to tear apart anyone who got between me and her. Every instinct screamed to hunt her down, to protect her, to make sure she was safe. But there was another fear gnawing at the back of my mind, one I couldn’t shake.*What if I’m too late?*I pushed that thought away, refusing to let it take root. I couldn’t afford to think like that. Isabella was strong, even if she didn’t know it yet. She could su
I turned to leave, gripping Isabella’s trembling body against mine, but before I could take another step, a bone-chilling howl echoed through the forest. The sound reverberated through the trees, making the air around us feel thicker, heavier. I froze, my instincts flaring to life as I recognized that sound. Darius’s pack.*He came prepared.*The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and I felt Isabella flinch against me. She clutched my arm tightly, her body shaking, but I kept my focus sharp. My eyes scanned the dark woods, searching for movement. I could hear the distant padding of paws on the ground, the low growls of wolves closing in from every direction.I couldn’t fight them all. Not with Isabella by my side.I took a deep breath and tilted my head back, letting out a loud, piercing howl. The sound cut through the night air, an urgent call to my pack. They were nearby, searching for Isabella, scouring the forest just like I had been. It wouldn’t take them long to find us
I could see the mansion in the distance, its dark silhouette a beacon of safety against the chaos we had left behind. I kept my pace steady, holding Isabella tightly in my arms, her face pressed into my chest. She was trembling, her breaths shallow and uneven. I could feel her pain, her fear, and it fueled the burning rage inside me. We were so close to safety, so close to leaving this nightmare behind. But just as I thought we had escaped the danger, a figure emerged from the shadows, running toward us.I tensed immediately, my instincts flaring as I shifted Isabella in my arms, ready to defend her against whatever new threat approached. “Isabella, are you okay?” the figure called out, his voice filled with concern, ignoring me entirely as if I didn’t exist. I felt her flinch at the sound of his voice, her body stiffening in my arms. I looked down at her, confused by her reaction, but before I could say anything, the man stepped into the dim light of the moon. His eyes were locked
The wind whipped against my face as Aiden carried me back toward the mansion, his arms tight around me, but not in the comforting way they used to be. His grip was possessive, suffocating. The coldness in his eyes had become a permanent fixture, and it weighed on me more than I could bear.I had begged him to spare Lucas. Begged. The humiliation of it still gnawed at me. I didn’t know why I’d done it—why I’d risked so much for someone who had betrayed me, manipulated me, and yet, I couldn’t let him die. Maybe because, at the end of the day, he was still human, still someone I thought I could trust.But now… now I had to face the consequences of that decision.I was still trembling, my body aching from the events of the day, but the emotional toll was far worse. Aiden’s cold gaze, his rough hold on me, the way he had thrown Lucas to the ground like he was nothing—all of it left me feeling like a hollow shell of the person I once was.I’d wanted to escape, to be free. But now, more than
Aiden’s gaze swept over me, his eyes a tempest of dark fire, each flicker holding back a storm of rage not meant for me, but threatening to spill out all the same. He was a fortress in turmoil, his facade barely containing the seething fury beneath. His jaw was set, his stance rigid, each muscle tensed as if ready to spring into a battle he was forced to withhold. “You shouldn’t be here, Isabella,” he said, his voice a low growl that vibrated with a barely restrained intensity. His eyes then darted to the two men who had shifted uncomfortably, their own eyes darting away from my gaze, clearly intimidated by Aiden’s overt protectiveness. I felt a perverse thrill at his possessiveness, a primal approval of his concern for my safety, yet I knew this was neither the time nor the place. Aiden cleared his throat, a sound meant to redirect my attention, and it snapped me back to the gravity of the situation. “No, I—” I started, stumbling over my words. The truth was treacherous territory
“That’s a relief,” he chuckled, his hand finding mine over the center console, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’m glad she sees that my intentions are good.” I squeezed his hand back, the simple touch sending a current of gratitude through me. “She does. And it means the world to me that you were there, that you’re here now.” Aiden’s smile didn’t wane as he turned the car onto the highway, the sparse traffic allowing him a moment to glance my way. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else, Isabella. You know that.” I nodded, watching the scenery blur past us. The night was clear, the stars scattered across the sky like dusted silver, and I felt a pull to share more with him—to dive into the depths of my thoughts and emotions. “It’s just…” I hesitated, searching for the right words. “Today made me realize how much I’ve changed. How much we’ve changed, together. I used to feel like an outsider everywhere I went. But with you, I’m home.” Aiden’s grip on my hand tightened.We drove in comfort
The first sense that stirred as consciousness crept back was the emptiness on Aiden’s side of the bed. I didn’t remember what time we had fallen asleep, but the vague recollection of his arms wrapped securely around me lingered in my mind like the remnants of a comforting dream. However, the cool, vacant sheets next to me sharply snapped me back to reality. Opening my eyes to the morning light filtering through the curtains, I immediately searched the expanse of the bed for Aiden, but he wasn’t there. His absence was like a void. The lingering scent on his pillow was the only evidence of his presence from the night before. I rolled over, burying my face into it, inhaling deeply. His familiar scent—a mix of sandalwood and something uniquely Aiden—filled my senses, offering a temporary comfort. I lay there, the silence of the room enveloping me, letting the minutes tick by. With each second, the warmth of his scent waned, and the reality of his absence grew. Finally, I couldn’t bear t
The first sense that stirred as consciousness crept back was the emptiness on Aiden’s side of the bed. I didn’t remember what time we had fallen asleep, but the vague recollection of his arms wrapped securely around me lingered in my mind like the remnants of a comforting dream. However, the cool, vacant sheets next to me sharply snapped me back to reality.Opening my eyes to the morning light filtering through the curtains, I immediately searched the expanse of the bed for Aiden, but he wasn’t there. His absence was like a void. The lingering scent on his pillow was the only evidence of his presence from the night before. I rolled over, burying my face into it, inhaling deeply. His familiar scent—a mix of sandalwood and something uniquely Aiden—filled my senses, offering a temporary comfort.I lay there, the silence of the room enveloping me, letting the minutes tick by. With each second, the warmth of his scent waned, and the reality of his absence grew. Finally, I couldn’t bear the
“That’s a relief,” he chuckled, his hand finding mine over the center console, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’m glad she sees that my intentions are good.” I squeezed his hand back, the simple touch sending a current of gratitude through me. “She does. And it means the world to me that you were there, that you’re here now.” Aiden’s smile didn’t wane as he turned the car onto the highway, the sparse traffic allowing him a moment to glance my way. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else, Isabella. You know that.” I nodded, watching the scenery blur past us. The night was clear, the stars scattered across the sky like dusted silver, and I felt a pull to share more with him—to dive into the depths of my thoughts and emotions. “It’s just…” I hesitated, searching for the right words. “Today made me realize how much I’ve changed. How much we’ve changed, together. I used to feel like an outsider everywhere I went. But with you, I’m home.” Aiden’s grip on my hand tightened.We drove in comfortable s
The car’s headlights cut through the darkness as we left the orphanage, the comforting presence of old friends and the familiar backdrop fading into the night. The drive back to the mansion that I’d slowly begun to call home was quieter than usual, yet filled with a resonant peace that settled around Aiden and me like a soft shawl.“I can’t believe how well today went,” I started, my voice tinged with wonder and relief. I glanced over at Aiden, who was focused on the road, the soft glow of the dashboard lights casting gentle shadows across his face. “It felt so good to talk with my mother about everything—well, almost everything.”Aiden’s slight smile grew as he listened, his eyes reflecting a warmth that drew me further into my recount. “And she seems to really like you,” I added, my tone lifting with pride.“That’s a relief,” he chuckled, his hand finding mine over the center console, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’m glad she sees that my intentions are good.”I squeezed his hand ba
As we settled around the table, the buzz of conversation filling the room, I began to share my journey or should I say the lies I had build in my mind just in case for the moments like these. I spoke of the cities and the sights, my words painting a picture of freedom and discovery. But I carefully chose my words, the reasons why I had really left, and the secrets that Aiden and I shared. Aiden, meanwhile, ate quietly, his presence a steady calm next to my animated storytelling. Every now and then, he would chime in with a comment or a clarification, his voice smooth and engaging. The group was visibly taken with him, their questions turning from my travels to how we had met. “It’s actually quite a story,” Aiden began, the corners of his eyes crinkling in amusement. “You see, Isabella literally bumped into me in a coffee shop.” Laughter rippled around the table, and I felt a bubble of laugh making its way to my throat at the thought of Aiden making up a story of how we met. “I w
As we settled around the table, the buzz of conversation filling the room, I began to share my journey or should I say the lies I had build in my mind just in case for the moments like these. I spoke of the cities and the sights, my words painting a picture of freedom and discovery. But I carefully chose my words, the reasons why I had really left, and the secrets that Aiden and I shared. Aiden, meanwhile, ate quietly, his presence a steady calm next to my animated storytelling. Every now and then, he would chime in with a comment or a clarification, his voice smooth and engaging. The group was visibly taken with him, their questions turning from my travels to how we had met. “It’s actually quite a story,” Aiden began, the corners of his eyes crinkling in amusement. “You see, Isabella literally bumped into me in a coffee shop.” Laughter rippled around the table, and I felt a bubble of laugh making its way to my throat at the thought of Aiden making up a story of how we met. “I w
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