Chapter 19

Isabella walked down the hallway, her heels clicking sharply against the stone floor, her heart pounding with a mixture of anger and hurt. Leo’s silence had cut her deeper than any words could have. It was as if he had dismissed her entirely, as if she didn’t even matter to him. The cold indifference in his eyes, the way he had refused to acknowledge her accusations, it all stung more than she wanted to admit.

Why couldn’t he see? Why couldn’t he understand how much she cared for him, how much she wanted him? She had loved Leo for as long as she could remember, a deep, aching love that had only grown stronger over the years. But it was a love tinged with bitterness, with the sharp edges of jealousy and resentment. Because no matter what she did, no matter how hard she tried, Leo’s eyes always seemed to drift toward someone else—toward Lucy.

That maid. That lowly, insignificant maid. Isabella’s thoughts twisted with fury as she imagined Lucy, her delicate features and soft, doe-like eyes. What did Leo see in her? How could he possibly want someone so far beneath him? Lucy was even wolfless and powerless. Anyone would reject her. It was infuriating, maddening. It made Isabella’s blood boil just thinking about it.

She had always prided herself on being the perfect match for Leo. They were equals in every way—both of noble birth, both powerful, both destined for greatness. They belonged together; it was clear as day. Everyone in the pack could see it. Everyone except Leo.

In her mind, Isabella saw herself standing by Leo’s side, ruling the pack with him, their bond unbreakable, their power unmatched. She imagined the respect, the admiration they would command together, how everyone would look up to them, how they would be the envy of all. And then she imagined Lucy—Lucy as nothing more than a distant memory, a forgotten figure who had once tried and failed to come between them.

But that image was always tainted, always marred by the reality that Leo did not feel the same way. No matter how many times she pictured their future together, no matter how many times she tried to convince herself that Leo would come around, that he would see sense, the truth was always there, lurking in the back of her mind: Leo’s heart was elsewhere. It wasn’t hers to claim, no matter how much she wished it was.

Isabella’s thoughts spiraled further as she recalled the way Leo had looked at Lucy earlier, even for that brief moment. There had been something in his eyes, something soft, something that Isabella had never seen directed at her. It made her sick to her stomach, made her want to scream. How could he feel that way about someone like Lucy? How could he be so blind?

In her imagination, Isabella saw herself tearing Lucy apart, ripping her from Leo’s life once and for all. She pictured herself confronting Lucy, her words laced with venom, making it clear that she would never let an ordinary maid stand in the way of her and Leo. She imagined Lucy cowering before her, finally understanding her place, finally realizing that she could never compete with someone like Isabella.

But even in her fantasies, there was a nagging doubt, a small voice in the back of her mind that whispered the truth: Leo would never forgive her if she hurt Lucy. He would hate her, despise her for it. And that thought terrified Isabella more than anything else. She didn’t want Leo’s hatred; she wanted his love. But how could she win his love when his heart seemed like it already belonged to someone else?

It was an impossible situation, a cruel twist of fate that left Isabella feeling trapped and helpless. She couldn’t stand the thought of losing Leo to Lucy, couldn’t bear the idea of watching them together, of seeing Leo’s affections directed toward another. But she also knew that if she pushed too hard, if she let her jealousy consume her, she would only drive him further away.

As she walked, her thoughts grew darker, more desperate. She imagined a world where Lucy simply didn’t exist, where there was no one standing between her and Leo. It was a tempting thought, one that filled her with a strange sense of peace. But it was also a fantasy, a dangerous delusion that she knew she could never act on. Not without losing everything.

Isabella’s mind raced, torn between her love for Leo and the hatred she felt for Lucy. It was a constant battle, a war within herself that she couldn’t win. The last time she saw Leo with Lucy was annoying and she felt like destroying her in an instant. And now again , this time she witnessed him defend her, it was like a knife twisting in her heart. But what could she do? How could she make Leo see that they belonged together, that Lucy was nothing more than a distraction, a mistake?

She wanted to scream, to cry out in frustration, but instead, she pressed her lips together, her thoughts swirling with resentment and longing. She would not give up on Leo, not now, not ever. She would find a way to make him see, to make him understand that she was the one for him, that they were meant to be together.

But deep down, in the darkest corners of her mind, Isabella knew that she was losing this battle. That no matter how hard she tried, no matter what she did, it would be difficult to change Leo’s heart. And that realization was more painful than anything she had ever experienced.

The image of Lucy kept returning to her mind, haunting her, taunting her. Isabella hated that she couldn’t just erase the maid from existence, that she couldn’t simply make Leo forget about her. She hated that Lucy had something she didn’t—Leo’s affection, his attention. It was a bitter pill to swallow, and it made Isabella’s heart ache with a pain she couldn’t fully describe.

Isabella got to her doorstep and stormed into her room, slamming the door behind her with more force than necessary. Her heart was pounding, and her thoughts raced in a chaotic swirl of anger, jealousy, and desperation. She began pacing back and forth, her footsteps soft on the plush carpet, but her agitation palpable in every movement. Her fingers twisted in the fabric of her dress as she chewed on her lower lip, her mind churning with a winds of emotions she couldn’t contain.

She couldn’t stop thinking about Leo, about the way he had defended Lucy so fiercely. The image of him standing there, so strong and resolute, made her chest tighten with a mix of longing and fury. How could he, the heir to the pack, a man of his status, care for someone like Lucy? A mere maid? It didn’t make sense, and yet, the reality of it gnawed at Isabella, making her restless, making her desperate for a solution.

She paused in her pacing, her eyes narrowing with sudden determination. “Marie,” she called out sharply, her voice slicing through the stillness of the room. She knew Marie would be nearby—she was always close at hand, just as all good maids were.

She called out a second time and a third time. Her voice echoed, causing a vibration.

Moments later, the door creaked open, and Marie stepped inside, her head bowed respectfully. “Yes, my lady?” she asked quietly even though her eyes held a glint of curiosity.

“Come in,” Isabella ordered, waving her hand dismissively. “Take your seat.” 

Marie looked around, knowing that Isabella had never once offered her a seat but this time around was something she could not fathom. “I don't understand, my lady. I'm not fit for your kind offer. Is there something you want me to do for you?” She questioned, unable to make eye contact with her.

“I need your advice.” Isabella responded immediately. “So sit here, right by my side.” She held her hand and helped her take a seat beside her on her bed.

Marie blinked in surprise. It was rare for Isabella to ask for anyone’s opinion, let alone hers. But she entered the room fully, her curiosity piqued, and waited for Isabella to speak.

Isabella stood up from the bed and resumed her pacing, but her steps were slower now, more thoughtful. “What would you do,” she began, her voice tense, “if you loved someone but couldn’t be with them because they were in love with someone else? Someone... beneath your status, some weaker than you are, someone everyone would take as their last choice?”

Marie hesitated, her heart skipping a beat at the question. She had known Isabella for years, had seen her in moments of both vulnerability and cruelty, but this was different. Isabella was genuinely seeking her opinion, and that was both intriguing and terrifying. For a moment, Marie didn’t know how to respond. She was just a maid, after all, and offering advice to someone of Isabella’s status could be dangerous if she said the wrong thing.

Isabella sensed her hesitation and stopped pacing, turning to face Marie directly. “Don’t be afraid, Marie. Just speak your mind. I want to know what you think.”

Marie swallowed hard, choosing her words carefully. “If it were me,” she said slowly, “and I truly loved someone... I would do anything to be with them. I would remove any obstacles in my way, no matter what they were. Sometimes... love demands that we take drastic measures.”

Isabella’s lips curled into a smile, a slow, calculating smile that sent a chill down Marie’s spine. It was a smile that held no warmth, only a cold, sharp edge that hinted at dangerous thoughts lurking beneath. “I see,” Isabella murmured, her eyes gleaming with a new resolve. “Anything to be with them... and remove any obstacles.”

Marie couldn’t help but feel uneasy. She had no idea what thoughts were brewing in Isabella’s mind, but the intensity in her gaze was unsettling. “Is there anything else, my lady?” she asked, hoping to be dismissed.

Isabella waved her hand again, this time in a gesture of dismissal. “No, that will be all. You may leave.”

Marie dipped her head in a quick nod and hurried toward the door, eager to escape the strange tension in the room. But as she reached for the handle, she paused and glanced back over her shoulder. Isabella was standing still, her smile still in place, but her eyes were distant, as if she were already lost in her own plans. There was something almost devilish about that smile, something that made Marie feel fear within her heart.

Without another word, Marie opened the door and stepped out, closing it behind her with a soft click. She leaned against the door for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady herself. She didn’t understand why Isabella had sought her advice, but whatever the reason, she couldn’t shake the feeling that it was something sinister. 

Marie stood there for a moment. Did something happen? Else, why would she be asking questions about love? Marie thought for a while. 

“No, no… could it be about Lucy?” She ran her hands through her hair. “What have I done? And where Lucy is, I haven't seen her.” She made way in an attempt to find Lucy.