Chapter 4

• ISABELLE’S POV
• As I climbed onto the grand palace steps, a surge of warmth spread through me, even in the chilling cold.
• My gaze stayed fixed on the figure kneeling in the snow. I cast a glance at the guards standing stiffly at attention by the double doors.
• “Who is that man kneeling in the snow?” I asked, brimming with curiosity.
• The guards stiffened, and one answered, “That's the pack Zeta, General Kael. He was originally stationed at the border to defend the pack, but he recently returned.”
• My wolf’s voice echoed in my mind as she pranced around. “This is your chance. Go and introduce yourself.”
• I considered her suggestion, my gaze flickering back to the figure but I had other priorities right now.
• One thing first, I thought, pushing down the strange warmth in my chest as I walked into the palace beside Rowan.
• The huge doors closed with a loud thud behind us and we approached the throne room silently.
• My brother's face lit up as he saw me, his usually stoic expression breaking into one of pure relief.
• “Sister, you’re all right!” he exclaimed, stepping down from his throne, crossing the room in a few strides and wrapping me in a tight embrace.
• I let out a little giggle, sinking into his warmth and familiar scent. “I’m fine, Tristan. It takes more than a bit of cold water to take me out.” I joked.
• His grip loosened, but his hand remained around me as he took a step back and turned a suspicious gaze toward Rowan.
• “I’m a little surprised to see you here with the princess, Beta,” he said, a slight edge in his voice.
• “It’s a great honour to have the princess of the pack interested in you. As Beta, you shouldn’t hesitate.”
• Rowan shifted in his feet and opened his mouth to respond, but he stopped himself.
• Tristan's hands dropped off me as he slowly stalked towards Rowan, his expression darkening.
• “After this near-drowning incident, you should be planning to get married to my sister,” Tristan growled, his voice echoing with a commanding tone.
• Before it could escalate further, I quickly stepped in. “Brother, I think you’re misunderstanding. That's not what I'm here for.” I said, my voice firm. “I came to clarify things.”
• Tristan’s brow furrowed, his head whipping towards me. “What do you mean?”
• “I came to tell you that what happened at the lake was my own mistake. And Matilda shouldn't get punished for it. You have to release her, Tristan.”
• He blinked, clearly taken aback. “Are you sure about this, Isabelle? You have been interested in Rowan for so long.”
• “Not anymore,” I replied, looking straight at him.
• “Are you…certain?” He asked again.
• I nodded, my gaze flickering over to Rowan watching silently.
• My heart tugged, but I turned back to Tristan, with a curt smile. “Yes I am.” I whispered with certainty.
• After a few seconds of stunned silence, Tristan finally nodded, though his expression was still clouded in disbelief. “Very well, sister. I’ll order her release.”
• I knew he didn't fully believe me, in his eyes, I had been pursuing Rowan for months, never leaving his side, and now I claimed I wasn't interested in him anymore.
• “Thank you, Brother,” I said, giving him a slight bow and flashing him a warm comforting smile so he wouldn't stay worried about me.
• I turned to leave, but I stopped midway and turned to Rowan.
• “Rowan, go to the prison and get Matilda out yourself.”
• He nodded, bowing to Tristan and casting a grateful glance at me. “Thank you, princess.”
• With my task finally complete, I left the palace. Yet as I stepped back outside into the cold, my eyes were immediately drawn back to General Kael.
• Snow had continued to fall on his kneeling figure, piling over his broad shoulders and covering his dark hair, but he hadn’t moved a muscle.
• My wolf stirred within me, urging me towards him. ‘Go on,’ she whispered. ‘This is your opportunity.’
• The pull was undeniable, and before I knew it, my feet were taking me toward him.
• Standing so close, my eyes fell to his striking features—intense, with sharp eyebrows and eyes that seemed to glint like stars against the pale backdrop of snow.
• My heart raced as I stared at him, and for a moment, the countdown faded in my mind, leaving a strange energy coursing through my veins.
• ‘He is just too handsome.’ I thought, and standing here, there was something about him that kept drawing me in.
• “General Kael,” I called out softly, “why are you kneeling here, in the snow?”
• He didn’t respond, his expression remaining cold and emotionless, gaze fixed straight ahead.
• I bit my bottom lip, undeterred. Without thinking I slipped off my fur coat, draping it over his shoulders, and placed my hand warmer into his hands. “Don’t freeze to death.” I whispered.
• Still, he didn’t reply, and a sliver of doubt crept into my mind.
• ‘Was he not interested in me?’ I wondered, my courage melting. But my wolf prodded me on.
• ‘Be confident, Isabelle. You’re a princess—your beauty and kindness can make any man line up for you.’
• I straightened, my resolve hardening. Just as I was about to speak to him again, Rowan appeared beside me, his expression tight with concern. “You shouldn’t have given him your coat, Isabelle,” he murmured. “You’ll catch a chill.”
• Ignoring Rowan, I glance back at Kael, waiting for him to say something or even a flicker in his expression. But he remained as still as stone.
• Rowan gently guided me back toward the waiting car. As I settled into the warm leather, my eyes fell back on Kael through the window.
• To my shock, he had already tossed my coat aside, letting it fall into the snow.
• A wave of irritation rushed through me, as I stared at my coat and hand warmers sitting in the snow.
• I snapped my gaze away from him, looking straight ahead.
• “Why is he kneeling there in the first place?” I asked Rowan.
• Rowan glanced out the window at Kael, with a slight frown. “His younger brother has been arrested for assault. Kael is likely here to plead his case.”
• “Well, he is just wasting his time if the accusations are true about his brother. Kneeling here can't save him.” I remarked.
• “General Kael must have been the reckless driver who’d nearly crashed into us earlier.“ I thought out loud.
• Rowan mulled the thought for a moment before he nodded in agreement.
• “Do you think his brother is the type to do something like that?” I asked. “Do you think he committed the crimes he's accused of?”
• Rowan hesitated. “Honestly, it doesn’t seem like something he would do.”
• I turned back to the road before us, and my wolf’s voice was back. ‘This is it.’ She whispered.
• ‘This is your chance to get closer to Kael. He needs help to get his brother out, and you can offer it.’
• I pondered her advice the whole drive back to the villa. Once inside, I felt restless, my wolf’s words kept echoing in my mind, the idea taking root.
• Finally, I called for the driver again, and without thinking it through, I was on my way back to the palace.
• The snow had thickened, and the sky casting a dim glow over the grounds as the car stopped at the entrance.
• I approached Kael slowly, his shoulders now coated in a new layer of snow, but still, he knelt, not moving an inch. I drew closer, my boots crunching over the frozen ground, and stopped right in front of him.
• “Why wouldn't you accept the coat I gave you?” I asked, my voice clear and sharp.