Chapter 6

• Isabella's heart raced louder than the chatter in the crowded hall, her eyes fixed on door she exited from. She knew it was too late to flee, but she had to try. ''What am i going to do now? I know he saw me".
• The familiar connection to her old pack had caught her off guard. She couldn't let Alpha Ethan discover her presence, not now, not ever. But for some unexplainable reasons to her, she knows he's there somewhere.
• As she pushed through the doors once again, a firm hand grasped her arm, spinning her around. Gamma Gabriel stood before her, his piercing blue eyes boring into her soul. His blond hair was shorter than she remembered, but his sharp jawline with admirable stubble and small nose were unchanged.
• "Isabella Darkclaw," he said, his deep voice low and even. "It's been a long time."
• Isabella tried to shake off his grip, but he held firm. "Gabriel, let me go. I don't have time for this, please. Just act like i'm invisible, i'm pleading"
• Gabriel's gaze narrowed. "You've been gone for years, Isabella. No word, no warning. You just vanished. We were worried about you. Gina specifically."
• Isabella's instincts screamed at her to run, but her legs felt rooted to the spot. "I had to leave, Gabriel. I had to protect myself."
• Gabriel's expression softened, and for a moment, Isabella saw the friend she once knew. "From what, Isabella? From us? From Ethan?"
• Isabella hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "From the truth, Gabriel. From the secrets and everything"
• Gabriel's grip tightened. "What are you talking about, Isabella? What secrets?"
• Isabella knew she had to tread carefully. "Just let me go, Gabriel. Please."
• Gabriel's eyes searched hers, then he nodded, releasing her arm. "Fine, but this isn't over, Isabella. We need to talk. Im not leaving without talking to you, and i'll definitely let Gina know of our encounter"
• Isabella didn't wait to hear more. She turned and ran, dashing through the corridors like a hunted animal. She finally reached a garden, with dimmed light, a Swan fountain and a wolf sculpted evidently at the entrance of the garden. Leaning against the wolf statue, she tried to catch her breath.
• That's when she saw a familiar shadow sitting on a bench staring directly at her
• "I've been looking for you".
• Isabella's heart sank. Alpha Ethan had found her. His voice was a summon, a command, a threat. She knew she had to obey, or face the consequences.
• ETHAN
• Alpha Ethan's eyes scanned the crowded hall, his gaze searching for a glimpse of Isabella's familiar face. He had been searching for her for hours, but she seemed to have vanished into thin air. He checked the CCTV footage again, his eyes narrowing and just as he was about to give up, his phone buzzed with an update from the security team. "Alpha, we have a possible sighting of Isabella in the swan garden," the voice on the other end said.
• Ethan's heart quickened as he made his way to the east wing, his senses on high alert. He turned a corner and saw Isabella walking down the corridor, her back to him. Knowing the venue properly, he took a sharp turn and got to the garden before her, watching closely at how she paced and pants. He just kept staring until she looked up and saw him with fright in her eyes.
• "I've been looking for you". He said with a grit teeth.
• "Isabella," he called out, his deep voice echoing off the walls.
• Isabella looked with wide eyes as she saw Ethan approaching her. "Ethan," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
• Ethan's eyes locked onto hers, his gaze intense. "We need to talk, Isabella. Now."
• Isabella hesitated, then nodded and followed Ethan to a private room. As they entered, Ethan closed the door behind them and turned to face her.
• "Where have you been, Isabella?" he demanded, his voice low and even. "I've been searching everywhere for you."
• Isabella took a deep breath before answering, her eyes locked onto Ethan's. "I had to leave, Ethan. I had to protect myself."
• Ethan's eyes narrowed. "From what, Isabella? From me?"
• Isabella hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But Ethan's intense gaze made her feel like she had no choice but to tell him the truth.
• "Please I need to go, Ethan".
• "I'm not done talking to you", he said as he obstructed her path.
• "Ethan, I will scream. Please I don't want trouble, leave me alone if you're going to be trouble. Please ".
• "I'm not trying to cause trouble, I need to talk to you. I'll go back to the garden to wait for you. Meet me at midnight", he said with a calm voice.
• ****
• As the night wore on, Isabella's anxiety grew. She knew she had to meet Alpha Ethan in the garden at midnight. She couldn't avoid him forever.
• At midnight, she made her way to the garden, her heart pounding in her chest. The moon was full overhead, casting eerie shadows on the ground. She saw Alpha Ethan waiting for her, his eyes gleaming in the dark.
• "Isabella," he said, his voice low and menacing. "We have unfinished business."
• Isabella stood tall, trying to hide her fear. "What do you want, Ethan?"
• Alpha Ethan sneered. "You know exactly what I want. You've been hiding from me for years. But now, you're going to pay the price."
• Isabella knew she was in grave danger. But she refused to back down. She was ready to face her past, and her fears.
• As Alpha Ethan took a step closer, Isabella saw a figure emerging from the shadows. It was Alpha Jackson, his eyes fixed intently on Alpha Ethan.
• "Leave her alone, Ethan," Alpha Jackson growled.
• Alpha Ethan snarled, baring his teeth. "Mind your own business, Jackson."
• Alpha Jackson stood his ground. "Isabella is under my pack's protection. You'll have to go through me first."
• "Since when?," Ethan scoffed
• "That reply is what you wouldn't get from me. Don't push me Ethan, you won't like to be reason for chaos here and I won't repeat myself", Alpha Jackson growled.
• Isabella felt a surge of gratitude towards Alpha Jackson. But she knew she couldn't rely on him forever. She had to face her past, and her fears.
• And so, with a deep breath, Isabella stepped forward, ready to confront the secrets and lies that had haunted her for so long. But just as she did, a loud noise echoed through the garden, making everyone freeze.
• "What was that?" Alpha Ethan snarled, his eyes scanning the darkness.
• Isabella's heart raced. "I don't know, but I think we're about to find out."
• As they waited in silence, the noise grew louder, and Isabella could feel the ground trembling beneath her feet. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the darkness, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.
• "Welcome, Isabella," the figure said, its voice dripping with malice. "I've been waiting for you."
• Isabella's blood ran cold. She knew that voice, and she knew she was in grave danger. The figure took a step closer, its eyes fixed on her, and Isabella knew she had to act fast. But what could she do against a foe she didn't understand?