LOGINCHAPTER 48ISABELLA“D-Derek…My voice cracked and faded as I knocked softly on his door, balancing a tray on my arm while the china clinked quietly. I stood there nervously behind the heavy oak doors.The disaster of the previous night still haunted me. Even though he said it was fine, I couldn’t shake the guilt, so I took extra care preparing his favorite breakfast—chocolate pancakes with beef, bacon, and lemon-green tea.I pressed the doorbell, my heart skipping a beat as it swung open automatically.Don’t say anything stupid. I thought internally as I stepped in, forcing a crooked smile.Derek was behind his desk, silhouetted by the morning sun streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows. He didn’t look up immediately, his brow furrowed as he scribbled notes onto a thick stack of ledgers. The wheelchair was tucked neatly beneath the desk, and for a moment, in the focused stillness of his work, he looked like the untouchable Alpha I got married to."You’re working hard," I said
46ISABELLAAll my life I had never seen something so precious. The tiny ball wriggled in my arms as I cradled one of the twins against my chest. He was impossibly small, his skin flushed pink and his tiny fingers curled around my thumb. I had seen babies before but then it was like I had a deeper connection to them. My insides swelled with emotion looking at his perfect, sleeping face, the memory of my own lost child hurting more now I looked at what I lost."Isabella," a raspy, weak voice chuckled from the pillows.I looked up to see Selena’s eyes fluttering open. She looked exhausted, her hair matted to her forehead, but the life had returned to her skin. She reached out, her fingers brushing the baby’s swaddled arm. "I can’t believe you’re still here," she whispered, her voice a soft hum, "you must really love kids."I smiled and carefully stood to place the infant in the nearby crib. He let out a soft, satisfied sigh as he settled against the blanket. I watched him for a long
45ISABELLAThe silence shattered into chaos and I watched helplessly while Selena’s strength betrayed her. I knew she shouldn’t have been here, but she came anyway to help me.“She needs help,” the lady who was holding her screamed.A man from the council rows vaulted over the throne and ran in her direction. It must be her husband, I thought, his face crumbling into unadulterated fear. He knelt by her side, his hands trembling as he tried to stabilize her. "Get a doctor! Someone get a healer here, now!"The councilman, who had been seconds away from sentencing me to death, remained standing. He looked at the chaos with a detached, chilling apathy. "The trial must continue. We have a verdict to reach."Another elder, an older man with silver-threaded hair, slammed his staff against the stone. "We will do no such thing! Killing someone when a baby is about to be born is bad luck."My eyes widened, the cold realization hitting me with the force of a physical blow. It was never a trial
44ISABELLAMy pulse thundered in my ears, a frantic, irregular rhythm that mirrored the sudden instability of my entire world. Trial? I wasn't a criminal. I was someone who just discovered what I could do.They couldn’t possibly hold a trial on a matter that trivial, right?"This is absurd," Rohan said, his voice rising, sharp and discordant. He stood up, his palms flat against the mahogany table. "She is not a criminal. She is a member of this pack, and this is an internal matter. You cannot just march in here and demand a trial for a woman who has done nothing but survive.""Survive?" Ravena’s father let out a harsh, barking laugh that curdled the air. He leaned forward, his eyes fixed on Rohan with predatory intent. "She leveled a room. She scarred my daughter. You should be thanking the Council for stepping in to teach that little witch a lesson that you were clearly too soft to administer yourself.""It was a mistake!" Rohan argued, his voice straining. "An accident fueled by tr
43ISABELLAThe steam in the small bathroom filled the room, smelling of lavender and jasmine. Lila’s hands were gentle as she worked the shampoo through my scalp.I could feel her nervous energy maybe because I was just as nervous. I thought this bath would keep my mind of things but it was clear it wasn't helping."What's on your mind Lila?" I finally voiced unable to hold it in any longer."Things aren't looking good, my lady," Lila murmured, her voice barely a whisper against the splashing water. She paused, her fingers digging slightly into my skin. "We should have listened to the Seer. Maybe we should have stayed in that hut. At least there, the walls were made of mud, not eyes."I kept my gaze fixed on the copper faucet, trying to project a calm I absolutely did not feel. "We can’t hide forever, Lila. If I’m what they say I am, I need to know why.""You don't even know what you are," she countered, rinsing my hair with a steady stream of warm water. "You’re playing with a loade
42ISABELLAThe silence in the grand ballroom was louder than any scream. I stood in the center of the room, my chest heaving, the lingering scent of ozone and scorched silk stinging my nostrils. Below me, Ravena lay sprawled across the marble floor, her bridal gown stained with something that wasn't just blood. She was perfectly, terrifyingly still.What have I done?I looked down at my hands. They were trembling, glowing with a faint, sickly violet light that wouldn't dissipate. I hadn't meant to do it. It was a reflex—a snap of irritation, a sudden surge of defense against the sharp, biting whispers the bridesmaids had been throwing my way all morning. I had simply wanted them to stop.But I hadn't just made them stop. I had unleashed something that tore through the air like a physical lash.Around me, the guests had retreated into a tight, jagged circle. The women, who moments ago were laughing and sipping champagne, now held their breath, their eyes wide with a primal, terrified
9ISABELLA In the silence, my anger wavered leaving my chest hollow. I believed it resonated with the fact there was some sense in what he said. Anyone with his view would have the same cruel words and there I was again feeling bile rise at the back of my throat.My body was coated in shame and t
7It didn’t make sense.How could he easily say those flirtatious words after he left so abruptly the other night the moment he saw my face clearly? Why did he look almost… disappointed?“Sir,” I managed, unsure how to address him now.He was still standing at the door, light from the hallway cutti
8- PerceptionROHANI had a crush on Isabella long before I knew what the word meant.She had a good heart. She had always been shy, but she was the type who drew attention whether she wanted it or not.She was the only daughter of Alpha Vladmir of Crystal Pack, and our parents were close.It was i
ISABELLA I suddenly became self aware and true to his words the eyes were mostly pinned on me.Most of the women looked at Rohan and I couldn't help but give him a sidelong glance to see if he was sharing their interests."It doesn't make sense," My voice became louder as we stepped closer to the







