LOGIN35ISABELLAThe words floated around until it seized my breath. He’d done what?!I stared at the building, the implication too heavy to actually believe.My father’s pack was his pride, he neglected me for it, he didn’t even mourn my mother’s death to avoid looking weak and even died for it.And Rohan didn’t just destroy his legacy and my whole childhood, he also hid it from me.“How sure are you of this?” I asked, my hands balling into fists by my side.“I’m a lot of things, a liar is not one of them.” Clinton enunciated, stepping forward and I could’ve sworn his shoulders rose higher.“I know he didn’t tell you about this, which just goes to show what type of man he is, a slave ring can you imagine?”I didn’t have the words for that second part, I still don’t know what I was looking at but it was clear Clinton was using this to his advantage.“I need to check out your story,” I muttered, walking towards the building when he held me back.“We’re already trespassing,” he refused, pull
34ISABELLARoni’s glow-up was one for the books.He was completely unrecognizable, and though I could see the similar blue eyes that used to be hidden behind his glasses, it felt like looking at two completely different people.He was no longer the little boy that was bullied, he was now the bully.It didn’t matter how much I compared them, Roni wasn’t Rohan.And the man standing in my father’s territory was Rohan.I couldn’t tell how recent the pictures were but there had to be a reason Alpha Clinton believed this was leverage over Rohan.Why was I even bothered about it?Yes, it was my dad’s pack but I had forced myself to forget it, after his death just a year after Derek and I got married.My father had an earlier agreement to form a joint pack with Derek’s pack but after his death things didn’t go as planned.In some way, I saw things from my father’s lens why he wanted a male child. I was the heir to that property but because I was a girl, the men wanted to get a piece of it.D
33ROHAN“I’ve been searching all over for you,” Ravena screeched, her dark hair bouncing as she smiled warmly at me.“Went for an errand,” I said, wrapping my arms around her waist and she held my shoulders.My wolf growled within, causing me discomfort but I forced myself to suppress his urges.The last time he’d been this rowdy was when I left Isabella in that hotel. Our connection wasn’t just friendly, it ran deeper than that but I refused to acknowledge it because she was too good for me.Even now, holding Ravena and looking directly in her eyes, the woman who was meant to be my wife. She was a beauty I wouldn’t deny, her impeccable features but feisty nature made us friends naturally.She felt more like a sister, a feminine half of me than a lover.I almost laughed thinking about love… a word I knew nothing of.But the closest thing to it would forever be tied to Isabella.With her it felt different.The way I considered her feelings, wanted to keep her from harm’s way and destr
31ISABELLAI stood speechless taking in the unfinished structure but it felt like the most perfect thing I’d ever set my eyes on.I walked across the room, my fingers running through the dusty pillars until I got to my mother’s painting.When I had no one to speak to, I ended up with a lot of journals and creative ways to express myself. Now I looked at it, the picture was messy.Still, not bad for someone who sneaked to go for art classes.It was a painting of a dark sky enclosed with my mother’s features, well what I could remember of her. Her thin lips, high cheekbones and blonde hair.The rest was blurry and what’s worse about the picture was when I showed my dad he was angry took it away and threw away my art supplies.`I thought he destroyed it. “Rohan… how… My voice cracked as a tear slipped past my lashes falling on the canvas.I quickly wiped my cheeks with the back of my palm. Rohan didn’t need to see what an emotional wreck I was.I turned back to him and he stood looking
30ISABELLAIn his embrace I took in his intoxicating scent of minty vanilla and a trace of whiskey. He pulled away promptly, chuckling to mask how awkward his reaction was.“Ehm,” he cleared his throat and I could have sworn he puffed up his chest before keeping his expression neutral. “I heard you were in the hospital.”I looked down at the small bag in my hand that held the abortion pill, my heart giving an enormous jump.This was the first time we had met since I learned I was carrying his child.“Are you doing well?” He pressed when I remained silent.“I’m fine,” I responded surprisingly well. Guess spending time on this rollercoaster ride taught me how to lie without thinking about it.Rohan’s lips curved down at my utterance, he scanned my face then looked down at my fingers which I quickly hid behind my gown.“I don’t believe you.” Rohan’s voice was calm but there was something underneath it—something that didn’t let the words pass as simple concern.His eyes didn’t leave my f
29ISABELLAMy fingers tightened around the small object as I wondered if I had been mistaken—if, by some strange coincidence, the conclusions my mind had drawn were wrong."Isabella."Derek’s voice came from behind me.I didn’t turn.My fingers tightened around the earring.“Isabella,” he called again, louder this time.I swallowed, my chest tightening.I didn’t want to look at him.Didn’t want to see his face and try to read something that might already be obvious.“Isabella.”This time there was urgency in his voice.My head snapped toward him.I opened my mouth, the question already forming—Whose is this?But the words died before they could leave.He didn’t look right.His hand pressed against the edge of the bed, his posture unsteady.“I don’t feel well,” he muttered.Everything in me paused.“What?”He tried to straighten, but his body didn’t follow.And then—He collapsed.“Derek!”He slipped off the bed, hitting the floor with a dull thud.The sound knocked the air out of me
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
14ISABELLA“Please open up… your silence is killing me.” I cried outside Derek’s door with the tray balanced carefully in my hands, the warm metal of the covered dish pressing faint heat through the cloth beneath it. It had been three days.And he still hadn’t let me in. He didn’t even care for f
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







