3. IN THE DARK

**ISABELLA**

The full moon party was delayed for some reasons but finally started around past eleven-thirty. The sound of soft music drifted through the air, mingled with laughter and the occasional howl of wolves enjoying themselves. Even from my room, where I was packing my luggage, I could hear the lively festivities in full swing.

But I didn’t care. No one would notice I wasn’t there. No one ever did.

After an hour, a sharp knock at my door jolted me out of my thoughts. I hesitated for a moment before walking over and opening the door just a crack.

Standing there was Maximilian.  

“Max? What are you doing here?”  I asked in a surprise. 

He leaned casually against the doorframe, but his piercing gaze zeroed in on me. “Checking on you, obviously. Why aren’t you at the party?”

My heart raced. He noticed? But how? Maximilian was always the center of attention at these events, surrounded by she-wolves vying for his time. How could he have possibly realized I wasn’t there?

“I... I was tired,” I stammered, struggling to maintain composure. “Just thought I’d rest.”

His eyes flickered down from my face, taking in the flowery dress I was still wearing. “Resting? In that dress?”

Shit.

Before I could come up with an excuse, his lips curled into a playful smile. “Come on. Young guys are having a separate party,” he said, taking my hand without waiting for a reply.

“Wait…this dress…” I panicked.

He glanced over his shoulder, his gaze warm and unwavering. “You look beautiful, Bella.”

Heat crept up my cheeks, and my heart hammered in my chest. I wasn’t bad-looking, but when he called me beautiful, it felt like I truly was.

For a moment, I allowed myself to smile as I walked beside him. I never thought that before I left I would get a chance to spend some time with him. I was not that good around people but it was fine as long as I was with Maximilian. 

Of course, just as quickly, the moment shattered.

Maximilian suddenly groaned, stopping in his tracks and letting go of my hand sharply.

“Max?” I asked, alarmed. “What’s wrong?”

His face was flushed, his breathing labored. Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead.

“It’s my rut,” he growled, his voice low and strained.

My eyes widened. “Rut?”

As a wolfless woman, I’d never experienced a heat, but I’d heard and seen plenty about ruts. The sight of Maximilian struggling, his wolf eyes glowing to take control and his shirt clinging to his damp skin, was unexpectedly erotic. My pulse quickened as I took in his disheveled breathtaking appearance.

So this is what he looks like during his rut? My mind betrayed me with forbidden thoughts. I wondered how he might look fully naked, his body…”

“Fuck,” he muttered under his breath, tugging at the buttons of his shirt, some popping free in his desperation. His eyes met mine, burning with intensity. “Bella... Can you help me?”

My breath caught in my throat. Help him? What did he mean by that? Did he want me to have sex…

My throat got dry but my heart quickened with the thrill and happiness when he stated. 

“Send Ket to my room,” he groaned, cutting off my thoughts.

“Ket?” I froze and my all hopes and happiness shattered.. 

Of course. He didn’t mean me. He wanted another woman. My heart twisted painfully, but I forced myself to nod.

“I’ll... I’ll find her,” I murmured, stepping away.

I took a total of ten steps with a bleeding heart, then the power went out.

The venue was immediately plunged into darkness, and frustrated groans echoed from the distance. The generator would kick in soon. Probably a minute or two but for now, it was pitch black.

I stopped in my tracks, staring at my hands. Then, slowly, I turned to glance toward Maximilian’s room. He was inside, groaning softly in need. 

My feet carried me to his door before I could second-guess myself. Twisting the doorknob with shaky hands, I stepped inside, the darkness cloaking us both.

“Ket?” His voice was a low rumble, thick with need.

I didn’t respond. Instead, I reached for the light switch and flipped it off, ensuring we remained in the shadows.

He groaned impatiently, his breathing ragged. I could see his vague outline, his large frame perched on the edge of the bed, his body tense.

Swallowing hard, I moved closer.

‘He won’t know,’ I said in my mind. 

People said that I was scentless too so he would not know. That’s what I believed.

I grabbed a cloth from a nearby table and stepped behind him, hesitating for just a moment before blindfolding him.

He was confused and surprised for a moment, tried to resist until I touched his face to calm him.

He froze at my touch, his breathing hitching for a brief second before he relaxed.

The blindfold slipped into place, and I shakily exhaled, my resolve hardening. I glanced at the clock where it was going to be midnight in a few minutes. I was going to be eighteen. 

This was the last time I would see him. I’d leave in the early hours of the morning, and he’d forget about me soon enough. But I didn’t want to leave with regrets. If I wanted to move on from him, I wanted to have him just this once. I wanted to lose my virginity to him. 

I wanted to only share this moment with him. 

I  gently pushed him onto the bed and let my desire take over. 

He would….never know.