7. A HALLUCINATION?

**ISABELLA**

Still uneasy, I grabbed a plate and spoon from the kitchen, and retreated to my bedroom, locking the door behind me. After changing into comfortable clothes, I sat on the bed and unwrapped my takeout.

The room was quiet, but my thoughts weren’t. My gaze drifted to the wall separating my room from the neighboring bedroom. The walls were sturdy and thick, but there was something eerie about the complete silence, as though no one was actually there.

I resolved to be cautious. I didn’t want to cause any trouble for the new tenant, especially since this was my first time living alone. Even after two months, I hadn’t gotten used to the solitude. At night, the silence pressed against me like a heavy weight.

Before, there had always been Maximilian. Whenever I felt lonely, his presence had been my shield against the cold emptiness of the world. With him, I felt safe, protected even when life was hard.

But now, that warmth was gone.

A hollow ache formed in my chest. I set the half-eaten food on the bedside table and curled up on the bed, clutching Maximilian's pendant in my hand. Its metal surface was cool against my skin. Having it close to my chest, I felt like he was with me. 

I was cold, but as my eyes grew heavier, I drifted into the darkness. Suddenly, warmth enveloped me, wrapping around my back…a heat so familiar, so comforting that it stirred something deep inside me.

What was it?

It felt real. Too real.

With a sharp gasp, I opened my eyes, blinking against the soft morning light filtering through the gap in the drapes, fluttering in the gentle breeze. I stared at the space beside me on the bed, my chest rising and falling with confusion.

What kind of dream was that?

Running a hand through my hair, I shook my head to clear my thoughts. "Don’t overthink it," I muttered to myself. "It was just a dream."

After a moment, I forced myself out of bed and headed to the shower. Thankfully, I’d woken up on time—another five minutes, and I would have been late for university.

Once dressed, I exited my room and made my way to the kitchen, my eyes instinctively flicking toward that bedroom door. It was closed. Had the new tenant left early? Or had they never come out at all?

As I reached for a cup, my attention snagged on something unexpected: a cup of black coffee sitting on the counter, steam rising from it as though it had just been brewed.

My hand froze.

Beside it was a plate of buttered toast, an omelet, and neatly arranged slices of fruit—all freshly made but untouched, as if waiting for someone.

For me?

Impossible.

The logical part of my brain told me it must belong to the other tenant. Still confused, I carefully covered the food and coffee to keep them warm, then prepared my own breakfast before rushing out of the house.

Unfortunately, traffic was insane, and by the time I arrived on campus, I had to sprint across the grounds. Heart pounding, I reached the classroom just as the professor began speaking.

"Everyone, please pay attention..."

Shit! I was doomed. That professor was notoriously strict.

Gasping for breath, I burst through the door. "May I…" I started, raising my head, "come in…"

The words caught in my throat. My gaze went beyond the professor to the person standing beside him.

‘We have a new transfer student…”

The professor’s voice faded as my heart dropped into the pit of my stomach. The man met my gaze, making me freeze on the spot. 

Maximilian.

My eyes widened, disbelief flooding through me. No this had to be a hallucination. He couldn’t possibly be here.

But then his piercing green eyes locked onto mine, sending a wave of chills through my entire body.

Panic overtook me. I turned abruptly and fled the room without looking back.

The hallway was deserted, and the campus grounds stretched eerily empty as I sprinted toward the main gate. I hailed a passing taxi, desperate to escape.

My breaths were shallow, and I clutched my chest as though it would stop my heart from breaking free. "What the hell is wrong with me?" I whispered, my voice trembling. "Have I lost my mind?"

It wasn’t real. Couldn’t be real. Maximilian was supposed to be thousands of miles away. Alpha Jonathan had sent him abroad to study before he was set to take over the pack as the next Alpha.

How could I have forgotten that?

He was probably surrounded by beautiful women, living a life far removed from the memories of me.

I tried to convince myself it was just my imagination, but my legs had moved on pure instinct. I hadn’t run from a hallucination. I had run because, deep down, I was still terrified of his hatred.

Even if he wasn’t real, the thought of his eyes filled with resentment was unbearable.

I leaned back against the seat, staring out of the window. Goddess, I must have looked like a fool back there, running out in front of the whole class.

A while later, I decided to skip the rest of the day and headed to my part time job. I decided to take two long shifts to cover the day off  I had taken and also to distract myself. But it was not that easy. I managed to finish two shifts by seven in the evening. Tired, I walked back to the Half Moon pack but did not grab any dinner. I just wanted to take a shower and calm my mind. 

The house was quiet when I entered, lost in my swirling thoughts.

Click.

The faint sound of a door latch unlocking echoed through the living room, snapping me out of my daze. My eyes instinctively went to the other bedroom.

The door creaked open.

My breath caught in my throat as a familiar figure stepped into view. The bag I was holding slipped from my hand.

"You’re good at running away," a deep voice drawled.

It was Maximilian.

The ground almost slipped out from under me. He was wearing the same clothes as that transfer student. 

This hadn’t been a dream. It hadn’t been my imagination. He was here. Really here.

"You...how could you be… here?" I stammered, my voice shaking. 

In two swift steps, he closed the distance between us. His hand shot out, tangling in my hair, pulling me flush against his chest.

"I thought I made myself clear, Bella" he growled, his voice dangerously low. "What I protect becomes my possession. So how dare you run from me."