Chapter Five - Chaos and Claiming

Isabella’s POV

Pain.

Raw. Blistering. Unrelenting.

It wasn’t just in my bones—it was in my soul.

My scream ripped through the walls of Anthonia’s apartment, too inhuman to be mine. My spine cracked, limbs convulsed, and I felt my skin stretch like it didn’t belong to me anymore.

Then… silence.

And then—power.

The moment it was done, I stood on four legs. My body trembled, sleek silver fur rippling with each breath. I looked down at myself, unable to believe the truth: I had shifted.

My wolf was stunning—larger than I imagined, eyes burning with a glowing golden light. Something ancient stirred in my blood. My senses sharpened. I could hear Genesis sobbing behind the locked door, smell the salt of Jethro’s sweat, the incense burning in Anthonia’s secret room.

And I could feel him.

Arseñio.

Coming.

Fast.

His scent struck me like lightning—spice, power, and danger all wrapped into one. I growled low in my throat, but it was too late.

The window exploded.

Glass showered the room like rain, and through it came the beast—my mate.

He landed barefoot in the middle of the living room, shirtless, tattooed chest heaving, eyes glowing a deep crimson. That cursed mark on his chest pulsed furiously.

I shifted back in a flash—naked, shaking, bloody from the glass. I stood, chest rising, fists clenched.

"You left me!" I screamed.

“You bit me first,” he growled. “You marked me. You sealed your fate.”

I charged at him.

Fury burned hotter than fear. My fist slammed into his chest with a force I didn’t know I possessed. He staggered back—but then grinned.

“You’ve awakened,” he said darkly. “Good.” He came for me like a storm—fast, lethal, but I didn’t retreat.

We clashed.

His palm slammed into my ribs, but I twisted mid-air and kicked off the wall, landing a solid blow to his jaw. He laughed as blood dripped from his lip.

“My feral little bride,” he taunted.

“I am not yours!” I roared.

'You think you have a say in this? You don't, Isa. You don't have a say in this because yo belong to me. You are mine now. You are stuck with me." He stated, looking deep into my eyes. What the hell was he saying? I barely even know him. I barely even knew that he existed before last night.

Something laughed in my head. "You barely even know him, yet you let him inside of you. You got intimate with him. How careless are you, Isabella?"

I wasn't sure what it was. But I was sure it was a cold, stern female talking in my head. Was it my wolf because I had read about it before? The moon goddess paired every werewolves with their companion wolf. Their animalistic side.

I shut the voice out of my little dumb rain. I have to face this fucking piece of shit called beast in front of me

Before I could rurn, he grabbed me by the waist and threw me across the room—I crashed into the bookshelf, wood shattering around me. My back burned, but I was already up. He lunged, but this time, I shifted mid-air.

My wolf was faster. Stronger. Uncontrolled.

We collided in midair—fur and claws, snarling and snapping. I tore into his shoulder, and he grunted, rolling us both through the wall and into the hallway.

I shifted back, panting, naked and wild. He stood opposite me, chest heaving.

“I told you,” he said, “you belong to me.”

I stepped closer, fury burning. “You ruined my life.”

He stepped forward, too. “I gave you a life. A real one. You were dying inside your old one, Isabella. I simply woke you up.”

I looked at the glowing mark on his chest. “Then why did you run?”

His eyes flickered. “Because if I stayed… I would’ve broken you. And I need you whole for what’s coming.”

Before I could ask what that meant, a sharp knock sounded on the door.

A woman stepped inside—a tall, striking she-wolf with dark curls, sun-browned skin, and sharp silver eyes.

She bowed slightly to Arseñio. “Alpha.”

“Zaya,” he acknowledged. “You’re late.”

“I was securing the border. And handling the witches near the western ridge,” she said coolly.

He turned to her and gave a single command that made my blood freeze:

“Find a priest. Secure a location. We marry tonight. Zaya didn’t blink. “Yes, Alpha.”

I stumbled back. “You—you’re insane.”

He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.

“You think I came to fight you? No, Isabella. I came to bind you. Publicly. Irrevocably. Before the next full moon.”

“Why?”

“Because something’s coming,” he said darkly. “Something ancient. And now that your power has awakened, you’ve become the bait. Everyone will come for you. Hunters. Packs. Cursed creatures. I need to claim you before they do.”

“I never agreed to this,” I said, shaking.

“You already did,” he whispered, dragging a finger gently over the bite on my neck. “Your blood bound us. Your bite sealed it.” Zaya reappeared in the doorway, holding a phone to her ear.

“The Church is ready. Priest Amoz awaits.”

Arseñio grinned.

“You have two hours,” he said. “Then you’ll stand beside me. In front of my kind. As my mate. As my Queen.”

I stood frozen, heart racing.

Arseñio turned, paused at the door, then glanced over his shoulder with a half-smile.

"And wear white… if you can still find any innocence in you.”

Then he was gone.

And all I could do was stand there, shattered… as the air around me cracked with power, I didn’t yet understand.

I can't get married to him. No, this cannot happen to me. I can't be one of them. He can't come for me like this. He was the Alpha Beast. He is still the Alpha Beast. Anyone woman he touches, dies. Why didn’t I die when he touched me? How was I able to take him? No, there must be an explanation. We can't be mates. I won't accept this kind of destiny for myself. I swear I won't.

But he wants to marry me. Our wedding is starting in two hours. How can he claim me like this? How?

"Two hours.." I muttered as tears almost fell off.

"No, you have 1hour, 55 minutes left."

Fear settled inside of me.