CHAPTER 5 - THE ALPHA WHO TRIGGERS HER WOLF

Isla pov

"Show me your stance again," Dylan orders, his voice cutting through the morning air like a blade.

"Or are you afraid I'll see what you're hiding."

I'm standing in the training yard, dawn barely broken over the fortress walls, my body still aching from yesterday's fight.

Dylan circles me slowly, predatory, assessing every micro-movement I make.

"I don't know what you mean," I say, keep my posture slouched, submissive, everything an omega should be.

"That," Dylan stops in front of me, gestures at the way I'm standing, "that's what I mean, you're performing weakness but your weight distribution is all wrong, you're balanced on the balls of your feet ready to move, ready to strike.

Fuck, I shift my weight back, try to look more uncertain, "I'm just nervous.

"Stop lying," he interrupts, moving so fast I barely track it, his hand shoots out toward my face, not to hit but to test.

Instinct takes over, I dodge left and my hand comes up to block, perfect form, perfect timing, exactly how Kael trained me, I realize my mistake the second I complete the movement.

Dylan smiles and it's not kind, "there she is.

"I just, you startled me," I tried.

"Show me your real stance or I'll keep pushing until your wolf does it for you," Dylan says.

I straighten slowly, let the act fall away piece by piece, shift into a fighting stance that feels more natural than breathing, weight centered, knees bent, hands loose and ready.

"Better," Dylan nods, "now let's see what you can actually do."

He doesn't give me time to prepare, just attacks, fast and controlled, I block the first strike, dodge the second, counter the third with a move that would shatter ribs if I put real force behind it.

We move across the training yard in a blur of motion, his strength against my speed, his experience against my precision, it's electrifying, dangerous, every nerve ending on fire as we trade blows that never quite land.

"You fight like a soldier," Dylan says, not even breathing hard, "who trained you.

"Does it matter," I snap back, duck under his arm and sweep his legs, he jumps over the sweep and grabs my wrist, uses my momentum to spin me around, my back slams against his chest, his arm locks around my throat, not choking but restraining.

"It matters," his voice rumbles through me, "because someone turned you into a weapon and sent you here to kill me.”

"Maybe I just want to survive," I drive my elbow back into his ribs, he grunts and releases me, I spin away and reset my stance.

Before I can respond, movement catches my eye, a beta soldier rushing at me from the side, weapon drawn, I don't think, just react, sidestep his attack and grab his arm, twist until bone grinds against bone, sweep his legs and follow him down, my hand wrapping around his throat with lethal precision.

"Wait," the soldier chokes out, "it was a test, Alpha's orders."

I squeeze harder, watch his eyes go wide with real fear, something dark and hungry rises in my chest, the part of me Kael cultivated.

"Isla," Dylan's voice cuts through the haze, sharp and commanding, "stop."

My body obeys before my mind catches up, muscles locking, hand releasing, I stumble back and the soldier scrambles away gasping.

"Everyone out," Dylan orders, the handful of guards watching from the edges disappear immediately.

"My wolf trusts you," I say, the admission tastes like poison, "I don't know why, I don't want her to, but she does.”

"I know," Dylan says quietly, "I can feel it."

"How can you control me like that," I demand.

"It's not because I'm an Alpha," he says, moving closer.

"it's something else, something I don't fully understand yet."

Footsteps approach from behind, measured and careful, I turn to see Ronan, Dylan's beta with the silver-streaked hair, he looks older in the daylight, tired, like he carries too many secrets.

Can I speak with her," Ronan asks Dylan, "alone.

Dylan's eyes narrow, "why?

"Because I knew her father," Ronan says, the words hit me like a physical blow, "and she deserves to know the truth."

My heart stops, actually stops, "what did you just say."

Dylan looks between us, calculation flickering across his face, finally he nods, "five minutes.

He walks away and I'm left trying to breathe around the panic clawing up my throat.

"Marcus Corvane was a good man," Ronan says once we're alone, "brilliant, compassionate, he didn't want to create weapons, the Council forced him.”

"You're lying," I say, but my voice shakes.

"Your father tried to destroy PROJECT LUNA, tried to save you and the other children, that's why they executed him," Ronan continues, "the Council wanted to erase all evidence, but Dylan found out about the attack beforehand, he rode through the night trying to reach Silvermoon in time, he saved three children from the flames but he couldn't find you.”

The world tilts, everything I thought I knew rearranging itself, "why would he search for me."

"You'll have to ask him that.

Ronan says, glances toward the fortress, "but Isla, Dylan didn't kill your parents, he tried to save you.

Ronan walks away and I'm left standing in the training yard, shaking, Cassia's words echoing in my head, conflicting with everything Ronan just said.

I turn and Dylan is there, standing in the doorway watching me.

"You knew who I was from the beginning," I say, betrayal and fury burning through my chest, "the brand, the way I fight, you knew and you didn't tell me."

Dylan steps closer, his expression unreadable, "yes."

"Why," the word comes out broken, desperate.

"Because I've been looking for you for ten years," Dylan says, his voice drops low and dangerous, "and now that I've found you, I'm not letting you go."

My heart stops.

"Why were you looking for me," I whisper.

Dylan's eyes flash silver, wolf rising to the surface, "because you're mine, you've always been mine, and it's time you remembered.”