3. Sparks Of The Eclipse

Isabella POV

At that moment, I realized I had landed myself in monumental trouble.

I actually did it. I actually shoved her.

I approached her cautiously, checking her chest to ensure she was still breathing. Thankfully, she was.

As the brown wolf receded, she shifted back into her human form, coughing violently. I reached out to help her sit up, but she flinched away instantly, her eyes wild with fury.

"Don't touch me, you witch!" she shrieked.

I stood frozen, momentarily stunned.

"She needs a blanket. Now," I told the guards who had finally rushed into the cell to check on her.

"Stop staring at me, you fools!" Lyra barked at one of the guards, who promptly scrambled out of the cell to retrieve something to cover her.

A moment later, he returned with a white blanket. Lyra attempted to push herself up, but her limbs buckled from weakness. I furrowed my brows in confusion. Why isn't she healing? A Beta's daughter should have mended from a simple fall in seconds.

Perhaps she’s faking it just to make sure your little ass pays the ultimate price, my subconscious mocked. I could only snap my fingers in irritation to quiet the voice.

The guards assisted her, ensuring the iron door was securely locked behind them as they led her back up to the packhouse. But right before she stepped out of the corridor, she looked back at me, dead in the eyes.

"I am very sure you will be unalived the second father hears of this!"

Feeling entirely drained, I slid down the damp wall and sank to the floor.

Maybe five minutes later, the heavy footsteps of two guards in khaki uniforms and black tactical shorts approached, the harsh beam of a flashlight cutting through the dark. They unlocked the gate and gestured for me to move.

"Alpha Kaelen is requesting your presence," one of them said.

All the color instantly drained from my face.

They marched me up to the main study and shoved me onto the floor. I looked up to find Alpha Kaelen, my father, Stella, and Lyra herself—all fully dressed and wearing masks of profound concern.

"What the hell did you do to my daughter?" my father demanded before the Alpha could even speak.

A single tear slipped down my face. I glanced up, catching the nasty, triumphant smirk playing on Lyra’s lips.

Unable to meet my father's glaring eyes, I lowered my head.

"Are you incapable of speech now, too, just like you're deprived of a wolf?" he threatened, his voice laced with disgust.

I shook my head, my voice barely a whisper. "I didn't mean to. It's all my fault."

"She will be confined to the subterranean cells for the rest of the week," Alpha Kaelen declared with cold finality. Before I could even stand, the guards grabbed me by the arms and dragged me back down.

Locked in the darkness once more, I closed my eyes and let sleep take me.

I woke to the painful grumbling of my empty stomach. Crawling blindly toward the door in the pitch black, my hands collided with the sharp edge of the silver cuffs I had dropped earlier. A fresh, warm liquid began to drip down my wrists, stinging like pure fire as the silver reacted with my skin.

I banged desperately on the heavy metal door, screaming for help, but the halls remained dead silent. Exhausted and weak from blood loss and hunger, I slumped back against the wall, drifting away into another world.

In my dream, I found myself in a strange, ethereal meadow, soft rays of golden light gently illuminating my face. And then, walking through the mist, I saw her. A figure in a flowing white gown with cascading, radiant blonde hair.

"Mom," I whispered, my voice breaking with remorse. "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for everything." I bowed my head in deep shame.

She walked over and slowly lifted my chin, her voice as soothing as a gentle summer breeze. "Isabella, there is no need for apologies."

"Mother, I'm struggling so much here," I cried, holding onto her hand. "I want to join you. I want to come to the other side where everything is calm and peaceful."

"No, Isabella," she replied gently, her hand softly stroking my hair. "This is not your place. You need to stay there. You must be strong."

"But I'm so tired of this world," I pleaded, tears hot on my face. "I just want to be with you."

"As I said before, you must find your strength and never give up," she reiterated. She offered me one last, radiant smile before her figure dissolved into the mist.

"Mother! Mother!" I screamed, reaching out for her.

But there was no response.

I bolted upright, gasping for air. It was just a dream, but beads of sweat were dripping down my forehead, trickling down my chin and chest.

"Bring her out!" a gruff voice ordered from the doorway.

Did four days seriously just pass? I wondered to myself as the guards unlocked my chains and forcefully dragged me back up to the kitchen.

The other omegas continued their frantic work, deliberately looking away and paying no attention to me. I scanned the room for Sloane, but the severe head omega was nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly, I felt a gentle nudge on my shoulder. I turned to find Evangeline, one of the younger omegas, standing beside me with a broom.

"It's our turn to clean the mansion," she murmured.

I nodded sluggishly and followed her, but the moment we were out of sight of the main halls, she hurried me into the privacy of the omegas' quarters.

"Here, take this," she whispered, handing me a cup of clean water. I eagerly gulped it down, the cool liquid soothing my raw throat.

"I also managed to sneak these out for you," she added, holding out a small handful of cookies. I devoured them in seconds.

"Thank you," I breathed, wiping my mouth. "Why are you helping me?"

Evangeline shrugged her shoulders softly. "Because your mother was incredibly kind to everyone, and you are not a bad person, Isabella. Now, let's get back to cleaning before we get caught."

As we walked back to the main stairs, I noticed something peculiar. The entire grand hall was being decorated with massive floral arrangements and elegant drapes.

"What is all of this for?" I asked her.

"Tomorrow is Beta Lyra's birthday," Evangeline explained in a quiet, monotone voice. "She’s expected to find her fated mate at the gala."

"Oh. Right," I nodded, a bitter weight sinking into my chest as I resumed sweeping.

That night, as I lay in my small cot in the omegas' quarters, a sharp realization struck me. Tomorrow was my birthday, too. Lyra and I shared the exact same birthdate. But unlike her, I couldn't venture out into the world to find my fated mate. Because I was an wolfless omega, I was legally bound to this pack as property. At least, that's what Lyra always took pleasure in telling me.

"Wake up, Isabella, wake up," a quiet voice whispered, nudging me from my sleep the next morning.

I opened my eyes to find Evangeline hovering over me.

I scrambled out of bed, pulling on my faded omega uniform, and headed straight to the kitchen. Before the guests arrived, I had to tend to the rose garden—a chore Sloane had assigned to me, but one I genuinely enjoyed because of the quiet.

Once the garden was perfect, I rushed back into the hectic kitchen.

"Keep a close eye on that bacon, Isabella!" Sloane barked, her voice cutting through the smoke.

Suddenly, Natalia entered the kitchen. She was wearing a brilliant smile as she praised Sloane for her hard work. She offered a warm greeting to almost everyone in the room, but the moment her eyes landed on me, her expression instantly curdled into a dark scowl.

She grabbed my arm, pulling me into the quiet corridor outside the kitchen.

"I hope you learned your lesson in that cell, Isabella," she whispered venomously. "If you ever dare lay a hand on my daughter again, I won't hesitate to have you permanently eliminated."

I swallowed hard, keeping my eyes down.

"And one more thing," she sneered, her grip tightening.

"You are not invited to this party. Your only purpose tonight is to serve. Do I make myself clear?"

I nodded quickly, and she finally let go, walking away. I heaved a massive sigh of relief, feeling like a physical weight had been lifted off my chest.

A few hours later, the grand party was in full swing. The mansion was bustling with high-ranking guests, a slow, elegant waltz echoing through the ballroom. Taking a silver tray of champagne flute glasses, I kept my head down and began weaving through the crowd to serve.

"It's time! The celebrant is coming out!" someone in the crowd whispered excitedly.

I stopped to watch as Lyra descended the grand staircase, looking stunning in a long, flowing blue floral gown, a radiant smile plastered on her face.

Hurting too much to watch her moment of glory, I turned around quickly to walk away—only to crash directly into a broad, solid chest.

The moment of contact was electric.

A sudden, violent rush of golden sparks and intoxicating warmth burst through my veins. The heavenly, rich scent of pine and rain clouded my senses, driving every rational thought from my brain.

In that split second, my soul knew. I found my mate.

I eagerly looked up to offer my apologies to the stranger, only to freeze.

Staring down at me were deep, ocean-blue eyes and perfectly styled brown hair. He was none other than the future Alpha of our very own Eclipse Pack.

BLAINE!