five years changed nothing

Chapter Three

Five years later.

The car stopped in front of the house I'd been exiled from.

Nothing had changed.

Same white columns. Same perfectly trimmed hedges. Same cold, lifeless mansion that never felt like home.

I stepped out.

My hair was longer now. Wine red. I'd dyed it the day after I left. A new color for a new life.

Except my life hadn't been new. It had been survival.

Five years of living on the outskirts of pack territory. Five years of working odd jobs. Five years of trying to forget the mate bond that never went away.

The front door opened.

Mom and Dad stood there. Waiting.

Not Isabella.

Of course not Isabella.

She was married now. To my mate. Living her perfect Luna life while I rotted in exile.

I walked toward them. My boots crunched on the gravel driveway.

Mom's face was blank. Dad's was stone.

No smiles. No relief that I was home safe.

Just... nothing.

I stopped in front of them. Gave a small smile that didn't reach my eyes.

"I'm back."

"So we see," Dad said.

I walked past them into the house.

No hugs. No "we missed you." No "we're sorry."

They never acted like parents anyway.

"Wait."

Mom's voice stopped me at the base of the stairs.

I turned.

She walked closer. Held out a small crystal bottle.

The perfume.

My stomach twisted.

"Now that you're back," Mom said, "remember. Isabella is his mate. Not you. You'll continue masking your scent. There's a whole supply in your room."

I stared at the bottle.

Five years. Five years and the first thing she tells me is to hide.

"Understood?" Mom's voice was sharp.

"Yes."

I took the bottle. Walked upstairs to my old room.

It looked exactly the same. Like I'd never left.

I sat on the bed. Looked at the perfume in my hand.

Five years away didn't change anything.

I was still invisible. Still unwanted. Still the daughter they wished didn't exist.

But that was fine.

Five years was enough time to kill a bond. To forget the way it felt to see him.

I'd moved on.

Or at least, I'd convinced myself I had.

A knock on the door.

"Come in."

A maid entered. Young. Nervous.

"Miss Irabella," she said quietly. "The Alpha is hosting a ball tonight. Your parents told me to give you this."

She held out a dress.

Black. Sleek. Elegant.

I took it. "Thank you."

She left.

I looked at the dress. Then at the perfume bottles lined up on my dresser.

A ball. Of course. Isabella probably planned it. Another chance to show off her perfect life.

I showered. Washed away five years of dust and exhaustion.

Put on the dress. It fit perfectly. Hugged every curve.

I looked in the mirror.

The girl who left five years ago was gone.

The woman staring back was sharper. Harder. Beautiful in a way that felt dangerous.

I sprayed the perfume. Wrists. Neck. Behind my ears.

The chemical scent burned my nose.

But it was familiar now. Almost comforting.

This was who I was. The hidden sister. The erased mate.

I walked downstairs.

Mom and Dad were waiting by the door. Both dressed formally.

"Let's go," Dad said.

No comment on how I looked. No acknowledgment at all.

We drove to the pack house in silence.

The ball was already in full swing when we arrived.

Music. Laughter. Hundreds of pack members dressed in their finest.

I walked in behind my parents.

And then I saw him.

The bond slammed into me.

Harder than before. Stronger than before.

Five years didn't kill it.

Five years made it worse.

My breath caught. My heart hammered against my ribs. Heat flooded my body so fast I almost stumbled.

He was across the room. Talking to some pack elders.

Taller than I remembered. Broader. More commanding.

Alpha Daemon.

My mate.

And then he turned.

His eyes found mine.

The world stopped.

Everything disappeared. The music. The people. The noise.

It was just him.

Just us.

His eyes widened. His body went rigid.

I felt the bond pull between us. A living, breathing thing that screamed and clawed and demanded.

His nostrils flared. He took a step forward.

Toward me.

My wolf surged. MATE. GO TO HIM.

My heart was beating so fast I thought it would explode.

His gaze raked over me. Intense. Hungry. Confused.

Like he was trying to figure out why he couldn't look away.

The air between us felt electric. Charged. Burning.

I couldn't move. Couldn't breathe.

He took another step.

Then Isabella appeared.

She walked up to him. Placed her hand on his chest.

And kissed him.

Right on the mouth.

In front of everyone.

In front of me.

She pulled back. Looked directly at me over his shoulder.

And smirked.

Something inside me shattered.

I smiled back. Bitter. Empty.

This feeling had to die.

It was forbidden.

He was my brother-in-law now.

I turned away. Pushed through the crowd.

I needed air. Needed to get out of this room before I did something stupid.

I found a side door. Stepped out onto a balcony.

The cold night air hit my face.

I gripped the railing. Closed my eyes.

Five years.

Five years and it still hurt this much.

"Pathetic," I muttered to myself.

I needed to leave. This ball. This pack. This life.

I turned to go back inside.

My heel caught on the edge of my dress.

I slipped.

Fell backward toward the balcony steps.

Strong arms caught me.

The bond exploded.

Fire. Lightning. Everything.

I gasped.

Looked up.

Alpha Daemon stared down at me.

His arms were around my waist. Holding me against his chest.

His eyes were dark. Wild.

"You," he breathed.

His voice was rough. Raw.

The bond pulsed between us. So strong I could barely think.

His scent surrounded me. Pine. Earth. Alpha.

My hands were on his chest. I could feel his heart pounding.

As fast as mine.

"I..." I couldn't form words.

He pulled me closer. His grip tightened.

"Who are you?" he demanded.

His eyes searched mine. Desperate. Confused.

"Why do I..." He trailed off.

His hand came up. Brushed my cheek.

The touch sent sparks through my entire body.

I couldn't breathe. Couldn't move.

His face was so close.

"Tell me your name," he said.

His voice was a command. An Alpha command.

But there was something else underneath it.

Pleading.

"Irabella," I whispered.

His eyes widened.

"The sister," he said slowly.

Recognition. Then something else.

His hand was still on my face. His thumb traced my cheekbone.

"Why do you smell like..." He frowned. Leaned closer. "What is that scent?"

The perfume.

Panic shot through me.

I pushed against his chest.

He didn't let go.

"Alpha Daemon."

Isabella's voice cut through the moment like a knife.

His head snapped toward the door.

Isabella stood there. Her face was calm. But her eyes were cold.

"There you are," she said sweetly. "I've been looking for you."

His arms loosened.

I pulled away. Stepped back.

The loss of contact felt like losing a limb.

"I slipped," I said quickly. "He caught me. That's all."

Isabella walked closer. Looped her arm through his.

"How clumsy of you, Ira," she said. "You should be more careful."

She looked at him. Smiled.

"Come back inside, darling. They're about to start the first dance."

He looked at me.

Then at her.

His expression was torn. Confused.

"Yes," he said finally. "Of course."

But he didn't move right away.

His eyes found mine again.

And I saw it.

He felt it too.

He just didn't understand what it was.

Isabella tugged his arm. "Daemon?"

He blinked. Shook his head slightly.

"Right. The dance."

He let Isabella lead him back inside.

But he looked back at me one more time before disappearing through the door.

I stood alone on the balcony.

My hands were shaking.

My wolf was screaming.

And the bond was alive. Burning. Undeniable.

Five years changed nothing.

I was still his mate.

And he still had no idea.