Isabella hesitated as Damien's guards ushered her toward his sleek, black car. His commanding presence and the weight of unspoken tension hung in the air, leaving her with a burning desire to understand the enigmatic Alpha who had just intervened in her tumultuous life.
"Go back first. I have some matters to attend to. We'll talk later," Damien gallantly assisted her into the car, and a shiver ran down Isabella's spine at the stern warning in his cold voice. Unspoken secrets and unresolved questions danced in the shadows, and she bit back the words itching to escape her lips. The guards, stoic and efficient, executed their duty without a hint of emotion.
Silent questions echoed in Isabella's mind as the car rolled away, the city lights casting a surreal glow on her face. She longed to unravel the mysteries behind Damien's actions, to understand the intricate web of power and dominance that surrounded him. The taste of unspoken words lingered on her tongue, but she restrained herself, aware of the consequences.
The car's interior seemed to amplify the silence, broken only by the rhythmic hum of the engine. Isabella's fingers grazed the tender spot on her cheek, a painful reminder of familial discord. A bitter smile played on her lips, a reflection of the inner turmoil she carried.
In the quiet confines of the vehicle, Isabella's thoughts turned inward. The wounds inflicted by her mother's indifference surfaced, and a resolve ignited within her. As the cityscape blurred outside, she vowed to confront not only the external forces that sought to control her but also the demons within her bloodline.
In a sudden, harsh revelation, Isabella confronted the painful truth – her parents had bartered her existence away. Stripped of a home, a pack, and the warmth of family, she found herself an outcast, a lone wanderer in the vast expanse of her destiny. The weight of this realization crashed upon her, compelling her to tilt her head back and release a laughter that echoed with bitter irony, resonating until her very core ached.
In the rearview mirror, the guard cast a disapproving frown at the Luna's unusual display of emotion. However, the unspoken rules governing the treatment of their esteemed guest kept
him silent, unwilling to incur the wrath of the Luna.
Isabella's eyes lingered on the receding borders of the Moonshadow pack, a symbolic departure from the life she once knew. Amidst the solitude, she sought to break the silence with a whimsical attempt at conversation.
"Hah! A rogue Luna, that's me now. Tell me, are there any females in your Rouge pack?" Isabella inquired, her voice laced with a hint of amusement and boredom.
"There are a few young girls, Luna, aged around 10-12. You need not be concerned about them," the guard reassured, misunderstanding the nature of Isabella's inquiry, assuming a rivalry among young females.
Isabella scoffed dismissively, "Pfft! It's not fear; it's just... well, never mind. I'll forge friendships with those young ones. No need to worry." Unbeknownst to the guard, Isabella's sigh carried a subtle undertone of relief. For her, the prospect of interacting with female warriors, reminiscent of Thea and their potential to claim mates, had always instilled a sense of apprehension.
After a captivating two-hour journey, the car glided through a grandiose gateway, a stark contrast to the humble entrances of rogue territories.
"Hold on a second! Do Rogues even have packs? Are you certain Damien instructed you to bring me here?" Isabella's eyes widened in disbelief as the opulent city unfolded before her. A visual feast awaited her—colorful stalls, bustling markets, tantalizing food outlets, and opulent villas. Dominating the landscape, an impressive mansion stood in the heart of it all, encircled by a cadre of vigilant guards.
"Alpha Damien will be arriving in half an hour, and you can hash out the details with him then," the guard responded, grappling with how best to convey the complexities of the situation.
"Alright," Isabella mumbled, her lips nervously caught between her teeth.
"We've reached your destination, Luna. Take some time to relax upstairs. Alpha will be here shortly to personally guide you through the house." The guard's stoic expression softened as he ushered Isabella inside. With a gesture of respect, he closed the door, enveloping Isabella in a momentary solitude that whispered of impending revelations.
Isabella dared not move around the house, deciding to wait in the living room. It wouldn't be polite to roam around without Damien's permission. She sat on the couch, raking her nerves, contemplating the impending doom.
The last thirty minutes were like a ticking time bomb for Isabella as she awaited Damien. Just as she felt on the verge of going berserk, the main door opened, and the most charismatic and cold Rogue Alpha walked in.
"Alpha Damien!" Isabella jumped up from the couch. In her nervousness, she welcomed him in a loud voice.
"Call me Damien," he said in an amused tone.
"Oh, ok." Isabella played with her fingers while standing beside the couch.
"Have a seat, Bella. This is your house from now on. You don't have to walk on eggshells around me." Damien gestured for her to take the seat opposite him.
"Thank you!" Isabella said sincerely. Her heart played drums when Damien called her 'Bella'. It was the first time someone called her Bella, and that too with so much warmth.
"For what?" Damien perked his eyebrows. In his eyes, she was the same from the past. Nothing had changed except for her wolf.
"For helping me." Isabella was truly grateful to him. Had it not been for him, she would have been sold to an old retired soldier. In the pack house, she challenged Ethan and looked him in the eye; it was all thanks to him.
"Of course, I would help my mate. You are my Luna, and disrespecting you means giving no face to me." Damien did not like the way Isabella thought lowly of herself. She was of great importance to him.
"Isabella Vargulf, tomorrow I will hold our mating ceremony. From now onwards, you are mine and mine alone." Damien walked to Isabella. He bent his muscular body and whispered in Isabella's ear.
Isabella's breath hitched, and her heart did a flip-flop. Before Isabella could respond, an excruciating pain engulfed her, choking her breath.
"I...I can't breathe." As the words left her lips, Isabella lost consciousness.