Isabella's POV

I sat on the riverbank, the same spot where I'd always come whenever I felt like I was drowning in my misery. The river's gentle flow usually calmed me down, but today, even its soothing sounds couldn't drown out the ache in my chest. My cheeks were wet with tears, and my sobs seemed to echo off the water.

I felt trapped in this miserable life. Being the only human in a pack full of werewolves was never easy. They made sure to remind me every single day that I didn't belong. Today had been particularly rough. The words, the taunts, the looks of disgust, those I could handle. But today, it went further. My skin still burned from where one of the girls, Kayla, I think her name was, had slashed me with her claws. 

"Shift if you can," she had sneered, her eyes cold and mocking...

The pain from the cut wasn't nearly as bad as the pain of knowing I would never belong. They saw me as weak, different, an outsider who would never be one of them.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't hear Jack approaching until he was almost beside me. He had this way of moving so quietly, a natural grace that all werewolves seemed to have. "Bella," he called softly, his voice filled with concern.

I quickly wiped my tears with the back of my hand, trying to hide the fact that I'd been crying, but I knew it was pointless. Jack always saw right through me.

"What's wrong?" he asked, crouching down beside me. His blue eyes searched my face, and I could see the worry etched into his features. He always looked at me like that, like he cared, like I mattered to him.

I shook my head, trying to hold back the fresh wave of tears that threatened to spill. "It's nothing, Jack. Just…having a bad day."

He didn't buy it. He never did. "Bella, please. Talk to me. I hate seeing you like this."

I let out a shaky breath. There was no use pretending with Jack. He had been my safe place since the day he found me crying under a tree when I was just a kid. Ever since then, he had always been there, ready to listen, ready to comfort. And slowly, without even realizing it, I had started to fall for him.

"It's them," I finally admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "They did it again."

His eyes darkened, and I could see his jaw clench. "What did they do this time?"

I hesitated, but then the words came tumbling out. "They said things. Nasty things. And then one of them…she used her claws on me. She wanted to see if I'd shift." I rolled up my sleeve, showing him the fresh scratch on my arm. The cut wasn't deep, but it stung, both physically and emotionally.

Jack's face hardened. He reached out and gently touched the scratch, his fingers cool against my hot skin. "Why do you let them do this to you, Bella? You don't deserve this."

I laughed bitterly, tears spilling over again. "What choice do I have, Jack? I'm just a human. I'll never be like them. I'll never be like you."

Jack shook his head fiercely. "That doesn't matter. You're stronger than any of them know. Stronger than you know."

I looked up at him, my vision blurry from the tears. "How can you say that? How can you even look at me? I'm nothing compared to them. I'm nothing compared to you."

Jack's eyes softened, and he reached out to cup my face in his hands. "You're not nothing, Bella. You're everything. At least, to me."

His words made my heart skip a beat, and for a moment, I forgot about the pain, the bullying, everything. All I could think about was how close he was, how his hands felt on my skin, how his eyes bore into mine as if searching for something deep within me.

"Why?" I asked, my voice barely more than a breath. "Why do you care so much?"

He hesitated as if he was trying to find the right words. "Because you're different. And I don't mean that in a bad way. You see things differently. You're kind, you're brave, and you don't let them break you, no matter how hard they try."

I shook my head. "But they're right, Jack. I don't belong here."

Jack moved closer, his forehead almost touching mine. "You belong wherever you want to belong, Bella. And if they can't see how amazing you are, that's their loss, not yours."

I let out a shaky sigh. "I just… I don't know how much longer I can do this, Jack. I feel like I'm breaking."

Jack's expression softened even more, and he pulled me into a hug. His embrace was warm and strong, and for a moment, I felt safe. "You're not breaking, Bella. You're stronger than you think. And I'll be here for you, no matter what."

I clung to him, my tears soaking into his shirt. "Thank you, Jack. I don't know what I'd do without you."

He pulled back just enough to look into my eyes. "You don't have to thank me, Bella. I'll always be here for you. Always."

I nodded, trying to believe his words, trying to find some comfort in them. "I just don't understand why they hate me so much," I whispered.

Jack's eyes darkened again, and I could see the anger bubbling beneath the surface. "They're afraid of what they don't understand. They don't know you as I do. They don't see the good in you, the strength. They're just scared, and they take it out on you because you're different."

I sniffled, wiping my nose with my sleeve. "But it hurts, Jack. It hurts so much."

He hugged me tighter. "I know, Bella. I know it does. But you're not alone. I'm here. And I'll always stand by you, no matter what."

As Jack pulled away, I felt a rush of courage, maybe from the comfort of his touch or the softness in his eyes. Without thinking, I leaned in closer, my heart racing. I could feel his breath on my lips, and see every detail in his blue eyes. I was so sure he felt the same way.

But just as our lips were about to meet, Jack turned his head away. I froze, my face burning with embarrassment. I pulled back quickly, not sure what to say or how to feel.

"Jack, why?" I asked, my voice shaky. "Did I do something wrong?"

Jack sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair like he was trying to figure out how to explain. "It's not that, Bella," he said gently. "I just made a promise to my father."

"A promise?" I asked, confused and a bit hurt. "What kind of promise?"

He looked at me seriously, his blue eyes holding mine. "I promised my father I wouldn't be close with anyone, like that, until I become Alpha," he explained. "It's a tradition in our pack. It's supposed to show that I'm committed and focused. The ceremony's next week, on the full moon."

I nodded, trying to make sense of it. I guessed it made sense in a werewolf kind of way. But it still stung a bit. "Oh, I didn't know…" I muttered, staring down at my hands.

After a few moments of silence, I finally worked up the nerve to ask, "Jack, do you like me?"

The question hung in the air between us, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, waiting for his answer. But he didn't say anything. He just looked at me, his expression unreadable, like he was trying to figure out what to say or maybe trying to hold back.

"Jack?" I pressed, my voice a bit quieter this time, almost afraid of what he might say—or not say.

He let out a slow breath and glanced away, looking out over the river. "Bella, it's getting late," he said softly, avoiding my question. "We should head back before it gets too dark."

I felt a sting of disappointment, my heart sinking a little. He still didn't answer. Did that mean he didn't feel the same way? Or was he just trying to protect me, to keep things simple until after his ceremony? I couldn't tell, and that uncertainty gnawed at me.

"Yeah, okay," I said, trying to keep my voice steady even though I felt a little shaky inside. "We should go."