Chapter 4
~ Isabella's POV
The thought of running away lingered in my heart for a while. I wondered why I had not considered it before. Maybe I was too scared, too trapped by the fear of the unknown. But now, sitting here with my bleeding hand and aching heart, the thought seemed like my only way out. If I stayed, this cycle of pain and cruelty would never end. My adoptive parents would keep hurting me, Kayla and the others would continue their torment, and I would always be the outsider, the human girl who didn't belong.
Running away seemed like the only real choice left. I let the thought settle in my mind, testing it, feeling the weight of it. I imagined myself leaving this town behind, heading somewhere new where no one knew me or my past. I could start over, and find a place where I could live without fear or shame. Somewhere I could be free to be myself, without worrying about being hurt or judged.
I had nothing here, no real family, no real friends, not even a place I could call home. But out there, somewhere, there had to be something better waiting for me. There had to be.
I glanced around, my eyes scanning the darkness that surrounded the river. There was no one in sight, no sounds except for the soft murmur of the water and the rustling leaves in the breeze. If I left now, right now, no one would even notice. They wouldn't care. And maybe that was a good thing.
I could feel my heart racing at the thought, my pulse quickening with a mix of fear and excitement. I was scared, yes, terrified even, of what lay ahead.
I knew it wouldn't be easy. There were so many things I didn't know, so many risks and dangers out there in the world. But anything was better than staying here, trapped in this endless cycle of suffering. Anything was better than being hurt over and over again.
I took a deep breath, feeling the cool night air fill my lungs, and made up my mind. I was going to do it. I was going to run away. I didn't know where I would go or what I would do, but I would figure it out. I had to.
I slowly got to my feet, my legs shaky beneath me, and wiped my tears away with the back of my hand. This was it. This was my moment to break free.
I needed to gather some things and find a way to get out of town without being noticed. I would need food, clothes, and maybe some money if I could find any. I would have to be smart, and careful, but I could do it. I could make it work.
As I started to walk back toward the path that led away from the river, a sudden rustling in the bushes made me freeze. My heart leaped into my throat, fear gripping me as I strained to see through the darkness. I half expected to see my adoptive parents or Kayla lurking in the shadows, ready to drag me back to my miserable life. But there was nothing—just the wind rustling through the trees.
I shook my head, trying to calm myself down.
"It's just nerves," I told myself. "Just nerves and fear."
When I got back home, I was relieved to see that my adoptive parents were fast asleep. The house was quiet, and their loud snores filled the silence. I moved quickly and quietly, grabbing a small bag from my room. I stuffed in a few clothes, some food from the kitchen, and the little bit of money I had saved. My heart was racing the whole time, but I couldn't stop now. I needed to get out before they woke up.
Once I had everything, I slipped out of the house, making sure to close the door gently behind me. The night air was cold, but I didn't care. I moved through the shadows, staying low and out of sight. My heart was pounding with each step, but I kept going, the thought of freedom pushing me forward.
I made it to the border of the pack's territory when I saw him, Jack. He was with a group of warriors, doing their rounds for security. I froze, panic surging through me. I didn't want him to see me like this, didn't want him to stop me. But before I could do anything, his eyes locked onto mine.
"Isabella?" Jack's voice was filled with surprise. Without a word, he walked over and quickly pulled me behind a tree, away from the eyes of his warriors. "What are you doing here?" he whispered urgently.
I couldn't hold it in anymore. I burst into tears, the weight of everything crashing down on me. "I'm running away, Jack. I can't stay here any longer. I'm tired... I'm so tired of everything. I just want to escape this misery."
Jack's face hardened, his eyes narrowing. "Running away? Do you even realize what you're doing? You're being selfish, Bella! You didn't even think about me, about what this would do to me. You're just going to leave without a word?"
His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I hadn't thought about that. I was so focused on escaping that I didn't even consider how it might affect him. "I... I didn't mean to hurt you, Jack," I whispered, my voice shaking. "I just thought you wouldn't care."
Jack shook his head, his expression softening slightly. "Of course I care, Bella. I care a lot more than you think."
I looked up at him, tears streaming down my face. "I'm sorry," I whispered. "I didn't know... I didn't know you felt that way."
Jack sighed, his frustration fading into something softer, almost gentle. "Just... promise me you won't do anything rash, okay? Let's figure this out together."
He looked at me, his eyes steady. "I know it's hard, Bella. But you have to go back and hold on just a little longer. My coronation is some days away, on the full moon. Once I'm Alpha, I promise things will be different. I'll make sure no one hurts you again."
I stared at him in disbelief. I felt my heart twist. "What do you mean, go back?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. "I can't keep living like this, Jack. I can't keep taking their abuse."
"I can't go back to that life anymore, Jack!" I yelled, my voice echoing through the dark forest. The words ripped out of me like a howl of desperation, a plea for him to understand. But before I could say more, Jack stepped forward, his eyes intense, and suddenly his lips were on mine.
The shock jolted through me like lightning. For a moment, I froze, my mind going blank. I never expected this. I never thought Jack would feel the same way. But then I felt his hands on my face, warm and gentle, and something inside me melted.
When he finally pulled back, his face was so close to mine, his breath mingling with my own.
"I don't want you to go because I love you, Bella," he confessed, his voice thick with emotion.
"What?" I breathed out, barely able to process what I'd just heard.