Isabella's pov
I was stoned cold. What was I going to do? Was it not enough for them to send me off to enemy lands? If they really plotted against me and an accident actually happened, no one would care, no one would even bother to look for me or find out the truth. Just like my mother, I would cease to exist. No. No! I shook my head to clear the storm swirling within me. I could not—and definitely would not—let that happen. I would live.
Just as I struggled with the fear gripping me by the throat, Sylvia stormed into my house. The door had been left ajar by those daredevils.
"Bella!" she exclaimed as soon as she entered.
"Hey, are you okay? I just heard from Mother. What happened? Why are they saying you're leaving now? Do you know?" Her questions tumbled out in a rush, questions I also wanted answers to but knew I wouldn't get—at least not now.
"I d-don't know. I just heard from Maria and Sofia," I mimed, too dazed to elaborate further.
"They were here?" she spat, her face distorting into a frown that didn't suit her.
I nodded grimly, biting my lips into a thin line.
"Those witches!" she exclaimed, moving from her kneeling position beside me to start pacing. "Mother told me the Alpha suddenly called an emergency gathering among the elders. During that meeting, Lucian changed your departure date without explanation. And though the interrelations group tried to refute the request, the Alpha exercised his power to silence them." She paused with a sigh.
"And you know how people are scared to defy the Alpha, so they went along with it. Anyway, Mother said that witch—your stepmother—was smiling ear to ear the whole time. We suspect she's planning something." Sylvia crossed her arms against her chest, her frown deepening.
"Oh, that would make the most sense," I replied slowly, lost in thought. If she really had planted rogues along the way, how would I evade them? Her plan didn't seem concrete. Would she dare attack while Lucian's people were with me? I doubted it, but I still needed to take precautions.
"Bella! What do you mean by that? We have to think of something. I feel really uneasy about this. It was bad enough that you're marrying and moving into enemy territory." Sylvia stopped pacing and stood in front of me.
"I think you should run away. I might not be much help, but I have savings. John and I have been keeping a stash. We can lend you the money. There's no way this won't end badly."
I was about to respond when I saw a shadow at my door. Who was it? I stared at the doorway for a long moment, but the person didn't come in. Was it a spy? An assassin sent by Lucian's enemies? If so, I was probably the easiest target.
"Earth to Bella. What's going on? Don't have such a distracted look on your face," Sylvia scoffed.
"Sorry about that. But to tell the truth—" I started, still staring at the shadow. The person hadn't moved, making me think they were a spy. But why was someone spying on me?
"I'll just accept it. Nothing I do will change my fate, and I don't want to implicate you or Aunt Jana. But thank you for everything. I mean it." My eyes never left the door as I spoke, my mind racing to identify the person.
"What? Bella—" Sylvia began, but she was interrupted by a knock. I quickly looked away, pretending I'd only just noticed.
"Come in," I said. The door was open anyway.
"My name is Don. I am your personal guard. It's time to go."
"There's no way," I said, almost breathless. What on earth was this?
"What? What is it?" Sylvia also looked at the door, only to get the shock of her life.
"What in the… Uncle Derek?" she mused, masking my shock. Uncle Derek had been my mother's personal guard, her shadow. After my mother's death, he had vanished. Rumors said he died in the same attack, but there had been no body. Yet here stood a younger version of Uncle Derek, stone-faced, with the same features—except for a scar on his forehead. Uncle Derek hadn't had that.
"I am Don. Derek was my father. He died," Don said, his tone as impassive as his expression. If not for his youthful appearance, I wouldn't have believed him. But why had he suddenly appeared—and as my personal guard?
"Oh. Then nice to meet you," Sylvia said with a smile.
"You said it's time to go, right? Can you give me a minute to say goodbye to my friend?" Sylvia asked, facing Don. But he didn't budge.
"Please. Just a minute. She's going so far away. Who knows if I'll ever get a chance to speak to her again?" Sylvia's words stung, the implications hanging in the air. Did she also think I was walking into my death?
Don shifted and disappeared from view.
Sylvia knelt, lightly grabbing my arm to help me stand. She faced the door as she whispered, "If he reacted to those words, it means he believes them more than we do." Then she turned to me.
"Bella, I sensed something from him. I don't know how to explain it, but he's not completely wolf. His aura felt dark and ominous. If I didn't know better, I'd say Uncle Derek came back from the dead. And we all know it takes dark magic for that to happen." Sylvia's voice faltered, the implications sending a shiver down my spine.
We stood there in silence as her words settled in, witches and wolves never mixed, none of the supernatural world did, and each species did their own thing. And I hoped they kept it that way, there was no way I would be able to deal with dark magic in my current state, then it would be the same as just asking them to end my misery and kill me upfront.
I sighed. "Well, I guess I better grab whatever I can. I'm really leaving now."
Don reappeared in the doorway. Sylvia hugged me tightly, saying loudly, "Alright. Take care of yourself. Remember you are loved. Oh, and rely on your guard. If he's Uncle Derek's son, he'll be just as skilled." Then, in a whisper, she added, "Be careful, Bella. These people might actually be planning to kill you." My thoughts exactly.