Chapter 3 3

Isabella. 

Blaze didn't stop dragging my arm until we were back in the living room, and I found myself facing my father. I shot Blaze a sharp look as I rubbed my arm, feeling shaken and numb with confusion and fear. I couldn't grasp what was happening; Blaze's words echoed in my head, and I couldn't deny them, knowing my father's capability for such schemes.

"Tell her why you’re giving her to me," Blaze demanded, staring directly at my father. I too turned to my father, desperate for an explanation, but he only stuttered in response. "Papa... what... what is he talking about? Is there something I should know?" Confusion tightened my chest, my heart racing with agitation.

My father glanced around the room nervously, taking in the five of us present, Rosie and an unfamiliar man. "Rosie, Alex, please excuse us," my father muttered. Rosie huffed and rolled her eyes, storming out, while the unknown man received Blaze's nod of approval and silently exited.

Alone with my father, I awaited answers, his expression a turbulent mix of anger, fear, or maybe sadness, I couldn't discern. "Look, Isabella, there’s no room for arguments. Alpha Blaze is already your mate; you just haven't been told..."

"That's not what I asked you!" I cut him off, my voice rising with anger. My body trembled with overwhelming emotions. It was too much to take in all at once; my entire life seemed poised to change for the worse, and no one appeared concerned.

My father stood there, staring at me with furrowed brows. Then he scoffed softly. "If you want to lose your home, the Blood Moon Pack, your freedom, your whole life, then don't marry Alpha Blaze. You'll watch how everything and everyone you love cries in pain and dies. You'll see your mother’s grave gets scattered and disrespected because of your ill thinking and bad decision."

At first, his words didn't scare me. But then he mentioned the one I loved most, my mother. And he said that the safety of my home was in my hands. Why? What is this dark secret that is so terrible that the safety of everyone depends on whether I accept or reject Blaze? What if I find out who my true mate is tomorrow and it's not Blaze? All these questions swirled in my mind, making me more confused and scared.

I looked at Blaze, then at my father. They both wore stern, disapproving expressions that chilled me to the bone. Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision. My throat tightened with pain, and my heart ached with agony.

"I will come back tomorrow night to get you, after you've found out who your mate is," Blaze said abruptly, breaking the tense silence. With that, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me alone with my father.

I turned to my father, desperate for any sign of sympathy. "Papa, please..." I cried, taking a step toward him. "Don't let him do this to me... Don't let him take me away..."

But my father stepped back, avoiding my outstretched hand. I froze, my head bowed in anguish at his rejection.

"There’s nothing to be done, Isabella," he said firmly, his voice heavy with resignation. "Your mother agreed to this decision because we have no choice. And Alpha Blaze isn't as scary or cruel as you think. He will take good care of you, I promise."

With that, my father turned and left the living room also, leaving me standing there with a heart bleeding from emotional wounds. I felt betrayed and abandoned, forced into a future I never wanted.

Alone in the silent room, I sank to my knees, the tears flowing freely now. I clutched my chest, trying to ease the pain that threatened to consume me. How could this be happening? How could my own father choose duty over my happiness?

**

I woke up with a heavy heart, the feeling of my mother's absence pressing down on me like a thick, suffocating blanket. The first rays of sunlight filtered through my window, casting a warm glow that felt out of place against the cold dread I felt inside. 

Today was my 18th birthday, a day that should be filled with excitement and joy, but instead, I felt an overwhelming sadness. The knowledge that Blaze would be coming for me tonight was a dark cloud hanging over my head, and the secret my father was hiding loomed over me like a storm about to break.

I dragged myself out of bed, each step feeling like a monumental effort, as if my legs were weighed down by lead. My room was filled with birthday cards and flowers from pack members, their cheerful colors starkly contrasting with the gloom that settled in my chest. It seemed like everyone was trying to make this day special, but their efforts only highlighted the loneliness I felt without my mother here.

Slowly, I dressed, the simple act of putting on clothes feeling like a task too big to manage. I tried to push away the dark thoughts that threatened to consume me, but they clung to my mind, persistent and unyielding. 

I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. My eyes looked tired, shadows under them making me appear older than my age. I brushed my hair, each stroke a small distraction from the commotion inside me. I couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom, the thought that tonight everything would change weighing heavily on my mind.

I left my room, the hallway outside eerily quiet. Usually, the pack house was buzzing with activity, but today it seemed everyone was giving me space, sensing the storm brewing within me. I walked slowly, my footsteps echoing softly against the wooden floors. 

I walked slowly into the dining hall, feeling the heavy atmosphere even before I saw my father and Rosie. They were talking in hushed tones, their conversation cutting off abruptly when they noticed me. They turned to face me, their expressions unreadable. 

I sighed deeply and sat down at the table, mumbling a tired "good morning." I didn't have the energy to talk, argue, or even pretend to be interested in their discussions. All I wanted was to eat something and escape from this stifling house.

My father was sitting at the head of the table, his face a picture of forced calmness. Rosie, my sister, barely glanced in my direction, her usual indifferent attitude even more obvious today. The silence in the room was suffocating, broken only by the sound of forks and knives against plates and the occasional soft murmur of forced conversation.

"Happy birthday, Isabella," my father finally said, his voice tight and strained. "I hope you have a wonderful day."

"Thank you, Papa," I replied, my voice flat and emotionless. I could feel his gaze on me, his eyes filled with a mix of worry and something else I couldn't quite identify. It made me uncomfortable, and I focused on my plate, trying to ignore the tension in the room. 

But then, I couldn't take it anymore. I stood up abruptly, my chair scraping loudly against the floor. "Excuse me," I muttered, not meeting anyone's eyes as I hurried out of the dining hall. I needed fresh air, space to breathe, and time to clear my head. The walls of the house felt like they were closing in on me, and I knew I had to get out before I suffocated under the weight of everything.

I stepped outside, the cool morning air hitting my face and providing a small measure of relief. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. 

The fresh air did little to clear my mind as I made my way to my mother's grave. The sight of her name etched into the stone brought a lump to my throat, and I knelt down, my fingers tracing the letters. It felt like a dream, a sad and heavy dream, seeing her name there. I could almost feel the pain in my chest growing with each passing second.

"Mother, I wish you were here," I whispered, my voice cracking with emotion. "I don't know what to do. Everything feels so wrong." The words felt heavy on my tongue, filled with all the sadness and confusion I had been carrying the whole night and morning.

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves around me, and for a brief moment, I imagined it was her comforting touch. It was almost as if she was here, letting me know that everything would be okay. 

I stayed there for a while, letting my tears fall freely. I talked to her, telling her about all my fears and worries, about the secret papa was hiding and the looming presence of Blaze. It felt good to let it all out, even if she couldn't answer back. It was like a small release, a way to lighten the heavy burden on my heart.

I let out a deep sigh because eventually, I knew I had to go back home. I stood up slowly, my legs feeling shaky. I took one last look at her grave, a silent promise in my heart to stay strong, just like she would have wanted.

**

I should have felt relieved at the small party the pack house threw for me, but instead, I was uncomfortable, forcing a smile while enduring the most agonizing feelings of my life. It was reassuring to know that I was loved, but that wasn't what I needed right now. What I needed was for my father to tell me he was joking and that I didn't have to marry Blaze. Yet, we had just had another heated argument about it barely ten minutes ago. 

I sighed heavily, trying to calm my nerves as I stared out the window at the moon, it’s silvery light bathing me in a soft glow. Then a strange sensation washed over me, and I felt a surge of power coursing through my veins. 

My room began to light up with a glowing red hue, and suddenly, there she was, my wolf. My heart swelled with a mix of excitement and fear because I knew what was about to unfold.

"Finally," I mumbled, nearly jumping with joy. "Are you ready to find out who your mate is?" she asked me, her voice resonating in my mind. I nodded eagerly, my whole body trembling with anticipation.

"He is a strong and respected werewolf. His name is Alpha Blaze, the Alpha of the Starfall Pack. He will come to claim you as his mate tonight..."

Her words hit me like a thunderbolt. Shock, fear, and anger surged through me, freezing me in place. I couldn't move, couldn't even begin to process what she had just revealed.

The door to my room creaked open, and in that moment, my wolf vanished. I turned to the door, and there he stood, Blaze, the man I despised more than anyone else.

My breath caught in my throat as our eyes locked. His presence filled the room, commanding and imposing. The air seemed to crackle with tension, and I felt an overwhelming urge to run, to escape this fate that had been thrust upon me.

"Isabella," he spoke, his voice low and steady. "We have to leave, now,” he says, his arrogance is just unmatched.

I clenched my fists, fighting back tears of frustration and despair. This couldn't be happening. Not like this, not now.

"Why?" I managed to choke out, my voice trembling with suppressed rage. "Why me? Why does it have to be?"

Alpha Blaze took a step closer, his gaze unwavering. "I have told you last night, that I have 3 reasons to make you mine. One, your father's filthy secret. Two, I am your chosen mate... the last one you'll find out when we get to my pack." He was walking around my room, giving me a smug smile as if to say he’d won the battle. 

I swallowed hard as his words echoed in my mind, and I struggled to comprehend their meaning. What could be his last reason? Was this truly my fate, to be bound to a man I loathed?

"I won't let you win," I whispered defiantly, though my heart pounded with fear. "I won't let you use me."

His expression shifted from nonchalant to a shocked one as he eyed me from head to toe. His eyes darkened, and his smug smile vanished. The sight of his changing demeanor sent a shiver down my spine, unsettling me to my core. I instinctively took a step back, my stomach churning with fear.