Chapter 4

701words2026-01-19 07:15

I hacked their security system that night, fingers flying across my keyboard. What I discovered froze my blood—plans for a full moon attack targeting the pack, especially Alexander. And there, embedded in the encrypted communications, was a name I"d hoped never to see again: Victor.

"Isabella, we need to talk." Alexander found me as the full moon approached.

"About how you"re using me?" Ice coated my words.

"Yes, initially I approached you because of orders," he admitted, vulnerability in his eyes. "But now I want to protect you because…"

I interrupted: "Because of blood connection? Prophecy? Or duty?"

"At first, duty," he said, meeting my gaze. "Now… I"m not sure. But I know I don"t want to see you hurt."

I told him about the attack plans but not my suspicions about Kayla. Was I protecting her or him? Or just uncertain if my jealousy clouded my judgment? Wait—jealousy? The thought startled me.

Alexander explained: "The full moon makes us both primal and vulnerable. I must isolate myself."

I struggled internally—should I stay? Should I help?

"You can leave," he offered. "This isn"t your fight."

I made my choice: "I"m not staying for you. I"m staying because it"s my choice. I hate being manipulated—by Victor, the Council, or prophecies."

Alexander"s transformation wasn"t Hollywood-clean. It was raw agony—bones breaking, muscles tearing. His amber eyes shifted to wolf-gold, wild yet human. Despite the pain, he refused to cry out. Through our connection, I felt every torturous moment and the primal power surging beneath. It reminded me of my own transformation—equally painful but without dignity.

Alarms blared. Kayla was hacking the system while intruders approached Alexander"s isolation room.

I multitasked frantically—fighting cyber attacks while monitoring physical threats. But Kayla broke through, forcing me to confront her directly.

She stood before wolf-Alexander, silver dagger raised. "Leave, vampire. This isn"t your business."

"Why betray your Alpha?" I asked, circling closer.

Her eyes gleamed fanatically: "Alexander weakens us with change. Victor promised me power—once I"m Alpha, we"ll restore ancient ways."

I positioned myself between them: "To hurt him, you go through me first. I may hate his control, but he respects choice."

"Choice?" she sneered. "Marking is control. Victor was right—you"re naive after three centuries."

She attacked with shocking speed. We fought brutally, evenly matched. But wolf-Alexander recognized me and joined the fight—protecting me instead of attacking.

Kayla retreated, leaving a chilling threat: "Victor knows about your blood connection. He"ll kill you both. This connection killed the others."

I stayed beside wolf-Alexander all night, repairing systems, contemplating this strange trust. The massive black wolf guarded the door, occasionally glancing back with intelligent gold eyes.

I spoke softly to him: "For three centuries, I"ve avoided connection. Last time I trusted someone, I lost everything. But now…"

Dawn broke. Alexander transformed back to human. I handed him clothes, turning away respectfully.

"You stayed," his voice rasped. "You could have left me to die. Why?"

I finally met his eyes: "Maybe I"m starting to believe not all wolves want control. Maybe some connections bring strength, not weakness."

Alexander moved closer: "I want to finish what I started saying. I want to protect you not because of prophecy or orders, but because of you, Isabella. When I feel you through our connection—three centuries of solitude and strength—it… fascinates me."

Our blood connection suddenly deepened. I felt his sincerity and something more complex.

He reached out, gently touching my cheek. We both trembled at the contact.

My phone buzzed with an urgent message from Lillian: "Blood connection will kill you! Victor used it to control and kill other vampires. Break it immediately! I"m coming."

I looked at Alexander, torn between newfound trust and fresh doubt. The warmth of his touch still lingered on my skin, but Lillian"s warning echoed in my mind. Blood connections that killed. Victor"s manipulation. Yet when I looked into Alexander"s eyes, I saw something I"d never seen in Victor"s—truth.

"Just when I learn to trust, fate gives me new reasons to doubt," I whispered. "But this time, I won"t run from fear."

I took his hand in mine, feeling our connection pulse between us like a living thing.

"This time, I"ll find the truth—whatever it costs us both."