Chapter 7: Shocker
1189 Words
ISABELLA
RIIIIINNNG!!!.
The shrill ring of Killian’s phone cut through the thick tension in the room like a blade. I swallowed hard and turned a little, watching him try to grab his phone.
“Saved by the bell,” Killian muttered under his breath, clearly relieved to escape Daniels’ question.
He pressed the phone to his ear. “Yeah?”
Then after a moment, his expression shifted, he looked surprised at firs,t then it turned into worry. “Yes, sir. I’ll be there right away.”
When he ended the call, his jaw clenched as he turned toward Daniels. “It was my father. He wants me at the pack grounds… now. He sounded serious. I think something’s wrong.”
Daniels straightened immediately. “Then I’m coming with you.”
“Good,” Killian nodded once.
They both turned for the door, but I quickly ran in front of them. “I’m coming, too.”
“No,” Daniels said firmly. “You should stay home.”
“Don’t,” I pleaded, my voice was soft but firm. “Don’t make me stay behind like I’m a child. I have every right to be there. I want to know what’s going on, too.”
Daniels hesitated, then he gave Killian a silent look before sighing. “Let her come.”
Killian stared at me for a heartbeat longer than necessary, then finally gave a small nod. “Fine. Let’s go.”
We got to the pack grounds in a few minutes, less than ten minutes, and it was packed.
Hundreds of wolves gathered under the setting sun. The air felt heavy with power and silence, and I could sense the tension in every breath.
The Elders Council stood tall behind a carved stone altar. I recognized faces in the crowd—pack warriors, civilians, young wolves from the youth league… even the former rogues who’d been allowed back into the outer ranks.
But something felt… off.
“Why is everyone here?” I whispered to Daniels.
“I don’t know,” he replied grimly.
Then I saw him.
Alpha Gideon Blackthorn.
Killian’s father.
He stood tall and proud on the raised altar, his broad shoulders straight, and his silver-gray eyes scanning the crowd until they landed on Killian.
“There you are,” he called, his voice loud and powerful. “Come. Join me, son.”
Killian glanced at us briefly before walking toward the altar with reluctant steps. He climbed up beside his father, and the murmurs among the crowd died down into a pin-drop silence.
Alpha Blackthorn raised his hands. “Today, I present to you the future Alpha of the Silvermoon Pack— my son, Killian Blackthorn.”
The crowd cheered loudly. The elders smiled, and a few even clapped.
Even Daniels joined in with a stiff nod. But something in Killian’s eyes told me he had no idea what this was really about.
Then came the twist.
“Now,” Alpha Blackthorn continued, “as the future Alpha, he must have a mate worthy of standing by his side. One with strength, lineage, and honor in her blood. That is why I have made the decision—”
Killian turned slightly toward him. “Wait. What?”
The Alpha ignored him.
“—to join him with a woman who has been raised with the values this pack holds dear. A woman I trust. A woman chosen by the goddess herself.”
My heart thudded harder in my chest.
“Sarah Waters,” Alpha Blackthorn called, “daughter of the Head of the Elders Council, step forward.”
My heart dropped to the ground.
The crowd went silent as Sarah emerged from the front row, her petite frame and long black hair bouncing with each step.
She smiled.
She didn’t look surprised or confused.
Just… smiling.
She knew.
Daniels stiffened beside me. But I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t even blink.
I stared at Sarah, my roommate, my friend—walking gracefully toward Killian like she was born for this moment. Like, I didn’t open up to her a few days ago about sleeping with him.
No…
I gripped the fabric of my hoodie, my stomach tightening. Everything inside me screamed. My lungs felt like they were collapsing.
She stood beside Killian, who took a slow step back.
“What?” he asked his father, his voice low and sharp. “You’re joking.”
Alpha Blackthorn remained unbothered. “The wedding will take place during the next full moon. One week from now.”
The crowd started whispering. Some people looked confused, some looked excited, and others, like me—felt heartbroken.
I couldn’t move. I couldn’t even speak. My body felt like it was glued to the ground.
Daniels noticed and turned to me quickly. “Izzy? You okay?”
I blinked up at him and forced a small smile. “Yeah. I’m fine.”
But I wasn’t.
I was breaking in the middle of a crowd, I couldn’t escape.
Killian stepped forward suddenly, his voice loud and defiant. “No.”
The crowd stilled at the sound of his voice.
“I’m not marrying Sarah,” he said with his jaw tightly clenched, eyes fixed on his father. “I never agreed to this.”
“You don’t need to,” Alpha Blackthorn thundered coldly. “As the future Alpha, you follow duty. Not desire.”
“I’m already in love with someone else,” Killian said, his voice tight and raw. “And it’s not her.”
In love with someone else? Tears welled up in my eyes, but I didn’t let them drop. Maybe that’s why he had called me a mistake. A mere one-night stand.
People gasped. Even the elders looked at each other.
Sarah’s smile faltered for the first time.
Alpha Blackthorn’s expression turned to ice. “We’ll speak about this privately.”
“No,” Killian snapped. “I won’t be dragged into one of your games again. This is my life, and I won’t spend it chained to someone I don’t love.”
With that, Killian stormed down from the altar. His eyes scanned the crowd until he reached us, his eyes met mine, and for a moment, they held something… maybe guilt. But it didn’t last long.
Daniels tensed.
Killian marched up to us and spoke without hesitation.
“We’re leaving.”
Daniel didn’t argue; we just moved.
It didn’t take long for us to get home, as we stepped into the house, Daniel was the first to break the silence.
“Dinner must have gotten cold,” he said, trying to ease the tension that had built up from the pack house. “Let’s eat.”
I didn’t say anything, I just made my way up the stairs, taking it two at a time.
“Izzy, are you okay?” Daniel called after me, but I didn’t respond.
I entered my room and slammed the door hard. I brought out my phone and I saw her message in my notification bar.
Sarah: I’m sorry, Izzy. I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t know how to.
- Writer
