The Wolf Within Her

Chapter 4- The Price Of Defiance

I had been sitting on the edge of the bed for what felt like hours, my mind racing. How could I possibly escape this place? BlackFang Pack was massive, their territory vast, their guards everywhere. But the thought wouldn’t leave me: maybe, just maybe, I could get out without anyone noticing.

I crept over to the window and peered outside. Thick bushes covered the grounds. My heart pounded as I tore the bedsheets into long strips and tied them together. Slowly, I tested it, then carefully slid myself down. The landing was softer than I expected, but my pulse was in my throat. I immediately dragged the tied sheets behind me, making sure to leave no trace of my escape.

I ran into the shadows of the bushes, branches scratching at my face. My stomach twisted, and I tried to stay silent, but I didn’t account for the wolves of the pack, the one who had already caught my scent. My wolfless scent.

Before I could even think, I realized I was being surrounded. Wolves—humans who carried the weight and instincts of their wolf selves—were circling me, slow and deliberate, their eyes sharp, assessing, predatory. I froze. Every step they took, every glance, made my heart pound faster.

“You’re wolfless,” one of them hissed, stepping closer. “You bring only shame and defeat to our pack.”

I tried to run, but the space between us shrank too quickly. They moved with a grace and speed that my legs couldn’t match. Panic surged.

And then, in an instant, they transformed. Their human forms shifted into massive, terrifying wolves, teeth bared, claws digging into the earth. I fell to the ground, covering my face with my arms, my mouth open in a silent scream as they lunged at me.

“Stop!”

The command shattered the night. The wolves froze mid-lunge. One by one, they shifted back into their human forms, kneeling instantly as if under a spell.

I was shaking violently, my legs trembling. Slowly, I lifted my head. He was there—Mario. His eyes glowed green, intense, and commanding. I couldn’t look directly at him; I bowed my head, overwhelmed by the sheer force of his presence.

“You were warned,” he said, his voice low and powerful. “Did I not tell you to remain in you room? I intended to treat you like a human, with patience… but you have chosen defiance. Now, you will be treated as you deserve.”

“I… I don’t want to be married to you!” I stammered, voice trembling. “I want to leave! I can’t stay here!”

“You are my fated mate,” he said, absolute, unyielding. “You will not leave my pack. Do you understand? You were never regarded as useful in your own pack. Your father abandoned you, stripped you off your title and turned you into a worthless maid. You are a wolfless, and a wolfless is nothing but prey.”

I swallowed hard, understanding the truth in his words. Fear gripped me, but so did resignation.

“Take her back inside,” he commanded. “Bind her hands, and legs. Ensure she cannot leave again.”

Strong hands lifted me roughly, but I did not resist. My mind was racing, my pulse loud in my ears. I had tried to escape, and yet here I was, powerless.

As they carried me back inside, I kept my head down. My life had shifted again—I was no longer Isabella, Father’s abandoned daughter. Now, I was Mario’s mate. And from the way his green eyes had burned into me, I knew that any defiance from me would come with consequences I could not yet imagine.