The Wolf Within Her

Chapter 11- Not An Accident

The rest of the evening went on smoothly—almost too smoothly.

The hall was alive with voices, laughter, and the soft clinking of glasses. Music played in the background, low and steady, blending with the conversations of guests and pack members alike. It was exactly how a celebration should be.

I stood beside one of the tables, holding a glass of wine between my fingers. I lifted it slowly to my lips, taking small sips as I scanned the room, trying to look composed, like I belonged here.

But I could still feel it.

The stares.

Even when people weren’t openly looking, I could feel their attention lingering, their whispers floating through the air like something I couldn’t quite catch—but could still understand.

Mario stood across the hall, surrounded by a group of Alphas. His posture was relaxed, but there was something about the way he carried himself that commanded respect without him needing to say a word. They listened when he spoke. They watched him carefully.

I quickly looked away.

I focused on my glass instead, bringing it to my lips again, letting the taste distract me. It didn’t help much.

Then I heard it.

The sound of heels against the floor, slow and deliberate, stopping just behind me.

My grip on the glass tightened slightly.

I turned.

Lucy.

Our eyes locked instantly, and something cold settled deep inside my chest.

She didn’t smile. She didn’t even try to hide the contempt in her gaze. She walked closer, her steps measured, confident, like she knew exactly what she was doing.

“How does it feel?” she asked, her voice low, almost playful—but the sharpness beneath it was impossible to miss.

I said nothing.

She tilted her head slightly, studying me like I was something beneath her.

“All this attention,” she continued. “They admire you now because they don’t know what you really are.”

My fingers tightened around the glass.

“They don’t know you’re a wolfless Luna,” she added, her voice dropping. “If they did… they’d tear you apart.”

My chest tightened, but I forced myself to stay still.

“Try to stay far from them,” she went on, a mocking smile finally touching her lips. “Who knows… they might just smell your wolfless stench.”

She laughed softly.

The sound scraped against my ears.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself not to react. Not here. Not in front of everyone.

I turned away from her.

“Excuse me,” I muttered, my voice quieter than I intended.

I didn’t wait for her response. I just needed to leave.

But I barely took a step before it happened.

Something caught my leg.

I stumbled forward, my balance gone before I could recover.

My body crashed into the table in front of me.

The sound of breaking glass filled the hall as the table tipped over, wine glasses shattering against the floor.

I fell with it.

My knees hit first.

Then my hand.

Sharp pain shot through me instantly as the broken glass dug into my skin. I gasped, the pain sudden and overwhelming, my hand instinctively pulling back as blood began to surface.

For a moment, everything went quiet.

Then the murmurs started.

I looked up, my heart pounding, and saw that all eyes were on me.

Every single one.

Lucy’s voice cut through the tension.

“Oh,” she said, her tone laced with fake concern. “I’m sorry, Isabella. Why are you so clumsy?”

I clenched my jaw, the pain in my knees and palm throbbing, but I said nothing.

Of course she would pretend.

Of course no one would question her.

A sudden movement in the crowd caught my attention.

Mario.

He was already walking toward me, his expression unreadable, his steps quick and purposeful. The conversation with the Alphas forgotten.

“Are you alright?” he asked, his voice low but firm as he reached me.

Before I could answer, he bent slightly, helping me up carefully, his hand steady at my waist.

I winced as I stood, the pain in my knees flaring, but I managed to stay upright.

“I’m fine,” I said quickly, even though it wasn’t true.

I could feel Lucy’s gaze on me—sharp, burning, watching every move.

Mario didn’t respond to my words. His grip tightened slightly around my waist, his attention shifting briefly to the blood on my hand. His expression darkened, just for a second.

“Come,” he said.

He didn’t wait for a reply.

He guided me away from the crowd, away from the whispers, his arm firm around me as we moved toward the stairs. I could still feel the eyes on my back, hear the low murmurs following us as we left the hall behind.

The noise faded the further we walked.

The air felt different upstairs—quieter, calmer.

I became more aware of everything.

The warmth of his hand against my waist.

The steady rhythm of his steps.

The closeness between us.

I glanced up at him without meaning to.

His face was calm, focused. His jaw set, his features sharp and defined. The light caught his eyes, making the green stand out even more.

I quickly looked away.

My heart was beating faster than it should.

“Are you okay?” he asked again, this time looking down at me.

I hesitated.

Of course I wasn’t okay.

My hand hurt. My knees burned. My pride had taken a hit in front of an entire room. And Lucy—

But that wasn’t what was making my chest feel tight.

It was him.

The way he held me. The way he looked at me. The way his presence filled the space around me, making it impossible to think straight.

“I’m fine,” I said again, more quietly this time.

But even to my own ears, it didn’t sound convincing.

And I wasn’t sure which part of me I was trying to lie to.