Someone Is Watching
1794 Words
Isabella knew she was being followed.
She had known for three days.
At first, she thought it was paranoia.
After everything that had happened at Silverpine, anyone would become suspicious.
But this wasn't paranoia.
It was instinct.
And Isabella trusted her instincts.
She sat in the back of her car, watching the city disappear behind her through the tinted window.
Daniel was in the driver's seat.
“Take the next left.”
Daniel glanced at the GPS.
“That isn't the fastest route.”
“I know.”
He looked at her through the mirror.
“You think we're being followed?”
“I don't think.”
Isabella looked at the side mirror.
A black SUV appeared two cars behind them.
“It is.”
Daniel's hands tightened around the steering wheel.
“How long?”
“Since we left the office.”
“Should I lose them?”
“No.”
Daniel frowned.
“No?”
“Let them follow us.”
“Why?”
Isabella smiled faintly.
“Because I want to know who they work for.”
Daniel understood.
He accelerated slightly.
The black SUV followed.
They turned left.
The SUV turned left.
They changed lanes.
The SUV did the same.
Daniel looked at her again.
“Definitely following us.”
“I know.”
“Where are we going?”
Isabella looked at the road ahead.
“Blackthorn territory.”
Daniel's expression changed.
“That's dangerous.”
“So is staying in the city.”
He didn't argue.
Twenty minutes later, Isabella's car entered the northern highway.
The buildings became fewer.
Trees replaced skyscrapers.
The temperature dropped.
Daniel glanced at the mirror.
The SUV was still there.
“It's getting closer.”
“Good.”
“Good?”
“Yes.”
Isabella reached beneath her jacket.
Her fingers closed around the small silver blade she carried.
She had learned a lot during the five years she had been away.
Money could buy protection.
Knowledge could buy power.
But neither could replace instinct.
And her instincts were screaming.
The SUV suddenly accelerated.
Daniel's eyes widened.
“They're making a move.”
“Keep driving.”
The SUV pulled alongside them.
The passenger window lowered.
A hand appeared.
Daniel swerved.
A bullet smashed through the rear window.
“Get down!”
Daniel ducked.
Isabella didn't.
Another bullet struck the side of the vehicle.
Glass exploded across the back seat.
Isabella grabbed the door.
“Turn off the highway.”
“Where?”
“Into the forest.”
Daniel stared at her.
“That's Blackthorn territory!”
“Exactly.”
He understood immediately.
If the attackers followed them into Alpha territory, they would be forced to reveal themselves.
Daniel turned sharply.
The car left the highway.
The SUV followed.
Branches struck the windows as they raced into the forest.
Isabella looked behind them.
The SUV was getting closer.
“Faster.”
“I'm trying!”
A third vehicle suddenly appeared ahead.
Daniel slammed on the brakes.
The car stopped.
Isabella looked through the windshield.
Two black SUVs blocked the road.
They were trapped.
Daniel whispered:
“We're surrounded.”
Isabella opened the door.
“Stay inside.”
“What?”
She stepped out.
“Isabella!”
She closed the door.
The forest became completely silent.
Five men stepped out of the vehicles.
All were dressed in black.
Their eyes glowed faintly beneath the moonlight.
Werewolves.
The tallest man walked toward her.
“You should have stayed away.”
Isabella looked at him.
“Who sent you?”
He smiled.
“You already know.”
“No.”
She tilted her head.
“That's why I'm asking.”
His smile disappeared.
“Give us the necklace.”
Isabella's hand immediately moved toward her chest.
So they knew about it.
Interesting.
“And if I refuse?”
The man's eyes changed.
“Then we'll take it from you.”
Isabella smiled.
“Try.”
The first wolf lunged.
Isabella moved.
His fist missed her face by inches.
She grabbed his arm, twisted it behind his back, and drove her knee into his stomach.
He crashed onto the ground.
The other four attacked.
Isabella ducked beneath one strike.
She kicked another man into a tree.
The third grabbed her from behind.
She slammed her head backward into his nose.
He released her.
But the fourth was already coming.
His claws extended.
Isabella raised her arm.
The silver mark on her wrist appeared.
A burst of energy exploded from her body.
The wolf flew backward.
He hit the ground hard.
Silence.
Isabella stared at her hand.
The silver light was spreading across her wrist.
Up her arm.
The remaining wolves stared at her.
Fear appeared in their eyes.
The leader whispered:
“She's awakened.”
Isabella heard him.
“What did you say?”
He stepped backward.
“Kill her.”
The others attacked again.
This time, Isabella didn't wait.
She raised her hand.
Silver light exploded through the forest.
The wolves were thrown backward.
Trees shook.
Leaves fell from the branches.
The leader crashed against an SUV.
Isabella walked toward him.
“Who sent you?”
He coughed blood.
“You don't understand what you are.”
“Then explain it.”
“You're the reason they're afraid.”
“Who?”
He smiled.
“The Council.”
Isabella's expression hardened.
“What does the Alpha Council want with me?”
The man's smile widened.
“They don't want you.”
He looked at the silver mark on her wrist.
“They want what is inside you.”
Before Isabella could respond, his body went limp.
Daniel stepped out of the car.
“Isabella…”
She looked at him.
“Call an ambulance.”
Daniel stared at the unconscious wolves.
“An ambulance?”
“Yes.”
“But they're—”
“Alive.”
She looked at the forest.
“For now.”
Daniel pulled out his phone.
Isabella turned toward the road.
Something felt wrong.
Too easy.
They had attacked her.
They had mentioned the Council.
And they had known about her necklace.
But why?
A cold breeze moved through the trees.
Isabella's wolf suddenly growled.
Danger.
She froze.
“Daniel.”
He stopped.
“What?”
“Get back in the car.”
“Why?”
“Now.”
Something moved between the trees.
Daniel grabbed the car door.
Isabella slowly turned.
A figure stood in the darkness.
Watching her.
She couldn't see his face.
But she could feel his presence.
Powerful.
Ancient.
Familiar.
“Come out,” Isabella said.
The figure didn't move.
Then a voice came from the darkness.
“You have your mother's eyes.”
Isabella's heart stopped.
“Who are you?”
The figure stepped forward.
Moonlight touched his face.
Isabella recognized him.
Adrian's father.
The former Alpha of Blackthorn.
But that was impossible.
He had been dead for years.
Isabella's voice trembled.
“You're dead.”
The man smiled.
“That's what they wanted everyone to believe.”
Her entire body went cold.
He looked at the silver mark on her wrist.
“You awakened too early.”
Isabella took a step backward.
“What are you talking about?”
He didn't answer.
Instead, he looked toward the unconscious wolves.
“The Council knows you're alive.”
“Then why did they send these men?”
“They didn't.”
Isabella frowned.
“Then who did?”
The old Alpha's expression became serious.
“Someone much closer to you.”
Before she could ask another question, a powerful wolf howl echoed through the forest.
The man's eyes shifted toward the sound.
“He's coming.”
“Who?”
The answer came from behind Isabella.
“Me.”
She turned.
Adrian stood between the trees.
His black shirt was torn, and his eyes were glowing gold.
His gaze immediately went to the old Alpha.
For the first time since Isabella had known him, Adrian looked completely stunned.
“Father.”
Isabella's blood ran cold.
Adrian took a step forward.
“That can't be you.”
His father smiled.
“You've grown stronger, son.”
Adrian's face hardened.
“You died.”
“No.”
The old Alpha looked at Isabella.
“I disappeared.”
Adrian moved between them.
“Stay away from her.”
His father's smile disappeared.
“You still don't understand.”
Adrian's claws appeared.
“Then explain it.”
The old Alpha looked at Isabella.
“She isn't your weakness, Adrian.”
He paused.
“She is the reason your pack is dying.”
Isabella stared at him.
“What?”
Adrian's expression changed.
His father continued.
“Every Moonborn awakening drains the power of the surrounding Alpha bloodlines.”
Isabella's heart pounded.
“That's impossible.”
“Is it?”
The old Alpha looked at Adrian.
“Ask your son what happened five years ago.”
Isabella slowly turned toward Adrian.
“What happened five years ago?”
Adrian said nothing.
His father smiled.
“Ask him why the wolves began losing their powers the exact night he rejected you.”
Isabella's eyes widened.
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“Father, stop.”
“Tell her.”
“Stop.”
“Tell her why you were ordered to reject your mate.”
Isabella looked between them.
“Ordered?”
Adrian closed his eyes.
The old Alpha's voice became cold.
“The rejection wasn't meant to break your bond, Isabella.”
He looked directly at her.
“It was meant to keep your bloodline asleep.”
Silence.
Isabella couldn't breathe.
Five years.
Five years of believing Adrian had rejected her because she wasn't good enough.
But the truth was something else entirely.
She looked at Adrian.
“You knew.”
Adrian opened his eyes.
“I knew part of it.”
“Part?”
“I didn't know everything.”
Her voice shook.
“Then why didn't you tell me?”
“Because if you knew what you were, the Council would have killed you.”
Isabella stared at him.
“And now?”
Adrian looked at the silver mark glowing on her wrist.
“Now…”
His expression darkened.
“It's too late.”
A distant howl echoed across the mountains.
Then another.
Then dozens.
Adrian's eyes widened.
His father looked toward the sky.
“The Council has found her.”
Isabella looked around.
“What does that mean?”
Adrian stepped toward her.
“It means every Alpha in the Northern Territories now knows you're awake.”
His voice lowered.
“And they're coming for you.”
Isabella looked at the dark forest surrounding them.
For five years, she had believed she was running away from Adrian.
Now she realized the truth.
She had been running toward something.
And whatever it was...
had finally found her.
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