Isabella
Hours passed before he returned.
A room meant for washing took up more space than where we lived back then.
Red stained the flow, lasting ten full minutes until clarity arrived without warning.
Outside, the glass wore a haze. Still - there it stayed. Twin holes punched deep, edged in dark yellow swirls. The skin had knitted tight, lifted like a badge that wouldn't fade.
His brand.
His ownership.
His promise.
Fingertips dug in, trying to tear it free.
My hand met the surface - sudden warmth raced through me, low and sharp.
That made me feel angry at how I looked.
Filled to the brim, the closet held outfits crafted just for me.
Lace underwire tops in deep shadow shade. Slips of silk hugging hips, midnight toned. Garments flowing like darkness melted into form.
Priceless things everywhere. Each piece picked so you see each mark - every cut, every ache, everything he took as his.
That dress was the most revealing - black, tiny, nothing at the back, hanging just below my hips. The neckline plunged so far forward my nipples almost popped out every time I took a breath.
Should he try showing me off, each wolf inside would gag on their own shock. Every last one.
Water dripped down my neck. My strands tangled in the breeze. Loose knots formed near my shoulders. A gust lifted pieces toward the sky.
No makeup.
Red lips only, stained by sharp bites. Mouth colors itself without asking. Pressure builds until skin gives way. A slow leak of crimson marks the edge. Nothing more than teeth doing their work.
Bent low under my own shadow, I moved - each step a quiet scandal.
A half hour passed before the door swung open.
A figure paused, dressed in dark fabric priced higher than twelve months of ordinary wages.
Casual look. Shirt open at the neck. Jacket left off.
Glowing amber when their gaze hit mine.
He didn't speak.
A silence fell when he came through the door. Around me he moved, slow, one full turn. Stood still after that, right at my back.
A finger traced my back, deliberate, claiming. Slow pressure followed the curve of bone, quiet but sure.
A second hand tightened at my neck, its thumb right over the wound. A sharp pressure there, where the skin still burned.
"You dressed to kill," he murmured against my ear. "Good. I want them to see exactly what they can never have."
After that came the snap of a slender silver link attaching to the choker beneath the dress's edge - a leash pretending to be decoration, nothing more. He gave it a pull.
"Walk."
I walked.
Through the long hall where dark stone shines under dim light.
Footsteps echo on the wide stairs below.
The fabric climbed with each move I took. My legs felt more air as the hem lifted slowly. Step by step, it rose without me trying. Higher it went, pulled up by motion alone.
Fresh air rushed in as the dining hall doors slid apart without a hand touching them.
A hush fell over the two hundred wolves. Silence took hold without warning.
A chair scraped against stone, then silence. The table waited - dark as midnight glass, cold under flickering light. Red flames trembled in their holders, casting shadows that moved too slowly. Cups of polished metal caught the glow, dull and watchful. Something about the setup felt wrong, like a scene remembered from a dream you shouldn't have had.
A hush fell. All faces turned my way at once.
A loop of rope dangled from Kai's fingers. The cord swayed slightly under a quiet breeze.
A light touched the new claim-mark, bright against my skin. It pulsed where it had settled, just above the collarbone. Warmth spread beneath its glow. The sign stayed vivid, impossible to ignore.
Something rumbled deep, close to the floor.
Motion stopped me beside the high-backed seat. Into that carved chair he settled, pulling my frame backward without pause. Down I went - held close across his knees before breath could catch.
Just above where his leg meets his body.
The fabric climbed without warning, leaving nothing hidden from everyone present.
His knee nudged my legs apart just enough for them to get a clear view.
With that, he reached for the steak knife on the plate. A slice came off cleanly, just enough to fit on the fork. From there, it was only a motion to lift it - steady, quiet. The edge did its work without force. That single bite waited now, set apart from the rest.
Fingers trembled as I brought it close. Touching skin first near the mouth. A pause before pressing forward.
"Open."
I opened.
A bite passed from his plate, metal tines touching my lips as silence held the circle. Every eye stayed fixed on the scene - Alpha honoring the one who ended his sibling's life. The air did not shift, yet weight filled each breath. No growl broke through, just stillness, thick and strange. A gesture unfolded that none expected, soft where rage should rise. Respect bent where it ought to break.
A few wolves turned their eyes elsewhere.
Not everyone stood still - some seemed set to move fast, then strike without warning.
A heavy thud shook the wood when Damien brought his hand down hard. The big golden wolf stood there, eyes sharp with something cold. This was no ordinary second-in-command - his gaze held a quiet threat.
"She should be dead, Kai! Not sitting on your fucking throne!"
Kai just kept his eyes away. Not a glance came his way.
My breath caught when he reached under the table. Fingers slipped between my legs, pressing into me before I could react.
A sharp breath caught in my throat, my body tightening without warning.
With his free hand, he just went on offering bits of food, calm as if everything around us had paused.
Damien snarled. "You disgrace Lukas's memory - "
Only then did Kai break the silence, words quiet but sharp.
"Finish that sentence and I'll wear your skin as a coat."
Fingers dipped into me, curling with quiet patience.
A sharp breath caught in my throat instead of sound. The noise curled back inside like smoke pulled under a door.
Water dripped loud enough for everyone inside to notice it. Still, nobody spoke up right away.
Damien went white.
A trace of red caught his tongue, slow. My lip stung - where teeth had pressed too hard. He didn't look away.
After that, his eyes moved across every card in the group.
This here's Isabella. She belongs to me, chosen as my partner. Mine by claim, soon to be Luna at my side. Not just now but always - bound through choice and blood.
She kills anyone who dares touch her. A harsh word aimed her way ends in agony. Even a lingering gaze brings death, always loud, always screaming
Fingers pushed farther inside.
Shaking, I gave in - right onto his lap, with two hundred wolves watching. Teeth sank into his shoulder, trying not to make a sound.
Fingers slick, he didn't stop - my breath caught as warmth slid past his knuckles.
His eyes locked on Damien before he slid his hand away, lifted his fingers to his lips, tasting the residue without looking down.
"Meeting adjourned."
Up he rose, carrying me, my legs unsteady, warmth trickling down my skin.
Footsteps heavy, he lifted me - trophies aren't always gold.
Right after the doors shut, my fist hit his face.
Teeth stained red, he started laughing.
After that, his body slammed into mine near the hall's edge - canvas frames dropped loose. The impact shook nails free. Dust jumped from the baseboards. Each thrust echoed through the narrow space. Plaster cracked above us. A nail clinked on hardwood. Breathing turned ragged. Shadows wavered under flickering light. One frame tilted sideways before hitting the floor.
My throat gave out shouting for him.
Then, after waiting what felt like forever, his silence broke just enough for me to step close once more. My voice slipped out low, carrying the promise I had buried deep inside. Words rose despite my vow, escaping before I could pull them back.
"Thank you, Alpha."
Fingers tangled in my hair when his lips met mine, as if pulling something deeper than breath.
I let him.
Beyond saving, I'd crossed that line long ago.