Chapter 6 6

The night was still as I stood on the wide, open balcony, taking in the view of my pack, Starfall. The pack grounds stretched out like a scene from a dream, with elegant buildings and well-lit pathways winding through lush greenery.

Starfall wasn't just big; it was a masterpiece, a testament to years of relentless work. Once a small, struggling pack, I had turned it into a thriving, powerful community. But my gaze quickly shifted from the grand view to a smaller scene that held my attention far more intensely, my sister, Lily, by the fountain, chatting with Isabella.

Isabella stood there looking slightly lost, her big brown eyes flickering around uncertainly as Lily gestured and talked animatedly. She wore a simple, flowing dress, light enough to catch the soft breeze that ruffled her long brown hair.

There was a softness about her face, a cluelessnessthat made me smirk. It wasn’t amusement at Lily’s helpful attempts to make Isabella comfortable. No, it was Isabella herself. She looked so naive, so unaware of the world she’d just stepped into. Her father’s crimes had brought her here, and she would regret every moment of it. I would make sure of that.

“She's a pretty one,” came a voice from behind me, dragging me from my thoughts. I pressed my lips together, fighting the urge to respond. Anything that concerned Isabella didn’t need commentary, especially from him.

Alex Grey, my Beta and best friend, walked over to the balcony rail beside me, his eyes following mine to where Isabella stood. His mouth curved into a smile, and it annoyed me even more.

“And yet you want to hurt her?” he asked, his voice carrying a quiet, disapproving edge that cut through me.

“We’ve talked about this,” I grunted, not bothering to hide my irritation.

“We have,” he replied coolly, “but I never said I agreed with your plans.” His words hit me harder than I wanted to admit, sending a shiver down my spine. Before I could respond, he turned, adding, “The pack is ready to meet their new Luna.” With that, he walked away, leaving me with a burning discomfort in my chest I couldn’t shake.

When I looked back at the fountain, both Isabella and Lily were gone. I sighed and made my way inside, heading toward the pack meeting hall where everyone waited. As I passed her room, though, I paused. Was she in there? Did she even know about the meeting, or was she still outside, wrapped up in Lily’s endless chatter?

I told myself I was only checking to make sure she was ready. Without a second thought, I pushed open the door, not bothering to knock, and froze.

Isabella stood in the center of her room, her top half completely bare, only a pair of delicate panties covering her lower body. Her eyes widened as she gasped, quickly grabbing her dress from the floor to cover her chest. Her cheeks flushed, and she stammered, “Why... why would you just barge in without knocking?”

I smirked, my gaze sweeping over her bare skin. I took a step forward, my eyes still locked on her. “Get out!” she hissed, her voice shaking as she clutched the fabric to herself, looking small and vulnerable, but with a spark of defiance.

Ignoring her words, I took another step, close enough now to see the panic in her eyes, the way her body tensed. She was petite, but with curves that surprised me. Her figure was almost too perfect, her full breasts barely hidden behind the dress she clutched. It made me wonder about her, made me question if she’d ever known the touch of a man, if anyone had ever dared.

I reached forward, tugging the dress out of her hands, letting my gaze linger. Her head dipped, her shoulders slumping in defeat, but I wasn’t done. Using my index finger, I lifted her chin, forcing her to meet my eyes.

Her full, soft lips parted as her breath hitched. The sight stirred something in me, something I didn’t want to feel. I tilted my head, letting out a low breath that brushed her face. Her eyes fluttered closed, a reaction that sent a thrill through me.

Leaning closer, my lips almost brushing her ear, I whispered, “There’s nothing on you that could ever attract me.” The words were harsh, cutting through her as I felt her body tense. Her expression crumbled, a flash of hurt that satisfied me more than I wanted to admit.

Stepping back, I met her shattered gaze one last time. “Get ready. The pack is waiting to meet their Luna. Don’t waste my time.” With that, I turned and walked out, leaving her there, barely holding on to her pride.

Back in my own room, I shut the door, my chest pounding harder than it should. I tried to brush off the strange feeling gnawing at me, heading straight to the bathroom for a cold shower. The last thing I needed was to think about her—especially not the way I’d just seen her.

I let the cold water run over me, calming my body and mind from the storm Isabella had left me in. By the time I stepped out of the shower and dressed in a dark blue suit, I was composed, my thoughts sharp once again. But as I opened my door to leave, I found Isabella and Lily stepping out of Isabella’s room at the same moment.

Isabella wore a knee-length, dark blue dress that hugged her big breasts perfectly, the fabric flowing with her every step. Her hair was down but styled differently, framing her face in soft waves.

She hardly wore any makeup, but somehow, she looked effortlessly beautiful. I didn’t want to admit it, even to myself, but a part of me noticed and didn’t like how it made me feel. I pushed that thought aside, brushing it off as unimportant.

“Oh, look at you two!” Lily teased, her eyes lighting up as she looked back and forth between us. “Matching outfits? You look way too cute together! And what’s even better? I suggested purple, but Isabella insisted on the dark blue dress. It’s like your souls are already tied together!”

I furrowed my brows, trying to ignore Lily’s matchmaking tone. Isabella’s eyes flickered over to me, and there was a flicker of something in her gaze, maybe hurt, maybe anger. I didn’t care enough to think about it deeply.

Lily clapped her hands and grinned, sensing the tension. “I’ll let you two head down to the hall together. It'll be perfect if you arrive at the same time.”

With a final wink, Lily left, practically skipping down the hallway. Once she was out of sight, I turned my gaze to Isabella. She was standing there with a look of quiet anger simmering in her eyes.

I smirked and stepped closer, catching a hint of lavender wafting from her. The scent drew me in, and before I knew it, I leaned closer to her neck to take in more of it.

Isabella jerked away, her expression shifting from anger to defiance as she held my gaze. “You’re not attracted to me, remember?” she snapped, her voice filled with sarcasm. “So quit sniffing me like some hungry dog.” She glared at me one last time before turning on her heel and storming down the hallway, leaving me standing there, caught off guard.

A chuckle escaped me as I watched her walk off, her shoulders tense. She had spirit, that much was clear. With a smirk still on my face, I followed her downstairs.

When I reached the staircase landing, I saw her standing there with her arms crossed, her back straight, trying to look like she had everything under control. She didn’t even know where the meeting hall was.

Without saying a word, I walked past her, hearing her footsteps as she reluctantly followed me.

At the end of the hallway stood two large doors with pack warriors posted on either side. I stopped in front of the doors, turning to look at her. She still wore that angry expression, lips pressed tightly together.

I leaned closer, lowering my voice. “Don’t make yourself look foolish in there,” I warned, my tone laced with challenge. She knew exactly what I meant—this was her introduction, and if she did anything to embarrass herself or, more importantly, me, she’d pay for it.

She scoffed, crossing her arms even tighter. “And what if I decide to make you look foolish instead?” Her voice dripped with boldness.

I let out a low chuckle, amused by her boldness. This was going to be interesting.