Chapter 50

Isla POV

The garden has always been my sanctuary.

Over the weeks since I've been here, it's been the one place that I can escape from what goes on in the Castle.

This morning, though, even the sunlight streaming between the leaves and the fresh morning air couldn’t ease the heaviness inside my chest.

I sat curled in one of the stone benches, my tea untouched at my side with a plate of half-nibbled cupcakes balancing on the table before me.

The breeze swept up strands of hair across my face, but instead of peace, all I could feel was restlessness creeping under my skin.

My wolf paced within me, unsettled, as though she too was disturbed by the unease swirling within me.

Then I heard the crunch of footsteps which startled me.

Lily emerged from the path, her hands clasped nervously in front of her apron.

“My lady,” she said softly, pausing a respectful distance away. “The Alpha requests to see you in his study.”

Her words landed like rocks on my stomach. Damned Tristan.

For a moment, I just stared at her, the taste of bitterness coating my tongue.

The memory of his words from the other day stirred up cold memories.

My chest tightened as if I were being dragged back into that moment, into every hurt he’d carved into me.

Deliberately blocking out those harsh words so I didn't relieve the pain, I straightened slowly, forcing a smile I didn’t feel. “Tell him…” I said, each word clipped and deliberate, “... that I am not available.”

Lily blinked, startled by my blatant refusal. “My lady… I-I do-don't think y-you should-”

“Not available,” I repeated, my tone sharper this time. “Tell him exactly that.”

Lily hesitated, glancing at me as though hoping I would give in.

But I didn’t. I couldn’t.

Facing Tristan now… no, it would break something in me I wasn’t ready to lose.

Finally, Lily dipped into a quick bow once she realized that I wasn't changing my mind. “Yes, my lady.” She turned and hurried away, the sound of her footsteps into the distance.

Silence crept back into the garden.

I let out a shaky breath, pressing a hand against my temple.

I am pretty sure that I violated a rule but I didn’t want to see him.

I couldn’t even hear his name without remembering the burn of his rejection, the blankness of his stare.

He and Vivianna deserve each other… in fact, they could eat a big chunk of dirt for all I care.

My wolf whimpered, a sound only I could feel vibrating in my bones, but I silenced her.

He had made his choice. I didn’t owe him anything.

I leaned back on the bench, closing my eyes, trying to savor the quiet.

The breeze skittered across my skin, cool and gentle.

For a few minutes, I managed to breathe, to pretend that this fragile pocket of solitude could hold me together.

And then, the air shifted.

It wasn’t the breeze this time…it was something heavier, thicker, carrying the weight of a familiar presence.

My eyes flew open even though I had a sneaking suspicion who it was.

Kieran.

He stepped out from the path opposite the one Lily had used, moving with the effortless grace of someone who knew exactly how much power he wielded and the type of aura he exceeded. His dark hair was tousled as though he hadn’t bothered styling it, his form-fitting clothes hugging every his lithe frame.

Those dark eyes locked on me with that steady, piercing intensity that always left me unbalanced.

And I wasn't in the mood for that.

“You again,” I muttered, pushing my plate of cupcakes aside. “I thought I made it clear last night that I don’t want to talk.”

He tilted his head, the faintest smirk tugging at his mouth. “And yet, here you are. Alone. Waiting for someone to find you.”

I hated how his words struck deep into some part of me

My jaw clenched. “I’m not waiting for anyone.”

“Liar,” he said softly, no heat in the word, just quiet conviction.

He took a step closer despite my icy behavior. “You can’t keep shutting everyone out, Isla. Not him. Not me. Not yourself.”

Something in me flared, anger sparking to life. “Don’t you dare lump yourself with Tristan.”

His smirk vanished. “I don’t need to. The mate bond already did.”

The words pierced deeper than I wanted to admit. I turned away, nails digging into my palms as I pretended to stare blankly into the distance. “Go away, Kieran. Please.”

But instead of leaving, his body tensed, his head snapping slightly toward the garden wall. His expression sharpened.

“Get down, Isla,” he ordered, voice low and dangerous.

I blinked, frowning. “Excuse me?”

Of course, his response to my command had to be another one.

“I said-” He moved before he could finish his sentence. One moment I was upright, staring at the half-eaten cakes in front of me, and the next, he had yanked me off the bench and shoved me to the ground, shielding me with his body.

I was about to scream bloody murder, wondering what the hell he was thinking, when I heard it.

The protest died on my lips when I saw what was happening.

Less than a split second later, shadows jumped over the wall.

Three figures hit the earth with feral snarls, the stench of rogue wolves burning my nostrils. My breath caught, horror crashing into me.

Rogues.

How did they get past security?

I mean, isn't the security in here supposed to be impenetrable?

Kieran growled, low and guttural, the sound vibrating through the air.

His body shifted, claws lengthening, eyes slanting into inhuman irises, gold glinting in its depths.

He didn’t hesitate, lunging for one of the guys.

The first rogue barely had time to snarl before Kieran’s claws sank into its throat.

Blood sprayed, the wolf gurgling on its own blood as Kieran twisted the claws deeper until the body crumpled.

The other two circled, snarling, their eyes gleaming with hunger and rage, now that their colleague was out of the game.

I scrambled backward, heart pounding.

My wolf raged inside me, clawing at the walls of my chest, desperate to break free.

But I couldn’t. I still couldn’t shift.

Fear had a death's grip on me.

“Kieran!” I cried as one of the rogues darted toward him from behind.

He spun, catching the attack midair, the clash of claws and teeth ringing through the garden. They fought like monsters born for violence, but even Kieran couldn’t hold off both forever.

I grabbed the nearest thing I could touch…. A wrought-iron chair and hurled it at the second rogue. It slammed into his shoulder, staggering him just long enough for Kieran to sink his claws into the first one’s chest.

Yay! Two down, one to go.

But my triumph was short-lived. The second rogue veered, eyes locking on me.

I froze, my pulse thundering in my ears.