Chapter 29

Isabella’s POV

Pain.  

That was the first thing I felt when I woke up. A dull, throbbing ache in my head, like I had been slammed against a wall.  

Because I had.  I tried to move, but my body was sluggish, my limbs heavy as if they weren’t mine. My wrists burned, and as my vision cleared, I realized why—my hands were bound behind me, thick ropes cutting into my skin.  

I sucked in a breath, willing the panic down. 

“Think, Isabella. Stay calm.

The air was damp, heavy with the scent of mildew and something metallic—Blood.

I forced myself to sit up, my back pressed against a cold concrete wall. The dim light of a single flickering bulb illuminated the space, casting eerie shadows across the room.  

A warehouse. But not the one we had attacked.  

I wasn’t alone.  

Footsteps echoed from the far side of the room. My heart pounded as a figure stepped into the light, her eyes gleaming with amusement.  

Nadia.  

I clenched my jaw, my body tensing despite the pain.  

She smirked, her dark red lips curving into something almost affectionate. 

“I was hoping you’d wake up soon,” she mused, crouching in front of me. “We have so much to talk about.”  I glared at her. 

“Go to hell.”  She laughed. 

“Oh, Isabella, I’ve lived in hell for years. That’s what makes me so good at what I do.” She reached out, running a cold finger down my cheek. I flinched away.  

Her smirk widened. 

“You’re stronger than before. I can feel it. Your wolf is waking up.”  I swallowed hard, my mind racing. 

“What do you want?”  Nadia tilted her head. 

“Want?” She leaned in closer, her voice a whisper. 

“I want what you have.”  I stiffened.  

“I want your blood,” she continued, trailing a hand down my arm. “Your power. You’re a dominant omega, Isabella. A true rarity.…”  

Ice shot through my veins.  

She smiled, as if sensing my fear. I gasped. 

“How—”  She sighed dramatically. 

“I am a witch, you know.” She sat back on her heels, watching me like a cat playing with its prey. 

You are bpowerful, Isabella. More powerful than you realize. And with the right… guidance, you could become something extraordinary.”

A cold chill spread through me. 

“You’ll never get your hands on that power.”  She laughed again, standing. 

“Oh, but I will.”  

My breath came in sharp gasps. I pulled at my restraints, fury boiling in my veins. I wasn’t going to let her take my blood.  

I wasn’t going to let her win.  

She studied me for a long moment before sighing. 

“You remind me of someone, you know.”  I frowned. 

“What?” She clasped her hands behind her back, pacing. 

“Your mother.”  The breath left my lungs.  She smirked. 

“Didn’t expect that, did you?”  I shook my head, my thoughts spinning. 

“You knew her?”  

“Oh, I knew of her,” Nadia mused. “She was strong. Just like you. But she didn’t have the power to save herself, did she?”  I gritted my teeth, refusing to let her see how much her words rattled me.  

Nadia crouched in front of me again, her voice turning soft, almost sweet. 

“You don’t have to die like she did, Isabella.”  

I froze.  She leaned in closer. 

“Join me.”  Shock shot through me. 

“What?”  

“You heard me.” Her eyes gleamed. “Alessandro is a lost cause. He’ll die just like his father did. And when he does, you will be alone.

Anger surged in my chest. 

“You don’t know anything about me.”  She chuckled. 

“Oh, but I do.” I know you’re terrified. I know you’re still not sure if you can survive in Alessandro’s world. And I know that deep down, you hate how much control he has over you.”  I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms.  

Nadia reached out, gripping my chin between her fingers. 

“Let me help you, Isabella. With my power and your blood, we could reshape everything. 

“You could be in control for once.”  I exhaled shakily.  

For a brief moment, I let myself imagine it.  

No more fear. No more running. No more wondering if I was strong enough.  

But then—  

I thought of Alessandro. Of his touch, his voice, the way he had nevernonce tried to make me into something I wasn’t.  

I thought of the way he had fought for me. The way he had looked at me after I won my first fight.  

I lifted my gaze, meeting hers head-on. 

“Go to hell.”  Her expression darkened. 

“That’s a shame.”  She stood abruptly, dusting off her hands. 

“I was hoping you’d make this easy.”  She turned toward the door. “No matter what. You’ll come around soon enough.”  

The door slammed shut behind her, leaving me alone in the dim, suffocating silence.  I sagged against the wall, my breath coming in sharp gasps.  

I was running out of time.  

I had to escape.  

I looked down at my bound hands, feeling the rough rope biting into my skin.  

I gritted my teeth.  

No.  

I wasn’t just going to sit here and wait to be rescued.  

I wasn’t a damsel in distress.  

I was Isabella Rossi.  

And I was going to save myself and return to Alessandro.

\---

Alessandro’s POV

Blood.  

It was all I could see.  

The moment I realized Isabella was gone, something inside me snapped.

Now, I stood in the middle of the burning warehouse, my gun in my hand, my knuckles raw from the fight. Romanio’s men were dead, their bodies littering the floor.  

But Romanio himself was gone. And worse—so was Isabella.  Carlos approached, his face grim. 

“She’s not here.”  I gritted my teeth, my entire body coiled with fury. 

“Find her.”  Carlos nodded, barking orders to the others.  I took a deep breath, forcing myself to think.  

Romanio wouldn’t take her far. And if Nadia was involved—  

My fingers tightened around my gun.  

I had warned them.  I had given them a chance to walk away.  

Now?  

Now, I was going to tear their world apart.  

Brick by brick. Body by body.  

Until I had Isabella back in my arms.  

And when I did…  

I would make sure no one ever touched her again.