Chapter 8 The breaking of the pattern
"I said you should come with me."
Rafael's word did not sound like an order, it sounded far worse.
The corridor around us roared to life, while the dust fell from the ceiling forming a cloud. Somewhere far behind us, we knew that something heavy has collapsed and it's impact was heard across the Packs in the region.
My lungs was burning while I tried to breath through the smoke. "I don't even know what we are getting ourselves into,"
My voice was shaking.
Rafael did not rush me and that scared me more than any command that Vince has given to me.
"We need to stop reacting and start making decisions." He said, taking a step closer.
Another explosion rocked through the building, the floor beneath our feet starts to tremble that I almost lost my balance, but his hand latched unto my elbow before I could fall.
His hands were warm and it sends waves of tingling sensation down my spine.
"We don't have time," he added.
"I have never had time," I said pulling my hair away from my face. "From the moment I ran away and from the moment he...."
My voice starts to break down from anger. I looked up to see Rafael eyes soften but he did not say any word.
"I did not choose any of this," I said louder. "I did not choose anything."
"No," he agreed.
That one word felt heavier than anything else he had said. It carried no argument nor any explanation.
"You are the only one who should decide what happens next." He continued with his voice dropping down.
The wall starts to tremble again and it was close this time around.
There was a crack split across the ceiling that was above us. It was thin at first but starts to widen up, like something invisible was pulling us apart.
My ears perked up at the very familiar growling sounds.
Wolves.
A dozen or maybe hundred of them. Each one snarling and fighting each other till the death. It was the war that Vince has promised.
The war I started.
"I can't fix this thing," I whispered.
Rafael walked closer, "You already are,"
I shook my head. "No, this is not fixing, this is total destruction."
"It is exposure," he corrected. "The system is breaking because it had cracked already. You did not create the fracture, it revealed itself through you."
His words starts to settle somewhere deep inside of me. It was uncomfortable but I could not deny the fact that it was the truth.
The lights starts to flicker, casting its shadow across the walls like they were living things.
I turned around to the way we came. From the smoke, I could still feel their presence.
Vince and Marco, two forces that are colliding and for the first time it starts to dawn on me slowly.
If I went back, I wouldn't be choosing just any man.
I am choosing someone that I see a future with.
My stomach turned, "What happens if I go with you?" I asked.
"We leave the compound together." He said with a knowing nod
"That is not the answer I want to hear." I said, shaking my head aggressively.
"That is the only thing that matters right now." He replied.
Before I could give a response, a loud deafening crash broke through the corridor that was behind us. The wall explodes from the inside, ripping apart like it was a paper.
I tried to find the nearest place to hide, away from the debris that was flying everywhere.
A body slammed into the ground, just few meters away from us.
It was one of Vince's enforcers.
The man on the floor was not moving. He was in the pool of his blood and beneath him esd something in the dark that was spreading.
My nose picked up the smell of fresh blood. Not just any fresh blood, it was Alpha blood.
I rose my head up and noticed the broken walls which was filled with smoke. I felt his presence before even seeing him.
Vince.
He was closer and more scary than the last time. His eyes was fulfiled with rage.
My wolf tried to take control, slamming itself against my rib so hard that it starts to hurt.
Go back!
The control was violent and despite my resistance the pull intensified further. Rafael's hand latched on to my shoulder. "Look at me."
I did not want to.
"Isabella," he said calmly. "Look at me."
I forced my eyes up to him, we were so close and focused.
"You feel the pull?" He asked
"Yes," I nodded, feeling the weights pressing down my shoulders
"That is the system that is reacting. Your blood is trying to anchor itself to the strongest point available."
My stomach dropped.
"Vince," I whispered.
"Yes."
His voice echoed far into the distance.
"No," I said immediately, shaking my head aggressively. "No, I am not...."
"You are not choosing him," Rafael cuts in. "Your blood is...."
The difference made me terrified because I knew it was the truth.
Another roar echoed down from the corridor, it was louder than the last one and it made my feet starts to shake.
I turned to see Marco standing by my side.
There was a change in the air due to his presence. Rafael turned towards the sound and then back at me.
"You stay," he said quickly, "you will be bound to him. Even if it is not today, but it will happen some day."
"And if I leave?"
"You finally get to break the pattern."
Time was running out.
I looked in between the broken walls and then back at Rafael. For the first time since this started, it was my decision to make and no one would hold me back.
In that moment, I knew one thing was certain.
If I stayed back, I would loose something that could affect me but if I do risk everything, it would finally be mine