ISOLDE’S ESCAPE

Isolde has been quiet for almost a week; the betrayal cuts too deep, and she couldn't bring herself to have a conversation with Lutheran about it. What would she say? And how can she sit to listen to another lie, maybe deny it?

She doesn't even want to think about it. But something stood up in her mind; she couldn't breathe the same air as Lutheran anymore. She wants to be away from Lutheran and Kaelen, as far away as possible. But where would she go?

The thoughts weighed heavily on her mind. She didn't want to go somewhere close where they could easily find her. She told herself that she would make that decision when she eventually left the pack. For now, she has to concentrate on how to leave the pack without attracting the attention of anyone, especially not Lutheran.

Isolde had packed light, only a few essentials. She picked up a cloak, strapped a dagger to her thigh, and packed enough food to get her through the first few days. She wasn’t sure where she was going yet, but anywhere was better than here. Better than being a pawn.

Each step she took away from the packhouse felt both liberating and terrifying. The gates stood just ahead, her path was clear. The guards stationed there wouldn’t question her, not yet. She was still their Luna-to-be.

But the moment she crossed that threshold, she wouldn’t be anything to them, to him.

The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the training ground. In the distance, she could hear the chatter of the warriors and their metal edges clinking against each other.

Her heart pounded as she moved toward the border, keeping to the woods. Her heart was pounding too loudly in her ears. Her hands trembled as she tightened the straps on the small satchel slung across her back. Every step felt heavier like the earth itself was trying to hold her back.

But she wouldn’t stop. Then a voice cut through the silence.

“Hey, what are you doing, you're leaving? Babe, what's going on? I've been asking you for days now, and you kept saying it's nothing. And now you're sneaking out of our pack?”

He spoke softly as he was closing the distance between them, slowly and carefully, like he was approaching a wounded animal. Isolde froze, her breath cut in her throat. Isn't Lutheran supposed to be in a meeting with his elders, what is he doing here?

She turned slowly, finding him standing a few feet away, golden eyes were filled with worry and anxiety. The setting of the sun cast a soft glow over him, making him look every bit the Alpha that he was. And for the first time, she hated it. “You have no right to stop me,” she said, keeping her voice steady.

His jaw clenched. “I know that, but please, don't go, whatever it is, we can always talk about it..”

She scoffed. “Talk about it? You won't dare to stop me from leaving, or am I a prisoner now?”

His eyes darkened. “You know you’re not.”

“Then step aside.” She commanded. He didn’t move.

“Isolde…” He called in a soft and pleading voice. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

She laughed, but there was no humour in it. “Stop it with the pretence Lutheran; I heard everything already.”

Lutheran ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “Isolde, listen to me—”

“No, you listen to me!” Her voice trembled, but she refused to let her emotions betray her. “I trusted you, Lutheran. I stood beside you and believed in you. And the whole time, you were just using me?”

His expression twisted between pain and guilt. “I never wanted to—”

“Oh, but you did.”

He took a step closer, his voice urgent. “Yes, I brought you here to train you against Kaelen. But everything changed.” Isolde’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Everything?”

Lutheran’s voice broke. “I fell in love with you, and that changed everything.”

Her chest tightened, but she forced herself to remain cold. “And that’s supposed to make me feel better?”

Lutheran stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Isolde, listen to me.”

“No,” she cut in. “I listened enough. I listened to you, I trusted you, I believed every word that came out of your mouth. And for what? To find out I was just a tool in your grand plan to take down Kaelen?”

His hands clenched at his sides. “It wasn’t like that.”

“Then explain,” she challenged. A muscle ticked in his jaw. “At first… it was.” She went still.

He took a breath, and when he spoke again, his voice was almost raw. “I won’t lie to you, Isolde. When I first saw you, I saw something extraordinary in you. You were not some mere wolf; you are a dragon wolf, a very powerful one. I saw that as an opportunity, especially after I learnt about how Kaelen treated you. I wanted to use you against Kaelen. I brought you in because I felt sorry about the way you were treated, a bit more so because I needed to train you, help you learn how to harness your powers, so I could use you to fight against Kaelen and take away his pack.”

Her stomach twisted, but she stayed silent, letting him dig his own grave.

“But while I was training you, watching you grow in strength and exercising your ability, my heart fell. I fell whole and deeply in love with you. At that moment, I forgot about everything; the plans I had were no longer important to me because I had found something worth more than my own pack.

I have found the woman I love, and that was enough for me. Baby, when I followed you to Kaelen's pack, it wasn't for me; it had nothing to do with the plans I had. When you see me preparing for a battle against Kaelen, it is only to back you up. I continued training you because I wanted you to feel the relief of striking your enemy yourself. I wanted revenge for you, your parents and your brother.”

The words should have meant something to her, but they didn’t. Because at the end of the day, he had still seen her as a means to an end. He had still planned to use her.

“When were you going to tell me?”

Lutheran’s throat bobbed. “I—”

She let out a humourless laugh. “Right, you weren’t.”

His hands fisted at his sides. “I was afraid of losing you.” Her chest ached, but she ignored it. “Well, congratulations.” She took a step back. “You just did.” Something in his face shattered.

“Isolde…” His voice was softer, pleading. “I know you’re angry. I know I betrayed your trust. But please, don’t walk away like this.”

She swallowed against the lump in her throat. “Give me one good reason to stay.” Lutheran didn’t hesitate. “Because I love you.”

She wanted to let herself sink into the warmth of his words, let him erase the doubt clawing at her heart. But she couldn’t. Because even now, he was still justifying it.

She inhaled shakily. “I never needed you to fight for me, Lutheran.”

Pain flashed across his face. “I know.”

“Then let me go.”

Lutheran exhaled sharply, his body tense. “If you leave now, how can I protect you?”

“I don’t need your protection.” His jaw tightened. “Kaelen will come for you.”

A ghost of a smirk touched her lips. “Let him try.”

Then, Lutheran did something she never imagined, he knelt before her and pleaded further. “Isolde please, don't leave me. I am ready to renounce being Alpha if it would make you believe that you're the most important thing in my life. Please don’t go.”

She reached for his hands and helped him up; then, she brushed a stray hair from his forehead and whispered. “Goodbye, Lutheran.”

Then, before he could stop her, she stepped around him and walked away.