Chapter 5 Echoes of betrayal

Isabella's POV

The moment my hand closed around Trenton's arm, the world seemed to go still, not only the peaceful kind of still. But the kind that holds its breath before a storm breaks. It was obvious that his skin was burning hot beneath his sleeve, the bond between us alive like a raw nerve, and I clenched my jaw to keep my voice steady.

"Reject me," I repeated, hissing, glaring up into the stormcloud gray of his eyes.

"Do it now."

His body stiffened and for half a second, there was a flicker of something behind his eyes-hurt, maybe, or

something even more dangerous. But then it vanished. He yanked his arm from my grasp with a force that sent me stumbling back against the wall.

"You think this is a game?" Trenton snapped, his voice low but lethal.

"You think just because the bond exists, we have to play along like mindless wolves?"

"I never asked for this," I shot back, "I didn't ask to be dragged into your cursed lineage or your war, and I sure as hell didn't ask to feel-" My voice broke, and I bit the inside of my cheek, hard as I tried to control myself.

"Reject me. If you hate this so much, then end it."

Trenton's jaw tightened, his eyes flickered gold for a moment, his wolf straining behind the thin leash of control. I could feel it, thrashing in sync with my own eyes. The bond was like barbed wire stretched between us, sharp and hot, tightening every time we tried to pull apart.

"I can't," he said out finally, "at least not yet."

"Why?" I demanded, my chest heaving. "Because your pride won't let you be the first to break the triad? Or because deep down, you're afraid of what happens if you do?"

He took a step toward me, the air between us snapping with tension. I wanted to step back, to retreat from the fury simmering in his eyes, but I stood my ground. I didn't dare move, I was already tired of him pushing me around that way.

"I should reject you," he said quietly, "I want to. Every instinct in me is screaming to run from this, to run from you. But my wolf won't let me. And until I figure out why, you're stuck here."

My throat burned as he spoke. Whether from anger or shame, I didn't know. Before I could respond, footsteps echoed from the far end of the corridor.

Darcy's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "That's enough."

He stepped between us, his expression unreadable but his tone ice-cold.

"This isn't helping anything, can't you two see it?"

Trenton gave a bitter laugh. "You're one to talk softly."

He said but, Daicy ignored him, turning to me with concern softening his gaze. "Isabella, are you okay?" He asked, his voice soft.

"I'm fine," I muttered, brushing past them both. "Or as fine as I can be while locked in a castle with three wolves who all act like I ruined their lives."

"Because you did," Trenton said under his breath, his voice low.

Darcy shot him a warning look, but I didn't wait to hear more. My feet moved before my mind could catch up, carrying me down the corridor and around the next corner.

My wolf was restless, pacing inside me, and I pressed a hand to my chest where the bond pulsed like a second heartbeat. The anger I'd hurled at Trenton had left a hollow ache in its wake. I'd demanded rejection, but now all I could feel was the guilt spiraling in my gut.

What if I just drove away the only ally I had left?

The corridors felt unfamiliar, branching into deeper parts of the keep where the moonlight barely touched. I didn't care. I needed air, and space. Anything to keep the pressure in my chest from swallowing me whole.

But then I heard it, a whisper of movement behind me.

I spun, too quickly that I almost fell.

A guard stood at the corridor's end, blade unsheathed, his armor gleaming faintly in the torchlight. His eyes locked on mine.

"Alpha's orders," he said. His voice was steady, but the sword trembled slightly in his grip.

I stepped back, raising my hands. "What orders?"

He didn't answer immediately, he just raised the sword higher and stepped toward me.

"Wait," I said, my voice sharper now. "I'm bonded to the Slade heirs. You hurt me, they'll know."

The guard faltered, just slightly.

Then something strange happened.

The skin beneath my collarbone seared, and the mark; barely visible before, flared bright gold. Heat surged through my veins like wildfire, and somewhere, far behind me, I felt Trenton's snarl echo through the bond.

The guard stepped back in shock, "What-what is that?"

But I didn't have time to wonder why the bond had flared so violently. My eyes caught the soft glow of runes-etched along the back of the guard's gauntlet. It wasn't Slade markings. They looked older, corrupted.

"Who are you really?" I whispered.

But before I could press the question, a low growl came from the shadows behind him.

Then, the corridor plunged into sudden cold. The torches guttered out as a new presence slipped from the darkness, calm as death.

It was Sienna, my former best friend.

She leaned against the far wall like she belonged there, her lips curved into a smirk that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"You look surprised," she said, brushing a hand over her dark hair.

"Didn't anyone tell you? There are no real allies in this pack."

The guard didn't react. He stood still, too still and my pulse quickened. How did she even get here? How did she know where I was?

Sienna stepped closer, her voice a conspiratorial murmur.

"You thought you could walk in here, claim them, and not face consequences? Sweet, stupid girl."

"I didn't claim anyone." I said, my voice was a bit shaky.

"No," she said, her lips curling.

"But the bond did. And now, everything is unraveling because of you."

I squared my shoulders, "You're working with Cain."

"Working with him?" Her laugh was like ice breaking. "I'm using him. Just like I'll use you."

The bond crackled in protest at her words. I swayed, the heat and chill fighting in my bones.

"What do you want?" I asked, my voice stronger now.

"Oh, I'll show you soon enough." She turned, cloak swirling behind her. "But for now, you should know-"

She glanced over her shoulder, her smile now razor-sharp.

"-you'll regret crossing me."

And then, just like that she was gone.

The corridor was empty again, save for the guard, who was still frozen, still silent-and the echo of her voice ringing in my ears.

I didn't move for several seconds. Not until the bond pulsed again, this time not in pain but warning.

Something deeper was beginning to stir. And whatever came next-I wasn't ready for it. I was sure of it.

I didn't remember running back to my room-only the blur of torchlight and the echo of my heart pounding like war drums in my chest.

Sienna's voice still clung to my ears.

"You'll regret crossing me."

But what did she even mean?