Chapter 1 The Setup

Isabella's POV

As I made my way out of the Pack house, I headed straight to me and Theodore 's secret spot, just like the text has said. With each step I took inside the garden alcove my stomach bubbled with a mixture of excitement and anxiety.

As I stepped into the alcove, Theodore was on the other end with his back facing me, he wore only trousers. The soft glow of the moon over the garden made everything more beautiful.

I took off my coat and placed it on a bench before wrapping my arms around him from behind. His skin was warm, and he gently caressed my hands. He must have come here straight from his office, because he still had his hand gloves on.

"Theodore," I whispered, pressing my chest against his back.

He held my hands, and slowly turned around to face me. My breath caught in my throat as I stared at the stranger in front of me, with wide eyes.

"W-who are you?" I asked in a trembling voice and tried pushing the stranger away, but he wouldn't budge.

"Baby what do you mean?" He said, an unsettling glint in his eyes as he smiled. "It's me," he said, tightening his grip on my wrist and pulling me closer until our bodies were pressed against each other, and he wrapped his arms around my waist tightly.

"Let go of me!" I demanded, but my voice trembled revealing my fears.

"Why are you acting like you don't want this?" He said, and forcefully crashed his lips into mine.

"Stop! Please stop!' I begged, my voice muffled in his mouth.

My pleas fell on deaf ears as he continued to kiss me with a force that left me trembling. I couldn't even scream for help, he held my head in place, as he kissed me forcefully, not giving me room to breathe.

Tears streamed down my cheeks uncontrollably as I cursed this wolfless fate the goddess bestowed upon me.

Panic coursed through my veins, and with all the straight I could muster I kicked him hard in his groin.

"You bitch!" He cussed as he winced in pain. His hold on me loosened and I immediately grabbed my coat and ran out of there without looking back.

My vision was blurred by tears as I ran in the Packhouse, with only one destination in mind, MY ROOM. That's the only place I could actually feel safe.

"Luna Isabella," two omega's bowed as I ran past them.

Then I saw two guards, and I immediately ran towards them.

"A man in the garden alcove just assaulted me, i

you have to help me," I said, my voice coming out ragged, as I tried catching my breath.

Their expression shifted from confusion, to alarm.

"We'll look into it right away, Luna," they said in unison and immediately went to check it out, while I climbed the stairs.

"Isabella! You're back so soon?" Lilian said cheerfully from the other end of the stairs.

As I got to where she was I just passed like she wasn't even talking to me.

"Isabella, is everything okay?" She asked, her voice laced with worry.

I pushed open my room door and headed straight to the bathroom, and collapsed into the bathtub, as a fresh round of sobs tore through my throat.

"Disgusting, so disgusting," I muttered in tears as I ripped off the lingerie from my body, the fabric feeling like a second skin of shame and violation. "How could I let this happen?" I whispered to the air, as I scrubbed every part of my body vigorously, till my skin turned red and raw.

"Why didn't I just listen to my instincts?" I sobbed uncontrollably, and scrubbed my body even harder. "Why didn't I fight harder? I'm so weak, so useless," I cussed.

I've never felt so disgusted at myself as I feel right now.The thought of another man's hands on me, his lips forced against mine, made my stomach churn with disgust, and my skin crawl.

"Isabella?" Lilian's voice came softly from the other end. "Are you okay?"

"Go away!" I screamed, my tears streaming uncontrollably down my cheeks.

"Bella," she called out softly again. "Did Theodore do something? What happened?"

"Just leave me alone!" I screamed again, feeling the walls close in around me.

"I'm sorry Bella, I can't do that," she said gently, but I barely registered her voice. "I'm coming in."

Lilian made her way inside, and crouched down beside the tub.

"Don't touch me!" I snapped, as she was about to touch my arm. Any touch that isn't mine or Theodore 's right now reminded me of what happened at the garden alcove.

"Okay, I won't," Lilian said, raising her hand in mock surrender. "But just know I'm always here for you," she said soothingly.

My lips parted but no words came out and all I could do was bury my face in-between my knees and sob uncontrollably.

After what felt like an eternity of crying which left me drained and empty, I stood up from the bathtub.

"Here," Lilian handed me a towel.

"Thank you," I muttered, my voice barely audible as I dried myself.

"Do you want to talk about what happened?" Lilian asked softly as we both stepped out of the bathroom.

I shook my head. "No, not right now," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Alright, just know I'm here whenever you're ready to talk about what happened," she said, her voice filled with hurt that I didn't want to share what's bothering me with her.

But how could I, I can't just bring myself to do it. What my body and soul needs right now is to talk to Theodore , and nobody else.

"Goodnight, Bella," Lilian muttered, and walked out of my room.

As soon as Lilian was out of sight, I slowly walked over to my bed, took out my phone from the side table, sank into the bed, and with trembling hands, I dialed Theodore 's number.

My heart raced as the phone began to ring. My mind raced with different thoughts, what would I say? How would I say it? What's going to happen?

Every single time the phone went unanswered, my heart pounded in my chest, twice as hard as the last. After five unanswered calls, I decided to call his office number, the same one he sent me the text with. A chill ran down my spine, as memories of what happened came crashing down on me, but now wasn't the time for all that, I needed to get to Theodore by any means necessary.

"Please pick up," I muttered, clutching the phone so tightly that my knuckles turned white.I feared I might crush it with how tight my grip was.

Just like the other number, it rang with no one answering it.

Should I go to his office? I thought to myself. But I quickly pushed that thought to the back of my mind. What if that strange man was still out there, the guards are yet to give me feedback, and that only means he hasn't been found. A cold chill ran down my spine. I can't believe I'm feeling unsafe, in the place I'm supposed to feel safest.

"Please Theodore , just pick up the phone," I said in a trembling voice, fresh tears rolled down my cheeks, as I dialed the number again, and still no response. "I need you right now."