I AM NOT YOUR DOORMAT

The wind howled like a wild beast, cutting and fierce. Isla Hawke watched, unable to tear her eyes away, as her mother's body lay on the blood-soaked ground. Each beat of her heart felt like a distant echo, as though she no longer belonged to this world. The wind wailed and the full moon illuminated the scene with a pale light, bathing the clearing where the pack was crumbling. There were screams, the clash of steel, the crackling of bones, but none of that reached Isla. Everything faded away, as if the world itself had stopped in that exact moment.

The great leader of the pack, Isla's mother, had fallen in a violent and treacherous manner. The blade of a sword, once belonging to a close ally, had pierced her mercilessly. The surprise and brutality of the attack shook Isla to her core, leaving her frozen in place, paralyzed by an instant that felt eternal. How could this be possible? She couldn't comprehend what was happening. Her mother, the woman who had led the pack with strength and determination, was no longer breathing.

- Mother! - Isla screamed, her voice broken, the cry of despair tearing through her throat.

But her mother didn't respond. And she never would.

Her gaze turned to the sky, searching for answers in the full moon, hoping for a sign that this was all just a nightmare. But there was nothing. Only the storm raging with fury and the echoes of battle that still resonated around her. The pack had been attacked by an internal enemy, and the traitor had already achieved the unthinkable. Isla was alone.

- Isla! - A familiar voice pulled her from her mental abyss. It was her brother Jasper, running toward her with a pale face and eyes full of fear. By his side, a few warriors of the pack struggled to stay on their feet, still fighting to defend what was left of their home.

Isla, still kneeling next to her mother's body, looked up, her face a mask of pain and confusion. She didn't know what to do. She didn't know if she should cry, scream, or just give up. The responsibility of leading the pack weighed on her like a yoke she had never asked for. But life doesn't wait for anyone to be ready. Life had simply given her that weight, and now she had to bear it.

- What are we going to do, Isla? - Jasper asked, his voice tense. It seemed like he wanted his sister to make the decision, but she was too lost in her own pain to answer.

Isla stood slowly, feeling the weight of her mother's death settle into her body. Her knees were weak, but she knew she couldn't stay there. She couldn't allow herself to fall. The pack wouldn't allow it.

- We have to act fast, Isla - Jasper insisted, almost desperate.

Isla looked at her brother. Chaos surrounded them, the pack was on the brink of annihilation. What should she do? She wasn't ready to be the leader, but her mother's death had left her with no other choice. How could she lead her people if she couldn't even accept her own situation?

Suddenly, a noise interrupted her thoughts. Isla looked up into the distance and there, in the middle of the darkness, she saw a male figure slowly approaching, as if he were gliding between the shadows. The presence of that figure was powerful, unsettling. It was Levi Darnell.

The werewolf known for his ambitions, his desire for power, his thirst for the throne. His name had floated around in the pack's whispers, but until now, he had made no significant moves in his pursuit. Yet, at that moment, Isla couldn't help but feel that the situation was taking an even more dangerous turn.

Levi stopped a few steps away from her, watching her in silence. His gaze was cold, calculating, showing neither compassion nor surprise at what had happened. In his eyes, Isla saw something else: a precise evaluation of the situation, as if he were calculating the odds of getting what he wanted.

- I'm sorry - Levi finally said, but his voice lacked warmth. It was more of a formality than a true condolence.

Isla fixed her gaze on him, her face marked by anguish and restrained rage.

- Sorry? - she repeated with disdain, standing up completely now, not breaking eye contact with him. - My mother is dead, Levi. And what are you doing here? What do you want?

Levi didn't flinch, keeping his gaze fixed on her, evaluating her, as if measuring something beyond her pain.

- I'm not your enemy, Isla. Not yet. - His tone was calm, serene, almost unsettling. - But it's clear that now you're in charge. And I can't say that's not interesting.

Isla frowned, confused by the coldness in his words.

- Interesting? - she repeated, unable to hide the sarcasm. - And what do you want from me, Levi?

The werewolf took a step toward her, not losing his composure.

- Nothing yet. But what's clear is that the pack needs a leader. And I have my own interests. - His smile was faint, but his eyes gleamed with an ambition that couldn't be hidden.

Isla felt a tingling on her skin. Something about Levi made her uneasy, but she also understood him: he was a man who, like her, wanted power. The difference was, he didn't hide it.

The tension between the two was palpable. Isla, amidst the chaos, knew that at this moment, she had to make decisions that could change everything. The future of the pack, her future, depended on what happened next. But at that instant, she had no answers.

- What will you do, Isla? - Jasper asked, raising his voice once more, this time with a mixture of hope and desperation.

Isla closed her eyes for a moment, breathing deeply. She opened her eyes and looked at Levi once again. She knew she couldn't stay behind. The pack wouldn't forgive her.

- I'll do what my mother would have done - she replied without hesitation, although the truth tasted bitter. - I'll do whatever is necessary.

Jasper watched his sister, and a flicker of doubt crossed his face. But he didn't say anything else.

Levi, for his part, nodded slowly, as if everything were part of a bigger game.

The throne of the pack was not just a symbol. It was a battlefield, and the war had just begun.

The weight of the full moon seemed to crush Isla as she walked down the dark hallway of the grand hall; each step echoed with the gravity of what had just happened. The pack, once united under the strong and serene figure of her mother, was now divided. The shadows of betrayal still lurked in every corner, and Isla felt their presence stronger than ever. The blood of the leader ran through her veins, but uncertainty still pulsed in her heart. There was no time for mourning, no room for doubts. The pack needed answers, and though she trembled inside, she had to provide them.

As she entered the main hall, the murmur of low voices surrounded her like a tide. The leaders of the different factions of the pack were gathered, surrounded by their own followers. Some of their faces looked at her with distrust, others with indifference, but all, without exception, questioned her legitimacy. Who was she to take her mother's place? Some whispered it quietly, others, more openly, expressed it in their gestures.

- Isla Hawke. - Marcus' voice, a large wolf with high rank within the pack, cut through the air. His tone was sharp, and his gaze was fixed on her. He was not a kind man, but his word was law in the eastern regions. If anyone could destabilize her reign from within, it was him.

- We've been told you would be the leader, but... do you really think you're capable of following in your mother's footsteps? - he said, his laughter resembling a low growl.

At those words, Isla felt her anger begin to bubble up inside. It wasn't the first time someone had questioned her abilities as Alpha, but Marcus's words were laced with something much more dangerous: contempt. A contempt that wasn't just aimed at her, but at everything she represented.

- I am not my mother. - Isla replied firmly, though her body was still tense from the pain that had not gone away, that would never go away. - But I am willing to do whatever is necessary to protect the pack.

Marcus stepped forward, allowing his imposing figure to approach the young Alpha.

- At what cost, Isla? - The provocation in his words was obvious. - At what cost will you defend these wolves? At what cost will you hold onto a throne that doesn't belong to you?

A heavy silence fell over the room. Isla didn't hesitate, though doubt twisted within her. She knew that if she gave in to Marcus's provocation, the cracks in her leadership would deepen. If she didn't show strength now, she would lose everything before she even began.

- At any cost, Marcus. - The response was swift, calculated, but with a force that, for a moment, seemed to silence the room. - And if you're not willing to accept that, you can leave.

The tension in the air was palpable, but surprisingly, Marcus didn't respond immediately. Instead, his gaze shifted toward another corner of the room, where a solitary man watched everything in silence. Levi Darnell.

Isla couldn't help but notice his presence. Though she didn't look directly at him, she felt his penetrating gaze as if he were scrutinizing each of her movements. Even though Levi didn't say a word, his proximity and the way he observed each interaction in the room made the atmosphere even heavier.

What did he want?

Isla, who had always been sharp, knew she shouldn't underestimate Levi. She knew he was looking for something. But whatever it was, he wouldn't do it with good intentions. Levi wasn't someone who worked openly, not fully. There was something in his gaze that said he was waiting for the perfect moment to make his move on the board.

However, it wasn't the time to confront him. Not now, when her position as Alpha was still fragile. Without taking her eyes off Marcus, Isla continued.

- Loyalty is earned, not demanded. If you're part of the pack, then act like it. If you're not, then leave this hall before I make you.

Marcus snorted, clearly displeased, but didn't say anything more. Instead, he took a step back and observed the other members of his faction, as if waiting for a signal. But no one else dared to speak. Isla had established her authority, at least for the moment.

But the danger didn't end there. As the pack slowly began to disperse, Isla felt more alone than ever. She knew that the road ahead would be filled with obstacles. How could she trust anyone if she didn't even trust herself?

Levi was still in the shadows, and his presence, like a taut rope, felt even closer. Isla had noticed how some of the pack members glanced at him out of the corner of their eyes, as if awaiting his word, his approval. Even when Levi seemed to do nothing, his influence was beginning to seep in.

When, finally, the last of the voices quieted, Isla withdrew to the balcony of the main tower. The night was cold, the storm still hadn't eased, and the moon, full and merciless, watched from above.

- What will you do now, Isla? - she asked herself quietly. Her heart beat loudly in her chest, not just from the anger, but also from fear. What was she supposed to do? The pack couldn't be ruled just with strength; she needed allies, but she trusted no one. She needed to consolidate her power, but didn't know how. Loyalty, she thought, was the most expensive currency.

The sound of footsteps pulled her from her reverie. She didn't turn, knowing she couldn't afford to be distracted. But the scent of Levi, a deep, earthy aroma, grew closer.

- Looks like you've overcome the first obstacle. - Levi's voice echoed from the shadows, soft and intriguing.

Isla didn't turn. She knew he was there, watching from the darkness. But his words were like daggers thrown into a sea of uncertainty.

- And the next one will be worse. - Levi added, his tone laced with a subtle, yet present, threat.

Isla clenched her fists. She needed answers, but she also needed time. And for now, Levi was an enigma that she couldn't allow to devour her.

- What do you want, Levi? - she asked finally, without looking.

- What I've always wanted, Isla - Levi replied, and though she couldn't see him, Isla felt his smile in his words. - Power.

The cold wind of dawn cut Isla's skin as she walked through the castle's backyard. The dark sky was clearing slightly, letting a thin strip of broken moonlight escape through the clouds. The dry leaves crunched under her feet, and the calm of the night seemed to mock the internal storm raging within her. Each step she took took her further away from her mother, from the safety she knew, and closer to an uncertain destiny.

Even with the murmurs of the pack still echoing in her ears, Isla couldn't shake the constant feeling of being watched. She knew Levi was nearby. She couldn't see him, but she felt him, like a shadow lurking. And what bewildered her even more was the way his presence felt inevitable.

Suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks.

A figure emerged from the shadows as if the darkness itself had given birth to it. Levi Darnell. Tall, muscular, yet with an unsettling elegance in his movements. His eyes gleamed with an intensity that left no doubt: he was there, with a clear purpose and an even clearer determination.

- Isla. - Levi's voice was low, but had an almost hypnotic power. Every word seemed loaded with an intention she couldn't fully comprehend.

Isla looked at him coldly, showing no surprise, though inside she was unsettled. She knew this moment would come. She knew that the words Levi spoke could be crucial to the future of her pack.

- What do you want? - Isla didn't offer a greeting or any pleasantries. She knew Levi was not someone to waste time with. His reputation preceded him, and though she didn't trust him, she couldn't afford to ignore him either.

Levi didn't move closer, maintaining the distance like a hunter who knew his prey was closer than it seemed. The moon partially illuminated his face, revealing a smile that didn't seem friendly, but was certainly enigmatic.

- You know what I want, Isla. - His tone was almost a whisper, but the weight of his words was as heavy as a sword. - What everyone wants. The throne. The power. Control of the pack. You and I could... collaborate.

Isla frowned. If Levi thought she would be swept away by his manipulations, he was wrong. Wolves, like her, could smell greed from miles away.

- And what's your price, Levi? - The sarcasm in her voice was clear. There was no way Isla was that naive. Levi's words weren't simple proposals. There was a game behind them, something he wasn't yet willing to reveal.

Levi stepped forward a step but stopped just before crossing the threshold that Isla had marked between them. His smile widened slightly, as if enjoying her confusion.

- Just business. - He said firmly. - No room for feelings. No romance. No bonds. Just power. You help me get what I want, and I'll help you keep what belongs to you. It's simple.

Isla watched him in silence, processing his words. Levi's tone was direct and cold, but something in his gaze told her there was more. The temptation to accept his offer was strong, but distrust kept her firm. She knew a deal with Levi wasn't something simple, and any mistake could cost her much more than the pack.

- I'm not here to form alliances with men like you, Levi. - Her voice came out stronger than she intended, filled with determination. - You don't need my help. And I don't need yours.

Levi raised an eyebrow but didn't seem surprised. He knew, as did she, that words meant nothing in these kinds of games. Still, he didn't insist. Instead, his gaze softened slightly, as if he were evaluating something deeper in Isla. Something more human.

- Then, how do you plan to face what's coming? - The question wasn't a threat, but the way he posed it made the air grow tense. - Your own enemies within the pack, the factions already conspiring to overthrow you. You're not invincible, Isla.

Isla looked at him, her face impassive, but inside, she felt her heart beat faster. Levi wasn't wrong in his assertions. She knew it, she felt it. There were traitors among them; the echoes of disloyalty could already be heard in every corner of the castle. But accepting Levi's help?

She couldn't.

- I'll handle it myself. - She replied without hesitation.

Levi studied her silently, as if analyzing every word that left her lips. Finally, he took a step back but didn't break his gaze.

- You won't be able to do it alone. - His voice, low and challenging, vibrated in the darkness of the night. - Sooner or later, you'll have to make a decision.

The distance between them grew. Isla took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure, but inside her, the chaos of uncertainty roared loudly.

- Goodbye, Levi. - She finally said, her voice firm, though her words sounded empty even to her. Rejection was in her tone, but she knew that, although she wanted to, she couldn't shake the idea beginning to settle in her mind: maybe, just maybe, she would need his help.

Isla turned away, but before disappearing into the shadows, she heard Levi's last words, which slipped into her mind.

- Don't forget, Isla... the pack isn't won with blood alone.

The icy wind blew once more, like an omen. Isla couldn't shake the feeling that, in some way, Levi had just marked the beginning of something she didn't yet fully understand.