Fighting over me.

Isabella

I felt mortified. The shame and embarrassment wouldn't leave me because I kept imagining his reaction. I'd done the stupidest thing ever—possibly the most idiotic thing in human history. A moan?

A whole, complete moan? What on earth was wrong with me?

The best solution was to hole up in his apartment for a while. Maybe I'd get lucky, and he wouldn't show up because I didn't think I could face him. But then again, I didn't think I could survive long without seeing him either. What was I going to do?

It's completely normal to moan at his touch. We're his, after all.

Natie's voice piped up in my head, sounding much better now that her depression and self-blame had lifted.

Not funny, Natie. He hates us. Like, literally hates us.

She growled in defiance, her cute little angry side making it clear she disagreed.

Fine, I get it. I'll listen to Zoey and cling to the hope that he just needs time. I said it bitterly, but Natie needed to hear it. Zoey's words had convinced her that our mate didn't hate us, and that belief seemed to make her happy again.

Her content grunt gave me an idea. "Let's go for a little run," I suggested. Shifting practice couldn't hurt. Besides, I had to practice since I failed my first shift.

Are we going to see Sebastián? Natie asked eagerly.

"Love-sick wolf," I muttered. "I don't even want to see him."

She scoffed, clearly not buying my lie.

I stepped outside and walked toward the woods behind Sebastián's house. The trees were tall and tightly packed, the atmosphere quieter here than in other parts of the pack lands. But something felt...off. The air was thick, heavy with tension I couldn't quite place.

The deeper I went, the stronger the unease grew. First, faint murmurs reached my ears. Then, loud voices. Low, threatening growls that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

I hesitated when I saw them. Sebastián stood with fists clenched, his blue tee stretched taut over his broad chest, facing a man I didn't recognize. They were more than just angry—hatred radiated between them like a living thing.

I tried to turn back, but Sebastián's voice stopped me cold.

"Stay away from Bella," he growled. "Or face the consequences."

Bella? Me?

The other man—handsome but no match for Sebastián—crossed his arms and laughed mockingly. "What's it to you?"

"I'm warning you, Ivan. Stay away," Sebastián snapped, ignoring the question.

Ivan's laughter grew louder. "And I'll say it again—you agreed to a marriage alliance. Bella has nothing to do with you anymore!"

Sebastián launched himself at Ivan before the words even finished.

"Stop!" I screamed, panic flooding me.

They didn't listen. Claws and teeth replaced fists as they shifted mid-fight, two snarling wolves locked in a violent, chaotic struggle.

Behind me, leaves crunched. Someone was coming.

It wasn't backup.

A woman appeared, her confident stride making it seem like she owned the forest. She passed me without so much as a glance, flipping me off with a casual wave of her middle finger.

Her scent hit me—faint but unmistakable. Strawberries.

I stayed frozen as she strode toward them.

"When will you boys stop fighting over me?" she said, her tone half-annoyed, half-amused.