Not special at all.

Isabella

"Oh, that was not a productive day at all." I muttered under my breath as I shoved the door open, stepping into the dark, empty apartment. The quiet hit me like a brick wall, suffocating. I didn't bother with the lights, the shadows already felt like a fitting reflection of my mood. Bruised, exhausted, and pissed off, I dragged myself up the stairs to my room, each step making the pain in my body scream louder.

The damn woods had been a bust. Spent the whole damn day trying to shift, and I couldn't do it. Nothing. Not a flicker of the power I should've had. Was I cursed? Or maybe my father was right, and I really was as weak as he always said. Maybe that was why he couldn't get rid of me fast enough.

And then there was her—her damn face still stuck in my head, the stupid bimbo from the woods. As if I didn't have enough to deal with. And Sebastián… oh, don't even get me started on him. It was like he had a lease on my mind, living there rent-free, always replaying in my head like a broken record.

I sighed, exasperated. What's the point? He thought I was weak, too. I knew it. He wouldn't even look at me the same way again. So why bother thinking about him? About the damn bond?

"You're not weak, Bella. We are stronger than you think," Natie's voice rang in my head, as usual, trying to soothe me.

I shook my head, not in the mood for any of her crap. "Please don't tell me that I'm 'special.' Because trust me, I didn't feel special when I was on all fours, trying to shift, humiliated. If anyone had seen me out there… god, I would've died from the embarrassment."

I could feel Natie's silence, but I didn't care. I didn't need any half-hearted affirmations right now. I was bruised—physically, emotionally. I was so damn tired of trying to put on a brave face when everything felt like it was falling apart. I had come here thinking it was going to be a fresh start, but all it had brought was the same shit as Lucian's pack. Same tormentor, same bully, same cold pack that didn't give a damn about me. Zoey, though... Zoey was the only one who had my back.

"No," Natie's voice sliced through my thoughts again. "It's not the same. You have a mate here. And he'll protect and cherish us."

I almost snorted at her words. "We both know that's not true. But hey, thanks for the daily dose of false hope. I wake up every morning thinking today will be different. I hope, I dream… and then by the end of the day, it all comes crashing down. Sebastián? I'm lucky if I even get a second of his attention before I'm left feeling like I'm invisible all over again."

I scoffed, feeling my hope drip away like water through my fingers. "Maybe it's me, huh? Maybe I just want to believe that someone would care. But at the end of the day, all I get is disappointment."

"A bond is about having faith, Bella," Natie's voice came, soft but unyielding.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "Faith?" I muttered under my breath, my voice heavy with sarcasm. "Faith doesn't heal bruises, Natie. It doesn't fix broken bones. It doesn't make someone care about you when they don't even look your way."

I know i was being mean to Natie but i didn't feel like debating this right now, so I just let the conversation die. I wanted silence. Peace.

I stepped into the bathroom, hoping the action would distract me. I fumbled around for a few candles, found a handful of scented ones, and lit them, spreading their weak flicker of light across the bathroom. The shadows danced on the walls, but I didn't care.

I took off my hoodie, then my shirt, leaving only my sports bra. My skin burned where the bruises were already spreading—purple and angry against my skin. I winced with each small movement, feeling the ache of the kick from earlier. My ribs felt broken, but I couldn't tell for sure.

As I turned to look in the mirror, I froze. There was a growl—a deep, low sound—coming from behind me. My heart slammed into my chest. I didn't even have time to react before my eyes caught his reflection. Sebastián. He was standing right there.

For a heartbeat, I couldn't move. My body went rigid, panic flooding my veins. I quickly crossed my arms over my chest, my skin prickling under his gaze.

And then—before I could even process what was happening—a scream tore from my throat. My mind was a whirlpool of confusion and adrenaline. Sebastián. Why the hell was he here? How long had he been standing there?

My breath hitched, and I tried to make sense of it all.