AT THE SAME TIME
MICHAEL'S POINT OF VIEW:
The wind bit against my skin as I rode through the forest, branches tearing at my clothes like they could stop me. They couldn't. Nothing could.
"System." I growled low, eyes locked on the path ahead. "Confirm Xavier's current location."
"Alpha Xavier Blackthorn. Present at Black down Pack's stronghold. High security. Isabella: Vital signs stable. Emotional state… shaken."System said.
That last word made my chest tighten. Shaken. She wasn't supposed to feel like that. Not when she was under someone else's roof. Not when it wasn't me keeping her safe. I pushed faster, the growl rising in my throat. Blackdown Pack was barely twenty minutes ahead now, its tall, stone towers already visible through the thinning trees. My vision sharpened, that possessive instinct clawing to the surface.
"She's not his." I muttered. "She was never his to take."
"Reminder - Xavier is also a Taken Player 003 of 10. His influence in-game is rising. Be cautious."System said.
"Caution's off the table." I hissed. "He messed with the wrong person."
"Tracking markers online. Approaching outer perimeter of Black down Pack."System said.
The gate loomed ahead, guarded and cold. I didn't wait. With a single command, my system flared, temporarily freezing their sensors. I passed through like a shadow, unseen, unchallenged. I could feel her now, faint, but real. Somewhere deep in the west wing of the stronghold. Closer than she'd felt in hours. And her heartbeat spiked. She knew.
"Hold on, Isa." I whispered, stepping into the lion's den. "I'm here."
I slipped past the last two guards without a sound. They were too busy chatting to notice the flicker in their systems, so my override worked like a charm. Black down was secure, sure. The hallway ahead opened into a high-ceilinged chamber, warm light spilling across polished floors and thick velvet curtains. And there she was standing, my Isabella.
My pulse stilled for a second as I saw her standing near the hearth, arms crossed, her back rigid. Her hair caught the firelight like a halo. She wasn't tied up. She wasn't hurt. But her eyes… they didn't look relaxed. And next to her was nobody else but Xavier. I stepped closer, slow, silent. Hidden behind one of the arching pillars, I listened.
"I'm the one who saved you, Isabella." Xavier said smoothly, voice so confident it made my hands curl into fists. "You were poisoned in his territory. It was me who brought you back. Me who made sure you were safe."
Isabella didn't speak immediately. I watched her shift, her fingers twitching against the fabric of her dress.
"You make it sound like you didn't take me without asking." She said, her voice tight. "You didn't even tell me what was going on. You just moved me."
I could've kissed her for that. Xavier stepped closer.
"Michael's dangerous, Isabella. You don't know what he's capable of. I just want what's best for you."Xavier said.
I'd had enough. I stepped out of the shadows, my voice low, sharp.
"Funny, Xavier. That's exactly what I was thinking about you."I said.
Isabella turned, eyes wide.
"Michael-"She started.
Xavier froze, surprise giving way to a scowl.
"You're not supposed to be here."He growled lightly.
"Yeah, well." I said, walking toward them with slow, calculated steps. "You weren't supposed to kidnap her either."
I stopped beside Isabella, meeting her gaze just long enough to see the way her breath hitched, the way her shoulders dropped an inch. She was glad to see me.
That was all I needed. I stepped in front of her, shoulders squared.
"She's leaving. Now."I said.
Xavier didn't move, but his eyes darkened.
"She's not your property."Xavier said.
"No." I said quietly. "She's herself. And she chooses who she trusts. You don't get to make that choice for her."
I reached back without looking, offering my hand.
"Come with me, Isabella."I said gently.
It did not taken long until Isabella's hand slid into mine. Warm. Steady. Trusting. That single moment unraveled every knot in my chest. I wrapped my fingers around hers, firm but gentle, as if the act alone could anchor her to me. Behind us, Xavier went still. Too still.
"You're making a mistake." He said finally, his voice low and shaking with something coiled and dangerous. "She was recovering here. Safe. You barged into my territory, violated neutral ground-"
"Neutral?" I scoffed. "You took her without consent. That's not neutral, Xavier. That's cowardice."I said.
He took a step forward, shoulders squaring.
"I did what I had to. You weren't protecting her."He said.
"She was in my care."I said.
"She was in danger."He argued.
"And now she's with me." I said flatly. "You'll need to get over it."
For a second, it looked like he might actually shift. His jaw clenched so hard I heard it pop. His eyes were glowing faintly, that inner Alpha energy simmering beneath the surface. But I didn't flinch. I couldn't. Not when Isabella stood so still beside me, her fingers still laced in mine like she chose this, chose me.
"She's not your mate." Xavier growled out.
I stepped closer, letting my voice drop until it was just for the three of us.
"And you're not hers."I said.
Xavier's aura flared, his energy brushing up like static, sharp and challenging, but he didn't move. Not while Isabella was watching. Good.
"Go ahead." I added, my voice like ice. "Try and stop us. But know this, whatever bond you think you're building with her, whatever narrative you're spinning… it ends here."
I turned to Isabella, brushing my thumb gently over her knuckles.
"Ready?"I asked.
She gave the slightest nod.
And as we turned to leave, Xavier didn't follow. Not yet. But his silence wasn't surrender. It was a warning. I knew that he was not going to give up so fast. I did not cared at all. As long as I could have Isabella by my side, nothing else did not mattered to me.