Bound by Fate: The Alpha's Luna

Chapter 35: The Choice to Stay

Isabella's POV

The words Lilith had spoken during our meeting echoed in my mind long after she disappeared: No human left.

Every single human, including Jenni, had decided to stay. But why? Jenni, who had been with me through everything, had the same chance I did to go back—why had she chosen to remain here?

The more I thought about it, the more unsettled I became. I needed to understand her reasoning. Jenni and I had been close, and I felt guilty that I hadn't spoken to her in days. With everything happening—my Luna ceremony, the trial, the witch's revelations—I had lost touch with her. I needed to talk to her, to know what had driven her choice.

Determined to find her, I left the garden behind, the peaceful space offering me little comfort as questions swirled in my mind. I made my way through the pack house, the corridors quiet in the midday stillness, until I reached the wing where Jenni stayed. A soft knock on her door was met with a momentary silence, but soon enough, I heard the faint sound of footsteps, and the door creaked open.

Jenni stood there, her eyes widening slightly in surprise at seeing me. "Isabella," she said, a small smile pulling at her lips. "Hey."

I hesitated, unsure how to start the conversation, but I knew I couldn't beat around the bush. "Jenni, can we talk?"

She stepped aside, gesturing for me to come in. Her room was simple but cozy, the kind of space that reflected her practicality and calm demeanor. A faint scent of lavender lingered in the air, and a blanket she had brought from our world was folded neatly at the foot of her bed.

"Of course. What's going on?" she asked, sitting down on the edge of the bed, her expression open and welcoming.

I sat across from her, on a small chair by the window, gathering my thoughts. "Lilith told me something that's been bothering me," I began, my voice soft but steady. "She said that no one chose to leave. Not one human. That means you chose to stay too."

Jenni's expression didn't falter, but I saw a flicker of something in her eyes—something that told me she had been expecting this conversation.

"I did," she confirmed, her tone calm. "I chose to stay."

I leaned forward slightly, my heart racing. "Why, Jenni? Why didn't you go back when you had the chance?"

She sighed softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Because going back wouldn't have changed anything for me. I wasn't the same person anymore, and I knew that the life I left behind... it wasn't where I was supposed to be."

Her words caught me off guard. I had expected hesitation or confusion, but Jenni spoke with a quiet certainty that startled me.

"You were always so grounded," I said softly. "Back in our world, you seemed to have everything figured out."

Jenni smiled sadly. "It probably looked that way from the outside, but I was always searching for something more, something I couldn't find back home. Coming here, as terrifying as it was at first, gave me a chance to grow in ways I didn't know I needed. I found my place here."

I frowned, trying to understand. "But it's dangerous here. You had a chance to go back to safety, to what we knew. Didn't you miss it?"

Jenni's expression softened as she studied me. "Of course I missed it. But the longer I was here, the more I realized that our world... it wasn't what I needed. Yes, this place is dangerous, and there's so much we don't understand, but I found a purpose here. I found people who needed me, and that gave me a sense of belonging I didn't have before."

Her words resonated with me. I had been clinging to the idea of going back for so long, but maybe she was right. The world we left behind might not have been as fulfilling as I once thought.

"And what about you?" Jenni asked, tilting her head as she regarded me. "Why didn't you ask about going back?"

I bit my lip, hesitating before answering. "Because I didn't know if I belonged here at first... but now, I think I do. I feel tied to this place in ways I can't explain."

Jenni's eyes twinkled with understanding, but a mischievous glint crept into her expression as she leaned in closer. "Or maybe it has something to do with a certain silver-haired Alpha?"

I blinked, taken aback by her playful tone. "What?"

Jenni laughed, her smile widening. "Come on, Isabella, I was there for the Luna ceremony, remember? I saw the way Alaric looks at you—and the way you look at him. It's not just about duty, is it?"

Heat crept up my cheeks as I shook my head, trying to compose myself. "It's complicated."

"Oh, I'm sure it is," Jenni teased, her voice sweet but with a hint of mischief. "But you can't fool me. I've seen that look before. You care about him—more than you probably want to admit."

I shifted uncomfortably, feeling vulnerable under her probing gaze. "I do care about him, but it's not that simple, Jenni. There's this bond between us... it's intense, and sometimes it feels like too much."

Jenni's smile softened, and she leaned back against the headboard, crossing her arms. "Well, from where I'm sitting, it seems like Alaric is crazy about you. And honestly, Isabella, I think you're lucky. I've seen the way he protects you, how he looks at you like you're the most important person in the world. That kind of connection... it's rare."

I looked down at my hands, feeling the weight of her words sink in. She was right—Alaric's presence in my life had been a constant source of strength, even when I didn't know how to handle everything. But it was still overwhelming, the intensity of it all.

"I just... I don't know if I'm ready for all of this," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

Jenni reached out and placed a comforting hand on mine. "I get it. This world, the bond, being Luna—it's a lot. But you don't have to figure it all out at once. Take it one step at a time. You've got people who care about you, and Alaric—he'll be by your side through all of it."

I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Thanks, Jenni. I needed to hear that."

She gave my hand a gentle squeeze. "Anytime, Isa. And hey, if you ever need some girl talk about your Alpha, you know where to find me."

I laughed softly, feeling lighter than I had in days. "I'll keep that in mind."

As we sat there, the weight of my worries seemed to ease. Jenni's words and her teasing had reminded me that I wasn't alone, that there were people who cared about me in this world. And maybe, just maybe, this was where I was supposed to be—at least for now.