The night was silent, the air still, as if the world itself was holding its breath.
The Cullen house stood at the edge of the forest, bathed in silver light from the stars scattered across the sky.
Even though the sight was beautiful, my heart was heavy, pounding with the weight of the choice I faced.
Inside that house was the life I had built, the family that had offered me refuge, a haven I had cherished.
But outside, standing beside me, was the love I could never deny—the life I had been running from, the man I could never truly leave behind.
I didn’t hear Klaus approach.
He moved with the silent grace of a predator, but his presence wrapped around me before he ever touched me.
Klaus was a force, one that no amount of time or distance could ever break, and as he stood there, his gaze softened, a look reserved only for me.
“Lost in thought, my love?” he murmured, brushing a stray lock of hair from my face, his fingers lingering against my skin as though he feared I might vanish.
That simple touch stirred something deep within me, something primal, a reminder of a thousand years spent with him by my side.
“I have a lot on my mind, Nik,” I admitted, leaning into his touch. Being with him felt so achingly familiar, like finding my way back to myself after being lost for too long. “Being here with you, it feels... like coming home. But there’s a lot to consider. The Cullens... my life here...”
Klaus’s lips curled into a small, knowing smile, but there was a possessive gleam in his eyes. “You’re trying to fit into their world, my darling, but it’s not your world. Not really. You belong with us, with me. No matter how hard you try, you can’t outrun your own nature.” He smirked, a hint of his trademark mischief. “Besides, playing house with... sparkling fairies? It hardly suits you.”
I laughed despite myself, the sound soft in the night. “You know, Damon says the same thing about them. Guess the two of you aren’t so different after all.”
Klaus chuckled, a low, amused rumble. But then, his tone grew serious.
He stepped closer, cradling my face with both hands. “Isabella, I’ve given you time. I let you have your peace, let you hide. But I cannot bear it anymore, not when I know you’re here. Do you realize how much it pains me to think of you with them, pretending to be something you’re not?”
The raw vulnerability in his eyes stirred something deep within me, and I felt my walls crumbling.
I had spent so long keeping him at arm’s length, convincing myself that my life with the Cullens could somehow be enough.
But nothing could ever replace the history, the depth, the love I shared with Klaus.
“I didn’t want to be apart either, Nik,” I whispered, reaching up to place my hand over his. “But the Cullens… they’re good people. I didn’t want to bring my past—and all its dangers—into their lives.”
Klaus nodded slowly, his gaze thoughtful, yet he tightened his grip on my hand. “You’ve always been noble, Isabella. Perhaps even foolishly so. But you’re a Mikaelson. And that comes with enemies who would stop at nothing to destroy what we hold dear.”
I could see it now—the shadows flickering in his eyes, the weight he carried. He hadn’t come here only for me. “There’s something else, isn’t there?” I asked, searching his face.
Klaus’s expression darkened.
He wrapped an arm around me, guiding me toward the wooden swing on the porch, pulling me close as we sat.
He ran his fingers gently through my hair, his thumb tracing patterns on my shoulder, and I leaned into him, savoring the quiet intimacy of the moment.
“It’s Tyler Lockwood,” he said finally, his tone low, edged with restrained fury. “He’s alive, defying me once again. I had assumed he would stay gone, but it seems I misjudged his resilience. He’s lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.”
I felt my muscles tense, memories of Tyler’s relentless rebellion flashing through my mind.
Klaus had always loomed over Tyler, a constant reminder of his power, and Tyler had hated it. “So, you think he’s planning something?”
Klaus’s jaw clenched, and I felt his frustration, his fierce protectiveness. “Yes. I believe he’s found allies, other wolves and hybrids, perhaps even witches, willing to support his defiance. And I won’t stand for it—not now, not with you at risk.”
The fire in his voice brought me a strange sense of comfort.
No matter the world we were up against, I knew that Klaus would always be my protector, my fiercest ally. “Then let’s go to Mystic Falls,” I said, finding strength in my own voice. “Let’s face him together.”
Klaus’s face softened, the tension melting away as he looked at me, pride and adoration in his gaze. “There’s my fearless Isabella,” he murmured, brushing his lips against mine, a kiss that held both promise and longing.
As we pulled apart, a movement at the window caught my eye.
Edward was watching us, his face half-hidden in shadow, but the pain and understanding in his eyes were unmistakable.
I knew that he had heard every word, and my heart ached for the hurt I was causing him.
“Klaus,” I said softly, glancing back toward the house. “I need to talk to him. I owe him an explanation.”
Klaus’s face tightened, a flicker of jealousy crossing his features, but he nodded. “Go. I’ll wait here.”
With a heavy heart, I walked toward the door and stepped inside, feeling the tension settle over me as I found Edward standing in the dimly lit hallway.
His expression was conflicted, torn between the love he had for me and the truth that had just shattered the foundation of his world.
“Edward,” I began, searching for the right words. “I know this must be difficult to understand, but...”
He held up a hand, stopping me. “You don’t have to explain, Bella. Or should I say, Isabella Mikaelson?” His voice was strained, raw, and I could feel his pain like a weight pressing down on my chest. “All this time... you were hiding. But not from danger. You were hiding from yourself.”
I nodded, the guilt weighing heavily on me. “I tried to be someone else, Edward. Someone who could live a quiet, normal life. But I am not that person, and I don’t want to hurt you by pretending to be.”
He closed his eyes for a long moment before meeting my gaze, the love and understanding in his eyes more than I deserved. “I just want you to be happy, Bella. Even if that happiness isn’t with me.”
A tear slipped down my cheek as I reached out, squeezing his hand. “Thank you, Edward. For everything.”
He gave me a sad smile, a look of acceptance, and I felt a sense of closure. With one last, lingering glance, I turned and walked back to Klaus, feeling the weight lift from my shoulders.
Klaus looked at me, his eyes searching mine, and I nodded, signaling that I was ready. “Then it’s settled,” he murmured, his voice filled with quiet pride and fierce determination. “Together, we will face whatever comes.”
With his arm wrapped around me, we left the Cullen house, stepping into the darkness of the forest.
As we walked, a sense of purpose settled over me, a feeling that I was finally where I belonged—beside him, in the life I was always meant to lead.
Mystic Falls awaited us, and with it, the battles we had both fought so hard to escape.
But I knew that as long as Klaus was by my side, we could face anything.
YOU ARE READING
Lost in Love
Fanfiction[Book 1- in the Isabella series] Isabella Petrova Mikaelson, the wife of the Original Hybrid, had been living with the Cullens for more than a year, yearning to be reunited with her husband. As the days turned into months, she found solace in her ne...
