The Wolf's Obsession

Chapter 6: Fractures in the Darkness.

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Isabella's heart raced as Alessandro vanished down the hallway, his silhouette swallowed by shadows. The name "De Luca" echoed in her mind, conjuring images of the scarred man she'd seen in Alessandro's photos-the ruthless enemy who was capable of turning her very presence into a weapon against him.

The quiet of the mansion seemed to amplify her fear, the silence pressing in from every corner. But as much as her instinct screamed for her to lock herself away, a surge of determination took hold of her. Alessandro had spent days preparing her for danger, pushing her to break past her limits, and now, she wouldn't stand idle in the face of the very threat he'd warned her about.

Grabbing the dagger Alessandro had left on the training table, Isabella slipped out of the room and followed the faint sounds echoing down the hall. Her footsteps were soft, her breaths shallow as she moved with purpose through the winding corridors of the mansion. Her surroundings blurred, her focus narrowing on the faint, hushed voices that grew louder as she approached the main foyer.

There, concealed in the shadows of a hallway, she saw Alessandro standing near the entrance, facing a group of men clad in dark suits, their faces hardened, expressions unreadable. Her gaze shifted to the man at their center-the one who was unmistakably Lorenzo De Luca.

De Luca's presence was unnerving, his aura exuding a chilling calm. His scarred face was unreadable, yet his eyes held an unnerving intensity, like a predator who had finally cornered his prey. He spoke in low, measured tones, his voice smooth and controlled, yet laced with venom.

"Alessandro," De Luca drawled, his eyes narrowing. "It's been too long. And I must say, I'm disappointed to find you hiding behind these walls. I thought a man of your reputation would be more... welcoming."

Alessandro's posture was tense, his gaze sharp as he watched De Luca's every movement. "I don't make a habit of welcoming threats into my home," he replied, his voice cold and unyielding.

De Luca chuckled, his laughter echoing ominously through the foyer. "Threats? Now, Alessandro, is that any way to speak to an old friend? Especially when I've come to discuss something... personal."

A ripple of unease passed through the air, and Isabella felt her pulse quicken as De Luca's gaze shifted, sweeping slowly across the room as though searching for something-or someone. Instinctively, she pressed herself further into the shadows, her breath catching as his eyes lingered on the hallway she hid in, a flicker of curiosity crossing his face.

"You're wasting your time, Lorenzo," Alessandro said, his voice like ice. "There's nothing here for you."

"Ah," De Luca replied, feigning innocence as he took a step closer, "but I've heard whispers, Alessandro. Whispers that you've been keeping something... precious in your midst." He tilted his head, his gaze piercing. "Or perhaps I should say, someone."

Isabella's grip tightened around the dagger, her heart pounding in her chest. She saw Alessandro's jaw clench, his fists tightening by his sides as De Luca's insinuation hung heavy in the air.

"Your sources are misinformed," Alessandro said, his voice steely. "I have nothing of interest to you."

De Luca arched an eyebrow, a smirk curling at the edge of his mouth. "Then you won't mind if I have a look around, will you?" He gestured toward his men, and they began to fan out, their footsteps echoing ominously as they moved to search the mansion.

Isabella knew that if De Luca's men found her, it would be disastrous-not only for her but for Alessandro as well. She needed to move, but her legs felt like lead, her body frozen in the grip of terror. Think, Isabella. Focus. She forced herself to take a deep breath, her training with Alessandro flashing through her mind as she steadied herself.