The Wolf's Obsession

Chapter 16: Unspoken Desires

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The sun had dipped low in the sky by the time they stopped again. Alessandro had pushed them farther than any of them expected, his iron will propelling him forward despite his injury.

They found refuge in the remnants of an old barn, its skeletal frame hidden by overgrown vines and towering trees.

Isabella sat on a crate, watching as Alessandro leaned heavily against the barn wall, his hand pressed to his side. His breathing was labored, but his expression was as unreadable as ever.

She couldn't tell if he was in pain or simply lost in thought, but something about his silence unsettled her.

Elena busied herself with unpacking what little food they had left, shooting occasional glances at the pair of them.

Isabella could feel the maid's curiosity like a weight pressing against her back, but she didn't have the energy to address it.

Instead, she stood and crossed the barn, stopping a few feet from Alessandro. "You need to rest," she said, her voice softer than she intended.

He glanced at her, his sharp blue eyes piercing even in the dim light. "I'll rest when I'm dead," he replied flatly.

"Don't say that," she snapped, surprising herself with the force of her words.

Alessandro raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching as though he were fighting a smirk. "Worried about me, tesoro?"

Her cheeks flushed at the term of endearment, though she knew he was using it to rile her.

"I'm worried about myself," she shot back. "If you keel over, who's going to get us out of this mess?"

The smirk disappeared, replaced by something far more serious. Alessandro stepped away from the wall, closing the distance between them with a deliberate slowness that sent a shiver down Isabella's spine.

"I told you before," he said, his voice low and intense. "I won't let anything happen to you."

Her heart pounded as he moved closer, his towering frame casting a shadow over her. She wanted to look away, to break the tension that was building between them, but she couldn't. His eyes held her captive as surely as his actions had.

"You can't keep making promises you can't keep," she whispered, her voice trembling.

"And you can't keep running headfirst into danger," he countered, his gaze flickering to her lips for a fraction of a second.

Isabella's breath hitched. She hated how easily he got under her skin, how his presence made her pulse race even when she was furious with him.

"Maybe I wouldn't have to if you trusted me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Alessandro's jaw tightened, and for a moment, she thought he might snap at her. But then his expression softened, and he reached out, his fingers brushing against her cheek.

"I do trust you," he murmured. "That's why this is so dangerous."

Her chest tightened at the raw emotion in his voice. She wanted to say something, to demand an explanation, but the words caught in her throat. All she could do was stare up at him, caught in the storm of his gaze.

Before she could process what was happening, Alessandro leaned in, his breath warm against her skin. Time seemed to slow as his lips brushed hers, soft and tentative at first, as though he were testing the waters.

The kiss was brief, but it left her reeling. Alessandro pulled back just enough to look at her, his eyes searching hers for a reaction. Isabella's mind raced, her body torn between pulling him closer and pushing him away.

"What are you doing?" she whispered, her voice shaky.

"Something I shouldn't," he admitted, his tone heavy with regret.

Isabella swallowed hard, her emotions swirling in a chaotic mess. Part of her wanted to lash out, to remind him that he'd taken her against her will, that he had no right to her heart or her body. But another part of her-the part she tried desperately to ignore-yearned for him in a way that terrified her.

Before either of them could say more, Elena's voice shattered the moment. "We have company," she said, her tone urgent.

Alessandro spun around, his hand instinctively reaching for the gun at his side. Isabella followed his gaze, her heart dropping as she saw the flash of headlights through the trees.

"Get back," Alessandro ordered, his voice sharp.

Elena grabbed Isabella's arm, pulling her toward the back of the barn. Alessandro moved to the entrance, his posture tense as he watched the approaching vehicle.

"Stay hidden," he said over his shoulder, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Isabella's heart pounded as she crouched behind a stack of crates with Elena. Her mind raced with questions, her body still humming from the kiss she hadn't expected and couldn't quite forget.

The sound of car doors slamming echoed through the barn, followed by the crunch of boots on gravel. Alessandro stepped out of the shadows, his gun raised.

"This is private property," he called out, his voice cold and commanding. "State your business."

A man stepped into the light, his hands raised in mock surrender. He was tall and lean, his face shadowed by a wide-brimmed hat. "Relax, lupo," he said, his tone casual. "I'm not here to fight."

"Then why are you here?" Alessandro demanded.

The man smiled, a sly, predatory grin that sent a chill down Isabella's spine. "To deliver a message," he said. "From De Luca."

Isabella's blood ran cold at the name. She glanced at Alessandro, her stomach twisting at the subtle shift in his posture. He was tense, but there was something else-something that looked alarmingly like fear.

"What message?" Alessandro asked, his voice steady despite the tension in his frame.

The man's grin widened. "He wants you to know he's coming for you. And he's bringing an army."

The words hung in the air like a death sentence. Alessandro didn't flinch, but Isabella could see the flicker of concern in his eyes.

"Tell De Luca he can try," Alessandro said, his voice like steel. "But he'll regret it."

The man tipped his hat, his smile never wavering. "Suit yourself," he said. "Just don't say I didn't warn you."

He turned and walked back to his car, his steps unhurried as though he had all the time in the world.

As the vehicle disappeared into the night, Alessandro lowered his gun, his shoulders sagging slightly. He turned to Isabella and Elena, his expression grim.

"Pack whatever you can carry," he said, his voice low. "We're leaving. Now."

The urgency in his tone sent a jolt of fear through Isabella, but she forced herself to focus. Whatever was coming, it was clear that De Luca wasn't finished with them yet.
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To be continued...
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