The Chosen One •

7

**A/N: I added on to the end of the last chapter so re read if you need to and the beginning of this chapter will make sense.

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🐺 Kun 🐺

My father's words rang in my head like the beat of a war drum: Rogue wolves in the north, nothing like we've ever seen before. Their unpredictability was bad enough, but the way he described them made my skin prickle. They weren't just a nuisance; they were a threat to everyone—packs, humans, and anyone else who happened to cross their path. If left unchecked, these rogues could ignite chaos in ways we couldn't afford.

He ordered me to lead an investigation, to join forces with wolves from other packs—wolves I wasn't exactly keen on working with. But none of that mattered. An alpha's responsibility was to protect, to neutralize threats before they reached the den.

The weight of it settled on me as I walked back toward the guest wing, my thoughts clouded with strategy and preparation. But as much as I tried to focus on the mission, one voice kept pulling me away.

Hers.

Isabel.

Her laughter from earlier, soft and fleeting, felt like a distant melody now. And her words—the ones I wasn't supposed to hear—stung deeper than I cared to admit.

Rejecting me for Antonio.

The name churned in my head like poison. The idea of her choosing someone else, anyone else, was maddening. But when I thought about Antonio, whoever the hell he was, I couldn't ignore the searing ache in my chest.

I checked my watch. Five minutes have passed.

I found her outside near the edge of the property, standing alone by the treeline. Her arms were wrapped around herself, her hair catching the moonlight, and her scent—sweet and familiar—drew me in like gravity.

"Isabel," I called, my voice rougher than I intended.

She turned, startled, her wide eyes searching mine. "Kun? What's wrong?"

I crossed the space between us, feeling her unease spike as I closed the distance. "I heard you earlier. Talking to Tara."

Her brows knitted together, and I watched the color drain from her face. She knew exactly what I was talking about.

"I overheard you," I said, keeping my voice low. "You were talking about rejecting me. For Antonio."

Her mouth opened, then closed. She took a shaky breath, her shock shifting into something sharper. "You were eavesdropping?"

"I wasn't trying to," I snapped, then bit back the frustration in my tone. "But it doesn't matter how I heard it. What matters is you were serious."

Her silence was answer enough.

"You're actually thinking about rejecting me?" My voice rose despite myself, and I hated how desperate I sounded.

Isabel crossed her arms, her chin lifting as a glint of defiance flashed in her eyes. "And what if I am?" she said, her tone cutting.

Anger and disbelief bubbled up in my chest. "Why?"

That one word hung between us, thick and heavy, until she gave a bitter laugh.

"You're really asking me why? Kun, you've made it clear you don't want me. You've been nothing but angry since we met." She stepped closer, her voice rising. "You think I don't notice the way you look at me? Like I'm some kind of mistake? A human mistake."