The Wolf's Obsession

Chapter 18: Into the Shadows

.
The forest was eerily quiet as Isabella crept through the undergrowth, the iron poker clutched tightly in her hands. Every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig made her heart leap, but she pushed forward, her fear outweighed by the gnawing need to find Alessandro.

The moonlight barely penetrated the dense canopy above, casting everything in shades of shadow. Isabella strained her ears, trying to catch any sound that might guide her, but the forest seemed determined to swallow her whole.

“Alessandro,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

No response.

Her chest tightened as she imagined the worst. Alessandro was injured—what if he hadn’t been able to defend himself? What if the gunshot she’d heard had been meant for him?

She shook the thought away, forcing herself to focus. Alessandro was many things—ruthless, stubborn, infuriating—but weak wasn’t one of them. If anyone could survive this, it was him.

As she moved deeper into the woods, she spotted a faint light ahead. It flickered like a dying ember, barely visible through the trees.

Her pulse quickened as she approached, the light growing stronger with every step. It wasn’t a flashlight, as she’d initially thought, but a small lantern, its glow casting long, dancing shadows across the forest floor.

Beneath the light stood Alessandro, his back to her. He was holding his gun at arm’s length, the barrel trained on a man kneeling before him.

“Talk,” Alessandro growled, his voice low and menacing.

The kneeling man was shaking, his hands raised in surrender. “I don’t know anything, I swear! De Luca just sent us to scout—he didn’t tell us why.”

“Lies,” Alessandro hissed, stepping closer. The lantern’s glow caught the cold glint of his gun. “De Luca doesn’t send scouts without a reason. What’s he planning?”

“I don’t know!” the man cried, his voice cracking. “Please, I’m just a messenger!”

Isabella froze, her breath caught in her throat. She knew Alessandro was dangerous, but seeing him like this—so cold, so merciless—sent a chill down her spine.

“Alessandro,” she said, stepping into the light.

His head snapped toward her, his expression hardening. “What are you doing here?”

“I couldn’t just sit and wait,” she said, her voice shaking. “I thought—”

“You thought what?” he interrupted, his tone sharp. “That you’d come out here and save me?”

She flinched at the bitterness in his words but held her ground. “I thought you might need help.”

Alessandro stared at her for a moment, his jaw tight. Then he turned back to the man on the ground, his grip on the gun tightening.

“Let him go,” Isabella said, her voice steady despite the fear clawing at her chest.

Alessandro didn’t move. “You don’t understand, Isabella. Men like him—they’re the reason people like us don’t get to sleep at night. If I let him go, he’ll run straight back to De Luca.”

“He’s unarmed,” she said, stepping closer. “Killing him won’t solve anything.”

The man on the ground seized the opportunity, turning his pleading eyes on Isabella. “Please, miss,” he begged. “I have a family. I didn’t ask for this.”

Alessandro let out a harsh laugh. “And I suppose they forced you to put on that uniform, too?”

The man’s silence was answer enough.

Isabella placed a hand on Alessandro’s arm, her touch tentative but firm. “You’re better than this,” she said softly. “You don’t have to be like them.”

For a moment, she thought she saw something flicker in his eyes—hesitation, maybe even regret. But then his expression hardened, and he yanked his arm away.

“You don’t know what you’re asking,” he said, his voice low.

“Yes, I do,” she replied. “I’m asking you to prove that you’re not a monster.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and unspoken. Alessandro’s jaw tightened, his finger hovering over the trigger.

Then, with a growl of frustration, he lowered the gun.

“Go,” he spat at the man on the ground. “Before I change my mind.”

The man didn’t wait to be told twice. He scrambled to his feet and disappeared into the darkness, his footsteps fading into the distance.

Isabella let out a shaky breath, relief washing over her. But Alessandro didn’t look at her. He turned away, his posture tense as he stared into the shadows.

“You shouldn’t have come out here,” he said after a long silence.

“I couldn’t just do nothing,” she replied.

“You should’ve trusted me to handle it,” he said, his voice hard. “Now he knows you’re with me. De Luca will use that against us.”

His words stung, but she refused to back down. “I’m not some damsel in distress, Alessandro. I’m part of this now, whether you like it or not.”

He finally turned to her, his expression a mix of anger and something else—something she couldn’t quite name. “And that’s exactly what I’m afraid of.”

Before she could respond, the sound of rustling leaves drew their attention. Alessandro raised his gun, his body tensing as he scanned the darkness.

“Stay behind me,” he ordered, his voice low.

Isabella clutched the iron poker, her heart pounding. She could barely see through the shadows, but she could feel the presence of someone—or something—drawing closer.

And then, a voice called out.

“Alessandro.”

It was low and familiar, laced with a mixture of relief and irritation.

A figure stepped into the light, and Isabella’s breath caught.

It was Antonio.

“What the hell are you doing out here?” Antonio demanded, his gaze darting between Alessandro and Isabella. “And why wasn’t I called?”

Isabella’s heart raced as the two men stared each other down, the weight of their history palpable in the silence.

“I didn’t think I needed you, and, you were injured.” Alessandro said, his tone clipped.

Antonio let out a bitter laugh. “Well, clearly, you were wrong. I feel much better now, Alessandro.”

The tension between them crackled like a live wire, and Isabella couldn’t shake the feeling that this reunion was only the beginning of something far more dangerous.
.
.
.
To be continued...
.
.
.