The Chosen One •

36

✨🌕 Isabel 🌕✨

We'd already made two trips back to the car, and my arms were practically overflowing with bags—most of them from stores I hadn't even stepped into before today. Kaiya insisted on buying almost everything, even when I protested that she didn't need to. But it didn't matter. Every time I said no, she would smile and say, "Just let me spoil you a little, Isabel. You deserve it." And how could I say no to that?

Now, we were seated in a cozy, family-owned Japanese hibachi restaurant tucked away in the lower level of the mall. The warm, inviting smell of sizzling meats and grilled vegetables hit me as soon as we walked in, and I could already tell it was going to be a meal to remember. The restaurant had an intimate, homey vibe—dim lights, wooden tables, and a chef at the grill, flames flickering up with every toss of the spatula.

Kaiya and I settled into our seats, the faint hum of chatter around us blending with the rhythmic sound of the grill. I picked up the menu, but I already knew what I wanted. The craving for steak had been growing in me all day, and even though I had been raised vegetarian, my body was begging for it.

"I know what I'm getting," I said, glancing at Kaiya with a smirk.

Kaiya raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Oh, I do too."

I leaned back, stretching out my legs under the table. "I'll have the steak." It was almost strange saying it out loud, but the craving was undeniable.

Kaiya laughed softly. "I figured you would. You're definitely more like your father than you realize. He could never resist steak either."

I smiled, surprised by how much I liked hearing that. It made me feel a little more connected to Marcus, even if he wasn't here with me.

The waiter—an energetic teenager who looked to be about 16—approached us with a friendly smile. He had dark, thick hair cut short and tan skin. "Hi, my name's Austin. I'll be your server today. What can I get for you ladies?"

"I'll have the steak as well," Kaiya said with a wink. "And make it medium rare, please."

Austin nodded and turned to me. "And you?"

I hesitated for a moment, but the growl in my stomach reminded me how badly I wanted it. "Steak, please. Same thing, medium rare."

Austin raised an eyebrow at me. "I don't think I've seen you around here before. Are you new to the area?"

I nodded, smiling shyly. "Yeah, just visiting for a little while."

Kaiya chimed in. "She's a part of the pack now," she added casually, not realizing the shock that the words would have on Austin. His eyes widened for a second, but he didn't say anything more about it, just nodded and scurried off to place our order.

We watched him leave, and I turned back to Kaiya, who was already eyeing me with a look of interest. "You've been quiet today. What's on your mind?"

I shrugged, leaning my chin in my hand. "I was just thinking about everything that's been happening... and how fast it's all moving. One minute, I was just a girl trying to figure out my place in this world, and now... well, now I'm part of this pack, part of this family."

Kaiya's expression softened as she reached over and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. "You belong here, Isabel. Don't ever doubt that."

I nodded, feeling a little warmth spread through me. "I know. It's just... sometimes it's overwhelming. I wasn't expecting any of this—especially not all the changes, the magic, the shifting, and..." I trailed off, not sure how to voice the heavy feeling that had been sitting in my chest.