The Confrontation
Draven shifted as he stepped into the clearing, his dark eyes blazing with fury. His gaze swept over the scene—the stranger locked in battle with Kael, Isla standing frozen in the chaos. Relief flickered across his face for the briefest moment before it was replaced by cold, unrelenting anger.
“Enough!” he roared, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade.
The combatants froze, Alaric stepping back cautiously while Kael turned to face Draven. His face was twisted with defiance, but there was fear in his eyes as the Alpha’s towering form closed the distance between them.
“Draven,” Kael said, his voice shaking slightly. “I can explain—”
“I don’t need your explanations,” Draven growled, his voice deadly. “You took what was mine. You betrayed this pack. And now, you’ll pay the price.”
Kael’s eyes darted to Isla, his desperation palpable. “I was protecting her!” he cried. “She doesn’t belong with you—she never did!”
Draven’s jaw tightened, his wolf surging dangerously close to the surface. “You don’t get to decide where she belongs,” he said, his tone icy. “That’s her choice. And she chose me.”
Kael’s face crumpled, his defiance giving way to despair. “She doesn’t know what she’s choosing,” he said weakly. “She doesn’t know you.”
Draven ignored him, his gaze shifting to Isla. For a moment, the world seemed to fall away as their eyes met. “Isla,” he said softly, his voice losing some of its harshness. “Come here.”
Her legs felt like lead, but she forced herself to move forward. The moment she reached him, Draven pulled her into his arms, his grip firm but protective. She let out a shaky breath, the weight of everything she had endured crashing down around her.
“You’re safe now,” he murmured, his voice a low rumble.
But the moment was short-lived.
From behind them, a howl pierced the air, distant but unmistakable. Draven’s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing. Isla felt his body tense as he growled, low and dangerous.
“What is it?” she whispered.
“Trouble,” he said grimly. “We’re not done yet.”
