Betrayal. Heartbreak. Murder. Isabella's world shattered when her husband's affair with her sister was revealed. Brutally assaulted in her own home, with her husband's cold gaze upon her, she witnessed the gruesome murder of her fated mate right before her eyes. Consumed by agony, Isabella begged for a second chance. And then in a whirl of time, she woke up on her wedding day. Armed with the knowledge of the past, Isabella has a fierce determination to get her revenge and choose right in the second chance she has been given. Will she be able to choose right and find redemption or will the darkness of her past consume her once again?
I'm going to die.
Dots of red and black stained my vision as rivers of blood escaped from the millions of wounds on my body, staining the parquet floors of the Whitefang palace. My body was spread like an offering and a blinding pain ran through my body. Especially from that secret place in between my thighs.
I tried to pull myself off the floor when a jolt of pain shot up my body from my stomach. And after mere seconds of disorientation, my eyes widened as realization washed over me like a wave from the coldest ocean.
My baby? Is my baby okay?
I lifted my hand and placed it on my rounded tummy and a sob left my lips as I could no longer feel the fierce kicks of the life that grew within me. Instead all I could feel was an emptiness that sent a chill up my spine.
Fat tears blurred my vision and anguish washed over me as I moaned over the silence of my baby, silently cursing the rogues that assaulted me in my own home.
My eyes landed on the silhouette of a man at the doorway and my heart pounded against the skeletal confinements within my chest. Has one of the rogues come back to finish what they started and end my life? Is he here to have another go at my battered body? Is he here for Brenda?
Millions of questions ran through my head as the ominous stranger stalked towards me with slow, calculated steps and my heart almost broke through my chest.
Till I saw his face. And then my poor heart just stopped beating and dropped to the pits of my stomach.
A familiar mop of brown hair, tanned skin and a pair of icy blue eyes made the face of Jack Whitefang, the new Alpha of the Iron claw pack and my husband. The man who I helped ascend the throne of his father. The man who I have loved since my childhood. The man who took vows to protect me from every evil that threatened to harm me.
And yet... he was the same man who had been standing there, watching me getting brutally assaulted by six rouges with a smug look in his eyes. The same man who watched a heinous act was happening to me in our matrimonial home.
Anguish spread all over me. I didn't understand why he did that. What did I do to deserve this?
"Hey, little wife," he spoke with an upsettingly calm voice and the corners of his lips tilted upwards as I watched him with teary eyes.
"J...Jack."
"In the flesh. Did you enjoy yourself?"
"Why?...why did you...watch me get raped? Why didn't you...sa..save me? Why are you so calm?" a series of questions fell from my lips, my body trembling from pain and betrayal.
His slightly tilted lips grew into a full blown smirk and his eyes held a glint that caused an unsettling feeling stir within me.
He leaned closer and placed his lips on the shell of my ear before he whispered ever so softly.
"Because you deserve it."
He pulled away from me with the smirk still on his lips. My eyes widened from his response. I deserve it? What did I do wrong? Was it a crime to love you?
"What..what do you mean? What do you mean by that, Jack?" I asked him with a broken voice and the smirk on his face grew at how vulnerable I sounded. But I don't care. Not when I just heard the most bone–breaking revelation that ever lived.
"I mean that I planned everything. I got the rogues to come rape you in own home. I convinced the rogues to damage your body till there was no chance you would survive."
I didn't know I was crying till drops of my tears fell onto the puddle of blood under me and a string of sobs threatened to leave my lips.
"Why," I spoke in a broken voice hoping that the reason he did this to me was enough to cost the life of our child. Maybe he was being forced? Maybe he was a victim? Maybe he was...?
"I did it because I hate you. I hate every single thing about you. I hate the way you make people believe that you are the best thing to them. I hate the way you walk through the halls acting like you own them." I couldn't recognise his voice. His voice sounds strange. Has he always hated me since all these while? Has he always hated me yet put his child in me? Has he...
As I wanted to open my mouth to ask, a lady ran in and hugged Jack from behind. I titled my head to get the glimpse of the new woman until the voice broke me completely.
"Jackie, I couldn't find you when I woke up," the familiar whiny nasal voice. The whiny voice I've come accustomed to since I was a child. The whiny voice of my cousin - Brenda.
"I'm sorry, princess. I need to take care of this bitch," he mumbled, pulled her closer, and kissed her forehead.
I glanced from Jack to my cousin, what's happening? What's going on? As Jack noticed my gaze, he pulled Brenda behind him and kicked me in my stomach which made me roll over and howled in pain, holding my already agonizing stomach.
"I had intended on leaving you but you dare to poison my princess, you want to kill my love!" he growled, his eyes darkened and his voice was octave, "You want to kill her?!" as I shook my head. I didn't do it.
Tears rolled from my cheeks, "I-" my voice was clogged, it wasn't coming out.
I didn't poison her, I shook my head vehemently to prove my innocence and I looked to Brenda, my eyes pleading for her to explain but she snickered and turned away. And at that moment, I knew I was a complete fool.
I was in between them, I was used and I've been used. Betrayal tore through my bloodstream like water as laughter ripped out of me in disbelief.
I laughed with every ounce of energy in me at my dismay, I laughed at my naivety, I laughed at my innocence as my body shook with tears and mucus running on my face.
I believed him, I believed her, I believed them. I thought I was loved and welcomed but I was just a pawn in their game. I wish I could tell them that.
"baby, she's scaring me," I saw Brenda clutching the front cloak of Jackie weakly. Pretending as usual to be weak and a lotus flower.
"Sorry love," Jackie fawned before he turned to me and slapped me hard. "Shut up!"
But the moment the words tried to leave my lips, a loud bang came from outside the palace and a thunderous voice roared with a ferociousness that could only belong to one man.
"ISABELLA!!"
Adrian?
A sigh left Jack's lips and he got up from the upside down and stared at me with disgust swirling in his orbs.
"It seems my brother would never learn that he can never beat me. I have the kingdom in my favor thanks to you," he turned to me, "and I have my father's throne thanks to you. He thinks he can save the mate that left him for his little brother but he's leaving this place with nothing. Not even his life." Jack mocked.
My heart sank to my stomach once more as Jack grabbed my hair and dragged my already weak body out the room. White-hot pain ran through my form and I struggled in his grasp.
He strode into the throne room, sat on the throne before pushing me forward, my body rolled through the stairs down to the ground floor as my body screamed in pain.
My head was throbbing immensely, my body trembled tremendously in pain as my eyes darted to the man covered in blood in front of me.
The sight before me caused my heart to sink.
Before me was Adrian fighting an intense battle with at least 6 wolves. Uncontrollable tears fell from my eyes as I took in blood oozing from the wounds on his skin and exhaustion weighted on his shoulders but he was still fighting.
For me.
"Hello, brother," Jack said in a taunting voice as he walked calmly down the stairs from the throne to the ground floor.
Due to Jack's voice, Adrian turned to us with anger brimming through his eyes staring at his half brother but the rage faded when they landed on my battered body.
"Isa..." he called out weakly, pushing away in a flash the wolf that was in his front and took some steps only to stop by Jack.
"If you want her to live, then surrender to me." Jack stated, coming to my side as he pulled my hair.
Adrian looked at me with desperation, his body shook as he clenched his fist, he raised his hands in surrender and fell on his knees.
Don't do this, Adrian.
"Hahaha!" Jack laughed out, holding his stomach as he pointed to Adrian mockingly, "The great war hero is on his knees for me," he taunted while Adrian only stared at me.
Adrian's eyes were red with unshed tears, as he dropped his hands in surrender, showing total submission to Jack.
I shook my head, trying to stop him but it was futile. I didn't deserve his love, his sacrifice. I'm unworthy of him. I rejected, betrayed, chose his brother over him yet he was here on his knees to save my pathetic life.
We were so lost in each other's gaze that we didn't notice a rogue sneaking behind Adrian.
"Isabella, don't struggle. I'll save you..." His words came out incoherent with blood coming out from his mouth and gushing out from the spear he was stabbed with.
His words died in his throat as he blinked continuously, in our little reunion, a wolf had sneaked up behind him and stabbed him with a spear.
His body dangled on his knees as he coughed out more blood, I willed my weak body to save him.
By the time I crawled to reach him, his head was severed and his lifeless body fell limp on the ground, his head rolled to my feet.
An agonizing scream ripped out from my throat as his blood splattered on my body. Covered me and burnt me like a red lava.
I laughed humorlessly, reviewing my actions and deeds and gently cradled the severed head, caressed his face. His eyes were wide opened.
His eyes which were full of love, adoration and care for me had nothing. It was blank, empty and dull.
I've chosen wrong this life. I didn't deserve his love. I didn't deserve his desire and now because of me Adrian is dead. The only man to ever love me is dead. And it's because of me.
My hands dropped, my body getting numbed and in my peripheral vision I saw Jack and Brenda, hugging and smooching and I felt a wave of anger rushed over me.
I can't die like this! It's too pathetic! I can't let them get away! I looked out of the window, staring at the brightmoon in anger, betrayal and anguish flowing over me.
I raised my hands up with Adrian's head in my palm as tears streamed down my face, "if you are truly the one we worship and you witness all what happened, please give me a chance to choose again, give me a chance to write my wrong..."
My words died in my throat as it was unbearable from pain, I turned my head in a will of time to see my cousin Brenda holding the handle of the knife and knife was in me.
She stabbed me, she betrayed me to the end. I glared hard at her, clenched my teeth in anger to make out my words as I felt my body giving up.
"....a chance to crush my enemies."
And everything went dark.
~~~
Everything was dark, I was swimming in darkness.
I could still feel the pain in my back where Brenda stabbed me.
Where am I?
I could hear some hazy voices but I couldn't grasp the words. I turned and turned, the darkness was swallowing me up.
No! I screamed to myself, running with no direction until I saw a dim light. I could still hear the voices until I picked up my names.
Who is calling me?
When I got to the light, I saw a door and I opened it.
"Isa!"
"Isabella!"
I snuck out my breath, my chest heaving heavily as the light was too bright, I raised my hands to cover my face when I heard a statement that began my nightmare.
"Lady Isabella Nite, do you take Lord Jack Whitefang as your lawfully wedded husband."
I snapped out of my trance and stared at the priest with wide eyes and a jaw that touched the floor.
What the hell?
I frantically watched the faces of everyone present within the church, all looking at me eagerly before they landed on the face of the man before me.
Jack looked at me with a smile on his perfect face. A smile which is hiding the devil living within him.
What's going on? Why I'm I reliving this day? Is this hell? Did I...?
"Give me a chance to right the wrongs I have made! Give me a chance to crush my enemies."
I came back. The goddess answered my plea.
Jack gave me another smile and I turned to the faces of everyone present once more before I threw my bouquet into the air and ran out of the church.
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