Chapter 0326

"It's chaos." He finishes my thought.

"Lycans can't be corrupted by the darkness."

"Don't be so certain, Zachary." His lips press into a thin line. Hearing my name from him felt strange, yet far better than his previous insults. His hazel eyes drift toward the pack house. "Recall what I explained about twin Lycans? How a fragment of each resides within the other?"

"Yes."

"Julian is confirmed dead. She now has a void in her soul. She lost the part of her that lived in him. That emptiness is vulnerable. Darkness can seep deep. She isn't like Athena. Isabella's Alpha genetics are weaker."

"Are you implying she's turning Rogue?" I press him.

"I'm stating we must proceed with extreme caution."

"Caution regarding what?" Alexander cuts in, joining us.

"Where are the Lycans?" I ask.

"Under guard. How is Brianna?"

"Too early to know for sure. But she lost the baby."

A frown flashes across Luc's face. He clearly cared for Brianna more than he admitted. It vanishes as quickly as it appeared. "We need to be cautious regarding your sister."

"Isabella?"

"You only have one sister. Correct?" Lucas Adler mutters, one eyebrow raised.

"Isn't she at the hospital assisting?"

"You would assume so, wouldn't you?!" Lucas retorts.

"That contradicts her character. She's always aspired to help others. Even as a child, she requested doctor's kits as toys. I permitted her to become the pack doctor instead of fulfilling our family's traditional role. Why would she refuse to aid Brianna? She knows your connection to her." He gestures toward me.

"I requested her help. She declined. When I repeated my request, she ignored me completely. Theodore is doing his utmost, but when I departed, her heart had already failed twice."

"Is Sebastian still there?"

I nod. "Athena is keeping him company."

He spins on his heel and marches decisively toward the packhouse. "Then I will compel her to assist."

"I doubt that approach will succeed." Lucas murmurs under his breath.

"He is her Alpha."

"If my suspicions are correct, his status will be irrelevant."

"Then you will accompany us." I push him forward, urging him to follow Alexander. He shoots me a lethal glare.

"Do not lay your hands on me again. Not if you value your well-being."

"Just move, damn it!"

"Remember, I can revoke your access to my daughter."

"Fine. Whatever. Just go and investigate what your daughter sensed!" I snap. I would never allow him to separate me from Lottie.

He ambles after Alexander, showing no inclination to hurry.

Lucas enters the packhouse. His tension is palpable, exceeding his usual demeanor. His eyes flicker toward the staircase. "My little girl was correct."

"So something is wrong with my mate?" I ask.

Thuds echo from upstairs. Alexander demands entry.

"You need to speak with her." Lucas tells me. "Choose your words with extreme care."

"If she even bothers to listen to me!"

Alexander continues pounding on the door as Lucas and I ascend the stairs.

"Isabella, open this door now, before I break it down!" Alexander shouts.

Silence answers. Yet I know with absolute certainty my mate is behind that door.

"Isabella?" I call her name softly, hoping to soothe her.

"Is she dead?" Her voice is hollow, completely devoid of its usual emotion.

"No." I reply. I'd received no update from Athena, and I clung to that hope.

"She deserves to be."

I recoil, stunned by her venomous response.

"Isabella!" Alexander bellows through the solid wood. "Get your ass up and go help her. Now!"

It was a direct Alpha command. Yet, no movement comes from the other side. Alexander's frown deepens, visibly thrown by her defiance.

He throws his weight against the door. It barely moves. I suspect she barricaded it with her heavy dresser.

He shoves again, gaining a minuscule amount of ground. "Now!" he demands.

Together, we force the door open.

Isabella stands motionless, staring out the window. "I told you not to come in."

"Why are you refusing to help Brianna?" Alexander demands.

"She didn't help my brother."

"If Brianna hadn't been taken by Seraphina, do you think he would have even returned here?" Alexander snaps.

"She withheld that information from us. She kept it secret until you were about to execute him. And look, you killed him anyway."

"Isabella, you know he was already gone. Nothing could have revived him. Surely a swift death here was preferable to a prolonged one miles away at the hands of that impostor."

She offers no reply.

"I should have ended this sooner. If you need to blame someone, blame me!"

She slowly turns to face the three of us. "What is this? An intervention?"

"Isabella, I understand your pain..." I begin.

"My brother is dead." Her eyes are disturbingly vacant.

"He made his choices." Alexander states coldly. "None of those choices aligned with our pack's welfare."

"You've been speaking with Athena."

"No. I was the one who told Athena that."