Chapter 372

Chapter 372:

I couldn’t move, couldn’t think. My wolf was howling in my mind, urging me to claim her, to close the distance between us. But my human side was still grappling with the sheer impossibility of the situation.

How could this woman—this enemy of my family—be my mate?

Her face was a mixture of shock, fear, and something else I couldn’t quite place. She took a shaky step back, her movements jerky and uncertain.

“This… this can’t be happening,” she stammered, her voice trembling.

“Oh, it’s happening,” I said, my tone firm despite the chaos in my head.

Zade growled again, pushing at the edges of my control. “Don’t let her run! She’s ours p>

I was trying to process everything when Jasmine and Ryder exchanged a look, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern. Jasmine opened her mouth, probably to say something, but before she could, Isabelle bolted.

She turned and ran out of the room without another word, leaving me standing there like an idiot.

For a moment, I just stared after her, stunned.

“What the hell just happened?” Jasmine asked, her tone sharp.

“She’s my mate,” I said simply, still staring at the door Isabelle had fled through.

Jasmine’s eyebrows shot up. “Wait, what p>

“She’s my mate,” I repeated, my voice firmer this time.

Ryder crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. “Well, that complicates things p>

Complicates things? That was the understatement of the century. My mate was the woman who had tried to destroy my sister. The same sister I had sworn to protect at all costs.

Zade growled in my mind, impatient and irritated. “Go after her. Now p>

Without another word, I turned and followed the path Isabelle had taken, my heart pounding in my chest.

When I found her, she was standing outside near the edge of the forest, her arms wrapped around herself like she was trying to hold herself together. She looked so small, so fragile, and for a moment, my anger melted away, replaced by something far more dangerous.

Compassion.

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She turned when she heard me approach, her eyes wide with fear.

“Stay away,” she said, her voice shaking.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” I said softly, holding my hands up in a gesture of peace.

She shook her head, her expression tortured. “You don’t understand. You don’t know what I’ve done p>

“I know enough,” I said, stepping closer.

She flinched but didn’t run this time.

“Look,” I said, my voice steady but gentle. “I’m just as shocked as you are. But we’re mates, Isabelle. That means something. We can figure this out p>

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she looked away, her shoulders trembling. “How can you even look at me after what I did to Jasmine? To your family p>

I took another step forward, closing the distance between us. “Because the past doesn’t change the bond we have now,” I said firmly. “And whether you believe it or not, I don’t hate you p>

She let out a shaky breath, her walls starting to crack.

“We’ll figure this out,” I said again, my voice softer this time.

For a moment, she didn’t say anything. But then she nodded, just barely, and I felt a flicker of hope ignite in my chest.

This wasn’t going to be easy—hell, it might be the hardest thing I’d ever done.

But as I stood there with Isabelle, I knew one thing for sure. I wasn’t going to let her go.