10. Unseen Shadows

Isabelle POV

Darkness consumed me, wrapping me in cold and silence I cannot seem to fight. I struggle to piece together what had just happened. All I remember was the burst of light, the surge of energy from the pendant to my whole body, spreading to my palms. My decision to attack as I felt deep pain from the past. Seeing the monstrous wolf's evil eyes, unaffected with my attack, locking onto mine before this darkness ate me.

A chill crept through my veins, and I felt a presence—ancient, powerful, and terrifyingly familiar. I forced myself to focus, to gather my scattered thoughts and prepare for whatever awaited me.

Then, out of the darkness, a voice echoed in my head.

"Welcome, Isabelle."

The voice was smooth, dark, and filled with a cold amusement that sent shivers down my spine. A figure materialized before me, tall and cloaked in shadows. His all too familiar eyes glowed with an unnatural light.

"Who are you?" I demanded, my voice steady despite the fear gripping my heart.

"I am Vesper," he replied, his lips curling into a predatory smile. "Master of the shadows, ruler of the night. And you, my dear, are now a part of my grand design."

"What do you want from me? Why take me?"

Vesper's eyes flickered with a strange, almost fatherly affection. "You possess a unique power, Isabelle. One that I intend to harness for my own purposes. The light within you is strong, but it needs to be tempered, controlled. And I am the only one who can teach you that."

" And why should I trust you?"

"Trust?" Vesper laughed maliciously. "You have no choice but to trust me. You are mine now, and together, we will reshape this world."

I felt a cold hand close around my heart. But even as his presence pressed down on me, a spark of defiance flared within. I wasn't going to let this shadowy figure dictate my fate.

"I will not become your pawn."

Vesper's smile widened, revealing sharp, white teeth. "We shall see, little slayer. We shall see."

Xander POV

The forest was eerily quiet as the pack and I stood amidst the aftermath of the battle. The air was thick with tension, the clearing now a desolate, empty space where Isabelle had once stood. My heart pounded, my mind racing with fear and confusion. Isabelle was gone, in a blink of an eye, she was hastily taken from us.

Elder Marcellus's hand gripped my shoulder. "We must act quickly, Xander. Isabelle is in grave danger."

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. "What do we do?"

"We need allies, and we need them now. The witches, the vampires—they all have a stake in this. Vesper is a threat to us all, especially with Isabelle's power on his side."

His words hit me like a sledgehammer. The idea of working with the witches and vampires was abhorrent, but I knew he was right. We couldn't face Vesper alone. Not with Isabelle's fate hanging in the balance.

I speak to the shaken witches in front of me. "We only have one chance to save the Destiny Slayer. Join forces with us if you want the Destiny Slayer, if not, please leave the territory."

I shifted and quickly run to the packhouse as father and the elders have already gone back to organize a meeting; leaving the witches to decide if they should follow or not. It is going to be a strenuous and sleepless night. But hopefully, this will be worth it. This will lead to Isabelle being saved from Vesper. The thought of her in Vesper's clutches was a nightmare I couldn't bear, squeezing my heart painfully. I need to focus. Today, I will prove to my mate I am as worthy to be her mate as she is to be mated to me.

Isabelle POV

The void shifted around me, and I found myself standing in a vast, dimly lit chamber. The walls were lined with ancient runes, glowing faintly in the darkness. Vesper stood before me, his eyes gleaming with a strange intensity.

"This is the Nexus," he said, gesturing to the chamber around us. "A place where all magic converges. Here, you will learn to control your power, to bend it to your will."

I looked around, a sense of awe mixed with apprehension filling me. The air thrummed with energy, the runes pulsating with a life of their own. But even as the magic called to me, I couldn't shake the feeling of being trapped, of being a pawn in Vesper's game.

"You think you can force me to do your bidding?" I asked, defiance hardening my voice.

Vesper's smile was cold. "I don't need to force you, Isabelle. The power within you will compel you to seek mastery. And when you do, you will work with me willingly."

"I'll never join you."

"We shall see," Vesper replied, his voice a dark whisper. "For now, you will remain here. And when you are ready to embrace your destiny, I will be waiting."

As he vanished into the shadows, I felt the weight of his presence lift, leaving me alone in the Nexus. The chamber's energy pulsed around me, a silent reminder of the power I held, the power Vesper wanted to control.

I closed my eyes, drawing a deep breath. I couldn't let him win. I had to find a way to resist, to escape despite the connection I felt with him. But as I opened my eyes, the runes' glow seemed to grow brighter, their call more insistent. The pull of the magic was strong, and I knew the battle for my soul had only just begun.

Xander POV

Night had fallen by the time the pack assembled at the old meeting place, a secluded grove deep within the forest. Marcellus and the other elders stood in a circle, their faces grim as we discussed our next move. The witches and vampires had been summoned, their alliances tenuous but necessary.

A rustle in the bushes drew my attention, and I turned to see a figure stepping into the clearing. Celene, the vampire matriarch, her dark eyes glittering with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. Behind her, a group of witches emerged, their leader's gaze sharp and calculating.

"We have little time," Marcellus began, addressing the gathered factions. "Vesper has taken Isabelle, and we must act swiftly if we are to save her."

The witches exchanged glances with the vampires, their leader's eyes narrowing. "What do you propose?"

Marcellus took a deep breath, his expression resolute. "An alliance. Witches, vampires, and wolves—together. We combine our strengths, our knowledge, to confront Vesper and rescue Isabelle."

A tense silence followed his words, the weight of the decision pressing down on us all. Selene's gaze lingered on me, her eyes searching for any sign of deception. Finally, she nodded, a reluctant acceptance in her eyes.

"Very well," she said. "We will join forces. But know this, wolf—if you betray us, the consequences will be dire."

I nodded, my heart pounding with a mix of hope and dread. "Agreed. Let's bring Isabelle home."

As the alliance formed, a shadow passed over the clearing, a distant rumble of thunder echoing through the forest.

Vesper POV

I silently watched from the shadows, as werewolves, witches and vampires formed an alliance to take back the Destiny Slayer, to defeat me in my own game, and to take back my own daughter from me. 

My smile widened, and I smirked, my plans are unfolding perfectly. These creatures' struggle is far from over and joining forces with each other would not make any difference. They would all soon learn the true extent of my power, especially with Isabelle's, my daughter's power on my side. The game had only just begun, and I hold all the cards.

I have searched for Isabelle ever since I realized Miranda was a witch and that she has discovered who I am. I thought I impregnated a human, somebody I could control, somebody who would bear me a powerful successor. And somebody who would not be able to fight me if I take away her kid. Somebody I could play with and kill when the time comes. But Miranda was a witch. She has covered her scent well, and I covered the scent of my blood as well when we had this encounter in the human world. Thus, Isabelle and her twin, whom I am not interested in, was made. Only Isabelle, as the firstborn has the originally strong power from our ancestors. Her twin is weaker, easily defeated, which is why I have never cared about her. It is only Isabelle whom I was interested in. Unfortunately, that bitch Miranda discovered who I am, and ran away with my two daughters before I realized she discovered who I am. But here I am now, in possession of my powerful daughter, the destined Destiny Slayer.

And I am not about to waste this ocean of power and control.