Chapter 2 CHHAPTER
48 Hours Earlier
Do you ever get that weird feeling like someone’s watching you? That cold, prickly sensation crawling down your spine? Yeah, that’s what was going on with me while I walked home. I stopped, sniffed the air, but caught nothing. If it had been a wolf, I would've smelled it right away. Humans smell like wood and sweat. This wasn’t that.
"I'm just being paranoid," I muttered. It had been a long day at work. My feet ached, my mind throbbed, and perhaps my mind was deceiving me. However, I maintained my vigilance. Not completely. And just like that, the feeling vanished.
Weird.
When I reached my apartment building, a tightness settled in my chest. I needed to let Serafina out. She’d been itching for freedom for days.
"We’re not safe here anymore," she said suddenly.
"What are you talking about?"
"Someone’s been inside. I can feel it."
I froze. My key is still in the door. Everything looked fine from where I stood. There was no broken lock and no strange noises. But she’d never spoken this clearly since the rejection. That alone was enough to propel me into a frenzy of activity. I pushed inside and did a full sweep of the place. Nothing was out of place. But I knew exactly where I left everything. After that creep Signor De Luca snuck into my apartment and stole my underwear, I became obsessive about order.
"Keep your eyes open, Isadora."
Serafina's voice echoed in my head, and I felt a chill crawl under my skin.
I did another lap. Drawers untouched. Windows locked. The shoes were neatly arranged. Okay, so why did it feel like someone had been here? I tried to shake the tension, brushed my teeth, and got into bed.
Then 2 a.m. hit.
I jerked awake. My heart thudded in my ears. The scent hit me hard this time. Wolves.
I rolled out of bed and crept into the living room. Empty. But the smell was still thick. My fingers hovered over the light switch.
"Isadora."
I screamed. Nearly knocked over a chair.
"What the hell?! Who are you? What do you want?!"
The lights clicked on.
Two figures sat on my couch like they owned the place. These were no ordinary wolves. Marco and Enzo. Lorenzo’s best friends. My brothers’ old packmates. Once upon a time, they were also my friends.
I stared. "How the hell did you find me?"
"Isadora?" Marco’s voice cracked like he’d seen a ghost.
It was justifiable, considering they infiltrated my residence and likely pursued me for several weeks.
"Answer me. Why are you here? What do you want?"
"That’s two questions," Enzo quipped.
"Don’t care. Get out."
Marco muttered under his breath. "I can’t believe he actually found her."
My stomach dropped. I didn’t want to know who he was, but I already did.
"We can’t leave," Marco said.
"Why not?"
"Capo Lorenzo wants you to come back. Says your family needs you."
I blinked. Laughed. Then, in a state of hysterics, he collapsed on the floor.
"Oh, that’s rich! The man who dumped me for my twin suddenly needs me? Please. I haven't laughed that hard in eight years."
I stood up and clapped Enzo’s shoulder. "So, what’s the real reason? You two miss me ?"
They didn’t even crack a smile.
"You’re serious? He actually thinks I’ll go back to that nightmare?"
They said nothing.
"No. Absolutely not. Get out and tell that arrogant bastard to stay out of my life. I left for a reason."
Enzo looked uncomfortable. "Sorry, but it’s Capo orders. You have to come back."
"He’s not my Capo. He hasn't been my Capo in years. I don’t follow him. I owe him nothing."
"Something happened, Isa. It’s serious. We wouldn’t be here unless it really mattered. We know why you left. We know the pain. That letter you left... It made things pretty clear."
"So then why are you here? You know what he did. You all turned your backs on me."
"It’s not that simple."
"It is to me."
Marco stared at me, something strange behind his eyes. He knew more than he was saying.
"You know what happened, don’t you?" I whispered. "Back then. You know".
He didn’t respond.
"Marco. Tell me."
"He didn’t tell us everything. It wasn't until recently that he revealed everything to us. He only found out the truth himself."
"Bullshit."
"It’s not. There’s more to the story than just you and him. It’s bigger."
"If this is some dramatic attempt to win me back or fix the past, forget it. I’m not playing this game."
"It’s not about that," Enzo said. "Something’s wrong at the Luna Nera Clan. People are disappearing. Capo Lorenzo believes that someone is targeting your family.
"Oh, now he cares?"
"You don’t have to forgive him. But you need to see your sister. She’s not safe."
That stopped me.
"Giada? What happened?"
They exchanged a glance.
"We can’t say until we’re back at the clan. It’s not safe here."
"You think dragging me back will solve this? What if it’s a trap? What if he just wants to gloat?"
"He doesn’t. Not this time."
I sat down, head spinning.
What if they’re telling the truth?
What if something really happened to Giada?
"I left for a reason," I murmured. "I was fine being forgotten. Now you show up and throw everything back in my face."
Silence.
"Do I get a choice?"
Marco sighed. "Honestly? You always had a choice. We just hope you’ll make the right one."
And there it was. The guilt. The pressure. The part they’d always been good at.
But I wasn’t that girl anymore.
I stood up and looked them both in the eye.
"If I come back, it’s on my terms. And if he tries anything—anything—I walk. Got it?"
They nodded.
"We leave at dawn," Enzo said.
I packed with shaky hands, half-listening to Serafina’s thoughts buzz in my head. Old memories clawed at me. His eyes. His lies. I was betrayed by my sister. The years I spent building walls high enough to never be touched again.
And now they expected me to tear all that down?
Over my dead body.
Still, I couldn’t stop thinking about Giada.
And that scared me most of all.