The Hidden Werewolf Princess

The hallway was dark, the faint moonlight filtering through the large windows casting ghostly shadows along the walls. Isabelle stood frozen, her heart hammering in her chest. Gabriel’s sharp voice echoed through the silence again, sending a shiver down her spine.

“Who’s there?”

Gathering every ounce of courage she had left, Isabelle stepped forward, letting the dim light illuminate her face. Gabriel’s piercing gaze met hers, and she could see the flicker of surprise before he quickly masked it with his usual cold demeanor.

“Isabelle,” he said, his voice softening slightly, though suspicion lingered in his tone. “What are you doing down here at this hour?”

She swallowed hard, willing her voice to remain steady. “I couldn’t sleep. I came down to get some water.” Her eyes flicked toward Charlotte, who stood just behind him. The she-wolf’s eyes gleamed with malice, her lips curling into a faint, triumphant smirk.

Gabriel’s brow furrowed. “Did you hear anything?”

Her heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to shake her head. “No. I just got here.”

Charlotte exhaled dramatically, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. “We didn’t mean to disturb you, Isabelle. Gabriel and I were just finishing up.”

“Finishing up what?” Isabelle asked, her gaze narrowing.

The smirk on Charlotte’s face faltered for a split second before Gabriel stepped in, his tone deceptively casual. “We had a late meeting with Charlotte’s pack. It ran longer than expected, and she wanted to stop by for tea before heading home.”

Isabelle’s eyes flicked to the table near them. It was empty—no cups, no teapot, not even a hint of warmth lingering in the air. Her stomach churned at the blatant lie, but she forced her expression to remain neutral.

“Tea at three in the morning?” she asked softly, her voice carrying an edge she couldn’t quite suppress.

Charlotte bristled, but Gabriel placed a hand on her arm, silencing her before she could respond. “You’ve been looking exhausted lately, Isabelle,” he said, his tone shifting to something almost kind. “You should take a break. Why don’t you spend the day outside tomorrow? Get some fresh air, clear your mind.”

She stared at him, her instincts screaming that something was wrong. Still, she forced herself to nod. “Maybe I will.”

Upon hearing her answer, Gabriel’s shoulders relaxed as if he had achieved some victory. He offered a faint smile. “Good. You’ll feel better.”

Charlotte gave her one last glance, smug and satisfied, before brushing past her. Gabriel followed closely behind, pausing only to say, “You should go back to bed.”

As they disappeared into the shadows of the hallway, Isabelle let out a shaky breath, her hands trembling at her sides. She glanced back at the empty table, her suspicion solidifying into certainty. Whatever Gabriel and Charlotte were doing, it wasn’t just a late-night meeting.

The first rays of sunlight streamed through her curtains as Isabelle sat by her window, unable to sleep after the confrontation. The warmth of the crescent pendant around her neck provided little comfort as her mind raced with unanswered questions.

By the time the house began to stir, she was dressed and waiting for Yna in the kitchen. Her Omega friend arrived with a tray of bread and fruit, her face lighting up when she saw Isabelle.

“You’re up early,” Yna said, setting the tray down.

“Couldn’t sleep,” Isabelle admitted, taking a seat. “Yna, do you know if anything’s happening tomorrow?”

Yna froze, her hands hovering over the tray. Her expression turned guarded, and she avoided Isabelle’s gaze.

“Why do you ask?” Yna said carefully.

The unease in Isabelle’s stomach twisted tighter. “Gabriel suggested I go out tomorrow, said I needed fresh air. It felt… odd.”

Yna hesitated before finally sighing. “You’re not going to like this, Belle.”

“Tell me,” Isabelle demanded, her voice sharper than she intended.

Yna glanced around, ensuring no one else was nearby before leaning closer. “It’s an engagement party. For Gabriel and Charlotte.”