Willingness 

ISABELLA’S POV 

Before I could even turn towards him, I felt his presence beside me, filling the space on the 

balcony. His warmth was overwhelming, so close that it sent waves of heat through me. 

Gripping the railings tightly, I tried to calm my racing heart, forcing myself to focus on the view 

ahead. 

There was a thick silence between us, but I could feel his eyes on me, glancing occasionally. My thoughts drifted back to our earlier conversation, to his apology and the promise he made. 

We hadn’t finished the talk because we were interrupted. And I still hadn’t given him an 

answer–whether or not I was willing to let him back into our lives. 

But then, was I really ready enough for that? 

“About earlier…” His voice was slow, finally breaking the silence. 

I glanced at him briefly before I quickly looked away, the unease in my chest tightening. I 

wasn’t ready to revisit our conversation this morning yet, so I shifted the subject, my voice 

steady but my heart racing. 

“What happened between Sophia and Theodore?” The words felt heavy as they finally left my 

mouth. “Are they… really mates?” 

For a moment, he was silent, then his response came in a hard, tight tone. “Yes.” 

The confirmation didn’t shock me as much as it had earlier. Suspicions had already formed in 

my mind, and this only confirmed them. But with it, the questions about the past grew darker, 

tangled in secrets I wasn’t sure I was ready to confront. 

“I didn’t let her out.” Xavier’s voice broke through my thoughts. He turned fully toward me, and I 

instinctively shifted, putting a bit more space between us before I turned to face him too. 

“I’m not letting her off, even if she’s Theodore’s mate. She has to pay for what she did.” His 

tone was cold and resolute as he said that. 

I raised my gaze to meet his intense, dark eyes. There was a conflict inside me, one I couldn’t quite shake. 

As I looked at him, memories from the past clawed their way to the surface, filling me with 

emotions I thought I had long buried. And yet, now, those feelings were resurfacing, gripping 

my heart tighter than ever. 

“What is it?” His gaze softened, noticing the way I had been staring at him. Though clearly 

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caught, I didn’t look away this time and just met his gaze straight. 

“How will you deal with her?” My voice was quieter than I expected, uncertain. 

50 Point 

Sophia wasn’t just anyone–she was Nathan’s sister. And Nathan was the man Xavier was indebted to. Even if she confessed her schemes, would Xavier truly be able to punish her like any other criminal? Or would he be lenient because of who she was? The thought twisted inside me, and I forced myself to remain calm as I waited for his answer. 

Xavier’s eyes stayed on mine, his expression turning even more serious this time. “Justice has to be served for every crime. She will pay for what she did.” 

“But… what about her brother?” 

Tension filled the air between us as he narrowed his eyes, a deep frown forming between his 

brows. 

“Luna Grace told me,” I explained, feeling a pang of regret for bringing it up when I saw the 

strain on his face. 

He shut his eyes tightly, as though fighting back something dark… something that still 

haunted him. 

Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned that. He looked pained, like a man still trapped by the 

ghosts of his past. 

But then, his voice came firm and steady after a deep sigh. “I’ve done everything I could these 

past years to repay my debts that I even hurt you in the process.” 

A lump formed in my throat as soon as those words left his mouth. 

“This time, her sins can’t be pardoned. The least I can do is banish her from the pack. That’s 

the last favor I’ll do in her brother’s name. But it’s as far as I’ll go.” 

I was taken aback by his decision. Banishment meant becoming a rogue, a lone wolf. And it was a fate worse than any punishment. Yet, it wasn’t the same as torture which could possibly lead to death. Even in this, it was clear that Xavier still considered his friend’s 

sacrifice in the past. 

A heavy weight lifted from my chest at the thought, easing some of my worry. Sophia had been a constant threat, a dark cloud over us. I just hope that this time, this storm would finally 

pass. 

“But if that’s not enough…” Xavier’s voice broke through my thoughts. “If you want more–if you 

want her to suffer, I won’t stop you.” 

I blinked, stunned. I hadn’t expected him to offer me the choice. My heart pounded in my 

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Willingness 

chest, and for a moment, I didn’t know how to respond. There was a part of me that wanted revenge for everything Sophia had done–for all the pain she caused. For the fear and the destruction. But I wasn’t that person anymore. I had changed, and my children were my priority now. I couldn’t let my anger consume me like it had before. 

Slowly, I shook my head and slowly replied. “There’s no need. You can stick to your original 

plan.” 

Xavier nodded, though his gaze remained fixed on me. I could feel the tension between us, an 

unspoken conversation lingering in the air. He looked like he wanted to say something else, 

and when the silence stretched too long, he finally did. 

“Have you thought about what I asked earlier?” 

My heart skipped a beat. I knew exactly what he was referring to. The question had haunted 

me since he first brought it up this morning. My hands felt clammy as I tried to sort through 

the mess of emotions swirling inside me. 

Our eyes locked, and in that moment, I felt the weight of all the years we’d spent apart. The 

pain, the confusion, and the love I had tried so hard to bury. But now, standing here with him, I 

realized that it was futile to resist. Those feelings weren’t going away, they’ve been constantly 

here. He was still my mate. 

I looked away from him, unable to hold his gaze any longer. Instead, I stared at the horizon, 

trying to find the right words. But before I could speak, Xavier sighed behind me, his voice 

softer now, tinged with a hint of helplessness. 

“You can take your time,” Xavier said softly, his tone laced with disappointment, though I could 

hear him trying to mask it. “I won’t rush you, Isabella, but I hope you can consider it.’“‘ 

His words struck something deep within me, making my heart ache. I could feel the sincerity 

in his voice now… and the weight of the time we had lost. He was giving me a choice–a 

chance to decide if I was ready to let him back into our lives, but it wasn’t an easy decision. 

However, I knew, deep down, that I couldn’t keep running from this. Not from him, not from the 

truth that my heart had been hiding. 

I turned to face him, feeling my breath hitch as our gazes met again. His dark eyes, usually so intense, were now soft, hopeful, and uncertain. It was rare to see Xavier like this–to see him 

unsure of what came next. 

“I’ve thought about it,” I said, my voice low but steady. 

His brows furrowed slightly, the anticipation in his expression making my heart race too. I knew this moment was important, not just for him but also for me, and for Liam and Lily. 

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Willingness 

I took a deep breath, finally gathering my courage to continue. “I’ve made my decision.” 

The surprise in his eyes was clear, and I watched as his entire demeanor shifted. He stood a little taller, the tension in his body growing as he waited for what I was about to say. 

“I’m willing.” I whispered, the words finally spilling out form my mouth, releasing the weight I 

had been carrying for so long.