Hold back
ISABELLA’S POV
“Bella, what’s happening?”
Raymond spoke through our mind link, his tone laced with urgency. But before I could even respond, Alexander’s strong arms wrapped around my body like iron, locking me in place as I tried my best pry of his hold against mine.
Fear clawed at my chest as I realized I was no match for his stretch.
“Alexander, snap out of it!” I shouted, my voice trembling as I desperately tried to free myself.
My heart pounded in panic, but he didn’t flinch. Instead, he shoved me hard against the wall, his hand gripping my arms so tightly I thought they might snap.
“You should just give in.” he whispered darkly, his pitch–black eyes locking onto mine, filled
with a predator’s hunger.
Cold terror surged through me, paralyzing me momentarily. I kicked and pushed against him with everything I had, but it only pressed him closer. His body crushed mine against the wall, suffocating me in his hold.
His breath was hot against my skin as he lowered his mouth to my ear.
“You should be mine, Bella…”
My heart pounded as I realized what was happening. He was being overtaken by my heat, his wolf instincts taking control. My rational side screamed that this wasn’t right–Alexander wasn’t my mate. However, my body’s reaction was involuntary, affected by the heat as I spurred by the proximity of another male wolf, but my heart felt cold, I felt nothing for him.
When I felt the sharp graze of his fangs against my neck, that’s when panic flooded me.
No! I wasn’t going to let him mark me. This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen. With a surge of adrenaline, I shoved him with all my strength.
To my shock, I managed to push him away. I didn’t waste a second. I dashed for the living room, my breath ragged as I searched frantically for something to defend myself.
“Bella, I’m heading towards your house now. Tell me what’s going on?”
Raymond’s voice rang through my mind again, pushing me to keep moving despite the weakness in my legs. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Alexander coming after me, his footsteps heavy and deliberate.
1/4
Hold back
I didn’t look back, gritting my teeth as I moved.
“It’s Alexander. He’s losing control.” I replied to Raymond in a rush, my eyes scanning every corner of the house to find any weapon.
“Stop running.”
Alexander’s voice was cold and eerily calm, sending chills down my spine. My hands shook as I spotted a vase. I immediately grabbed it and smashed it to the floor. The sound echoed loudly through the living room as shards scattered everywhere.
I picked up the largest, sharpest piece I could find, gripping it tightly, even as blood trickled
from where the glass bit into my skin. My back was against the wall now.
Then I faced Alexander. I knew I couldn’t run this time. I could only hope that Raymond would arrive as soon as possible.
“Do you really think you can hurt me?” Alexander’s lips twisted into a mocking smile as he
stopped a few feet away, his dark eyes never leaving mine. His gaze was terrifying, like a wolf
toying with its prey.
“I know you won’t dare to hurt me.”
I gripped the broken piece tightly, gritting my teeth as I met his gaze head on. He was right, I
couldn’t dare hurt him because I knew I can’t. I was no match for him.
But then, I decided to point the sharp edge of the broken piece towards my neck, my eyes firmly staring back to him.
“Don’t come nearer.” I said coldly, pressing the sharp edge of the glass to my neck, my eyes locked onto his. My heart raced in my chest, but I couldn’t let him see my fear.
His laugh was low and sinister.
“You wouldn’t dare,” he said, taking another slow step toward me, his eyes gleaming with
madness.
A knot formed in my stomach, feeling somewhat sick and disgusted with the mad and hungry
look he was giving me.
“I told you, you should just stop resisting.” He stalked towards me, his pace slow and
deliberate, while I took a few nervous steps back, still holding the broken piece to my neck as I
glared at him.
“Then see if I won’t dare.” I spat, my voice trembling with both fear and determination. My
hand twitched, ready to press the jagged edge deeper into my skin, but before I could, a dark
blur shot between us, knocking Alexander to the floor with a resounding crash.
2/4
50 Paint
Hold back
The next thing I heard was a huge feral growl and Alexander being thrown to the ground.
The broken piece of porcelain slipped from my hand with my body stumbling backwards as I
watched the scene unfold in front of me, my legs trembling from the shock.
Suddenly, I felt a pair of arms supporting me from behind before I heard Raymond’s voice.
“Bella, are you okay?”
My eyes slightly widened as I turned to look at Raymond whom I realized had just arrived. The man and Alexander were still fighting, and initially, I thought it was him who came and
attacked Alexander now.
But he wasn’t.
I immediately turned to look towards the man who was now pinning Alexander to the ground.
And my body froze as soon as I realized who it was.
Xavier.
His face was twisted in fury, his body radiating power and danger as he pinned Alexander to
the ground. In panic, I turned to look at Raymond, watching him with a pleading look to help
stop the fight.
Xavier looked like as if he could kill Alexander this instant.
“Stay back first.” Raymond reminded me before he moved towards the two men, trying to pry
Xavier off Alexander.
But Xavier didn’t budge and even sent a punch towards Alexander’s face, his figure oozing a huge aura of ferociousness.
“How dare you touch her?!” Xavier’s voice was thunderous, filled with unbridled rage. His fist slammed into Alexander’s face, sending another violent ripple through the air. My heart, which had been pounding in terror moments ago, now beat with a strange mixture of relief and
dread.
I didn’t follow Raymond’s reminder as I took a step closer, my eyes glued towards Xavier before I called out to him with my hoarse voice.
“Xavier…” I called out weakly, my voice trembling. He didn’t hear me. His focus was entirely on Alexander, and I could see in his eyes that he was ready to kill.
“Xavier… that’s enough.” I called out louder this time, my voice straining with desperation. This time, his head snapped toward me, his eyes wild, but something in my voice seemed to reach him. The tight grip he had on Alexander loosened slightly, though his body remained rigid with tension.
3/4
50 Point
Hold back
“I’ll handle this.” Raymond also spoke beside them.
I held Xavier’s gaze as I weakly nodded my head at him.
Alexander was beaten to the ground, and he was almost unconscious when Xavier got off of
him.
Raymond then pulled Alexander up the ground, finally dragging him out of the house.
My knees weakened, the pain and exhaustion in my body taking over once more. But before I
could fall to the ground, I saw Xavier step in front of me, his strong arms preventing me from
falling.
“Isabella…” His voice was low, barely controlled, sending sparks of electricity through my body.
I looked up at him, my breath catching in my throat. His emerald eyes flickered between dark and light, as if he was fighting an internal battle.
His cool touch was a stark contrast to the heat coursing through me. The bond between us
crackled in the air, and despite everything that had just happened, I found myself leaning into
him, craving the comfort of his presence.
I unconsciously leaned towards him, only to notice his eyes flashing even more darkly, his
chest heaving up and down with strain.
“Xavier…” I whispered breathlessly, my body feeling too much heat, but at this moment, I
wanted to paste my body into him, to engrave his cool presence to my very being.
His chest vibrated with a low growl, but I wasn’t the least bit intimidated. I let both my body
and mind to succumb as I leaned limply towards him.
Then his arms suddenly snaked around my waist, making me jolt up from the sensations. I
looked up at him, only to see his dark eyes staring at me, his jaw tightening from time to time as if he was just holding himself back.
“Stop it,” His said in a hard, but almost hoarse tone too, his gaze dangerously locking mine.”
Or else I won’t really be able to hold myself back this time.”
