The Visit that shattered Pride

Verona had dismissed the whispers at first.

Rumors always followed the Alpha’s mansion—lies spun by jealous tongues, half-truths exaggerated by idle wolves. Isabella? Luna? Mate to Alpha Logan? It sounded absurd. A wolfless she-wolf raised to the highest seat beside the Alpha was nothing more than gossip born from resentment.

Still, something gnawed at her.

By dusk, Verona found herself standing before the towering iron gates of the Alpha mansion, her spine straight, her chin raised with practiced arrogance. The guards recognized her immediately and hesitated—but duty outweighed familiarity.

Inside the grand living hall, Isabella sat quietly on the velvet sofa, her posture composed, one hand resting unconsciously on her stomach. Melissa, her personal maid, moved gracefully as she served her a glass of fresh juice.

The sharp knock echoed through the hall.

Isabella’s fingers tightened around the glass. She did not need to ask who it was. She already knew.

Her eyes lifted briefly—cold, resolute—before she stood.

“Do not open the door for her,” Isabella instructed calmly, her voice carrying unmistakable authority.

The guards obeyed without question.

The heavy door shut firmly in Verona’s face.

“What is the meaning of this?” Verona demanded sharply, knocking again, irritation seeping into her voice. “Open this door at once!”

Melissa stepped forward, her tone respectful but commanding. “You are not welcome here, Mrs. Verona. The young Luna has instructed that you not be allowed inside.”

Verona scoffed. “Young Luna?” she repeated mockingly. “And who exactly is this ‘young Luna’ aside from Luna Clara?”

Melissa exchanged a glance with another maid, pity flickering briefly in her eyes before hardening into resolve.

“Isabella,” she said plainly. “The young Luna has given the order.”

The color drained from Verona’s face.

Her lips trembled—not from fear, but rage.

“How amusing,” Verona hissed. “A wolfless she-wolf suddenly crowned Luna. Is it magic? Or witchcraft?”

Melissa stiffened. “There is no wolfless she-wolf here,” she replied sharply. “What we have is the true mate of Alpha Logan.”

The words struck like a blade.

Before Verona could retort, the doors opened again.

Isabella stepped forward.

She moved with calm elegance, her presence commanding silence. Gone was the fragile girl Verona remembered. This Isabella carried power—quiet, unyielding, dangerous.

“My goodness,” Verona sneered. “The forgotten bitch has suddenly turned Luna.”

The insult echoed.

Isabella’s eyes darkened.

“Do not speak to me like that again,” she said coldly. “You are standing in my house.”

Her voice sharpened. “Remove her from my presence. I do not wish to see her anywhere near me.”

The guards moved instantly, gripping Verona’s arms as they dragged her backward.

“Unhand me!” Verona shouted. “You dare—”

A powerful presence filled the air.

Alpha Logan stepped forward.

His aura alone silenced the hall.

“How dare you call my mate a bitch?” he thundered.

Verona laughed bitterly, pain and disbelief twisting her features. “You call that wolfless thing your mate?”

The slap came without warning.

The sound echoed.

Verona staggered, collapsing to the floor, blood blooming at the corner of her mouth as the world spun violently.

“Alpha!” Isabella cried out in shock.

Logan turned toward her—his eyes burning gold, his wolf clawing violently beneath his skin. The rage pouring off him was suffocating.

Isabella stepped back instinctively.

The Alpha had been provoked.

And everyone felt it.

Verona barely remembered how she left the mansion.

She remembered the stares. The whispers. The humiliation burning hotter than the pain in her cheek.

By the time she reached home, night had fully fallen.

Mira rushed toward her the moment she entered, gasping when she saw the swelling on her mother’s face.

“Mother! What happened?”

Verona collapsed onto the bed, trembling as Mira gently pressed a warm cloth to her cheek.

“He slapped me,” Verona whispered hoarsely. “Alpha Logan… slapped me.”

Mira froze.

Rage ignited in her eyes.

“He is supposed to be my mate,” Mira spat. “Not that wolfless she-wolf.”

Verona’s lips curled slowly. “It is not over,” she said darkly. “Isabella cannot be Alpha Logan’s mate. Even if she is carrying his heir.”

Mira’s hands stilled. “What heir?” she asked sharply. “She’s lying. She used that lie because she knows Logan is desperate for an heir. I wonder how she pulled it off.”

Verona exhaled slowly. “Whether true or not doesn’t matter. What matters is strategy.”

Mira’s eyes narrowed. “And what do we do now?”

Verona leaned closer, her voice lowering. “You still possess the dark magic.”

Mira swallowed. “It frightens me.”

“It should,” Verona said softly. “But it is our only path forward.”

She cupped Mira’s face. “Isabella cannot win.”

Silence followed Logan like a storm cloud as he stormed into his private chambers.

Isabella followed.

The door shut sharply behind them.

“What was that?” Isabella snapped, her voice shaking with restrained fury. “You struck her in my presence like a wild beast.”

“She insulted you,” Logan growled. “I will not tolerate—”

“I didn’t ask you to lose control,” Isabella cut in. “You frightened everyone. You frightened me.”

Logan froze.

The fire in his eyes dimmed.

He stepped toward her slowly. “I am sorry,” he said, voice low. “But I will never watch you be humiliated. Not when you are the one I love.”

Isabella crossed her arms, clearly annoyed. “Love does not excuse recklessness, Logan.”

He lowered his head slightly. “I swear to you—it will never happen again. You are my mate. My Luna. And I will protect you… always.”

She turned away, still upset—but his words lingered heavily in the room.

And somewhere beyond the mansion walls, dark magic began to stir.

" Would you watch me ignore her while she humiliates you.?" Logan asked Isabella.

" You shouldn't have done such a thing." She added.

Logan didn't listen, instead promised to fight for Isabella at all costs.

The next day, alpha Logan decided to take Isabella by surprise. He took her to a boutique and asked her to pick any cloth of her choice.

“ You keep on showering me with love, the love that seems so genuine.”she said to alpha Logan.

“ Anything for you my darling.” He said to her,

Isabella went in picking some clothes. Mistakenly they both missed the path.

Isabella, searching for Logan, suddenly finds herself outside the shopping mall.

“ Alpha Logan.” She said, and had to ask someone close.

“ You wolfless she wolf. You dare come alone to this mall knowing how dangerous it could be to you.” A pack member asked.

“ I came with alpha Logan but I lost my way with him.” She answered.

“ Well, that's his car.” She said to Isabella.

Isabella about to turn, when Mira hit her at the back, with the slow motion she had started landing with, alpha Logan ran out.

“ Isabella……” he shouted, when Mira saw him she shifted to a wolf and about to run when Logan catched her, and made sure she got more injured the more.

“ You dare repeat this to my mate again.?” He asked Mira who was bleeding from the nose. She must have received the beating of her life.

“ I won't give up on you until you understand that I am your mate.” Mira said to him with all boldness in her.

Logan raised Isabella up, at thesame time carried her on bjs hands. " Are you okay.?" He asked her. Isabella looks so weak, as Mira must have hitting her at the painful side.