C9 Threads of Fate

"Lady wizard Amelia Cooper?" Isabella inquired, taken aback.

"Yes, you must locate her for me," William said firmly.

"But how? She severed ties with the supernatural world long ago. How am I supposed to track her down?" Isabella questioned, feeling bewildered.

"I don't want excuses; I want results. Just get the job done. I promise I'll release you and won't interfere in your affairs," William asserted.

Isabella looked at William's resolute expression and let out a sigh. Despite the tempting offer, she knew the task would be incredibly challenging.

Recalling her conversation with William, Isabella rubbed her forehead wearily while sitting in her room.

"This is unbelievable. No matter how hard I try, it seems I can't escape my fate. Even in this lifetime, William has tasked me with unearthing Lady Amelia," Isabella muttered to herself as she again flipped through the pages of the file William had handed her.

"I don't know why or where the great wizard has hidden. I couldn't find her in my previous life, and it made me the target of William's wrath."

"It seems history repeats itself. Can I change it this time, or will my reincarnation be in vain?"

Feeling despondent, Isabella is all alone in her room, contemplating past events. Suddenly, she remembered something and grabbed a pen and diary. She began jotting down the details of her search for Amelia in her previous life, which lingered only faintly in her memory.

"Perhaps if I resume my search from here, I might achieve a successful outcome."

After reaching a decision, Isabella proceeded to make a few phone calls. She booked appointments with some of her mother's old acquaintances and friends who were once renowned wizards in Crescent Moon territory.

Days later, Isabella strolled into the vast garden of William's opulent villa, ready to attend his highly anticipated birthday celebration. She carried with her newfound knowledge about Amelia Cooper, yet she hesitated on whether to share it with William.

Even amidst the lively party atmosphere tailored for William's youthful friends and pack members, Isabella found herself unable to shake off her somber mood. Bypassing the merriment, she headed straight for the bar, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of the task ahead.

"Hey, what's up?"

Isabella was knocking back drinks one after another when she heard a faint voice amidst the chatter around her.

"Hey, Alex..." Isabella slurred, her hand swaying slightly as she blinked a few times, indicating her tipsy state.

"Why did you isolate yourself from the lively party?" Alex asked, settling in beside her.

"Vibrant soirée?" Isabella murmured to herself, scanning the scene around her. Guests mingled in clusters, enjoying delectable appetizers and cocktails while laughter and music filled the air. Soft lights adorned the trees, casting a warm glow over the dance floor, where people moved to the rhythm of the music. Above, the night sky shimmered with stars, adding to the enchanting atmosphere.

The jubilant atmosphere of celebration beneath the moonlit garden canopy briefly piqued Isabella's interest.

"Yes, it's a delightful party, especially since it's Alpha William's birthday. Let's make the most of it," she remarked, attempting to stand up but faltering with unsteady steps. Just as she was about to lose her balance, Alex's firm grip steadied her, preventing a fall. The intimate moment between them did not escape the notice of two pairs of jealous eyes, which glowed with envy and hostility.

Moving forward with unsteady steps, Isabella watched William and Penelope's arms intertwine as they welcomed guests with radiant smiles, a sight that caused a pang in her heart.

Unable to endure it any longer, she contemplated retreating, but Penelope's voice from behind stopped her in her tracks. "Hey Isabella...."

Isabella couldn't disregard the unmistakable call of her name, forcing her to halt. She took a few deep breaths before turning around, only to find Penelope approaching with William's arm in hers, wearing an extravagant smile.

"Oh, Penelope..." Isabella greeted solemnly.

"Why are you leaving so soon? It's William's birthday; you should raise a toast to him," Penelope urged, fetching a glass of drink and offering it to Isabella.

'Penelope's overly friendly demeanor towards me is suspicious,' Isabella thought to herself, sighing inwardly. Reluctantly, she accepted the glass, but as she raised it, a sudden flash of memories from her past life flooded her mind.

In a previous life, during William's birthday celebration, Penelope had offered Isabella a drink. However, just as Isabella raised the glass, Penelope deliberately nudged her, causing Isabella to tumble into the swimming pool. William had leaped in to rescue her, only to reprimand her later for her recklessness, blaming her for ruining the party.

As Isabella reminisced about this past incident, she became guarded and hesitated before taking any action.

'In my past life, everyone was aware of my fear of water, and Penelope exploited it. But now she knows I've conquered my fright and become proficient at swimming. Would she still have the audacity to attempt the same trick?' Isabella contemplated for a moment.

Standing a bit away from the swimming pool, Isabella cautiously raised her hand. "Happy Birthday, Alpha William!" she declared loudly, adding her voice to the chorus of well-wishers.

Having successfully proposed a toast to William, Isabella downed her drink and released a deep breath, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "The past didn't repeat itself this time. At least I've changed something from my previous life," she thought, feeling a surge of enthusiasm. She hastily grasped Alex's hand and whisked him towards the dance floor.

Isabella and Alex joined the others on the dance floor, ready to let loose, when a strong arm suddenly yanked Isabella away. She was swiftly pulled off the dance floor and led directly to the rooftop, far removed from the bustling party below.

"William, what on earth do you think you're doing?" Isabella exclaimed, attempting to pull her hands free from his grasp. However, he tightened his grip and locked her hands behind her back.

"You've been acting far too out of line lately. Why are you getting intimate with an omega?"

"Alex? What does it have to do with you? Are you jealous?" She furrowed her brows looking into his eyes.

William chuckled, "In your dreams, don't think too highly of yourself."

Isabella rolled her eyes. "Maybe he's just an omega to you, Alpha William, but to me, he's a friend—the only one left in my life," she uttered, her speech slightly slurred as tears brimmed in her eyes.

Despite William acknowledging deep down that Isabella was lonely in his territory, often subjected to bullying and paying a heavy price for being his friend, his ego hindered him from acknowledging it to her face.

"Only friend? Then what am I to you?" William demanded, growing indignant at her response.

"You?" Isabella chuckled ironically.

"What's there to laugh at?" William gripped her shoulder tightly, his face flushing red with fury as he raised his voice.

Isabella pushed him away, freeing herself from his grasp, and responded with equal force. "I've said it before, the moment I confessed my feelings to you, I shattered the boundaries of friendship. Your rejection humiliated me and destroyed any connection between us."

"How dare you..." William interjected, gripping her shoulder once more and forcefully pushing her towards the edge of the boundary wall, pressing her against it.

He was infuriated by her audacity to be disrespectful. He was accustomed to people always respecting him, bowing to his every command, and never daring to talk back.

"William...., Ahh....." Isabella was on the verge of retorting when suddenly her head began to spin and her vision blurred. Instead of pushing William away, she grabbed her head in pain.

"What's happening?" William released her shoulder and cradled her cheeks in the cup of his hands.

"My head..." Isabella managed to utter before her vision swirled.

Trying to shake off the dizziness, she stumbled, unable to regain her balance. As she teetered on the edge of the roof, Isabella instinctively reached out and grasped William's collar. In the chaos, William lost his footing as well, and they both toppled over the edge, falling from the roof.

"Splash....." William and Isabella plunged into the swimming pool together with a resounding splash, disrupting the festive atmosphere of the party.

As Isabella descended into the water, she came to the stark realization that changing fate was not an easy task.

Feeling her senses slip away, Isabella found herself sinking deeper into the pool. Fortunately, William was there beside her, swiftly swimming to her rescue and bringing her back to the surface.

Standing in the swimming pool, William held Isabella in his arms as the clouds parted, revealing the full moon. Moonlight cascaded down, illuminating Isabella in William's embrace, and his gaze darkened with concern as he noticed something amiss.

"The party's over," William declared as he stepped out of the water, carrying Isabella into the villa.

"Moon Goddess, how can this be?" William muttered to himself, gazing at the semi-conscious figure of Isabella on his bed. "Why have you chosen Isabella, a wizard, as my mate?"