AT THE SAME TIME
ISABELLA'S POINT OF VIEW:
I took slow steps backward, slipping through the crowd of wolves as they howled and cheered. The moon shift event was in full swing, wolves shifting left and right, basking in the glow of the full moon like it was some grand divine experience.
"Warning! You are attempting to leave an important event! "Penalty may be applied for non-participation!" System said.
I scowled at the floating message.
"Shut up." I muttered under my breath, stepping further into the shadows.
"Host, this is a crucial moment for the story. Participation is advised." System said.
"I don't care." I whispered, slipping past a few distracted wolves.
This wasn't my moment. It belonged to the real main character, the one the game was designed for. The Silver Wolf. The alpha's chosen. The female lead. And I was no one special. But that wasn't my role. I was just Isabella, the rogue who somehow ended up in this mess.
"Host is deviating from the story. Auto-correcting-" System started.
"Nope." I took off, dashing into the forest.
AT THE SAME TIME
THIRD PERSON'S POV:
Rosalie's silver furred form stood tall under the moonlight, her eyes narrowing as she caught the faintest glimpse of movement in the shadows. Someone had been there, watching, and then running. She turned her head toward the nearest rogue, a scarred but sturdy looking wolf who stood respectfully at the edge of the gathering.
"Who was that?" Her voice was smooth yet commanding, carrying the natural authority of an alpha's chosen.
The rogue hesitated, his ears flicking back slightly.
"That was our leader. Isabella."He said.
A murmur ran through the gathered wolves, especially among those from other packs who had never heard of a rogue leader. Even Xavier, who had been observing quietly from the sidelines, visibly tensed at the mention of her name. Rosalie's silver eyes flickered with curiosity.
"Your leader?"She asked.
The rogue straightened his posture, nodding firmly.
"Yes. She leads the Moon's chosen village."Rogue explained.
Another wolf, younger and a little too eager, spoke up.
"She's the one who's been changing everything. Helping rogues survive. She's strong."He said.
Rosalie frowned slightly, deep in thought.
"A rogue… leading a village?" Her gaze flicked back toward the trees where Isabella had disappeared, interest sparking in her expression.
Xavier, standing just behind her, crossed his arms, his jaw tightening.
"She always runs." He muttered under his breath. "Like she doesn't belong here."
The rogue shook his head.
"No. She belongs more than any of us."He said.
Rosalie turned back toward the crowd, the gears in her mind turning. The moon shift event was supposed to be about her. The Female Lead.
Rosalie's ears twitched as murmurs about Isabella continued to spread among the gathered wolves. A rogue leader? It was unheard of. And yet, the way these rogues spoke about her… there was something different. Something important. Turning back to the scarred rogue, Rosalie's voice was calm but firm.
"Tell me more about her."She asked.
The rogue hesitated, glancing at Xavier briefly before returning his gaze to Rosalie.
"She's… different. Smarter than most. Stronger than she looks. She built the village from nothing. Gave rogues a future."She said.
Another rogue, a younger she wolf with sharp eyes, stepped forward.
"She doesn't just fight. She teaches. She found ways to store food, heal injuries, even make deals with merchants. She changed everything for us."Another one said.
Rosalie's brow furrowed.
"And yet, she left this event."Rosalie said.
The first rogue exhaled, ears flicking downward for a moment.
"She doesn't think she belongs. Not with packs, not with Alphas. The system forced her here, but she never wanted to stay."He said. "It's like she don't understand we know about 'system'."
Rosalie's eyes darkened with thought. Why would the system force her into an event like this? Unless… Her gaze slid toward Xavier, who had remained silent throughout the conversation, his expression unreadable. But Rosalie wasn't blind she saw the way his fists clenched at his sides, the sharp set of his jaw. He already knew about Isabella.
"You've met her before." Rosalie stated, watching him closely.
Xavier's golden eyes flicked to hers. He didn't deny it. '
"…Yes."Xavier said.
"And?"Rosalie asked.
His jaw tightened.
"She's reckless. Stubborn. Impossible to control." His voice was edged with something dangerous.
Rosalie's curiosity only deepened. A rogue omega who had alphas reacting like this? Her gaze drifted back toward the forest where Isabella had vanished. I need to meet her.
The sun was barely above the horizon when Rosalie found herself once again wandering toward the heart of the Moon's chosen village. Her curiosity about the rogue leader, Isabella, only deepened as the day passed. This time, she was determined to see for herself what made this omega so… different. She spotted Isabella not far from the edge of the village, kneeling on the ground with a bundle of wild herbs in her hands. Her attention was focused on a group of young rogues gathered around her, watching as she expertly demonstrated how to prepare the plants for medicinal use.
The village itself was alive with activity. There was a sense of order here that Rosalie had not expected, a sharp contrast to the chaos that usually surrounded rogue camps. Everything seemed to run with purpose. Isabella, however, remained at the center, giving instructions, answering questions, and offering assistance where it was needed. Rosalie watched quietly from the edge of the clearing, noting how the others seemed to gravitate toward her, eagerly hanging on to every word. There was respect in their eyes, a respect she hadn't seen many times, especially for a rogue omega. Isabella's hands moved with precision as she worked, skillfully slicing through the plants with a knife, then passing them off to the younger wolves to continue the task. When one of the pups fumbled with a bundle of dried leaves, she quickly moved in to correct them, her tone soft but firm.
"Careful. The way you dry the herbs affects how strong the medicine will be. Patience is key."She said.
Rosalie couldn't help but notice the way the group looked at Isabella, as if she was a teacher, a mentor, even a protector. There was no hesitation in their trust no suspicion of the omega who had, just months ago, been a rogue without a pack. But what struck Rosalie most was the calm, almost serene air about Isabella. She was not caught up in the struggles or politics of the packs or the prideful arrogance of Alphas. A small child approached, holding a handful of berries that had clearly been foraged from the forest.
"Is this enough, Isabella?" The child's face was bright with hope, clearly wanting to impress their leader.
Isabella smiled gently, taking the berries from their hands.
"This will be perfect. You're doing great."Isabella said.
Rosalie's heart tightened slightly at the warmth in Isabella's voice. She had heard rumors, of course, but seeing it firsthand was different. This was a leader who cared deeply for the future of her people, one who didn't rely on brute force or dominance to earn loyalty. She earned it through respect. Her eyes drifted to Xavier, who had been watching from a distance as well. His gaze was intense, though it wasn't directed at the people around Isabella. It was focused entirely on the omega herself. Rosalie couldn't quite make sense of the look on his face. There was something there, something dangerous, perhaps even possessive.
Yet, Isabella didn't seem to notice, or perhaps she didn't care. She stepped forward, breaking from the shadows, intent on approaching the rogue leader. As she moved closer, Isabella glanced up, her expression unreadable as she took in Rosalie's presence. The others fell silent, sensing the shift in the atmosphere.
"Isabella." Rosalie began, her voice calm but firm. "I wanted to speak with you."
The younger woman didn't hesitate, setting the herbs aside and standing.
"What do you need?" Her voice was steady, though there was a flicker of something Rosalie couldn't quite place perhaps caution, or wariness.
Rosalie took a slow breath.
"I've been curious. About you. And how you came to be here, leading this village."Rosalie said.
Isabella's lips quirked slightly, though her eyes remained guarded.
'I didn't choose this path."She said quietly. 'But it's the one that was chosen for me."
Rosalie stepped closer, her eyes never leaving Isabella's. "What if it wasn't just the path you were forced onto? What if… it's something more?"She asked.
Isabella met her gaze, silent for a moment.
"The future isn't set by anyone but us. We have to choose what we're willing to fight for."Isabella said.
Rosalie paused. There was something in her words something Rosalie couldn't quite ignore.
"I'm not here to fight." Isabella added. "I'm here to help. If that's not enough for you, then… we're done talking."
Rosalie watched as the younger woman walked past her, once again focusing on the task at hand. As Isabella returned to her work, Rosalie stayed still for a moment longer, trying to process everything she had just learned. There was more to this rogue leader than met the eye more than just a woman trying to survive. She was building something real. And Rosalie was starting to wonder if maybe, just maybe, Isabella's path wasn't so different from her own after all.