Chapter 32: Chapter 32

Isaac opens the passenger side door and I give him a thankful smile as I get in and heads on to closes the door. I watch silently as Isaac gets into the driver's seat and buckles on his seatbelt, I buckle in my seatbelt too and cross my arms on my chest and sit upright, facing the front with much concentration than needed.

This is why he probably stopped when he was chasing me. Deep down, I know that he gave me time to get my thoughts together and run all the way back to my father’s pack. I surely did need the run and the release of tears from all the advancements of the day but him getting a car and driving back here seems like cheating. I had to run and he just drove here. At least now I know that I can probably make the cut for a running marathon.

"Alei-" Isaac begins but stops halfway my name. He takes in a whiff of the air in the car. "What's that?" He asks and turns around and his whole body tenses.

"Who the fuck are you?" Isaac asks, anger and frustration clear in his voice.

"Hello." A male voice replies.

Isaac's nostrils flare up in anger and he raises his fisted hand to throw a right hook at an amused and slightly frightened Zen. This could probably qualify for an ugly decision but the smile on Zen’s face shows me that he is more than capable of handling the situation. He would not really piss off an Alpha and he knows that but here we are anyways. In cahoots.

"Stop." I say in a calm but loud voice. Isaac stops and unclenches his fist. "Don't worry I told him to come with."

"What who is he?" He turns to me with a furious look on his face.

"I'm Zen." Zen replies, introducing himself with a smile clouding his small amount of fear.

I want to laugh at the way he casually waves and smiles at a person who is throwing him deadly glares. Maybe it was not the best idea to get Zen in the car without Isaac’s knowledge. But where would the fun be in that? As far as I am concerned, Zen was a great help when it came to putting my small suitcase in the back of Isaac’s car and get himself in the back seat without being seen.

"Why the hell is Zen, in my car?" Isaac asks, his eyes scanning both of us.

"Do you have a problem with me being here?" Zen asks in a mocking tone.

"Of course. What are you doing in my car?!" Isaac replies, his levels of anger seeming to go up.

Okay, I definitely have to find a way to cool him down before he kills my newly found ally and friend. It is already late and I do not think that I will be able to survive through another scene with drama.

"Isaac this is Zen." I repeat the introduction.

"I think he quite got that part." Zen voices out with a small chuckle and looks back at Isaac.

"Yeah. What I want to know is what he is doing in my fxcking car."

"Think of him as a living asset-ally I'm bringing along with me." I reply with a straight smile.

That is a very interesting way to put it, I guess.

"What do you mean by that?” Isaac’s eyebrows furrow in confusion.

"Um....okay think of him as my friend." I reply.

"Why the hell do you need a friend and why couldn't he be a female?" Isaac asks, his voice flaring up with anger.

"Well dude, I couldn't just be a girl, I kinda like being a guy." Zen replies from the back.

Isaac glares at him and then turns to face me. Zen’s amused and laid back personality just makes this all better for me but I know that I will have to be careful since Isaac can freaking hear and read my thoughts. Oh no, I forgot to warn Zen and if Isaac finds out that I want to kick him where the sun does not shine after this, my plan will just go up in flames.

Well too late now, he is already looking at you.

Isaac remains silent for a few seconds but takes in a deep breath and lets it out, calming down his wolf and himself. “You want to kick me?” he asks with one perfectly raised, thick eyebrow.

"I'm tired and exhausted so can we please go on." I ignore his words and imitate the best yawn I can muster. "And as for Zen, he is coming with and if you don't like that I can just get off right now." My voice holding a challenge, daring him to object.

"Fine." He huffs and turns on the car's engine.

The car’s engine roars to life and soon enough, we are reversing out of the parking space and onto the road. Isaac takes a sharp turn and soon enough we are in the main highway.

I look at the streets in which I was running down just a few hours ago. Faces of confused and worried pedestrians run through my head as I remember how they looked at me when I was running down the streets like a mad person. I probably looked like a psychotic person who escaped from a mental asylum.

-_-

"Ali!" Caleb screams as he runs towards the car and opens the door for me. Immediately I step out, he pulls me into his signature bone crashing hugs. "I thought I wouldn't ever be able to beat you at COD."

"Mm mm mm." I reply but it comes out muffled and short-lived due to not having any more air in my lungs. This kid really has a mission of killing me using his hugs before I get the chance to kick his brother.

"What?" Caleb asks and yet does not bother to release me from his tight hold.

"I think she said, "You are killing me and I want you to let me go so I can live”." Zen voices out from beside me.

Caleb let's go of me and his eyes concentrate on the other male standing beside me apart from Isaac. I take in a sharp breath and straighten up to look at Caleb with a questioning and angry look, I do not appreciate that he wanted to kill me for the second time using the most beautiful show of emotion known to humans. Hugs!

"Who are you?" Caleb asks, ignoring my perfect 'question-anger' stance.

"Zen." Zen replies with a smile and stretches out his right hand. Caleb returns the gesture and shakes Zen's hand.

"Caleb." Caleb replies.

"My best guess is that you're the Alpha's younger brother, since you share similar features." Zen muses, his hands stuffed in his pants front pockets.

"I know right, he couldn't just take it down a notch it on stealing my looks." Caleb pouts. I chuckle at his silly pout and Zen just looks at him with an amused smile.

Is this guy always amused? On seeing the exchange of amusement between Zen and Caleb, I know that they will definitely get along. All I know is that Isaac is the only one who is not happy with Zen’s presence in the pack.

"I like you already, kid." Zen says.

"Not a kid." Caleb finalizes and turns to look at me. "What's with the creepy look on your face?" He asks and insults my best version of a "question-anger" look.

"What and what?" I ask as I flare at him, erasing the previous look on my face.

"What?" He questions with a look of confusion.

"Ali and COD?" I ask still very curious.

"Nickname and I'm supposed to beat you at COD before you die of food poisoning." Caleb replies which earns him a whack on his shoulder.

People have got to get the idea across their minds that my name does not have a wonderful shorter version or nickname. Freaking lazy creatures, why can they not just say my name in full? It is simple and straight forward. There is no need to cut it short just to make it sound like I am Arab or something.

"What was that for?" He whines.

"For being stupid." I reply and overstep him. "Let's go guys, aren't y'all feeling cold?"

"Right behind you." Zen replies and walks over to my side. "Wait up, what about your bag?" Zen questions.

"Don't worry, Isaac is going to get it." I answer and look at Isaac, who looks rather unhappy.

"What? Isn't he the personal asset-ally?" Isaac questions with a look of disbelief.

"Yeah, but he is tired so you do it." I reply and pull Zen in the house.

The amazing scent and view of the house sends me in a trance again like it does every time I walk through the door. I can never get over the fact that my mate’s scent is at its strongest in this walls and it only gets stronger when I enter his room.

"Wow, this place looks shitting expensive." Zen gasps beside me. "Are we supposed to step on such expensive and holy ground?"

I feel you dude, my first reaction was the same. Looking back at the memory always makes me feel like laughing. And every time that I enter this house, I feel like a kid who was playing in a mud puddle and then I was expected to step on a white and squeaky clean surface.

Caleb chuckles and jumps onto the couch. Zen and I walk towards the couch and sit down.

"Spill. What is the plan?" Caleb asks eying Zen and me in menacing way.

"What?" I ask leaning back in my seat.

"What's the plan to make my stupid brother pay?" Caleb asks in a 'duh' tone. The excited look on his face makes me laugh softly.

"I'm gonna teach him what happens when he pisses of the 'vampire' within." I reply with a crazed smile. I was branded a vampire before, then why not let the deep down traits of the vampire show and teach my dear mate a lesson.

"Ooh dang, I knew he was going to be your next dish." Caleb says with a chuckle. "So I'm guessing Zen is part of this operation: show the alpha who the Luna is."

"Right you are, my dear friend." Zen replies with a smile.

"Just tell me when you need help." Caleb says with a naughty glint in his eyes.

"I can't believe I'm the one carrying the bag." Isaac grumbles under his breath as he opens the door and walks over to us.

"It’s not even heavy just take it upstairs." I order as I stand up from my seat and grab Zen's hand. Isaac glares at the contact but takes in a deep breath and starts walking towards the stairs.

"I'm hungry, let's go eat." I announce. I let go of Zen's hand once Isaac is out of sight. I walk over to the kitchen and Caleb and Zen follow behind.

"It's probably three in the morning but I'm still hungry." Caleb says as he settles down on one of the stools around the island.

"I can cook, as long as y'all just want PB and Jelly sandwiches." I say as I sit down on the stools too.

"And I can't cook." Caleb lies and I look at him with disbelief.

"Stop lying."

"Okay, but I'm too lazy to actually cook something right now." He says with a shrug. "So that leaves us with Zen."

"You don't make the guest cook, that's bad hospitality." Zen replies.

"Isaac... Isaac knows how to cook." I say my thoughts out loud when I sense Isaac’s fresh scent nearing the kitchen.

Isaac makes his way in the kitchen immediately and I turn to face him with a puppy dog face. We might just be able to tick off on of the Fs from the list.

"I don't think looking like you want to take a dump can make him cook food for you." Caleb mocks and Zen chortles besides him.

"Do you want another whack?" I ask, raising my hand in a threatening way.

"Of course not, you can proceed with looking like a cute dog on a toilet seat." Caleb replies which makes me whack him again.

"So Isaac, I'm hungry so would you be a darling and please prepare something wonderful?" I say with a smile.

"What about him?" Isaac asks pointing towards Zen who is resting his elbows on the table and smiling innocently at everyone in the room. Come on! How am I supposed to make all that cuteness cook so early in the morning?

"He's a guest plus you are supposed to be feeding me, I probably lost more than I can gain after that run."

His face morphs into one of guilt. "Don't worry I'll cook up something real quick." He assures and makes his way to the cabinets and refrigerator, pulling out different ingredients. I should have made him sign a contract after we made a deal about feeding me.

_-

"Dude this is great." Zen praises as he stuffs more pasta in his mouth.

"Thanks." Isaac replies but the slight edge of distaste in his voice doesn't go missing.

"It's okay." Caleb shrugs. "But I can sure do better." He praises himself.

"Whatever, my food tastes better than yours anytime and any day." Isaac replies packing the remainder of the food in a bowl and keeping it in the refrigerator.

"Let's do it." I say with a pleased and happy smile.

The guys look at me in confusion and curiosity.

"Let's do a cook-off." I suggest taking the last scoop of pasta from my plate and trash it down my mouth.

"Cook-off? Why?" Isaac asks.

"She just wants more food." Caleb mutters.

That was the correct answer, I could definitely be the judge but I will not be picky about the food. I will gladly devour the food on each contestant’s plate without much problems.

"I'm really tired, I don't know about you guys but I haven't been able to sleep and it's now four." Zen points out.

"Yeah, I agree with Zen." Caleb agrees and gets off his seat. "I'm going to continue my beauty sleep, don't wake me up." He warns and walks out of the kitchen.

I look at Isaac and Zen and notice Isaac throwing daggers at Zen.

"Zen, come on." I say, standing up from the stool. "Let me show you where your room is."

"Let's go. I prefer a bed than being six feet under." He replies.

"How about me?" Isaac questions as he puts the last plate in the dishwasher. He walks over to us and wipes his hands on his jeans.

"I think you know the direction to your room." I reply.

I grab Zen's hand and walk out of the kitchen. I trudge up the stairs with Zen’s hand in mine, I can feel Isaac’s burning stare on my back but that just raises the smirk on my face. We walk until we are at the top of the stairs, I take a turn to the left and open the third door revealing a spacious and plain room.

"You can sleep here, I think there's a few clothes in there." I point at the closet. "And if you need something just tell me, okay?"

"Sure." He responds.

I turn to walk out of the room and stop in my tracks.

"And Zen...thank you so much, I know that going against an alpha can be intense." I thank him with a genuine smile on my face.

"No problem, I really needed to tick, 'pissing an alpha' off my bucket list." He replies.

I chuckle and walk out of the room, not forgetting to close the door. I walk down the hallway and open the door to Isaac's room. Isaac stands at the foot of the bed without his shirt and his perfectly toned body on display.

I inwardly gasp and my eyes zoom in on the so prominent godly features that my mate possess. I walk into the closet and spot my bag, I quickly zip open the bag and grab my favorite black towel. I hug it to my chest and stand up.

Have you ever loved your towel because I do?

I walk out of the closet and into the bathroom, I strip and take a quick shower basking in the amazing scent of my mate’s shampoo. For now I have to use Isaac’s shampoo because I do not have mine but I am not complaining.

What? His shampoo is just too good to be true.

I turn off the water and wrap the towel around my body. I step into the room and look at Isaac who now looks freshly showered and in just a pair of sweatpants. His eyes trail down my body hungrily and I smile. I ignore his shameless staring and walk into the closet. I grab my blue pajama shorts and matching blue shirt.

I walk back into the room and plop down on the bed letting out a loud yawn. Isaac gets in the bed besides me. He shifts closer to me and wraps his arm around my waist. I snuggle deeper into his chest and inhale his heavenly scent. His head rests at the top of mine.

"Are we okay?" He asks silently.

"More than okay." I reply but he doesn't see the devilish grin on my face.

He sighs.

"Sorry."

“Don’t say that again.” I point my finger at his chest. “Ever!”