Chapter 16: Chapter 16
Dylan waved Xavi goodbye as he drove his grey Chevrolet sedan out of the driveway. It was 7:30pm when he got back from training the pack warriors. Xavi had offered to drive him home, seeing how stressed he looked after the training session, which he didn’t object.
Within the three days Dylan has spent training the werewolves, he realized that there was nothing different about the werewolves from the Pride pack. They had similar characteristics, likes, dislikes, sense of humor, he could go on and on with the list. He realized there was nothing special or extraordinary about them, besides their large number, their zeal and dedication to fight at anytime,their will to lay down their lives for their pack, the unbreakable bond between humans and werewolves, and above all, their passionate belief and trust in their alphas. This was something no other pack could rival.
Dylan walked into the house feeling exhausted from having to bark orders all day. He wasn’t this exhausted on the first and second day. Maybe that was because he didn’t train the werewolves and humans at the beginners level. He took out a bottle of water and a slice of pizza Fernando got for him earlier from the refrigerator, and heated the pizza in the microwave and devoured the slice in less than a minute when it was ready. He hasn’t had a proper meal ever since he arrived at the Pride pack, and no one was to blame for that but himself, because he was initially grumpy for being separated from his family, then he became angry after finding out about his mate’s affair with her beta, now he’s gloomy as he has no idea where his mate is. So, how can he bring himself to eat like a king, with all these unresolved issues?
He went upstairs after doing the dishes, mentally preparing himself for a long shower, to help ease his stress. What he wasn’t expecting when he switched on the light in his room was to find his mate comfortably seated on the sofa in his bedroom with her legs crossed and her eyes closed like she was asleep. Dylan had his hand to his chest, to steady his breathing. She was wearing her signature all black outfit and her tight ponytail. He was screaming inside his head to turn around and leave the room now he has the chance, but his body and his wolf was telling him otherwise.
“She won’t hurt us. She adores us."
He wished with all his heart that what his wolf claimed was true, but how would he know if he left her presence. Dylan then resigned himself to his fate. Whatever punishment Isabel would mete out to him, he was going to accept without a fight, but first, let him worship the beautiful goddess before him, and think about his punishment when she wakes up. He didn’t even have the chance to satisfy his eyes as Isabel suddenly opened her gorgeous brown eyes, taking him unawares.
“I’ve been waiting.” She said in a silky tone, sending shivers down his spine.
He swallowed hard and cleared his throat, preparing himself for the worse, even though her tone said the opposite.
“It came to my notice that you’ve been training the warriors.”
This wasn’t at all what Isabel intended to say. She wanted to know why he hasn’t been eating, why he looks sleep deprived, why he seems unhappy and how she can change his mindset towards her, but her pride as an alpha wouldn’t let her open up the way her mom wanted her to.
To say Dylan was surprised, at the same time disappointed with her statement was an understatement. He expected her to be mad at him for not being there for her when she needed him. To yell and curse at him, or even go to the extent of hitting him, so he would feel guilty for his actions, but she wasn’t doing any of that. Do all alpha werewolves mask their emotions from their mates or was she this way with him because she was involved with someone else. What kind of mates are they anyway? His mom and dad are inseparable, so is his brother, Daniel with his mate. Why is his totally different from theirs? If his wolf hadn’t felt the bond on their first encounter, and she didn't confirm that she was present at his eighteenth birthday, he would’ve most likely thought that all of this was a set up to get to his pack.
“I got bored with staying indoors.” he replied.
Isabel was in front of him within the blink of an eye, surprising him. How did she do that? He wondered, looking at the spot where she was previously seated. She looked more agile now than the night he saw her in the kitchen, and the scent of a female werewolf in heat had vanished completely. Could this mean that she found herself another replacement since Carlos was admitted in the hospital?
“I take it that you’re getting used to the pack." Her mesmerizing voice distracted his thoughts.
Desire swirled around him, causing his wolf to become restless.
“Take her in our arms. Tell her we’re sorry.” It said
Dylan, intoxicated by how her eyes were piercing through his soul, leaving him breathless, was on the verge of obeying his wolf when Isabel took some steps away from him.
“I see you’re not yet open for discussion.” She paused, searching his eyes for any trace of anger.
“I’m not here to chat if that’s what you think… I’m here to tell you that you can call your family, to let them know that you’re alive.”
She gave up seeking his emotions. He wasn’t ready to accept her as his mate, and there’s nothing she can do to change that. She has him in her pack, that’s all that matters.
“Thank you.”
She saw his eyes sparkle at the mention of his family, causing her to have a heartache. He can never feel this way with her. Her wolf whimpered at the realization and sank into sleep. She made the worse mistake of her life by wanting her mate beside her. She should’ve left him in his pack, since her dad was against him in the beginning. The pain she feels now is far worse than when they were apart.
“Why are you doing this?” Dylan’s masculine voice asked, hurting her even deeper to know that this Greek god in her house will never be hers.
Why does he think the worse about her? Did he really think she was planning to keep him away from his family forever?
‘You’re becoming too soft, Isabel’ This wasn’t her wolf speaking, but her subconscious.
‘Remember all you were taught’ The voice continued.
But her mom advised her to let him see right through her, or was that a beta and omega’s way of relating with its mate? What if he begins to misbehave towards her if she decides to give him the benefit of doubt? She can’t be weak, for the sake of her pack. She can’t let her guard down.
“Don’t get me wrong, Dylan… I don’t want members of the Greenwood pack trespassing into my territory with the excuse of a search.” She half lied.
“But, I’m from Greenwood pack."
“No, hell no!” She gave him a sharp glare.
“You’re now one of us. What you shared with the Greenwood pack is a thing of the past… Keep that in mind.”
Isabel was out of the room before he could let what she just said sink in. How can a werewolf be that fast?
Isabel submerged herself in her bathtub while having a bath in her bathroom. She decided not to go back to her parents house, to give them their privacy, and to avoid anyone finding out that that is where she usually clears her head. Maybe you aren’t meant to have a mate. Maybe you shouldn’t have accepted the alpha position when your dad wanted to name you his heir. Maybe you should’ve advised him to stick to the pack’s tradition that has been for generations. All of these thoughts were ringing in Isabel’s head, causing the passage way to her lungs to become blocked, making her unable to breathe. She quickly resurfaced from under the water to catch her breath.
“Are you trying to get us killed?” Her wolf charged at her in anger.
“I’m sorry. I have no idea what just happened.” She explained to her wolf, still short of breath.
She climbed out of the tub and wrapped a white towel around her body. Staring at the mirror, she noticed her skin had turned pale from staying in the water for too long, and her eyes were blood shot.
“You need to stay strong for your pack.” She convinced her reflection.
“With or without a mate you’re still an alpha.” She nodded to herself in agreement, making up her mind to never feel depressed over her mate.
She dried her hair with another towel after changing into her nightie, and decided to sleep in the master bedroom that belonged to her and her mate. The moment she entered the room, she was consumed with sadness. For a long time, Isabel has imagined having so many romantic moments with her mate in this room. Sadly, none of her imaginations will become a reality. She hugged herself and started her way towards the bed, but didn’t take more than two steps further as a knock on the door stopped her. Too confused to know who was at the door, she growled under her breath, reaching for the door knob. Isabel’s confusion was soon replaced with surprise as she opened the door to reveal her shirtless mate.