Chapter 30: Chapter 30

After several days when the pack was calm, Isabel named her cousin, Xavi, the new beta of the Pride pack. The title he rightfully deserved. He would be her right hand man and at the same time assist Dylan in training the warrior werewolves.

Dylan had still insisted on being in charge of the warrior werewolves to keep him occupied and keep Fernando interested in participating in the training session which Isabel agreed to after much persuasion. She decided to take advantage of Dylan’s new position by joining in training the werewolves during her free time to stay closer to her mate. Majority of the warrior werewolves weren’t too excited about it, as Isabel’s presence made them train overtime.

Dylan was concerned about their psychological well being and felt pity for them whenever his mate drilled them but he couldn’t complain because it gives him the opportunity to spend quality time with his mate and also makes them work together as a couple. He was that selfish.

It was a Sunday morning, Isabel and Dylan were lost in each other’s embrace after a morning sex.

“Let’s go make breakfast.” Dylan suggested huskily, stroking Isabel’s round butt lazily.

“I’m not hungry.” Isabel mumbled against his chest, intertwining their legs tighter under the sheets to make her point. She was savoring her mate’s manly scent mixed with rosewood and the feeling of his sweaty toned body against her equally sweaty body.

Dylan gave a low and soft chuckle when Isabel’s stomach rumbled. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment as she hid her face in his chest.

“There’s nothing to be ashamed of, love. I’m starving.”

Dylan cherished these moments with Isabel, when she acts all cute because once they leave the bedroom, she will be a totally different person. If he’s lucky, she could remain cute until they leave the house to their various destinations.

The bond between them grew stronger after they mated with each other few weeks ago. And, although Dylan was enjoying the attention that comes with it, he wasn’t happy with the fact that they were yet to complete the mating ritual. He had once attempted to mark Isabel without her permission but she found it offensive, that was his cue to never cross the line.

The thought of his mate not wanting to be completely his was tormenting. He wants the whole world to know who she belonged to. He wants to wake up every morning to see his imprint proudly decorated on her neck, but it seems she doesn’t want to be claimed by anyone.

“Are you even listening?” Isabel snapped her fingers in his face to get his attention.

“I’m sorry, I was thinking of what to make for breakfast.” He lied.

“I said you’re free to go, but I won’t be joining you.” Isabel turned her back towards him, getting herself comfortable on the bed for another round of sleep.

“Oh no, you don’t” Dylan carried a protesting Isabel bridal style and ran into the bathroom so they would shower.

“Turn it over like this… You’re doing great, babe.”

Dylan was teaching Isabel how to make pancakes, guiding her through the procedure and encouraging her every now and then.

“Is this good enough?” Isabel’s eyes lit up as she placed a perfectly fried thin, flat, round cake on a plate.

“It’s perfect, love… I’ll take it from here.” Dylan gave her a kiss on the shoulder in encouragement and guided her towards the island stool to sit while he does his thing.

Frankly, he was starving and if he decides to stick with Isabel’s pace, they’ll have breakfast by lunchtime, no exaggeration.

“I didn’t get it right.” Isabel pinched the bridge of her nose, sounding slightly annoyed. She wasn’t angry at Dylan because he tried his best to teach her how to cook. She was angry at herself for not being able to learn.

She wanted to surprise her mate with breakfast specially made by her every once in a while, but at the rate she’s going, that would never become a reality.

Dylan has taken it upon himself to make them breakfast every morning, leaving lunch and dinner in the hands of Ingrid. Isabel wasn’t too keen on the idea at first because it made her feel less productive and undeserving of her mate, but with time, she got to appreciate the effort and dedication he puts into making her breakfast and the little moments they spend together every morning in the kitchen after breakfast. They wouldn’t have that much privacy if Ingrid were to be present every morning.

“I would never lie to you, Isabel… There’s nothing wrong with the pancakes you made, I just don’t wanna be late for training.” Dylan replied while pouring the last set of batter in the pan.

He approached an upset Isabel, and circled his arms around her waist, placing a quick kiss on her lips.

“I hate it when you sugarcoat the truth.” Isabel nudged him on the chest before reciprocating his warm embrace.

“And I hate it when you don’t believe me.”

With that being said, Dylan pulled away from the hug and walked towards the drawer to get the silverware. Isabel assisted him in turning the pancake over to the other side before taking it out of the pan and turning off the stove.

They ate breakfast in a comfortable silence, with Dylan occasionally feeding his mate. He was willing to do anything to lighten her mood, to show her that nothing else matters to him besides spending everyday of his life by her side.

“If it makes you feel better, I can stop making breakfast.”

Dylan and Isabel were standing in the hallway leading to the living room. Isabel was playing with the hem of Dylan’s shirt with her back against the wall while Dylan had his hands placed on the wall, trapping Isabel with his large frame.

“Fair enough.” Isabel nodded as her hands sneakily went under his shirt. She’s going to be bored staying home alone, so she was reluctant to send Dylan off.

Dylan closed his eyes at his mate’s touch, slowly giving in to his unconscious desires. Isabel had complete control of his body and he wasn’t complaining. She was free to use him as much as she wants to, whenever she pleased as long as it makes her happy.

Her lips caught his in a passionate kiss and he let out a growl of satisfaction.

Isabel’s kiss was hungry and demanding like she wanted something more, getting him excited. She gripped his hair tight earning a groan from him as their lips fought for dominance. Their hungry kiss soon turned into a full make out session. Dylan’s hands were around her breasts, giving them a light squeeze while Isabel’s fingers were already undoing his denim buttons.

“Ahem”

They jumped away from each other at the sound of someone clearing his throat.

“Papa” Isabel straightened her stance on seeing her dad, smoothing her hair and shirt to look presentable before the older werewolf.

Dylan copied his mate’s actions, feeling terribly embarrassed to be caught in such a position by his father-in-law.

“A-alpha Rodrigo” he stuttered in his greeting.

“I guess I came at the wrong time.” Rodrigo seemed unfazed by what he saw the young adults doing.

“You’re mistaken, papa. He was just leaving.” Isabel said with a straight face.

Dylan couldn’t argue with that because it was obvious his cute mate was gone and his alpha mate was present.

How does she change personalities without even blinking?

“Y-yeah. I was just saying goodbye.” He was left with no choice but to go with the flow.

“I heard you’re doing a good job with the warriors.”

Was his father-in-law complimenting him?

Even after spending over a month in the Pride pack, he still wasn’t used to feeling relaxed around Rodrigo.

“I won’t take all the credit cos I get help from Isabel and Xavi every other day.” He nervously chuckled.

Rodrigo nodded in understanding, giving his shoulder a light squeeze as Dylan was currently standing in front of him.

“Just don’t let them slack off.”

“Y-yes sir.” Dylan said goodbye to his mate and her dad after that, and went off to perform his duty.

Rodrigo then turned his attention to his daughter, who gestured for them to go to the living room.

“Is he still mad at you?” Rodrigo asked out of nowhere, confusing Isabel.

Why did her dad suddenly bring that up? She was almost over that issue and didn’t want to be reminded about it.

“What makes you think that way?” She asked.

“Because he hasn’t marked you.” Her dad bluntly replied, pointing at her exposed neck.

Isabel pushed her hair to the side to conceal her bare neck, suddenly becoming cautious of the area.

“This isn’t you and mom… He needs my permission before marking me with his imprint.”

“Is that so?... But you don’t have a problem fucking him.” Rodrigo stated the obvious. He was getting more and more irritated at his daughter’s attitude towards her mate.

He didn’t want his daughter losing herself to her mate, but he could see the effort Dylan was putting to make their relationship stronger while Isabel was making him a subject for discussion.

“I don’t think that’s the reason you’re here.”

“You’re not going to change the subject, Isabel.” His daughter was head strong but so was he.

“Why do I feel like you’re not over Carlos?” He irritatedly asked.

“I never loved Carlos and you know it.” Isabel countered, not liking her dad’s current attitude.

Her wolf was angered when he brought up Carlos, but she knew better than to let it be in control. Her dad was older but his wolf was still quite strong.

“Well, that’s what I’ve been hearing.”

Isabel ran her fingers through her hair, trying her best to control her anger.

Who dares to spread such false rumors about her and her mate? They better not let her find out their identity because she wouldn’t have a problem sending them to their early grave.

“You need to let the world know that you’re taken.” Rodrigo continued.

“They know that already.”

“Isabel!”

“I don’t want him to suffer, papa!” Isabel’s voice matched her dad’s angry one.

She wasn’t happy about the situation either, but she wouldn’t change it no matter what people say. Dylan doesn’t deserve to pay the price for her lifestyle. He’s too good for that.

“I have a lot of enemies, papa.”

“And so did I.”

She ignored her dad and continued to explain herself.

“I don’t intend to have pups, not in the next three years because I have a pack to protect..” she paused.

“It’s only a matter of time before something bad happens… I don’t want him dying because of me, papa. He deserves to be happy.”

Rodrigo stared at his daughter intently for a moment before letting out a heavy sigh. It was a fact that alphas of the Pride pack are faced with a big challenge at some point in their life, sort of like a trial of their strength. But majority of the previous alphas came out of their trial stronger, so he doesn’t understand why Isabel was this worried.

He moved closer to his daughter, cupping her face in his hands.

“We’re not going to lose you, my love. You’re stronger than this.”

Isabel’s emotions betrayed her as a stray tear rolled down her cheek. She couldn’t recall the last time her dad called her by her pet name. Hearing it now after so many years of acting like a rock filled her with nostalgia, but it didn’t take away her fears of dying and leaving her mate behind.

“I know, papa, but I can’t help but feel that way.” She could only be this vulnerable in front of her dad, and that’s in the absence of everyone else.

“He will be glad to die by your side, Isabel. That’s the desire of every mate… Don’t deny him his rights.”

“I don’t want him to die.” She sobbed, repeating those words over and over again as her dad tried to soothe her.

Those dreadful feeling has been nagging her ever since she killed Carlos, making her wolf feel uneasy, but she has been hiding it quite well. The pleasure that came with being one with her mate made her think her mind was playing tricks on her, it was only until her dad brought up the issue of marking that she realized that there was something more behind her fears.

Her dad wiped her tears with his thumb and said,

“It’s your call, Isabel. I won’t bring this up ever again.”

She sniffed back her tears and forced a smile.

“Thanks, papa… But I still don’t think that’s why you’re here.”

Rodrigo smiled as his daughter immediately composed herself, regaining her professional demeanor. She has his genes indeed.

“I have a message for you from the Greenwood pack.”