Chapter 33: Chapter 33

“Who is it?” Isabel irritatedly asked whoever was at the door, still straddling her mate.

“It’s me, Jane.” Dylan’s mom’s muffled voice replied from outside the room.

“There’s someone you need to see, Dylan.” She continued.

“I have to go.” Dylan mouthed to his mate, making a gesture with his eyes for her to release his arms from her grip, which was getting tighter due to her growing anger.

“I’ll be down in a minute.” He yelled so his mom would go away since Isabel wasn’t letting go of him.

‘Really?’ Isabel stared at her mate in disbelief.

It’s one thing to be rudely interrupted during an intimate moment, but it’s another thing when her mate is in support of the interruption.

Does he really not care about her opinion?

Disappointed in Dylan’s attitude towards such a crucial moment in their lives, she quietly let go of his wrists and removed her weight from on top of him.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want my mom walking in on us.” Dylan explained, rubbing his wrists where Isabel trapped with her strong hands.

When his mate didn’t say anything in return, he tried again.

“I’ll be back before you know it.” He still didn’t get a response from Isabel.

Knowing he had messed up, Dylan quietly left the bedroom.

Isabel was going through Dylan’s stuff after he had left the room when the door suddenly opened and a little kid ran inside. He stopped in his tracks on seeing her.

“Are you Dylan’s mate?” The kid asked in a shy voice, lowering his head as he spoke.

‘Why is this kid shy?’ Isabel wondered, curious to know how he was bold enough to come into an adult’s bedroom.

Right, every werewolf can feel her alpha aura.

Not having any intention of frightening the little boy, she squatted in front of him so she was the same level as him.

“Who told you that?” Her voice was soft as she wanted to have a normal chat with him.

“I guessed that cos Dylan doesn’t let any girl besides mom and Charlotte into his room.. and he told me his mate was busy upstairs.” She chuckled at his reply.

This kid is smart.

“How come you know so much?” She kept the conversation going.

“Cos I’m his brother.”

It was only then Isabel remembered Dylan told her he had a younger brother. Now she sees the resemblance. How careless of her.

“You must be David.. It’s nice to meet you, David.”

“You know my name?!” David exclaimed in surprise. His eyes almost bulged out of its sockets.

“Of course. Dylan has told me a lot about you.”

Although no one knows about it, she has a soft spot for children. She doesn’t plan on having her own pups anytime soon, so she engages in small conversations with other pups whenever she sees them.

“Really?!” He was grinning from ear to ear as he stared at her.

“I’m Isabel, but for your safety call me Alpha Martinez.” She stretched out her hand for a handshake.

“A real life alpha from the Pride pack?... Cool!” David screamed at the last part, surprising Isabel with a hug. She smiled into the hug and lifted him off the ground, placing him gently on Dylan’s bed.

“I’ve read so much about your pack. I wanna be like you when I grow up.”

Isabel was flattered by the kid’s enthusiasm, but she wouldn’t encourage him to be like her. It wasn’t worth it if you’re not burdened with a huge responsibility.

“You can only be like me if you’re an alpha.”

“But the werewolves from the Pride pack are all alike.”

“Who told you that?”

“The books I read.”

“Let me tell you a secret… The Pride pack also have weak werewolves.”

“No way!”

She nodded in assurance, watching as the expression on the child’s face changed from disappointment to astonishment and back to enthusiasm.

“But still, I wanna be like you.”

It isn’t going to be easy talking this kid out of his dreams.

“Are the werewolves from the Pride pack always this scary?” Jane asked her son as he reached the foot of the stairs.

“Don’t tell me that’s why you called me out?” Dylan retorted angrily. He was having a moment with Isabel. They were happy until he decided to choose his mom over his mate.

He still has no clue how he was going to make up for what he did. He saw the anger and disbelief in Isabel’s eyes before he left the room, but saying anything more than he did would’ve triggered her.

“I’m only curious… Besides, twenty werewolves isn’t going to make a difference in this situation. If she doesn’t want to help, she should say so, instead of making a mockery of our warriors.” Jane scoffed at Isabel’s definition of help.

Dylan clenched his jaw to hold his wolf at bay. He was on the verge of spitting insults at his mom in his mate’s defense, but he wouldn’t stoop to her level. His mom was trying to push his button, he could tell but he wasn’t going to give her that satisfaction.

“No one’s making a mockery of your warriors, but you’re right about one thing though. She never wanted to help. I begged her to come so you guys won’t have to experience an embarrassing end… If you have nothing more to say, I’ll be in my room.”

“Dylan!” Someone called out his name just as he was about climbing up the stairs. He turned around to see who the voice belonged to.

“Charlotte?!” Dylan was beyond surprised to see his best friend after so many years.

She nodded vigorously in confirmation and ran towards him, crushing him in a hug. He hugged her back with the same intensity as he has missed his best friend.

“I’ve missed you so much.” She mumbled countless times against his chest.

“I’ve missed you too.” He also said, pecking her on the head.

“Where have you been? I looked everywhere for you. I hate you. I hate you for breaking your promise… You promised you’d never leave me, but you did.” Charlotte hit her best friend on his chest repeatedly as she sobbed.

Dylan did nothing in return. He just stood there and let his best friend pour out her anger. She must be going through a lot for her to be in this state. They didn’t see each other after she found her mate and it wasn’t like it was his fault. She was smitten by her mate then and nothing else mattered to her, so they drifted apart.

“I’m sorry I failed you… But we had to go our separate ways.”

Charlotte sobs only got louder at his statement, causing him to pull her to himself for another hug.

“Forgive me.”

“He’s gone, Dylan. They killed him.” She cried.

Now he gets why she’s so heartbroken.

He hugged her tighter, whispering soothing words in her ear, to get her to stop crying.

How did so much happen in so little time?

After several minutes of gentle persuasion, Isabel managed to get David to sleep. Indeed, having pups at this stage of her life was a luxury she couldn’t afford.

Wondering why her mate wasn’t back yet, she decided to go see for herself what was taking him so long, but before leaving the room, she tucked David warmly under the covers so he doesn’t wake up in the middle of his sleep or catch a cold. Convinced that he was comfortable and could be left alone, she exited the bedroom, shutting the door quietly behind her. Isabel headed for the living room since she couldn’t get some sleep herself. It was probably because she was in an unfamiliar environment.

While coming down the stairs, she caught a whiff of her mate’s scent mixed with a different and unrecognizable scent. Her wolf instantly felt threatened and insecure, growling in agitation, but she managed to shut it up, dismissing any thoughts of unfaithfulness.

Dylan wasn’t that kind of person. He was respectful and trustworthy. Maybe he has mingled with the crowd downstairs, that’s why he had some other scent on him. She told herself to keep her sanity, as her wolf has never sent her a wrong signal.

At the sight of Dylan embracing a female werewolf who wasn’t her, Isabel silently fumed with indignation. She grinded her teeth together while glaring at the unknown female werewolf.

‘Stop imagining things. He’s catching up with old friends.’ She mentally said in an attempt to calm her wolf or rather to convince herself that she was right about her mate, but she lost all control of her emotions when she noticed the female werewolf give Dylan a peck on his cheek and he awkwardly smiled back at her.

She stormed towards the pair and in a matter of seconds the female werewolf was lifted off the ground by a raging Isabel, whose claws were sinking into her skin.

“How dare you?” Her eyes were amber and her voice was different, meaning her wolf was in full control.

The Greenwood pack members in the living room all became frightened at the scene that unfolded before their very eyes. They feared that they could even be dead before the rogues would attack later that day.

“Alpha Martinez, this is no way to treat my people!” Desmond protested in anger, approaching the female alpha as his sons were too cowardly to stop her, but Isabel jerked her head in his direction and used her free hand to grab the older werewolf by the throat, lifting him off the ground as well, earning a gasp of horror from the crowd.

“Dylan, do something!” Jane screamed at her second son as Daniel was trying to prevent his mom from making the same mistake as her mate. She’ll never forgive her son if his mate ends up killing his father.

Dylan, who was too shocked to process what was happening quickly recovered at the sound of his mom’s voice. He hasn’t gotten used to seeing Isabel in rage even after all they’ve been through in the Pride pack.

‘How does he go about it this time without also being a victim?’ he wondered.

Charlotte and his dad were slowly losing consciousness as her claws went deeper into their skin. It was only a matter of seconds before she ripped their throats. He has to do something fast.

“Isabel, let them go. Please.” He softly pleaded, taking careful steps towards her.

“No one is allowed to take what’s mine!” She growled, her eyes blazing with hatred.

“No one’s taking me anywhere, Isabel, cos I’m yours. Now and for always.” He clearly stated to the hearing of everyone present.

Isabel without a second thought threw her victims across the room and within the blink of an eye, her canines were buried deep in Dylan’s neck, marking her imprint on him.

Dylan, consumed with immense pain, grabbed onto Isabel’s leather jacket tightly, to prevent his legs from giving out. Just when he thought the torture wouldn’t end, her canines were replaced with her tongue delicately wiping off the blood from his skin. There was a glint of pride in her yellow orbs as she stared at her flawless imprint.

“Mine” she declared in her alpha voice and vanished in a flash.

The crowd stared at the spot where Isabel was previously standing in sheer horror. They’ve never seen anything like this before.

Dylan’s hand instinctively found its way to his neck. He let his fingers run over Isabel’s mark as his wolf was ecstatic that it was finally claimed by its mate.

“Oh my God! Desmond, are you okay?” His mom’s sobs brought him away from his wonderland and back to reality.

He glanced around the room to find his pack members still in a state of shock, meanwhile Xavi and the warriors from the Pride pack remained unaffected by what transpired. His gaze then settled on his bleeding dad and best friend, who were coughing persistently. Conflicted between checking on his best friend or his mate, he turned to Xavi, who immediately signaled him with his eyes that Isabel was upstairs.

“Please, look after her.” He said to his brother through mind link.

“Go ahead. Don’t worry about us.” His brother replied.

He made his way towards the stairs only to be stopped by his mom’s yelling.

“What kind of monster did you bring to us?! If you hate us that much, why are you here? You want to show off how strong your mate is? Is that it, Dylan?!”

“Mom, contain yourself!” Daniel barked, causing Jane to break down in tears. He couldn’t risk the Pride pack backing off at the last minute because of his mom’s show of ingratitude. The Pride pack was their only hope as it stands.

A stray tear rolled down Dylan’s cheek as his mom who used to be sweet and loving now showed nothing but anger and hate towards him because he was mated to a member of the Pride pack. Without a backward glance, he started his way up the stairs.

“Who is she?” Isabel quietly asked her mate as soon as he entered his bedroom.

Dylan caught sight of a lump under his duvet. Looking closely he noticed the dirty blonde locks poking out of the covers, which belongs to no one but his younger brother. That means they’re going to have a normal conversation.

“She’s my best friend.” He sighed, still trying to take in everything that happened some minutes ago.

“I don’t wanna see her anywhere close to you.”

“Isabel-“

“I won’t say this twice.”

“I don’t get you, seriously. You had a lover for no reason whatsoever, but I can’t keep a friend?”

For the sake of his little brother who was sleeping soundly, he was trying his hardest not to lose his cool. He was angry at Isabel for reasons he couldn’t figure out.

Was he upset because she marked him in the open, making him seem weak in front of his pack members? Or was it because she marked him first?

She growled under her breath and that was his cue to keep shut. She got on her feet and walked towards him. Her anger still evident on her face.

“I’m sorry about your dad, but as for her… Don’t let me catch a glimpse of her.” She threatened in a low voice, sending shivers down his spine.

He didn’t need to ask what she would do if she saw him with his best friend for a second time. The answer was clear as she had mentioned it once before.

Isabel glanced at his neck, making him conscious of her mark. He tried to cover it up with his hand, but she slapped his hand away.

“Why do you get to mark me and I don’t get to do same?”

“Because I’m an alpha and you’re not.”