Chapter 36: Chapter 36

As planned, Isabel and her pack warriors got up early to leave the next day since her work in the Greenwood pack was complete.

Dylan was downstairs, probably saying goodbye to his brothers while Isabel was in his bedroom getting dressed in the new clothes Dylan got for her after hers got ripped the previous night during the war.

She was wearing her lita ankle boots when someone knocked on the door.

“Come in.” She quietly said, and the door slowly opened to reveal Jane, Dylan’s mom.

She walked into the room with her head low, like she was scared Isabel would do something bad to her if she dared to look at her.

She guess Jane was humbled by her authoritative aura.

“What do you want?” Isabel sounded cold and uninterested. This was because Jane didn’t give her a good first impression, so she wanted to have nothing to do with her.

“I’m sorry.” Jane humbly replied in a soft voice.

“Sorry for what exactly?” Isabel raised a questioning brow because she honestly doesn’t get what Jane was apologizing for.

Although, she tried to be disrespectful during their first meeting, Isabel was able to put her in her place without a single word.

“I had a wrong notion of you and your pack in the past, but you proved me wrong in less than twenty four hours… Thank you for saving our pack.”

Isabel scoffed in disbelief.

Was this woman being serious? Does she actually think she gives a damn what she thinks about her?

She is an alpha, one of the greatest one at that, and doesn’t need the approval of anybody. It’s a good thing her wolf is still silent after last night’s incident, otherwise Jane would’ve been covered in injuries by now, or better yet unconscious.

“I didn’t think you’d-“

“Let me stop you there.” Isabel cut her off. She didn’t want her making any further utterances that would upset her even more.

“I don’t care what you or anyone else thinks about me or my people… Plus, I didn’t save your pack because I wanted to. I was only helping my mate.” Isabel made the reason for her actions clear, to avoid any misconceptions.

“Does that mean we’re a family now?” For the first time since she entered the room, Jane was brave enough to look at Isabel. She looked at her with expectant eyes, like she was waiting for an affirmative response, causing Isabel to furrow her brows in confusion.

This is the second weirdest thing that has happened to her, besides her encounter with Dylan’s younger brother.

“Whatever.” She said, walking out of the room. The sooner she gets away from this place, the better.

“I’m sorry I didn’t get to be your beta as planned.”

“It’s all forgiven. I’m at peace knowing you’re in a better place.”

Dylan and his brother, Daniel were in the study catching up on lost time.

“Yeah” Dylan confirmed. He had a dreamy look in his eyes.

“I can tell someone’s in love.” Daniel teased, giving his brother a playful nudge.

“What are you talking about?” Dylan feigned ignorance, but the big smile on his face gave him away.

“You don’t need to pretend. It’s written all over you… You must be really proud to have her as your mate.”

“She’s more than everything I desire in a mate… I wish I can do more to show her how much I care about her.”

“You don’t have to beat yourself over that, I’m sure your mate can feel your love without you saying it.”

“Enough about me, what about you?”

“Paige’s pregnant.” Daniel replied with a proud smile.

“Wow bro! Congratulations.” He engulfed his older brother in a bro hug. He was excited to be an uncle for the second time.

“Thanks bro… I didn’t know what to think when I received the news, with everything that has been going on, but thanks to your mate, I can be a proud father to my pups… You guys saved my ass.”

“You were doing a great job even before we arrived.” Dylan assured Daniel, giving his shoulder an encouraging squeeze.

“I hope everyone thought so too.”

“I’m sure they did.”

The door suddenly opened and in came their dad.

“I want to have a word with Dylan.” The statement was directed at Daniel, who quietly nodded and left the pair alone in the study.

Dylan gulped nervously as he wasn’t expecting to have a one on one conversation with his dad anytime soon.

Desmond’s eyes were suddenly intent as he stared at his second son. He tore his eyes away from Dylan, and let out a deep sigh.

“I know I haven’t been the best of fathers,” Desmond began.

“For several years, I hurt your ego. I made you feel like you weren’t good enough, but that wasn’t the case.” He paused for a moment, then said

“ I was blinded by my desire to have a strong pack that would measure up to the Pride pack, totally ignoring your feelings… Forgive me.”

The fondness in his dad’s voice at the last part of his sentence brought back memories of the time he was close to his father. They used to have a strong bond in the past, but that changed after his eighteenth birthday. He has missed having intimate conversations with his dad.

“Mom told me everything.” Dylan eventually said.

“She did?” Desmond was surprised to hear that his mate has already revealed their age long secret. He never wanted to tell Dylan any of that, but that’s impossible now that he knows the truth.

Dylan nodded in reply, and continued.

“I used to think that you stopped loving me, but now I know better.”

This statement touched Desmond deeply, leaving him with a sense of guilt.

Dylan noticed the remorse in his dad’s eyes as he gripped on to the desk tightly with his both hands, to conceal his emotions.

“Forgive me.” he murmured an apology again, too embarrassed to face his son.

“I was never angry at you, dad. I was just sad.”

Not being able to fight his emotions any longer, Desmond hugged his son tightly.

“I love you, son. Not once did I lose faith in you.”

“You sure about that, dad?” Dylan asked sarcastically to lighten the atmosphere.

His dad chuckled in response, and patted him on the back before pulling away from the hug.

“I’m sure.” His dad’s reply brought a sincere smile on his face.

“C’mon, your mate is downstairs waiting.” They both headed for the living room.

The scene taking place in the living room wasn’t at all what Dylan was expecting to see on getting downstairs. His younger brother, David was in tears as he clutched onto Isabel’s legs, like his life depended on it, while Daniel was trying to coax him into letting go of the female werewolf, but she signaled the alpha not to get involved.

“You promised you would take me along with you, but you’re leaving without me.” The young werewolf sobbed.

“Of course I said that, but I also remembered telling you that I would have to seek your parents approval first.” Isabel’s voice was surprisingly calm and friendly as she spoke to the pup.

Dylan has never seen Isabel this comfortable with any one before. With each passing day, he was seeing new sides of his mate.

“You haven’t spoken to my dad!”

The kid was right. She only said that to get him off her case. But, how did he know that she was yet to talk to his father?

To pacify the crying child, she squatted to his level.

“I can’t take you away from your family.” She calmly explained.

“But I wanna be like you.”

Isabel sighed deeply and glanced around the living room, only to find everyone’s eyes on the both of them. As soon as her eyes settled on her mate, she regretted looking his way, as Dylan had a shocked yet amused look, like he was enjoying the scene before him. She dropped her gaze, and instead stared at Desmond, so he could find a solution to the current situation, but to her utmost surprise, the former alpha gave a nod of approval. She then returned her gaze to the child in front of her.

“Will you stop crying if I said yes?”

David nodded with much enthusiasm, his eyes immediately light up and his sobs vanished.

“Go get your bags so we can leave.”

“You promise to wait?” He innocently asked with puppy dog eyes no one could deny.

“I promise.” She gave him her word.

David, elated that he was going to the Pride pack, grabbed Jane’s hand and dragged her upstairs, so she could help him pack his bags. Once they were out of sight, Isabel turned towards Desmond and said,

“He’ll be with me until he turns eighteen… I hope you won’t regret your decision?”

She wanted to let him know the implication of his decision. It isn’t some summer vacation, she was literally taking their youngest son away from them.

“As long as you promise to keep him safe.”

“His safety is my priority.”

“Then I have no regrets.” He concluded, bringing his hand out for a handshake.

The small crowd in the living room all had their eyes on Isabel. They were mentally praying that she accepts the handshake to finally put an end to their rivalry.

Isabel on the other hand stared at Desmond’s outstretched hand, wondering what he was implying. The Pride pack has never considered another pack as a rival pack because they were all no match for them. They only consider one an enemy when you step on their toes, but at the same time, they’ve never had a friendly relationship with another pack as that would make them seem accessible, so they’ve always been neutral.

But, as an alpha, being mated to a werewolf from another pack has made her realize that such union results in an unbreakable bond between the packs, that lasts for a lifetime. Still, her mate is her top priority. If he doesn’t have a good relationship with his family, she cannot and will not make a decision contrary to that, and hurt his feelings.

She met Dylan’s gaze, to see what he thinks about the whole thing. It was moments like this that made her hate the fact that she was mated to a werewolf from another pack, as they couldn’t communicate through mind link.

Dylan smiled sweetly at her, and gave a nod of approval.

Seeing her mate’s enthusiasm, Isabel decided to break her pack’s strict code of conduct for the very first time and face the consequences later. She eventually returned the handshake, to the excitement and relief of all present.

This day will go down in history in the Greenwood pack.

Isabel turned to Daniel, the current alpha of the Greenwood pack and also exchanged a handshake with him, indicating the beginning of a new and united era between the packs.

Not used to the joyous laughters and ecstatic applause coming from the small crowd, Isabel said goodbye and exited the house.

“In the end, my suggestion was the best decision.” Dylan said to his dad. His face wore a smug expression, causing Desmond to give his second son a fake glare.

Dylan and Daniel laughed at their dad’s attitude to defeat.

Dylan waited for his younger brother to return downstairs with their mom. It was a sad, yet happy moment for Dylan as they said their goodbyes. He wouldn’t see his family again, except Isabel says otherwise. Ironically, his younger brother, David, whom he supposed would be in tears while saying goodbye to their parents was in fact happy. Indeed, he was the most matured one amongst the three brothers.

They got into the black Toyota SUV that brought them from the airport the previous day, and David wasted no second in taking a spot beside Isabel, who was seated at the backseat of the SUV, leaving Dylan with no other choice but to sit at the far end of the backseat.

And, the journey back to the Pride pack began.