Chapter 37: Chapter 37

By the time they arrived at the Pride pack, David, who Isabel and Dylan thought would be tired after their journey was very much hyper and wanted to walk around the Pride pack.

To grant his request, Dylan decided to give him a guided tour of the Pride pack because he knew his mate would have some immediate pack matters to discuss with her dad.

Isabel waved them goodbye and used their absence as an opportunity to get a room prepared for David. She asked Ingrid to make tacos, enchiladas and some dessert for Dylan and his little brother.

“What about you, alpha?” Ingrid asked, because Isabel didn’t mention anything she’d like to eat.

Isabel wasn’t in the mood to eat any food. Her thoughts were scattered and she needed some time to herself.

“Just get me a bottle of tequila.” She replied.

Ingrid was a little hesitant to obey her alpha’s order since her health was at stake, and considering the fact that she just returned from a warfare and was supposed to eat healthy foods to help revitalize her system.

“Yes, alpha.” Ingrid, who was in no position to question her alpha’s orders quietly replied, and started her way to the kitchen.

“On second thoughts, I think I’ll like to have chilate de pollo (a fiery chicken soup) for lunch.” Isabel’s voice halted Ingrid in her tracks.

“Still… Don’t forget my bottle of tequila.” She concluded through mind link before heading upstairs. She needed something hot and spicy as her emotions were all over the place. She needed something to keep her emotions in check.

What would’ve happened if the alpha of the Greenwood pack had dug deeper and found out who the rogues were truly after?

Dylan got back from sightseeing with his little brother, David when it was night time. They had already grabbed a sandwich and some snacks during their tour, so dinner was out of the question.

He carefully handed a sleeping David to Ingrid, to tuck him in bed as he wanted to go be with his mate. His wolf has been feeling uneasy for the past couple of hours, but he just couldn’t abandon his brother or cut their tour short, neither could he disrespect his father in-law, who they met outside an ice cream parlor. So, he had to contain his wolf and pretend like everything was alright.

On his way to their bedroom, the feeling got worse, making him wonder if Rodrigo had met with Isabel earlier and probably scolded her for being friendly with his former pack, the Greenwood pack, or did she lie about her injuries and was still badly hurt from the rogues attack? That could be the most possible case scenario, as he was yet to understand how she managed to heal so fast after such a gruesome battle.

He opened the bedroom door, but didn't find Isabel in the room, although her scent was everywhere. There was a half empty bottle of tequila on the bedside table with an empty glass cup beside it. This bothered Dylan a lot because Isabel never seemed to be the drinking type.

It only proves that something is definitely wrong.

Thanks to his werewolf hearing ability, he heard the sound of light sniffles coming from the direction of the bathroom. His feet quickly pulled him towards that direction.

‘It can’t be Isabel’ he mentally said to himself as he recalled the one and only time he witnessed her cry. It was a day he’d never forget, both in a bad way and in a good way.

He took in a sharp intake of breath before turning the door knob. He wished he would find someone else crying in the bathroom, as Isabel has gone through a lot for his sake and he wouldn’t want to see her unhappy ever again. But deep down, he knew that no one would dare enter their bedroom, not to mention going as far as their bathroom.

The bathroom door opened to reveal Isabel sitting on the bathroom floor, hugging her knees. She was in tears. Dylan immediately crouched down beside her and brought her to himself, causing his mate to burst into sobs.

For the first time in their months of being together, Isabel didn’t just look, but felt very vulnerable as she clutched Dylan’s shirt in her hands while sobbing. He reciprocated by hugging her tightly, to assure her that he was right beside her, and doesn’t plan on letting go.

His wolf kept whimpering, mirroring Isabel’s emotions but he couldn’t succumb to his wolf. He has to act strong for the both of them. Whatever is bothering his mate, she has to be assured that he is strong enough to face it with her.

FLASHBACK

After taking lunch, Isabel felt much better, so she abandoned the thought of drinking and decided to join her mate and his brother, after all, David is now in her care. She reached her brother, Xavi through mind link and asked him to find out the current location of Dylan, and she was in luck as Xavi told her that he was with Rodrigo to inform him of their return, and that her dad was with her mate and his little brother. Isabel was confused at first when she learnt about her dad’s whereabouts.

What does he want with Dylan? Or does he intend to intimidate David on his first day in the Pride pack?

No, she can’t let the young pup encounter such an unpleasant experience on his first day here.

With that thought, Isabel ran outside the house, got into her black Mercedes SUV and drove off. Courtesy of Xavi, she didn’t have to waste so much of her time searching for them and drove straight to the park.

What Isabel didn’t expect to see on her arrival at the park was her dad having a great time with David. They were playing football while Dylan and Xavi were seated on a bench, watching the pair. Her dad, who has never been this way with her was genuinely happy with the little kid. She didn’t know if she should feel relieved, sad or envious of David.

Her dad loves her, she could tell, but not once has he smiled at her, even when she goes the extra mile to make him proud. And although he never mentioned it once, she knew that deep down, her dad was unhappy that his mate couldn’t bear him any male werewolf.

Isabel had no idea she was deeply hurt as she stared at them from a distance, until she felt a stray tear roll down her cheek. In order to avoid her mate sensing her emotions, she quietly left the area and drove back home.

END OF FLASHBACK

After close to half an hour, Isabel’s sniffles died away. She pulled away from Dylan’s embrace, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, and in an instant she was wearing a poker face. It was as if she finally realized that she wasn’t alone, as her composed demeanor returned.

Dylan, who was too confused to understand his complicated mate opened his mouth to ask her what was really going on with her, but she beat him to it.

“Why do you love me?” That question came out of nowhere.

What is actually going through her mind? He wondered, as Isabel’s question left him at a loss for words.

“You know… The words beast and monster are the terms commonly used to describe me, and I don’t deny it at all cos I don’t regret any of my actions.”

Dylan got the hint behind Isabel’s words. She was giving him a reason not to love her, but it was already too late. He has fallen deeply, madly and desperately in love with her and nothing or no one can change that.

“I was born with the burden of caring for my pack… This prevented me from having a normal childhood like every other werewolf.”

“Isabel, I don’t care about your childhood. I-“

“I abandoned my only friend while training as a teenager. I punish my people at the slightest mistake. I almost wiped out an entire pack. I betrayed my mate with another werewolf, and even went as far as killing one of my own… Tell me again, what’s there to love about me?”

None of these words were what Isabel intended to say. She had wanted to express how jealous she was of his little brother. How useless she felt for not being able to bring a smile to her dad’s face. And how much she wished she wasn’t a female werewolf. But, she held herself back because saying all of these would only end up hurting her mate, who would feel responsible for letting his little brother return to the Pride pack with them.

Isabel looked grim while she spoke, but that couldn’t deceive Dylan because he noticed the hint of sadness in her voice.

“Will you let me speak now?” He calmly asked, careful not to tick Isabel off by unintentionally interrupting her.

Dylan took Isabel’s silence as an approval, so he began

“Xavi loves and understand you, and you know it…” He entwined their fingers, and caressed her cheek with his free hand.

“I love you for you… And I don’t care if you kill everyone on the face of the earth, you have your reasons. As long as I’m by your side, that’s all that matters to me.”

Isabel’s wolf was ecstatic to hear Dylan’s confession of love, and if he wasn’t already marked, it would’ve forced Isabel to mark him tonight.

Isabel, on the other hand was struggling to believe every word Dylan uttered. She felt like he was telling her what she wanted to hear and not the truth.

“You’re lying.” She blurted out, while searching his eyes for the tiniest bit of doubt.

“There’s no way my parents would’ve come off their high horse if you didn’t have this reputation… Besides, I love how people fear to even mention your name. It’s a complete turn on.” He whispered the last part in her ear, making her chuckle.

“You got me worried earlier today.” He took advantage of the light atmosphere to admit he wasn’t as strong as he pretended to be.

“I’m the only one allowed to be worried about you.” She replied, tightening her grip on their entwined fingers.

“If you’re worried about me, then we can do a little something, you know?” Dylan teased, closing the gap between them.

“Think again, idiot. There’s a pup in the house.” Isabel stood up from her previous position and began to wrap her hair in a messy bun like she wasn’t balling her eyes out some minutes ago.

“C’mon babe, he’s sound asleep.” Dylan copied her action and wrapped his arms around her waist, placing light kisses on her shoulder, to convince her to change her mind.

“Not working.” She said with a smirk before untangling his hands from her waist and walking out of the bathroom.

Dylan kept mumbling his displeasure until he was alone in the room.

Isabel gently opened the door to David’s bedroom. The sight of the cute sleeping pup, surrounded by some of the toys she had ordered Ingrid to buy for him brought a warm smile to her face. She quietly removed them from his bed so he doesn’t get hurt and tucked him in properly.

How did they even get there in the first place?

She sat at the end of his bed, watching him while he slept and at the same time deep in thought. The rogues that attacked the Greenwood pack were actually after her or her mate, that she was certain of.

How does she protect her mate and his little brother, who could get hurt in the process?

After a while of wracking her brain for a possible solution, Isabel eventually thought of a way to protect David and also keep that smile she saw today on her dad’s face.