"Is it weird not having mom here?"
"It was weird without you at home," Kendra tells me as she gets comfortable underneath the blankets. "I want to be here with you, Isabella."
"You are here with me."
The lights in the guest room are dim. I sit beside Kendra, looking down at her beautiful face as she fights to keep her eyes open. I shut all the curtains and made sure everything is perfect for her to sleep soundly, which included closing the bathroom door. Now that everything is settled, she yawns. "I know. But I want to stay here forever, with you."
"Don't be silly," I mumble and brush back the dark, stray hairs from her face. "I'll be just a door away, okay?"
"What is that?""Eric's mark.""Isabella," Caroline rushes towards me to get a closer look, "that's serious. That's—wow." An excited look casts over her face, and I am surprised. With Lucas missing, I thought seeing the mark would make her depressed."Are you okay?" I ask and take my seat at the kitchen counter. Marina greets me and I give her a smile with questioning eyes. She shrugs. Marina, too, has grown used to Caroline's depression over her mate."I'm fine. Where's Kendra?""She's still sleeping," I say, "she hasn't slept much until last night. Did Eric stop by, was there any news on the search?"Caroline blushes. "No, n
Eric stands quietly, refusing to sit down. The room seems to grow smaller as we wait for the pair as if the truth is preparing to rain down and suffocate us. I am expecting something well planned, something selfish from Alpha Kenn, but who can blame him for acting like an Alpha. The way he went about it was unusual, though: slowly and carefully digging a way in, gaining my trust. He has done it all only to leave. Maybe he wasn't planning that until Eric kicked him out, or maybe he got what he needed from the office and had to reason to stay any longer. Caroline and a rested-looking Lucas enter and wake both of us up. She studies Eric, looking for any signs of hostility. "I'm not going to hurt him. Now sit down," Eric orders, and the two follow. "You're going to tell me what you know, or things are going to get
I sit on our bed thinking about what to say, about what to do when Eric and I come face to face again. Kendra is in the shower, and I sit here, waiting for her, but truly using the time to think and nervously wait. Eric is in the office still, and I do not know if he is almost done. Caroline and Lucas came back with Heath, and Heath went into the office, told to me by Caroline before she went off with Lucas again, this time for themselves.I envy the two of them, as they are still caught up in the early phase. Everything, in the beginning, was exciting and new. When were we going to kiss? What was his family going to be like? Will I ever see my sister again? What about sex—did he want it? The smell of him drove me insane, to the point of t-shirt swiping, and now here I sit, alone, anxious, waiting to find out if my latest mistake is small enough to be forgotten. I remember when I u
"Isabella," a familiar voice calls, and I turn back to see Evangeline running towards me. "Wait." I stop and secure my towel, "I'm sorry, I have to leave." She catches up to me. "Just relax, you're too worked up, too irrational." "I can't stay here." She reaches out to me. "Just come with me, get some clothes and calm down." I shake my head, hating the fact that I have to refuse her. "I'm sorry—" "He doesn't have to know. Please, just come stay with me for the night. Eric doesn't have to know that you're with me." My eyes drift off. Evangeline
Our conversation is quiet, no more yelling and arguing. We have worn ourselves out, and my body cannot put up a fight against him anymore. My inner wolf was crushed from my actions just a few days ago.The words that left both of us meant nothing that night, and we both understand that. Eric is upset with himself for bursting in on me, I can see it on his face. Many times I tell him that I forgive him, but he doesn't seem to forgive himself.Our conversation is quiet, meaningful, and filled with regrets, and I am dying to move on. Selfishly, I have the power to forgive myself after Eric forgives me, but he cannot seem to do the same. I hate that he is so angry with himself. "I'm okay, Eric," I tell him as I caress his cheek softly. "Please—I'm not mad at you.""What I said to you
Alpha Kenn's tightening grasp causes my face to scrunch up in protest. My teeth clench, I whimper like a hurt puppy, yet he continues to drag me away from the house and towards the tree line. The burn on my chest throbs. I wonder what kind of monster it takes to be shot and to walk away fine."Let go," I seethe, attempting to yank my wrist from the cuff that is his hand, "you bastard! Where are you taking me!"Adrenaline brings my vocabulary to that of a sailor's."You piece of shit, you think you—""Please, darling," he groans, "resisting is not going to get you anywhere. You had your shot at me; you failed, now let us move on.""Move on?" I gape. "You have ruined everything I
"Well," Alpha Kenn struggles. "What an offer, but I will have to refuse becauseIsabellais to be my Luna." My eyes cannot leave Eric's. There is something in them. A promise? Safety? Security? Love? Maybe all of them, but definitely love. Suddenly, I am no longer fearful, but determined. He would give away everything for me, and that means everything. He can give me everything, but it means so much more to give up everything. To have nothing, but me. My cheeks flush with color, with life. "You can't have me," I mutter and glance up at him. "Sorry." Some men find this amusing, but Alpha Kenn sneers. "Inject him, then bring him out."
I imagined death to be a flash of light then darkness. Nothing but darkness. Everything simply shuts off and you are erased from the world and all of its glory. Frightening, isn't it?The gun shot rings in my ears and I wait for the flash of light, or whatever may come. In this moment, I am open to anything.My largest and only regret will be my lack of a goodbye to my mate, as Alpha Kenn got impatient. Hopefully Eric knows that I loved him unconditionally, probably too much, if that is possible. I will die for him, so hopefully that shows him my feelings. If I focus on the things I will miss, I will regret my decision, and it is too late for that.God, I just love him so much. I want to touch him again, to feel his skin on mine, to hear his voice. Everything about him made me feel ful