Chapter 4 - Alpha's Office Visit

We walk to the alpha’s house, where Alpha Landon has set up a separate house for his office. An elder, whose name is Finn O’Malley, is supporting Izzy as she continues to deny her fate.

Finn decides that each of her mates needs to talk to her. To discuss what will happen in the future. He mentioned that the other mates can reject the mate bond. In that way, she will only have one mate.

ONE MATE.

But she doesn’t even want a single mate. No matter what they will decide, she is still on the losing end of it all.

“Izzy...” This time, it is Miles who is sitting in front of her, while she is petrified in the chair.

She looks up at him, but she instantly regrets it when his warm brown eyes meet hers. He looks at her with a mixture of sadness and guilt, his blond hair disheveled as if he had been running his hands through it. Worse, she can’t take her eyes off of him.

Despite not originally from the pack, Miles continued to rise until he became a beta.

She has always known that he is handsome, but she felt no desire for him, and never been attracted to him, UNLIKE now. His scent envelops her in a way that she has never experienced before. Her wolf howls with excitement at the prospect of fulfilling the mate bond with him. It is confusing and overwhelming — something that she doesn’t enjoy feeling.

“Izzy,” he says softly, reaching out to touch her hand. She flinches away from his touch, but he doesn’t pull back. “I know this is all a lot to take in.”

“How can you possibly understand?” Izzy snaps at him. “You are the first one who started all these confusing things!”

Miles’ hands drop to his side as he sighs deeply. “You’re right,” he says calmly. “But I actually feel happy when you... started to evade me. It’s as if you can finally see me as a man.”

Izzy raises an eyebrow in disbelief. “Oh, really now? You know my stance against the mate bond!”

“And that’s why, I confessed. I was anxious.”

“And you chose to end our friendship because of this... of this... of this stupid romance thing!”

“It’s not stupid!” he exclaims. “I love you, and I know that I will lose you once you... once you activate the mate bond with some other man. I was afraid, Izzy. I am very afraid...”

Izzy’s heart softens at his words. Miles’ confession hangs in the air between them, a raw and vulnerable admission. Izzy can’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for him, but she’s also angry. Angry at him for complicating things, angry at herself for not seeing it coming.

She takes a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. “So you just decided to confess your feelings out of nowhere?” she asks, her voice shaking slightly.

Before Miles can respond, there is a knock on the door. Both men turn their heads to see Alpha Landon standing in the doorway.

“Isabella, may I speak with you now?” he asks.

She nods. He is the alpha. Of course, she can’t say no to such a request.

When Miles leaves, Landon’s eyes lock on hers. He stands in front of her, his presence overwhelming, and then, he extends his hand.

“Isabella,” he starts, his voice deep. “Is it correct to assume that you’d like to reject the mate bond until one is left?”

“I want to reject everyone,” she answers truthfully. Somehow, it is very hard to lie to a mate who also happens to be the alpha.

Alpha Landon considers it for a while. “You might be hesitant about me, due to me being a widower, but you can still be the Luna of the pack.”

Izzy looks away. Luna? Her?! She can’t believe that he will really offer the position to her. It is laughable. She doesn’t want to spend her days as Luna to some smug alpha. And she definitely doesn’t want to stay in a single place for all her life — just like all the previous lunas. At least that’s what his previous Luna has done, until her death.

Alpha Landon must have seen the surprise in her face because he continues, “I know it’s sudden and unexpected, but with your abilities and intelligence, I believe you would make an excellent Luna, Izzy.”

She scowls. This is the second time he has called her that.

“If this is because we both activated a mate bond, then please, don’t mind it,” she answers. “And besides, if you reject the mate bond, I am sure you can find someone more deserving, Alpha Landon.”

However, the instant the words left her mouth, pain shoots in her heart, which she dismisses instantly. She understands that it’s just because of the mate bond. It is an illusionary pain.

But similar to her, Alpha Landon’s expression hardens. “It’s not because of the mate bond.”

And then he adds. “Take your time, Isabella. But do keep in mind that a decision needs to be made soon.”

With that, he turns and leaves the room, leaving Izzy alone with her thoughts. She can feel a sense of longing for her mate, but she shakes the strange sensation off.

The silence is broken by the creaking of the door and a familiar voice calling her name. It’s Carter, his playful demeanor a stark contrast to the heavy atmosphere left by Alpha Landon.

Izzy looks at him. Carter is a flirty beta with a devil-may-care attitude. He is grinning. His curly black hair is all ruffled and his gray eyes are full of mischief.

“My mate!” he greets as he opens his arms to her. “Come to my embrace!”

“I hate you,” she responds, stepping away from him.

Carter only laughs. “I told you before. You belong to me.” He looks around the room and suggests, “Let’s fulfill the mate bond here. I am very willing to take you first, even with your other mates waiting outside.”

“You womanizer,” she hisses. “I can’t believe you would even suggest that!”

“No need to waste time. Besides, I’ve been in unrequited love with you for years. So, how does it feel now? You think I am handsome enough for you?” he asks.

Izzy turns the corner of her lips upward. She can’t disagree with what he just said. As of this moment, he looks really... enticing. Izzy feels as if there is a magnetic pull in his presence and all she wants is to be enveloped in his broad chest and muscular arms.

Izzy shakes her head in disbelief. ‘This is getting way out of line!’

“I plan to reject all of you,” she informs him.

“You cannot do that,” he answers. “Rejection should come from both sides, and I won’t back down.”

“I don’t love you and I never will, even in the future.”

He just shrugs his shoulders. “But I know you desire me now. I will make sure it will grow into something more later.”

“You are the only one who is stupid enough NOT to reject me.”

“Did someone actually reject you?” He smirks. “I doubt that. I am certain none of us are willing to reject the mate bond.”

“Alpha Landon is sure to reject the mate bond with me.”

This time, Carter laughs. “That massive, tight-ass guy? You think he will reject you? You really are very dense for someone so smart.”

“You—”

Someone knocks again. It is Alpha Landon.

“See, just a few minutes of separation and he is already checking up on you,” Carter sighs. “He is the most worried amongst us.”

Izzy raises her eyebrows. She turns her attention towards Alpha Landon and catches him scowling at her.

‘See that, Carter?’ she thinks. ‘That’s the look of someone who is disgusted with me.’