Chapter 11

"That's too much information." Now it was his turn to be embarrassed.
"Are you blushing?" Isabella took that as her cue to leave.
Once she was on the porch, she put the knife in the flower pot.
Slowly, she walked into the woods next to her house. There were a few wolves there playing cat and mouse with a deer, and she greeted a couple of them. When she was sure they couldn't see me, she broke into a run.
A minute later Isabella was in the clearing and spotted him immediately. It was hard to miss him when he was outshining even the sun. He wore white trousers and a white shirt casually worn over a black vest. He was barefoot.
"Don't look at me like that."
She looked away as quickly as she could. She felt her cheeks flush. Not now, please don't look at me.
He took two long steps and brought her gaze up to his. His eyes seemed even more beautiful, or was it the white colour that enhanced his angelic appearance? He took her face in his hand and gently caressed Isabella, she could barely feel his touch. He held Isabella so tenderly, as if she might break at any moment.
He bent down slightly, not breaking eye contact. There was something: a look he gave Isabella for just a second that made her knees go weak. No one had ever looked at Isabella like that.
He wrapped an arm around her waist, and Isabella pulled him closer. Not even the wind could come between us. The silky fabric of the dress felt thin. She felt his body heat run off in glowing waves. She noticed how perfect she seemed in his arms. How right it felt to have his eyes on me.
He sighed against her lips and she could taste his breath. she wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tightly. she didn't want to let go of him and he held Isabella just as tightly. she could think of a million things she could do, but nothing came close to being with her companion. she leaned up and they were only a hair's length apart. she closed her eyes.
"Good things come to those who wait." He whispered softly and blew into her ear, causing her to whimper softly.
When Isabella sighed, he stiffened and forced her to open her eyes in concern. He'd a look I've never seen on anyone before. One that made her breath catch in her throat. His eyes were colored red: the eyes of a beast. But she wasn't afraid; his vicious beauty fascinated her.
She loosened an arm around his neck and stroked the crease of his forehead from his face. She felt him stiffen at her touch and press Isabella tighter against him. only with difficulty could she break away from him.
She watched him breathe deeply and shallowly, his knuckles drawing together and apart again in nervous tension. His eyes were now closed, his jaw tense, and the vein in his neck clearly visible. After a long, astonished silence, he gasped and muttered. "Thank you," she said, frowning.
She frowned, unable to hide her confusion. "What was that all about?"
His lips pressed together into a thin line. "That was her beast."
"I know that," she said, pausing. "But what happened?"
"Nothing, it was nothing." His voice was dismissive.
He walked over to Isabella with such grace that he seemed to glide across the deserted clearing, and took her hand in his. He took both her hands in his and kissed them gently. I didn't avert her gaze from him, afraid he was an illusion I didn't want to destroy. Slowly, he released one of her hands and deliberately let it slide against his in a reassuring motion. He smiled painfully, leading us into the deepest part of the forest and looking around.
When he'd made sure that no one could see him, he let go of her hand and placed both hands on the rock, which was hidden under thousands of trees.
When he opened up, Isabella was speechless.
"Aren't you coming inside?"
Isabella went inside and he pushed the door shut. He stroked his hands over his pants and smiled at me.
"You live here?"
He nodded.
"In the same forest where I live?"
Again he nodded, but this time with a confused look.
"I mean, I was looking for you and you were here in the forest?" she felt so stupid.
He shook his head and eyed Isabella for a second. "Come."
She took his waiting hand and followed him down the white hallway that had pictures of Wendigos and dead wolves - probably all the wolves they'd killed.
Suddenly he stopped, and she stumbled after him, almost running into his back. she looked up his back and around the room. They were in a kitchen painted red. It was better than Sue's bright yellow and jade kitchen.
She was confused for a second, then realized someone had hit him.
"Stephaney." said Peter in greeting. "Please behave."
"Brother, you worry too much. I always behave myself." He'd a tough voice; one I only knew from villains in horror movies, maybe Peter isn't so dangerous after all.
Peter had a brother and he told him her name. That was it for her imagination. She thought about what to say to Stephaney, but couldn't think of anything to sum up under the heading of 'first impression'. she sighed dejectedly.
She tried to look over his broad shoulder, but he was just too tall. Had he always been this tall?
Peter glanced over his shoulder at Isabella, one hand on his chin. The blow must've been hard, blood running down his chin.
"So this is how we greet each other." he finally said between clenched teeth.
She nodded, feeling small under his gaze, "Looks fun," she said as emotionlessly as she could.
After a minute, he moved to the side, and she looked into the greenest of eyes. They were as beautiful as the forest at sunset. Stephaney was a few inches shorter than Peter. He smiled at Isabella and then frowned.
She mimicked him until he said with a small smile, "Would you like to dance?"
She smiled. "Sure." She didn't tell him about her two left feet. He'd find out the hard way.
He took Isabella in his arms and watched her over his shoulder as he murmured in a lowered voice. A slow music sounded in the background.
They swayed back and forth for a while; three times she managed to bump into him. The fourth time, he lifted Isabella off the floor and placed her feet on his. He moved with the grace of a barrelina. "I'd say you were a great dancer, but knowing me, I won't."
Isabella laughed. "You could."
He nodded thoughtfully. "I can live with you."
He pulled back and led Isabella to the counter, lifting her up and leaning against me. She rested her head against his shoulder.
"Can I get you something to eat?"
"Yeah, sure," she said with an eager nod.
"Wait two minutes and I'll have my personal chef cook you something."
For the first time, she looked at his face and noticed that scars adorned his forehead and left cheek. Instead of making him look scary, she did well to compliment him.
"Why do you feel so comfortable with me?"
His question took me by surprise. "I don't know," she answered honestly.
He shook his head and looked at the wall. She followed his gaze to the old clock; it showed one minute past twelve. Isabella lowered her eyes and saw him eyeing her with his head cocked to one side.
"I've never had a conversation with a werewolf before; they usually run away as soon as they see me. He grinned. "At least I don't have to kill you."
My heartbeat sped up. "Yeah," she thought for a while. "Where's Peter?"
He looked at where Peter was sitting and shuddered. "I don't know." He didn't stop staring at her. "You're weird. Aren't you scared?"
"You're not that scary."
"What do werewolves eat, anyway?" his eyes never lost their interest in her. "It's weird ... Talking to you when I could eat you so easily."
She nodded in understanding. "The potential prey feels the same way."
"Ah, it seems my cook has arrived." he said, looking down the hallway. she followed his gaze and saw a pale boy with black eyes looking at her. she smiled nervously and he looked over to his side. Only then did she notice the girl he was holding in his arms.
She was really small and pretty, had big ears sticking out, black short hair, black eyes and full lips.
"Please not you too." She'd a loud, sibilant voice.
She looked down at her face and tried to cover her ears. She was talking to me. "Excuse me?"
"You were staring at my ears."