Chapter 20|Alpha Alexander's Return.

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RETURN TO PRESENT DAY.

Lucas stared at his elder brother, the Alpha of the De Luca Pack with a grin. He gave the woman glued to his brother's side a long look before turning once more to glance at the man who disappeared from their world wordlessly and mysteriously for the past thirteen days.

"Welcome back Brother." His grin widened as his brother's stance eased off, he could feel the man's agitation coming off him in waves.

Heck, if he was the one in the Alpha's position he would've been a hell lot irritated than Alexander was.

Alexander felt Isabelle's hand growing colder despite being tightly held in his, he responded to his brother's pleasantry and gave him a scathing look that had his grin turning into a close mouthed smile.

"Lucas, meet Isabelle, my woman. Belle meet my brother, Lucas."

Lucas bowed in gaiety and took Isabelle's palm in his, turned it and placed a kiss to the back of her outstretched hand.

"Welcome to the De Luca Pack, Isabelle." He voiced out cordially.

Isabelle felt a portion of her worries subsiding at his levity, she thought everyone was too serious like Damon, Alexander's PA and his driver. Meeting Lucas in an uptight environment felt like the leash she felt wrapped around her neck was loosened.

"Thank you." She whispered with a smile.

Alexander gave no heed to the look in his brother's eyes.

There is time for that later. He thought, as he walked further into the manor to the direction of the West Wing where he carried out his private dealings and had his chambers.

"You might want to listen to me before you meet... her." Lucas' words stuttered at the end as a strawberry blonde haired girl came sashaying along the hallway.

She stopped in her tracks at their sight taking in the image before her, there was Lucas and Damon and two strangers, a man that took her very breath away and a girl she could recognize even if she was awaken from the deepest of slumbers. Pasting an innocently lost expression to her face Arabella ambled towards Lucas.

"Arabella." Was the only thing that Lucas could utter as they stared at each other in an interrogative manner.

Isabelle held tighter unto Alexander's arm subconsciously. Without sparing the newcomer a glance Alex took his mate's hand firmer into his and strode away. Damon followed after them wordlessly leaving the other two struck dumb in their tracks.

"Who are they?" Arabella feigned ignorance. Prior to her arrival at the De Luca Pack territory she was shown a picture of her betrothed, with the hardcopy of his photo in her grasp she searched for his name and found a thousand results, from how he was a Tycoon in his business to how he was a King in his domain. With keen interest she searched further until she could find everything she wanted about him, she found out about his Brother Lucas who was endorsed to act as her betrothed when his Brother was nowhere to be found. Not like they bothered to mention that he wasn't the actual Alpha.

"You'll know soon, come with me." Lucas held unto her hand pulling her out of the manor.

Meanwhile, at the West Wing of the Pack manor Alexander stood over the windows overlooking the vast compound of the manor while Damon paced incessantly. Isabelle sat on a couch by the study table going over a book she found on the rack that fictions were stacked in, courtesy of Damon who thought to distract her with something to do.

"A meeting needs to be called instantly. I'm not going through with any bullshit." Alexander swore grinding hard on his teeth.

"Alex I think it's best you see Old Beatriz first, she might have a suggestion that could work out for this situation." Damon suggested.

"Damon listen to me, no matter what happens I'm not going through with that bullshit." He finalized his statement with fast strides towards the other man.

"You need to see the deed first. It is a blood oath, a blood oath made from your blood and fire." Damon's words were spoken in hushed tones not wanting Isabelle to overhear.

Isabelle felt her heart constrict at Damon's words, despite her naivete and mundanity she knew just how strong and unbreakable a blood oath is, especially one made from blood and fire, it wasn't an edict to be tampered with. Alex caught her eye from where he was standing and gave her a reassuring smile, she felt lacking of the energy to reciprocate the action.

A knock on the door stopped Damon from voicing out the words in his mind. Alexander called the person behind the sturdy doors in and a very regal woman walked in with a knowing look on her face.

"My Alpha is back from the world of the unknown." Old Beatriz verbalized pushing her way into the Alpha's study room. "Ahh and he's brought with him a beautiful lady."

Alexander turned to her respectfully, placed a kiss to the back of her hand and Damon followed right after. She ruffled both their hair before moving towards Isabelle.

"My..." She whispered taking in the strange lady in the room. Isabelle rose from her chair and as though hypnotized Old Bea held her two hands for Isabelle to hold. Isabelle did as she was motioned to feeling a strange sense of kinship coursing through both their veins.

Old Bea felt Isabelle's origins, she felt the depth and sincerity in Isabelle's innocence, but most of all she felt Alexander's presence within the very girl's being, he owned her mind, body and soul.

Shocked by the profoundity of the situation she enclosed her arms around Isabelle's tiny frame intimately. She kissed the top of her blazing red hair and closed her eyes surrendering to the peace she felt surrounding them both.

Old Bea saw The Blood Oath in her eyes distantly, she heard the words spoken by the seer with finality, she felt how the ground shook after the words were spoken and understood what her old mind was telling her. With a smirk she introduced herself to Isabelle. "You must be my Alpha's guest, his guest is our guest."

"She is not a guest, Isabelle is mine." Alexander's voice boomed in the room with a grating finality before he walked towards the ladies and snaked his hand around her slim waist.

Old Bea smiled surreptitiously as her words hit home, she got the response she was expecting and felt hope grow in her chest. There was so much betrayal polluting the air with its vile smell, too much deceit and black magic.

"My mistake, my dear I am Beatriz, but Old Beatriz to everyone around here and Old Bea to my beloveds and close ones. I've known these two and almost every other pack member here since birth. I feel you in me the way I feel these two and believe me it says something big when my instincts tell me to trust someone. Now let's leave these men to do their serious talking while you and I get to know each other in your new boudoir." Old Bea cajoled, taking Isabelle's hand by the wrist.

"She's staying in my chamber with me." Alpha Alexander commanded in a chilled tone. His orbs were blazing with unkempt fury.

Old Bea gave him an equally chilling look, "You will calm the tempest brewing in you for I know best Alexander." She pulled the card she barely pulls when speaking with him giving him no choice but to relent. "Come along my darling." Her tone softened as she ushered the silent lady out.

Alexander released a growl the moment Isabelle disappeared from his sight. He felt his feet following after them paying no heed nor regard to the sound of Damon's voice calling out his name, he didn't stop until he was a foot away from Isabelle. Taking her hand in his he tipped her head up and covered her lips with his, in his kiss he told her how much he loved her and in his kiss he avowed to be with her.

Old Bea cleared her throat with mirth in her eyes and stayed aside until the Alpha was done staking his claim on the girl.

He released her face and stared deep into her eyes, "I love you." He muttered, his lips touching hers and his nose rubbing against hers before letting go. Alexander couldn't move until she was completely out of his sight.

When he turned around he found five pairs of eyes staring at him with varying expressions on their faces.

His Beta, Francis Rossi, Damon, Lucas and two men from the Pack's Council stared right back at him. Alexander masked his expression stonily.

Francis broke the silence with his usual lopsided smile, "Welcome back Alpha Alexander."

The two men from the Council found no cause for amusement unlike Francis and Lucas who both wore smiles and had thoughts alike. Damon was nonchalant, his face void of any emotion but deep in him he was glad his Alpha found his mate, his major concern was the chaos Alexander's strongwill, determination and obstinacy will bring forth the moment it came to light that he was denying his betrothed.