Chapter 22|Jealousy Lies In The Eyes of The Lover.

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A few days after Old Bea's conversation with Alpha Alexander he agreed to meet with Arabella and take up his part in the act he was forced to. Alexander met with her once and found her lacking in every way that mattered, she was too loud, too bold, too forward. She was everything his Isabelle wasn't. She wrapped her hands around his arm walking about the Manor with a huge grin covering her face.

To say he was irritated would be the greatest understatement of his life, his thoughts were focused on Isabelle who for once after three straight days of living in agony felt happy. He felt it in him but being ignorant of what got her feelings switching from pain to otherwise had him even more irritated.

He wanted to be the one with her, he could've given everything he owned to have her clinging to him so but not the other girl. Old Bea assured him that she was taking care of Isabelle and taking any matter related to her in her hands, she promised him that in due time everything was going to unravel itself.

Frustrated to the brim he accepted her words only after she told him about the consequences of what will happen if he sought out Isabelle within the days, he was forced to send messages to her, but never to hold her. He could revive Old Bea's warning for it played on repeat in his head like a mantra, echoing until it felt too much to bear.

"Think not of yourself in this situation My Alpha, you're their Alpha but she's no one to them, no one can feel her wolf, it's clear as daylight that she's human, not plain perhaps but one nonetheless. Some people around here are waiting for your rebellion, it'll trigger them to take matters into their filthy hands, they'll be compelled to act not for you but to protect themselves knowing the severity of the edict. I assure you though that this is a test to you and it is a test that you can easily fail given the slightest show of selfishness and impatience. With patience, everything shall fall into place."

Old Bea further on told him to avoid Isabelle, that with patience everything shall unravel itself and fall into place. She accepted Isabelle as his mate but she had him promise to act upon her words. Alexander promised with the knowledge that there was something the woman was holding from him but she knew better than he did. So, with Isabelle enclosed in the security only the old woman could provide he relented.

Alexander released a huge sigh as he pulled a chair out for Arabella. It was their first formal attendance to the dinner table as a couple, a mere act on his part. He let his eyes wander around the long table taking account of the members present. Most of the members of the council were there as well as his Delta and Brother, His Beta though announced his presence with a bewitching female's arm crooked into his elbow.

He caught a whiff of her scent a millisecond before they got into the room and felt like his temper was lit with a fire so fiery no amount of water could douse. Alexander's eyes fixated on Isabelle whose eyes were lowered to the ground, her lashes bowed as she used her left hand to tuck a strand of hair that escaped the confines of the chignon bun behind her ear.

She was in a dress he'd never seen on her before, it was lilac, hugged her at the chest area and flowed from the waist to her knees. Her red hair was tied in a white ribbon and her hand was in his Beta's. His Beta had the audacity to touch what was his.

Alexander clenched his jaw hard until he felt the metallic taste of blood in his mouth, his eyes couldn't be averted from the pair until Francis pulled a seat out for her before taking his beside the Alpha.

In the Werewolf community a particular part of the year was chosen as the period where pack members return to their packs for holidays, during this time the Pack manor holds a dinner at the end of every week hosting each and every adult wolf with their plus one, be it their mates or partners. During this time carnivals are held, mates are found and pups are conceived.

Francis acknowledged his Alpha first before the woman sitting beside the Alpha looking every inch the Luna she sought to become. Arabella was in a tight-fitting emerald green mermaid cut dress with off shouldered thin sleeves. Her lips were painted a shouty shade of red and her hair was draped over her left shoulder. Like her partner, she was staring at Isabelle but unlike him she was staring at her with envy for how she managed to capture and withhold the Alpha's attention without doing so much as raising her eyes to meet his while she was doing everything in her powers to have him bestowing on her an inch of all that attention.

Tactfully, Arabella tapped on the fist Alexander clenched hard on the table, the action didn't go unnoticed by Isabelle who failed in concealing the sharp pain she felt at the contact. Hastily, he uncoiled the fist and turned to Arabella for an explanation.

After a few announcements from Pack members who found their mates, toasts to newlyweds and whatnots Francis served Isabelle with creamy tuscan chicken, a glass of wine and a side of potato croquettes. Alexander stared at the two from the corner of his eye, the hold he had on his fork was too strong it had the metal bending from the force of it. Damon calling for his attention made him jerk and become aware of the damage he'd caused.

A server repaired the damage and with the slightest, barely noticeable move Alex shook his head once at Francis. The Blonde haired man nodded twice, withdrew slightly before carrying on with the conversation he was having with the quite girl.

Initially it was Old Bea who suggested that Isabelle join the Pack members for the dinner and Francis obliged, the first minute in her presence had him enamored and he could see what pulled Alex to her even though what he felt for her was plainly platonic. Her voice was soft, the sound angelic like melodious whispers to his ears, he felt a strange sense of belonging with her that he felt himself chattering her ears off with stories about the Alpha's childhood. Soon Isabelle found herself letting go of the pain that was consuming her soul at Alexander's betrayal. Old Bea assured her that it was best they stay away from each other for the time being until the holiday was over, she thought she could bear with the pain but coming into contact with him everyday and not being able to touch him was eating up her courage and determination to accept Old Bea's conditions.

Francis' presence made her feel acknowledged. Although she was used to living alone in the cottage being alone at the Pack house suddenly felt strange and like a bore to her. Old Bea treated Isabelle with all sort of delicacies and introduced her to the large library that stored all sort of books, historical, non-fiction to fictions.

She took in his stories with awe, she was amazed at how much she relished in hearing stories about him and his friends when they were young. Realizing how uptight Alexander had always been made her feel things she wasn't supposed to feel, it seemed he was in his most carefree at her presence whenever they were alone.

Coming into sight with him seated beside the blonde haired girl made her wish for things she wasn't supposed to feel atleast until he was back to her as Old Bea assured her he will. Her heart though wasn't finding it easy to comprehend especially given how the blondie latched unto his arm, her body was practically glued to his side in a show of ownership.

Isabelle fought the urge to roll her eyes. Ironically she could feel the anger rolling off of him in waves, his gaze was stuck between both she and Francis. She was deliberately avoiding his gaze, tempted to after the fork incident, she raised her head slightly and caught him staring unabashedly at her. One stare was all it took for her to take in his whole face and store it into her brain, Alexander's throat worked, his Adam's apple bobbing once, then twice. She willed herself to take her eyes off him and found her discipline lacking, the sound of a voice from the distance calling her name made her break their stare and turn her head to the man beside her. She was sitting between Francis and Damon, the current running through the air around her was consuming.

"Water?" Francis asked, handing her a glass. She understood the point of his suggestion for it broke all contact she had with Alexander until the meal was over.

Francis stood from beside her with a glass cup and a spoon in hand, he clinked the spoon on the cup calling a toast before speaking. "Tonight we're welcoming our guest in person of this beautiful creature here," the crowd broke into a flurry of murmurs before he continued, "Well, I urge everyone to welcome Isabelle with open arms for she is one of the nicest people I've had the privilege of meeting in my whole life. Isabelle, welcome to the De Luca Pack where honor comes first."

Alexander was the first to toast in return before everyone else did, Arabella though gave Isabelle a long look with narrowed eyes before rolling her eyes and catching Damon's unrelenting gaze on her mid-roll.

The man had something up his sleeves, he didn't bother hiding his feelings for her for it was in plain sight that she wasn't among the people he held in any regard.

Arabella gave him a pointed look, averted her eyes and let Isabelle soak in the attention the Beta bestowed upon her as Pack members moved around to welcome her.

She can have her time now. I'll take what's mine soon, including everyone's attention. Arabella thought with a snicker.