Chapter 25|Heartwrenching Feelings.

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ISABELLE

My first week in the De Luca Pack manor was quiet and filled with dread, by the second week I was getting along with the staff as well as the members of the pack. Kids were fascinated by my hair colour and there wasn't much time when I wasn't in the company of a child or two. Francis after realizing that I was interested in everything related to  kids he suggested to take me to the Pack's orphanage where lots of orphaned kids or pups as they referred to them were raised.

The first day we visited we went with goodies and toys, the second day they requested I read a book to them which came to me as natural as breathing. I did and a day turned to two before I was scheduled to read for the little kids every other night if I had the time to, I rescheduled it to daily because I had nothing else doing and being in their presence made me feel like I belonged there.

The only thing nagging me was the Alpha's absence. It felt like the days he told me he loved me had flown into thin air, neither did I come across him ever nor did I hear from him or about him from Francis or Old Bea.

Old Bea assured me that he was in good health and that he was away from the pack for duties as an Alpha. I accepted her words and calmed the riot raging in the deepest part of my heart.

The facade I was showing the world was the opposite of my actual feelings, on the outside I was this happy, serene yet composed girl who was relishing in the company of the kids while on the inside I was a young girl suffering from the loss of her lover? Mate? Friend? Victim? At this point I had no idea what I was to him, What I could be labeled as.

Today the manor bustled with unusual excitement, it was quite normal for the staff to be found singing on their chores but today they were happily arranging tables for dinner as well as the chamber beside mine on the east wing. When I noticed this in the morning I asked Francis who was the closest person I had as a friend, he was even bordering on being my confidant because I was starting to get too comfortable with him. His response was that Mayleigh or Leah as the pack members refer to her, Alexander's foster sister was returning home from college.

It was obvious that she was missed by the pack members especially Old Bea. After Lunch I took a soothing bath and wore a beige tank top, paired it with blue skinny jeans. Amber, the girl assigned to take care of my needs styled my blazing hair into two braids that fell over my front. I glossed my lips and took the purse given to me as a gift by Francis when we went to a carnival two days ago before walking out of the room.

In my hurry I stumbled into a dark haired girl that looked to be about the same age as me. Her pert nose rose up in a scrunch as she stared at me.

I forced a smile to my face and offered my hand for a shake. "Hello."

"Hey.." She greeted back staring at me with the same curious expression I was sure I had on my face. "I'm Leah." She added when she was sure I had nothing else to say.

My lips pulled up impulsively. So she was the sister. "I'm Isabelle, I'm a guest here at your home." I added to clear it up.

She nodded in understanding, smiled at me once more before getting out of my way. I walked away after she did and stumbled for the second time into someone today, this time my senses felt flooded with his scent. My heart clenched painfully at the slight contact of his hands coming around to steady me. Alexander looked like he had skipped a few days' sleep as well as a few meals. Our eyes didn't stray from one another's as the hold he had on me tightened until I felt the slightest pain in my upper arms.

As though warring with his feelings and thoughts Alexander's nostrils flared twice before I felt myself plastered to chest, he inhaled in huge gulps as we made body contact for the first time in over two weeks. His nose rubbed along the crane of my neck, his tongue flew out and ran circles around the point that had my pulse thrashing wildly beneath my skin.

"My Belle." He whispered softly to my ear before turning me to face him. We stared at each other hard as if we were afraid the moment was a mere hallucination. His gaze lowered to my lips and stopped there, slowly his head moved to my already parted lips waiting for the feel of him on my mouth.

"Alex." Francis' voice cut through the haze of our connection. Alexander froze at the sound of his friend calling out his name. His hands tensed around me.

"Don't." Francis added when Alex made no move of getting away from me. His tone had a warning to it.

When I turned to face him he looked a lot different from the Francis I was used to, the one who took me to the orphanage, sang to the kids with his guitar, won a bear for me at the carnival and lots more. This Francis looked much more stern than anyone I'd ever seen before. He looked dangerous it was bordering on lethal.

Alexander's eyes clenched close as the hold he had on my hand tightened. My eyes pulled at the brief zap of pain.

"You're hurting her with your hold Alex. You're not yourself."

True to his words when Alex opened his eyes the orbs were larger and turning to a fiery shade of gold. His wolf was threatening to surface. To calm the tempest brewing in him that I could feel as if it was in me I placed my open palm over his face and whispered sweet nothings, telling him to listen to his friend.

When Alexander's temper lessened he looked away from me and attempted to take my hand off his face with his eyes stuck on his friend's. Francis moved forward and took my hand in his, he propelled me forward gently to move in the direction of my room.

"You don't need to touch her to protect her from me." Alexander's words sounded bizarre in my ears. What does it mean to protect me from him? He wasn't endangering me in any way.

"Trust me, I know what I'm doing. You're my Alpha I'm sorry but you need to get the hell out of here." Francis muttered loudly enough for Alex to hear.

But he had no idea that I had very sharp working ears. I heard everything.

"Don't you think I tried my best? I need a word with you and Damon after dinner. I'll be leaving at midnight." Alexander muttered back to his second in command.

With the slightest tug, Francis pulled me towards the large doors that led to the mansion's largest dining room, the very one where weekly dinners were held at, it was more of an auditorium than it was a dining room.

Francis excused himself from me to pick a call, when he did I took in the sight around. I'd volunteered to help make the apple pies to be served as dessert earlier today and I made sure to do as I promised. So, I sought out my way to make the final touches required before the apple pies were ready to be served.

Arabella who seemed to be missing along the same time as Alexander was appeared from no where into my way with her signature red lips pulling into a smirk. She was clad in a pair of denim shorts and a white shirt with a single red dot in the middle, her hair was packed in a messy bun at the top of her head with a few tendrils swaying over her face and behind her ear.

She looks beautiful even in the most casual outfit. I thought with a sigh. My hair prefers to be tied in a ponytail or left to trail over my back.

"Hello Red." She smiled brightly showcasing her pearly white teeth.

I scrunched my brows in confusion, it drew an eye roll from her before she spoke again, "Your hair, Red fits you more than your actual name does. I'm not here for chit chats though, I want you to steer clear of my man, I can feel his smell on you, distant but there. You wouldn't want to be dubbed as the mistress or side chic will ya? Trust me, the world's not as casual around here as it is from wherever you're from." She pursed her lips before placing a hand over my shoulder. "Try the Beta, I have a feeling he's head over heels for you."

Without waiting for my reply she turned on her heels and sashayed out of the dining room with a forceful and dramatic sway of her hips.

I pursed my lips in dismay.

Only God knows what sort of drama I signed up for around here.

Well, Lord bless me with the patience to deal with it all.