Chapter 36|To Be Claimed.

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**Isabelle's P O V.

The man who was referred to as Viktor let out a single loud clap, he jeered, clapping his hands rhythmically and striding towards me, he took my face in his hand the same way he did earlier causing pain to my jaws. His hands came down on my cheek hard I felt my eyes stinging with the pain, without giving me time to recover he repeated the action to the other cheek and snarled hard, right into my face.

"Bravo, your story could have fooled us if we weren't used to brainless humans like you. You chose to lie when you were given the chance to say the truth. Believe me you we'll have the truth drawn out of you one way or the other before the day ends. You won't be dismissed un.."

The sound of a commotion behind the closed door and the subsequent movement drew all of our attentions to it. Old Bea stealthily walked in with an expression I'd never seen on her face. Her steps were firm as she slapped the edge of her cane to the ground.

"You dare to treat our guest with disrespect?!" Her words were loud and was addressed to not a specific one of them, she was talking to everyone. Her voice was hard and authoritative.

"This guest is an imposter." Sylvester Skorr was calm as he replied her.

"I thought we had this conversation just one week ago, the girl is not to be put in harm's way or harmed at all." She countered, taking in my sight.

Her brows furrowed into a frown at my state of dishevel and obviously at the swollen welts of fingers on my cheeks. I could feel the pain all the way to the tip of my toes and her scrutiny was making me feel bare.

"But she put us in harm's way, she led to the death of two honorable pack members and the injury of many. She led this pack to chaos and we won't stand back doing nothing while she attempts to disrupt what we and our forefathers have built with sweat and honor." That was Adrianno Dimitri speaking and his words were directed at Old Bea while his eyes were focused on me.

The hatred I found staring back at me nearly had me reeling on my feet. It was a known fact that I wasn't especially loved around here, but to be on eyelevel with such animosity was bone chilling. His stare was penetrating deep into the farthest enclave in my chest.

Any past belief I had of not being in danger mocked me at that spot. I was at my most dangerous place because it was as clear as daylight how these people wouldn't mind getting rid of me the moment my protectors were out of sight. Just like they began to before Old Bea's interruption. My whole life in their world replayed in my head instantly.

I didn't know when Old Bea or anyone else moved towards me, I didn't feel it when Leah engulfed me into a hug nor when anyone fussed over me. In my hazy state I saw Old Bea sitting on a bed with my head on her lap, she was cooling my swollen face with a puffy clothe dipped into lukewarm water. Next when I felt the stirrings of life I saw Leah forcing something between my teeth and it felt a lot like soup. I was too gone to be able to comprehend the little details before slipping back to the state of the unknown.

When I awoke from my state of unconsciousness I found myself alone and continued thinking from the point where I stopped when I last had the ability to.

Whatever delusion was holding me back got snapped the moment it dawned on me that I was the first to be suspected after the attack which means in the case of any repetition of its kind or likely event I would still be at the top of the accused list whether I spend a year or more here.

They will never trust me especially because I wasn't one of them and I have a mystery to my past.

"I can do this." I muttered to myself taking a look at my surroundings. I obviously wasn't in my temporary room because the wall there wasn't painted a neon shade of pink. Leah's room was and the shade was playing tag with my eyesight.

I felt the low stirring of a mighty headache at the back of my head and rose from the bed with all the ease I could muster. After getting up I slipped into a pair of fuzzy slippers and drew the shawl draped over me tighter to my form before walking towards the direction of my room. It wasn't a far walk but what stopped me at my tracks was the sight of the door broken off its hinges.

A shudder ran down my spine at the realization of what resulted in it being taken down by brutal force. Subconsciously I looked behind me to ensure that no one was following at my trail and slipped into the room avoiding shards and pieces of the door along the way.

I found my phone exactly where I left it and took a glance at the time, it was 7pm and the scheduled time for dinner which must be the reason for Leah and Old Bea's absence. With a plan in my mind I changed into a pair of sweatpants and a thick sweater to ward off the cold I knew was inevitably outside and pushed three sets of warm outfits into the duffel bag I had open.

I was planning to leave, with or without their consent or approval. And I didn't want to think of Alexander at the moment. I warded off a voice in my head telling me to think things through before making a rash, sudden and impulsive decision by slipping my phone into the pocket of my sweats and packing my hair into a low bun at the nape of my neck. I slid into a pair of sneakers and walked out of the room. I stopped and gave it a long stare before turning with a sigh and bumping into something hard.

Damnit.

It was Alex.

Yes, I felt his scent wash over my every single sense.

A once-over turned to two, he eyed me in appraisal, his gaze searching before wordlessly scooping me into his arms and heading to the room I was just looking at and bidding farewell in my head.

Okay!

There goes my plan.

He stopped by the bed and did away with my shoes and the bag, he took my head in his hand still staring deeply at me with the same evaluative look and a glint of pain was now glossing his pitch black orbs.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you" He breathed out leaning the fore of his head on mine. "I'm so sorry I wasn't able to come as soon as I heard of the attack." His eyes shut close as he spoke and his fingers moved over my cheek. They stopped over the swollen welts that were still very visible and feel-able, apparent. He brushed his fingers twice over both cheeks before his eyes parted open.

His eyes were unlike anything I'd ever seen before, the white part of his eye gave way to darkness and nothing but onyx stared right back at me.

"Who fucking did this to you?" His voice shook with palpable rage.

I could literally feel the room shaking with his emotions.

I chose silence as my response because this Alex wasn't an Alex that could be controlled or conversant or one that could listen to reason. He was at a point that made my galloping heart hitch at the feel of his emotions as though they were mine, he was furious. Despite being abused by people who take me for nothing I had no wish to reciprocate the action by spurting out the identity of my assaulters.

At this rate, anything could happen to them and I for one do not want blood on my hands nor the idea of blood anywhere or to cause a rife between the Alpha, his subordinates and those governing his affairs as their leader.

"It's nothing, it doesn't hurt." My words came out in a stutter as he shook me for answers.

"Fucking tell me who did it or I swear I'll kill whoever comes to my mind." His words were growled directly to my face until I was feeling his breath heavy on me.

"I'm fine I promise, let go of it." I brushed the hands that were still feeling the welts on my face repeatedly in a soothing way, shook them away when they resisted and got down the bed.

I picked my bag as fast as I could and slipped into my shoes without bothering to re-tie the shoelace.

Alexander was faster, he stopped by the door halting my move, in an instant he was beside me and taking the duffel bag out of the tight hold I had on it into his hand. He unloaded the contents of the bag unto the floor, flung the bag hard it landed against the wall and fell with a dull thud.

"Were you thinking of leaving?" He rasped, "Tell me who hurt you Belle." He lowered to my eye level and stared hard into my eyes. Without me uttering a word he searched deep for answers and what he did next shocked me to the core.

"I'm fucking killing Ives."

I had no idea who Ives was and Alex gave me no chance to ponder on the man's identity before taking me into his arms and heading at a neck breaking pace towards the solar used for their meetings. The same one I was assaulted in.

Surprisingly, the room was full of wolves of high ranks and they all stared as their Alpha moved to the middle of the room.

Alex lowered me to the ground, shifting the part of my shirt that shielded his mark on me he lowered his head and gingerly bit hard into the skin, punctuating the mark. He bit hard on the skin there before raising his head and covering my lips with his.

He kissed me hard at their presence before announcing for all to hear.

"She is mine." Alexander growled possessively, the whole room roaring with the force of his announcement.

He was claiming me for all to see.

"Whoever is the reason behind the welts on her face, whoever had a hand in her assault and whoever doesn't trust my judgements and decisions will face my wrath. Think your actions through tonight." He glowered at everyone present.

"This will be the last time I'm warning anyone around here off Isabelle."