Chapter 83|A Recap.

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**Isabelle's P O V

The next few days I spent in the Bane Pack were hectic, frantic, you name it. Arrangements were made for Martin's execution as well as my return to the De Luca Pack. Both were coming closer at a rapid pace.

In all honesty, I do not want to be present for that event, I'll happily pass witnessing the gruesome event which had almost everyone on their toes in anticipation for a slumber in the De Luca Pack Alpha's room in Staten Island, in his arms specifically.

It's been a long time since a great and public execution was held and Martin's own was a cause for celebration for many and sorrow for a few. It took up Alexander and Uncle Drake's time completely. Both men were working at a neck-breaking pace.

It's been a week since my date with Alex at the rooftop where we indulged in a bit of the skin-to-skin act. That night was the last time we were intimate because after getting back to my apartment, we spent the night in each other's arms doing it again and the next morning he flew off to Staten Island to oversee the happenings and running of his Pack. He suggested I leave with him but I couldn't, at least not until it was time for Leah's punishment, I want to be there for it.

I haven't backed down from my will to have her punishment simplified, Arabella's on my side too.

Speaking of Arabella, Lucas has finally marked her as his and she's already wearing his ring on the fourth finger of her left hand, they got engaged. He leapt through the courting stage and dove right for marriage skipping the stages in between.

I couldn't fault him and no one could hide their surprise at finding out that they were engaged already. The two became the media's favorite couple hording them wherever they went to until he made a public speech officially announcing their engagement. A party was scheduled to hold next month, they decided to take it that far because of how busy and carried away everyone seemed to be at the moment.

I was elated and already planning the wedding with a bubbly and cheerful Arabella over the phone 24/7.

Alexander though didn't return until a few hours ago and even then didn't get to me until now. It amazed me how exhaustion wasn't written boldly on his face and body. Rather, he seemed perfectly hale unlike myself. I was disoriented and growing paler at each passing second as though I was the one to be literally slayed.

Martin's final execution was scheduled to take place in three days, not wanting to be around for the D-day I packed up what little I brought with me, spent the next day with my family, the next at the Bane Pack orphanage and by dusk I was summoned into Old Ynez's cottage alongside Alexander.

When we got in, the little apartment was dimly lit, it was so warm I felt like falling asleep in Alexander's arms and refusing to awake until the whole catastrophe was over.

Oh how I truly couldn't wait until it became a thing of the past. It's sucking off my energy in pints.

"My dearest Luna," She pulled me out of my reverie with a smile, urging me to place my hands in hers.

I did as was gestured to and felt a sensation that went all the way to the tip of my toes.

"Oh dear me! You're both going to be alright." She whispered to herself, her smile growing wider. If she were anyone else she would've been taken to the...ahem!

"My Alpha." She beckoned at Alexander with a polite beam and a slight quirk of her finger.

I felt her reluctance in letting go of my hand before she did. Old Ynez turned to the fire that was lit by the hearth, threw in a few logs of wood into it and doused it with the contents of the pitcher in her grasp. Instead of the liquid substance to put off the fire it enraged it until sounds could be heard. Eerie sounds that could only be magic. The sound reminded me of the winds in the Forest of Eyre and how they used to shrill before a storm.

A scene played in the fire.

Deja vu.

A scene I could remember all too clearly in my head. It showed me coming across a stranger lying unconscious on the ground with blood on his chest and face.

I felt nostalgic, goosebumps erupted on my skin.

Dazedly, I turned to Alex who was staring at the vision the fire provided with so much keenness. He watched unblinkingly my every move, the hardship I went through before I was able to drag him to the confines of my home. He watched how I took care of his wounds, afraid of the feelings that slashed through my very being whenever our bodies made contact. He watched how I had him overcome the fever that nearly took away his soul while I watched him. How I made him all too comfortable in my shelter and eased his pain with determination.

When it got to the part where he regained consciousness a deep blush settled flush on the skin of my face, neck and all the way to my toes like I was scorched with the fire raging before us. Old Ynez gave us the privacy we needed as we watched how the attraction between us bloomed until we were acting on it, the first time he took me after so much restraint in his part, his actions when his memories returned, how he protected me from the boar and watching the scene play like I wasn't a part of it made the emotions I felt then return to me in full force. It reminded me of how everything was before we returned to the real world and in all honesty there's nothing I treasure more than our memories in the Forest of Eyre. They were so pure and perfect, neither was it untainted nor touched by the dirt polluting the real world.

When the scene of our lives in the forest was over the fire shrilled and everything went quiet. I couldn't remember who reached for the other first but within seconds I was in the cage of his embrace feeling the erratic beating of his heart. Mine matched his equally because they both were galloping so loud we could hear it clearly.

"I love you Isabelle." He whispered in my ear, placed a kiss to the top of my head and held me tightly against his chest.

Old Ynez returned to the room while we were still clasped around each other, none was willing to let go of the other so we turned our faces to her.

"You two were bound to be together way before your births and you two are bound to create the greatest wolf to live on the earth. There will be lots of obstacles, hurdles coming your way in the future but with the bond you two share I strongly believe you will overcome it all with no hardship. Alexander, you have a gem as your mate and Isabelle you're the luckiest woman on earth. What you just went through was a test, for overcoming it with the stealth you did the Moon has endowed you both with a gift." She ended the sentence with a knowing grin.

"A gift?" Alexander asked and we both looked around for it, when we found nothing we turned to her inquisitively.

"Oh it'll be around, you can't see it just yet but sooner rather than later it'll be the greatest gift you'll ever know. Now I'm sure you were getting ready to run off, you have your grandmother's compassion in you, it was a trait she passed unto your mother God bless their souls, their worse nightmare is witnessing someone's punishment no matter how vile that person is. It is a good thing quite alright but I thank God I do not possess that trait, I wouldn't miss Martin's execution for the world. I've always known he had a black heart and always felt it in me it was going to taint the whole of his soul one day way before it truly did. A shame! Stephano would have been proud of you, let me rephrase myself. Stephano is very much proud of you, he wants you to change nothing about yourself Alexander, in his words, you're perfect the way you are." She winked.

"How do you.." He stuttered, unable to believe she truly conversed with his deceased ancestor.

She brushed him off casually, "I'm a woman of many virtues Alexander De Luca. Many, now take your mate to Beatriz, she's awaiting her return with so much excitement I don't know how she contains it in her sprite heart."

We laughed at how the tiny woman could refer to another person's body part as sprite when she was the definition of the word.