Skeptic

Isabelle



"SHE IS YOUR MATE?!" 

Kaden looked at Layla in bewilderment, "Yeah, she is but why are you reacting like this?"

"Why the fuck didn't you tell me that you've found your mate?!" Her eyes were wide, almost as if they were ready to pop out of its sockets.

Does mate need to be found?

"I told you I didn't get the chance to inform you," Kaden's tone seemed harsher.

Her rage-filled gaze landed on me, I could see the envy gleaming in them. Kaden seemed to notice the anger that radiated from Layla and his eyes flickered glancing at Cassandra who now seemed to communicate with him through her eyes, more likely as though she was taunting him for something.

"This girl is your mate?"I couldn't discern why there was so much disgust in Layla's voice and why her index finger pointed at me as if I was a piece of waste.

Kaden seemed to notice her hateful stare, and the way pointed at me. His fists clenched to his sides, and Jaw tightened. I could see his eyes darkening but this was unlike any other time, they were pitch black--Darker than the forests that could shake people to their cores and crumble their courage.

"Do you have a problem with that?" Suddenly his voice was unlike any other time, it was dangerous and threatening as though he was daring her to say something that could free the deranged beast hiding behind his eyes.

The fear became evident in Layla's expression, her eyes widened and I noticed the gasp that slipped her lips even though it was barely noticeable. She looked scared--For her life.

"I-I..." She stuttered but nothing came from her mouth. I saw her hesitating, her hands clenched and unclenched their fists.

I saw the smirks tugging the three individuals who were silently watching the scene. They seemed to enjoy watching the fear on Layla as if it was an ornament they,d have taken the liberty to put on her on their own.

"Why would I have a problem with that?"She chuckled, the smile spreading on her lips as if the previous terrified state of her never existed.

I didn't know why but the nervousness in her chuckle told me that it was an act. I didn't think she was as nice as Kaden had described and after looking at Kaden's reaction right now I could
correctly presume that Kaden won't be thinking that too.

"I was just...surprised," She smiled and glanced at me, this time her gaze didn't have the fury as if she had hidden it beneath the admiration that'd replaced it.

I saw Kaden's darkened eyes slowly returning to their normal color, but judging by his expression he didn't really believe what Layla had said but for some reason, I had the feeling that he also wasn't going to push the argument further.

"What's your name, sweetie?" She asked looking at me.

Getting overly confused by her sudden attitude, I jerked my thumb in my direction as the question automatically left my mouth, "You are asking me?"

Apparently, the disbelieve in my voice caused her to startle almost looking as if she was slapped hard on the face without even being slapped.

I heard the low chuckle from Jason, but he hid it behind his hand pretending to rub his jaw.

"Of course, I am asking you," Layla chuckled, I didn't know if I was wrong or not but it looked as though she was trying too hard to act nice, or maybe she was genuinely nice....was she?

"Isabelle," I responded.

"Nice name, where do you use to live?" she asked.

Her question caused the cold to wash over my body, I dryly licked my lips. The terrible feeling returned, the same haunting past horrendous like a nightmare made my throat go all dry. I could everyone in the room could notice my discomfort and Layla could too but she chose to keep her skeptical expression plastered.

"That's none of your business, Layla," Cassandra spat, her eyes nearly sending daggers in her direction.

"I was just asking," Layla shrugged, the skeptical look in her increasing even more, "Are you an orphan?"

The air in my lungs disappeared at her question, was I an orphan? Yes. But why did her question cause my eyes to get teary within a second? The answer had the dreadful past hidden beneath it. My parents have searched away from me, their death was not normal.

"Layla, what kind of question is it?!" Kaden nearly shouted. His abrupt move caused her to flinch and she looked at him in surprise.

"Calm down, Kaden...it was just a question," She spluttered.

"And why the fuck you'd ask such a question?" His tone was harsher than ever.

"Kaden it was just a..."

"Yes!" I breathed out, "I am an orphan." My tongue formed the words before I could even stop it. It was strange how the utterance of the truth caused the melancholy to pass through me as if it left everything crumbled into pieces.

I saw Layla's mouth forming and 'O' even though there was no sign of sympathy in her voice not in her eyes she still said, "I am sorry."

Kaden must've noticed the tears in my eyes, I saw him walking closer to me and then turned my chair before kneeling in front of me.

"Don't cry, sweetheart," He cupped my face, "I'm so sorry." He wiped the single droplet of tear that managed to slip from my eyes despite all my effort to hold it together.

"No, it's not your fault neither it's her fault. She just wanted to know about it, I guess she was curious," I sniffed wiping my tears with the back of my hand.

Kaden's eyes softened, even more, his thumb brushed over my cheeks, "No matter what, I am always going to be with you. You know that right?"

"Yes, I do," The small smile broke on my lips.

From the corner of my eyes, I could notice the annoyed look of Layla. I really didn't why was she reacting this way. People were supposed to be kind, weren't they?

The appearance of the smile on my face lit up Kaden's expression that'd previously been engulfed with gloom. There was a skip in my heartbeat indeed.

"Let's finish our breakfast, shall we?" He asked and I nodded.

"Layla you can have breakfast with us, too," Kaden spoke, sending a glance at her before his attention settled on me again. He sat beside me like prior but this time pulling my chair closer to his one.

"I am sorry, Isabelle. I guess I shouldn't have asked you such a question," Layla's sudden confession caught me off-guard but I managed to send a smile in her direction.

"It's okay," I spoke, "Please sit and have breakfast with us."

I saw her smiling back at me but that didn't reach her eyes, "Thanks for offering but I've already had my breakfast before coming here, I might need some rest." She looked at Kaden, "Which room should I go, Kaden?"She asked.

"I have got the third guest room cleaned for you, you can stay in that," Kaden responded, applying the butter on the toast and handing it to me. I took it from his hand before taking a bite.

"Great, I'll meet you guys at the lunch," She stretched her hands a yawn escaping her lips, " I need some sleep," And then she was out of the place walking up the stairs, her shoe caused clicking noises as she did so.

After her disappearance, when Kaden's attention shifted to cutting the fruit for me, I sneakily tried putting the half-finished toast back on the plate but his eyes seemed to immediately catch it. I instantly brought the toast back towards my mouth, taking a bite of it. However, my small attempt did not work in hiding my crime.

"Your little tricks are not going to work, Isabelle," He clicked his tongue, "You need to finish the entire thing and the fruits are coming next."

"B-but..."

"I'm not listening to any of your words until you finish your breakfast," He shook his head.

"But my stomach is going to burst," I spoke eyeing at my stomach hiding beneath the delicate material of the dress I was wearing.

I heard his quick chuckle after the completion of my sentence, and the small laughs from the others were heard too.

"Don't worry, I can assure you that your stomach is going to be okay," Kaden spoke, composing his laughter, "You can finish your breakfast without any worry."

"But..." He silenced my question by placing his index finger on my lips.

"No buts, you want to recover quickly right?" He asked.

"Haven't I already recovered?" The question automatically left my mouth but before Kaden could answer it, Carter did.

"No, you haven't," He shook his head in dismal.

"Why?" I asked him.

"Answer me, what do you think...can you lift Kaden?" He asked and Kaden's expression instantly morphed in disbelieve.

I looked at Kaden, he was incredibly tall and the muscles he had said it pretty nice that he was nearly double my weight so was it possible for me to lift him?

"No," I answered looking back at Carter.

"So? You haven't recovered yet. Once you think you have the strength to lift someone like Kaden then only you can consider yourself fully fit." He spoke, he looked serious but Cassandra and Jason didn't seem to contain their laughs.

At this point, it was confusing for me to point out if Carter was saying the truth or not so I decided to choose the safest option and continue eating my breakfast. I heard Kaden's suppressed chuckle but that faded soon and he also got busy with his prior task.

But among all these happening I found myself replaying Layla's behavior, the way she reacted when Kaden said I was his mate and the way her eyes looked at me with anger mixed up with unexplained disgust, was she really a threat?