Chapter 10 Zira

I...AM...A...COWARD! It's been a week and I managed to avoid Isaiah. Meaning I was still stuck in this pack. I was never going to be able to leave which my mom was happy about. I was afraid to know if he remembered anything. Isabella could tell I didn't want to talk about it so we filled our time with her upcoming nuptials and ways to kill her mom. Yeah she can be crazy.

While building up the strength to get my papers, I decided to continue my training in the woods. It helps me through stressful times. Though most hunters use the bushes to hide, I like to use the trees. I think it gives the best advantage and besides, no one ever looks up.

I was lounging in the tree near my favorite place in the entire territory. It was a small brook that ran off a cliff into a large river below. It ran along the land of four pack territories with trees as far as the eye can see. I was lost in thought when I heard rustling nearby.

Isaiah appeared in the opening with nothing but shorts. He must've transformed from his wolf. He lifted his nose to sniff the air.

What was he looking for? I wondered as I tried to get closer, moving from branch to branch.

"Zira, come out," Isaiah said loud and clear, looking around the area.

This was the first time I've seen him this close since the party. He called out again, but I was frozen in place. I wanted to move but for some reason I was scared. Scared? Of what? It's just Isaiah. Move! I tried to will my body forward but still nothing happened.

I watched him pace around, looking through the trees. He grabbed the bridge of his nose and with his Alpha command he yelled, "Zira, come out now!"

His aura was strong and compelling. I had no choice but to move. With that I jumped down from the trees without a second to waste. Reluctantly my feet moved me closer to him and I could tell he was irritated. He watched me cautiously as I stood in front of him, looking at my feet. His eyes regarded me and I couldn't help but feel trapped by them. Damn stormy gray bastards.

"I don't like to be forced to use my Alpha's tone," Isaiah said, glaring at me.

"Sorry, Alpha. I was-distracted," I said, looking down at my feet.

"We need to talk," he said, grabbing my hand and we both walked over to the edge of the cliff.

We sat in silence for a few minutes. He sighed and looked over to my shaking leg. My usual tick when I'm nervous.

"Why have you been avoiding me," Isaiah asked, placing his hand on my leg to stop my tapping.

I could feel the warmth from his hands spreading through my body. Suddenly I remembered the way his hands grabbed my ass and I shook the image away. I moved my leg away from his hand and I thought I saw a bit of hurt in his expression, but he quickly looked away. Little did he know, his touch was bringing back memories I didn't want, especially when he's so close to me.

"It's because of what happened that night after the party?"

Yes and the fact that I dream about every night. Let's do it again. I wanted to say but I just nodded. I didn't know how he felt about everything and I wasn't going to be the one to say it first. I'm no good at rejection.

"I remember bits and pieces," Isaiah said looking at me, but I couldn't meet his gaze. "Zi-did I..did I hurt you or forced-"

No," I yelled, interrupting him, then slapping my hand over my mouth. "Sorry, Alpha." I couldn't believe he thought he forced himself on me. This was hilarious and I couldn't help but smile. All week he's been pressed with worry that he hurt me. This makes him even cuter.

He had a shocked expression before he started laughing. I could see the tension leave his shoulders. His sweaty, glistening shoulders. An image of me gripping them as I rode him flashed before my eyes.

Stop and focus, I told myself. "That night was a bit much. My plan was to have one last hurrah before leaving. I was to get my papers, have fun, and wake up the next day to pack. Instead, Hunter finds his mate, Isabella yells at me for being mateless, and then you-

I stopped realizing I haven't taken a breath. "You came in, like you always do and brightened up my day. I know it's not the same as a mate's bond, but I felt this pull towards you and I didn't want to lose it. At least for one night, I didn't want to be alone. So when I saw the way you looked at me, it made me feel wanted. I took that moment because I don't know if I'll get another chance."

I watched his face trying to make sense of everything I said. We were quiet for a few seconds, until I saw a smile spread across his face. Suddenly out of nowhere, he stood up bringing me up in the air, spinning me around. He placed my feet on the ground and embraced me.

"All this time I thought I had hurt you. This is not your fault, Zi. I agree there is something about you that constantly pulls me towards you. Then the moment you walked down those stairs, I couldn't take my eyes off you. So yes I did want you. I'm just glad the feeling was mutual," he laughed.

I was still reeling from his sudden burst of emotion that I didn't notice my cheek was against his smooth chest. For a moment I closed my eyes and relished the moment. "So you don't hate me," I whispered.

He lifted my chin and looked me straight in my eyes. His gray eyes had a spark in them and I completely melted in his arms. "I could never hate you, Zi."

I smiled and gave him the tightest embrace I could give before letting him go. "Thank you, Alpha."

"It's Isaiah. You don't have to be so formal with me," Isaiah said, tracing a few curls behind my ear.

We stared at each other for a moment until Isaiah broke the silence. "You know since Victoria is occupied with my sister, I'm a free man."

"Wait you know," I said, stepping away from him and looking a bit more shocked than I wanted. Or did I just give Isabella up. She is going to kill me.

"Of course, I know. Isabella might think she's sneaky but we're connected. I can feel her emotions as if they were my own. Especially when we're close together. I know how she feels about telling our parents, so I just pretended to "like, like" Victoria so she's around," he started. "And the fact that I saw Victoria in her room after the party. Naked and twisted up in her sheets."

"So are you fine with that," I asked.

"Oh yeah. Whatever makes her happy," he said, sitting back on the edge. "I'm just relieved it's not Hunter."

"Can you imagine the monsters they would create," I laughed, taking a seat next to him. "It would be the end of us, the world even."

We sat in silence again taking in the scenery. My hand was close to his and I wanted so much to hold it, but I didn't want to ruin this moment. A second later he grabbed my hand and a small spark shot through my arm. We both definitely felt that and we looked at each other.

"What about you," I asked. "What will make you happy?"

He pulled me closer, interlocking our fingers and smiled. "This. You, not leaving. I know we're not mates, but I can't deny there is chemistry here worth exploring. Who knows, maybe the goddess might change her mind."

He was saying all the words I wanted him to say years ago but the prospect of exploring on my own was still tempting. Could I just give that up now? As if to read my mind Isaiah spoke.

"I know you still want to explore the world and I don't want to stop you. Heck I even encourage it right now. I just want to make sure you come back home. Back to me." He cupped my cheek and planted a soft kiss on my lips.

"Yeah I think I can work with that," I said before crashing his lips to mine. This kiss, this kiss. I never felt as loved and wanted as I do now. There's no way I'm letting this go.

Three weeks

After the moment on the cliff, we were inseparable for the next two weeks. Well as much as we could be between his alpha duties and my training. For the first time I think I understood what a mate's bond could feel like. Every now and then, we would find ways to meet at our cliff for a long awaited make out session before he's called back to his office.

We even let our wolves play around a bit, even though they didn't get along at first sight. After a few snips, they finally fell in line as friends and nothing more. Their lost.

I couldn't remember the last time I was this happy and my mom wouldn't let me forget it. She was just happy I decided to stay for the time being. I was still planning on leaving the pack for a few weeks with Isaiah while he visits other packs. That still counts as traveling. Although I would be very happy if we could have a repeat of the night of the party, but I have to be patient. We have time right?

The day Alpha Zack and his entourage arrived, Isabella was freaking out. I stood near her door as she picked up things around her room to smash.

"I'm practically a sex slave being shipped to her master," Isabella screamed, smashing a mirror on the wall. "I HATE HER!"

"Isa, come on. It can't all seem that bad right?" I was trying my best to calm her down. Then she looked at me with tears staining her face.

"It's worse," Isabella said, falling to the ground that was covered by her aftermath. "Vicky is gone. She said she couldn't watch me be with someone else. She rejected me."

Isabella looked at me with more tears threatening to come out. My heart immediately felt for her. I didn't really know what to say. I walked over to her and pulled her into an embrace.

"Isa, I'm so sorry," I said through gritted teeth. How dare she? "I could decorate her face if you want me to."

"Really," Isabella said, looking at me, "Cause you know I would kill you just for saying that."

We both laughed for a moment. I didn't like seeing her this way. Isabella is the strongest girl I know, so this was unacceptable. It was rubbing me the wrong way. So I did what any best friend would do. I pushed her back and stood up.

"No! I refused to see you like this," I started, earning a shock expression from Isabella.

Usually I shy away from confrontation but after the party and sharing my feelings with Isaiah, I felt my confidence building up. I pulled Isabella up by her arms.

"You are the strongest person I know and the Isabella I know won't let people make her do things she doesn't want to. She will go downstairs and tell her parents-"

"Fuck this! I'm Isabella Amelie Thorne and I can date whoever the hell I want," Isabella said with confidence, heading towards the door. Maybe too much confidence.

"Woah, woah, woah there Isa," I said, grabbing her by the arm. "Let's work on the wording and fix your face first."

After helping Isa with her appearance, we were finally ready to head downstairs. As we got closer to the first floor landing, Isabella turned around trying to escape. I grabbed her hand and shook my head.

"Hey we've come this far. No turning back now, Isa. You got this gurl."

Isabella nodded, taking deep breaths before continuing in front of me. We walked down the hall to the living room and Isabella stopped abruptly. I nearly ran into her. She gasped and I looked at her before following her gaze. Then it was my turn to be in shock.