Hundred and Two
Isabella’s POV
After Alexander told Blake to take care of the rogue who threatened to stab me, Alexander made to walk away with me in his arms when he stopped. I knew why he stopped because I noticed it too. I probably even noticed it before he did.
Blake had turned to see the rogue in question and then he just seemed to freeze. I wrinkled my brow in confusion as he just stood there and stared at the girl.
By now, Alexander had also turned to face Blake but just before he could say anything, Blake suddenly pulled the girl up and pulled her behind him.
“Y’all can go on. I’ll take care of her.” He rushed out, his gaze pointed as it locked on everyone briefly. Alexander still stood before he finally nodded and kept moving. I frowned. I couldn’t say for sure what it was but something definitely didn’t feel right.
I couldn’t say for sure how long we took to get back because I zoned out for most of the journey. I was tired as hell but because today’s events were far from normal, they only kept me painfully awake instead of the slightest bit drowsy.
Even Alexander’s comfortable arms were not comfortable enough to lull me to sleep this time.
I had decided that I couldn’t just run away when my mate was surrounded by that huge number of rogues only to shift and went back to find him in human form with a rogue at his back, teeth sunk into his shoulder. I shivered letting my hand graze his skin where I knew the wound was.
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It was healing, I confirmed. I already realized that it was because it didn’t hurt quite as much as it did before.
Alexander didn’t even as much as flinch as my fingers brushed against the wound. I could tell that he had a lot on his mind as well and he was barely present. And then I remembered that he didn’t sleep at all the night before and then spent his day searching the woods for me and then fighting off all these rogues. What a pain in the ass it must be to be mated with me.
When we finally got back to the packhouse, Alexander took us straight to our bedroom while Mason and Caleb dispersed to carry about their own
business.
After Alexander laid me on the bed, he quietly ran his eyes all over me. seemingly assessing my body for any injuries. When he seemed satisfied, he went behind me and gently gathered my hair in his hands, carefully running his fingers through and easing through the tangles before
expertly wrapping it around itself into a bun at the top of my head. I gave him a small smile.
He went into the bathroom after that and came back with a small bucket and a washcloth. I watched him curiously and blinked when he began to clean off the dirt and leaves that had stuck to my body.
I was completely naked and felt neither embarrassed nor the slightest bit affected by the fact that his hands were all over my body.
He didn’t seem affected either and it was easy to tell that at this point we both knew that there were bigger things than that and yet for some reason, this felt even more intimate.
When he was done, he stripped and put his torn clothes into the trash can. He walked to the bathroom but not before turning over his shoulder to tell me that he had sent for them to bring me food and I should make sure to try to eat something.
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“Okay,” I whispered and he nodded.
I sat in that position that he left me, the sound of his shower distracting me until he came out again. He walked out with a towel wrapped around his waist and another one in his hand which he was using to wipe his hair. His eyes fell on me and I watched as they immediately filled with worry once again.
“Are you sure you’re okay, Isabella?” He suddenly asked, “Well, I know it’ll be dumb of me to expect you to be but is there anything I can do? Minus leaving you alone, of course.”
I sighed, “It’s alright, Alexander. I’m fine.”
He wanted to protest but I cut him off even before he spoke, “How is your shoulder? Let me see.” I said and he shook his head.
“I’m alright. It might scar for about a week though.” He told me and I nodded sympathetically, unable to help the way I felt guilty about everything.
“Look, Isabella…” He started to say but he was cut off when a knock came at the door. It was pushed open when Alexander lazily and frustratedly called out ‘enter‘. Two maids entered, bowed deeply, and walked towards
- us.
I stared at Alexander, clearly seeing the tiredness in his eyes but knowing it would be a waste of time to ask him to rest. I knew he had a lot of things to do.
Ever since I have known Alexander, he has always had a lot to do as the Alpha of the pack. There was always work, there was always something that kept him busy. I didn’t doubt that he had work to do right now but here he was… with me.
“Alexander,” I whispered and his eyes immediately darted to me. He had been directing the maids on where to drop the food and now they were
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leaving.
“Yes, Isabella?”
“I want to go see them,” I whispered, my voice a mere breath, the words too scary even to my own ears. “Take me to where they are. My parents.”
Alexander nodded even though his eyes looked pained. Responsibility was such a scary thing, I realized. Alexander was all I had and he knew it.
Breaking the news about my parent’s death had to have been difficult for him to do but he did it anyway. Now he was going to take me to see them knowing that anything could come out of this. Knowing that he was all I had and that I would do the same for him.
I felt like a ghost with the way I moved and I was certain I looked like one too. I had put on a black dress and my hair was still in the bun Alexander put it in because I couldn’t be bothered to do anything about it and frankly it didn’t look all that bad.
Alexander held my hand as we walked and he helped me into the car. It wasn’t a long drive to the hospital and when we got there, Alexander got down first and came to open the door for me.
When I heard Alexander ask for us to be shown to the morgue was when the reality of what was about to happen hit me. I had asked to see my parents…my dead parents.
I froze completely and in my tracks. Alexander seemed to notice that I had become deadweight on his arm so he turned around, his face contorting in
concern.
“We don’t have to do this, you know?” He said, pulling me into his arms.
“But I do. What kind of daughter would it make me if I can’t even see them one last time?”
“We don’t have to go do it today. We still have time. The wound is still
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fresh.
I took a deep breath and pulled away from him, “And it would always be. Let’s go.” I said, squaring my shoulders while he nodded grimly as we followed the attendant who was still waiting patiently for us.
We were taken into a pristine white room and right at the edge of the wall farthest from us were two stretchers, side by side with white cloth covering the bodies that no doubt belonged to my parents.
“I’m here. You can do this.” Alexander said, stroking my palm. I nodded, feigning brave as I walked forward even though with each step I could hear my heart beat like drums in a festival. I was scared. So damn scared I wanted to cry but I blinked back the tears.
I turned to Alexander and told him not to follow me. Now standing right in front of the stretchers, I took a deep breath, and at the same time, I raised the white cloth covering them both and my hand immediately flew to my mouth.
My parents lay there motionless with their eyes closed and it seemed like they were just taking a nap. I could picture myself as a toddler running to lay between them in their bed because it was raining and wanted to cuddle.
That was just the way they looked right now except that this time they would not open their eyes and see me and smile. They wouldn’t pull me into their arms and ask what I was so scared of before showering me with kisses and cuddling me to sleep.
I knew even if they were alive now, I wouldn’t go to cuddle with them at this age but at least they would be alive. At least I would have parents.
My hand flew to my mouth as silent tears poured out of my eyes like they were faucets. My chest hurt, my head hurt, everything hurt. I could not believe that I would never see them open their eyes again. I would never hear their voices again.
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Hundred and Two
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I didn’t know how long I just stood there staring at them while tears fell free from my eyes and soaked the top of my dress before Alexander came and wrapped his arms around me.
I let him hug me, my tears soaking into his shirt even though I didn’t make a sound. I cried until I actually believed my tears ducts completely dried up and then we silently went back to the car and Alexander drove us home.
I had just managed to get down from the car in the parking lot of the packhouse when I saw a flash of blonde hair and then Chloe’s arms were around me, hugging me tight as she sobbed.
I barely noticed Ryder coming just behind her as I let my arms go around her and hug her back.
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