Chapter 8
1096 Words
ISABELLA'S POV
Mekka hunted me down. She hunted me down and accosted me.
I'd already relegated any thoughts of forming a friendship with her to the back of my mind, locked it up, and thrown away the key. But Mekka? She didn't take no for an answer. The woman wore me down gradually until, four days after we'd met at the school, I found myself standing in front of her house, at her doorstep, Charles by my side as I knocked.
I gave him a side-eye and a pout. "I don't know how this happened."
Charles, his eyes glinting with amusement as he fiddled with the toy he’d brought with him, shrugged. "You let it happen, Mum." The smart ass.
I huffed dramatically. "That's what it seems like."
Before I could start plotting an escape, the door opened with a creak to show Mekka sporting the widest, most triumphant grin. "You came!"
"Against my better judgment," I complained.
But she just grinned even broader and let us in.
Her home was warm and inviting, a far cry from the sad life of omegas that we once lived. The inside was cosy, filled with the scent of something heavenly wafting through the air, and the living room was cosy, cluttered with toys and small signs of a lived-in home.
"Isam!" called Mekka, ushering us deeper inside. "We have visitors!"
Within a moment, a large, heavy-set man with a bald head emerged from the kitchen, drying his hands on a towel. He had a threatening build, but his face was open and warm, his eyes creasing at the corners as he smiled.
"This is my mate, Isam," said Mekka proudly.
Isam nodded at me as he turned to Charles. "And you're the young fellow who's got my wife all in a flutter these past few days."
Charles puffed up slightly, glancing at me for confirmation before nodding. "I suppose so."
Mekka rolled her eyes and nodded towards the two children standing behind their father's legs. "And these little rascals are Ruben and Rue."
Ruben, with unruly hair and mischievous eyes, stepped forward first. "Hi."
Charles reached out and hugged him at once, launching into a story about a squirrel he had seen earlier. Rue, with softer, more reserved features, hovered on the edge of the conversation. She twirled a lock of curly hair around her finger, observing Charles nervously.
"Rue's shy," Mekka told me as we watched the children play. "But she'll warm up."
I nodded, watching the three of them disappear into their own little world.
With Isam officially on babysitting duty, Mekka pulled on my arm and toward the door. "Now, let's go. We have a girls' night to get started on."
I grumbled. "I can’t remember the last time I had fun. This feels like something illegal."
She cackled. "You're acting like I'm pulling you in to do some heinous crime."
"Are you not?"
She merely winked before leading me into the evening.
The pack's central gathering area was as lively as ever. Mekka filled me in on all of the changes which had taken place over the years, new leadership structures under Kaden’s lead, improved training regimes, and a shift towards more positive treatment of omegas.
"There was a time," she replied, guffawing as we rushed through the packed streets, "a rogue actually tried to flirt with Alpha Kaden."
My brows rose to my hairline as a pang of jealousy and irritation wafted through me. "You're lying."
She placed a hand over her heart. "I promise on my mate bond. In the middle of planning, this rogue who's been 'taken into custody' dares to turn to him and say, 'I don't know why you're so tense, Alpha. You need a woman who can loosen you up.' That’s what Isam said.”
I laughed. "What did he do?"
Mekka snorted. "He just stared at her for a solid five seconds, then muttered, 'I'd rather get attacked by a bear.'"
I couldn't help but laugh, though the sound of Kaden still left something hard in my chest.
We were walking, and Mekka suddenly stiffened beside me.
I furrowed my brow. "What?"
She glanced back over her shoulder, her features twisting into a scowl. "I don't know… I have this odd feeling that we're being trailed."
A chill of fear shot through me, and I turned around. "What?"
I swept the streets with my gaze, each shadow, each dark alleyway. My muscles tensed for flight if necessary.
Then, in the next moment, a group of lanky teens appeared in the light, heads down as they counted money amongst themselves.
I leaned back in relief. Mekka let out a breath and shook her head. "Okay, maybe I am paranoid. Sorry for scaring you."
I breathed out, shaking my arms free. "Let's not do that again."
We finally arrived at the pub and slipped into a booth, ordering beverages. Nothing too intense, we both had to return to our children soon.
Conversation flowed easily, the laughter bubbling out between us. I hadn't realized I'd missed it so much to simply talk with someone like this.
However, an aura of discomfort lingered in the back of my mind. At times, I caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of my eye and turned around to find nothing out of order.
Another of Mekka's acquaintances came over, greeting them before pulling her into another conversation with an apology. I used the interruption as my chance to slip away.
"I'm going to the bathroom," I told Mekka.
She nodded. "Want me to come along?"
I smirked. "I think I can manage it."
Inside, I got what I needed to be done efficiently, on high alert and my eyes focused on the door. Something simply did not…feel right. I intended to find out.
As I eased back out into the hallway, I walked casually, as if heading back to my table, though my heart pounded with anticipation.
Then, all of a sudden, and without warning, I spun around. My fist shot out, connecting with something solid, a face. There was a crack.
A muffled curse rang out as someone stumbled into the dim light, holding their nose. I raised my hands, prepared to strike again until I finally had a clear view of my target.
My fists lowered as my brows scrunched in bewilderment. My mouth gaped.
The Beta of Silver Moon.
His eyes were slanted, his nose now bleeding from my punch.
“What the hell?” he hissed.
I screeched, pointing at him. “What were you doing?”
- Writer
