Arranged to the Alpha

On a day like any other, the phone rang, changing everything. The phone's chime cut through the quiet morning, slicing through Issy's slumber. The phone’s insistent ringing echoed through the room and she groggily opened one eye, then let it droop shut. She ignored the ringing, snuggling deeper into her bed. “Ringing phone? Check. Coma-like state? Check. Willingness to move? Check.” The phone was like a nagging mother, refusing to be silent. “Ugh, who could that be? Just leave me be.” She muttered under her breath. The ringing stopped and she smiled, receding into her bed before the phone jolted her awake with another ring. “The caller will get tired and stop calling eventually,” Issy closed her eyes again, smiling wildly as the phone stopped ringing. “Bingo.” However, her happiness was short-lived. The ringing resumed and this time, louder than before. “Jesus Christ!” Issy clicked her tongue in annoyance as she threw back her bedcover and climbed out of bed. “Someone can't get a wink of sleep.” She picked up her robe draped on the arm of her couch and put it on. The phone's ringing was becoming muffled and she scanned her apartment, wondering where she kept the phone or perhaps she flung it to. Just last night, she and a few friends had hosted a party in school for newly admitted medical students. Despite hosting the party, Issy had sworn on her life that she wasn’t going to be bundled out of her room but she was so wrong. Her crazy friends had hired a van and smuggled her in like they do in spy movies not even minding the way she was dressed. Issy smiled as she recalled the memory. She even laughed at herself for acting shy when she was offered a drink. “Issy, you've got to grow up.” She palmed her forehead as she laughed. Lost in thoughts, she put her finger to her bottom lip. “Come to think of it, was it a martini they had given to me or vodka? I can't remember.” Her memory was fuzzy from drinking and her vision blurred. For a second, her headache and she lost control of her body. She couldn't remember how she got home or how her friends got home. Her memory returned to her and she laughed uncontrollably when she recalled how she acted wild the night before. “Thank heavens dad didn't see me like that otherwise he would've gone more nuts than he usually does.” Puffing her chest, she made an impression of her father. “Issy, have you forgotten who you are? You are a princess! You better not go to the human world and reveal your identity. The last thing I want is another shade of disgrace from you! blah blah blah!” Issy takes a seat on her coffee table, not knowing her phone was right beside her. The sharp ringing beside her made her jump. “Jesus!” She peered at the screen and a scowl replaced the thin smile on her face. “Speak of the devil and he will appear.” Issy rolled her eyes as she picked up her phone. The caller was none other than her “sweet” father. She stared blankly at the screen, caught up in a quandary - do I pick this call or do I not? After 6 more missed calls, she swiped right and put the phone to her right ear. She began with a dry tone. “Hello.” “Issy.” Her father's husky voice reverberated in the room. She cleared her throat. “Hello, Father.” “Issy, my dear, how are you doing?” his voice took a warm tone, startling her. Issy removed the phone from her ear and stared at the caller ID wondering if it was a prank her friends were pulling off. “My dear” was something he swore to never call her but now, he's calling her that. “I’m very fine, father,” Issy replied in the same tone he used. “To what do I owe this unexpected call?” She threw the tough question to the table, knowing truly that there was no way her father would bite the bullet. As she suspected, there was no response. Issy twirled her hair around her index finger, awaiting his response. When none came, she pulled the phone from her ear to disconnect the call when she heard something that made her freeze. “Issy, you need to come home.” her father blurted out. Issy felt her breath get caught in her throat and she forgot how to breathe. She whispered with a shaky breath. “H - home ? Why?” Her father's pleas were the next thing she heard “Please, come home. Your sister needs you… she um…” “Just speak up already, I ain’t got all day. You woke me up from my beautiful sleep so please spare me the drama!” Issy gritted her teeth, fighting the rage building inside of her. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. With fury coursing through her veins, she knew her eyes would have turned red and dared not look at her reflection. Just one phone call from her father and she had nearly shifted into her wolf form. She knew something was wrong because he would never call her. He never cared about her and he wouldn't hide the fact that he didn't but the man speaking to her at this moment had called her and told her to come home as though they had been close in the first place. “Your sister is getting married. She needs you here with her.” Her father dropped the bombshell. His words struck Issy like a bolt from the blue and her jaws dropped to the floor. “I - Ivy is getting married?” She stuttered as she asked, unable to comprehend what she had just heard. “Yes, and she needs you here with her. She wants you to be her bridesmaid or whatever those humans call it.” He said, his voice a pitch lower as he attempted to show an expression he was incapable of - remorse. “I'm sorry but I can’t be there for her. I can't go back home.” Issy said, her heart heavy with the weight of betrayal. Ivy was the one getting married but here her father was, breaking the news to her. She and Ivy were not strangers. They had the same blood running through their veins. They were sisters for crying out loud, and she couldn’t even tell her first. “You can’t say that. It’s your sister we’re talking about here. She’s your only sister, Issy. And don't forget that she’s the reason I even let you go to that human world. You don’t have a choice here.” Her father's defiant tone returned. He was done playing nice. Issy balled her free hand into a fist. Her father was lying. He never let her go because her sister begged him to. He only let her go because she reminded him of their late mother. He’d never bat an eye as everyone would pick on her, calling her horrible names. He’d never call her endearing names as he did her sister, all he did was swear at her and tell her how tired he was of seeing her face, how tired he was of having to share the same air with her. He wanted her gone and the human world was the perfect place to have her exiled to. Issy swallowed the bitter taste of defeat as she looked down to the floor. “When is the wedding?” “Tomorrow.” her father replied but this time there was something odd about his tone. As though he felt remorseful. “What the…?!” Issy yelled, her voice echoing off the walls. “What do you mean she’s getting married tomorrow? When was she even engaged? Has she mated with him already? And you’re just letting me know now and how do you want me to make it there tomorrow? Fly?” She could only imagine her father pinching the skin between his brows as she retorted sharply. “You do forget you’re a werewolf, Issy. It feels like the human world is getting to your head already. Be here tomorrow morning and I don’t want to hear you throw any more tantrums!” Issy couldn't help but scoff. He had the audacity to speak to her that way after begging her to come home. “And if I don’t?” She challenged, her sharp nails digging into her palm. “Don’t make me come there and get you! You wouldn’t like to have your cover blown, would you? What would your so-called friends think when they find out you're not human or would you like me to rip each of their heads off? You’d like that, wouldn’t you? It’s been a while since I hunted humans. I could start all over, you know. Don’t push me, Issy.” “Father, let me handle this” Issy could hear her sister’s voice in the background. There was a brief silence before she took over the call. “Issy?” Ivy said in a calm voice as though testing her rivers. “Ivy, what do you want?” Issy tried not to cry but her cracking voice betrayed her. “Issy, don’t do this. You know I care about you a lot. You're my sister.” Ivy said, her voice almost pleading. Issy could feel her icy demeanor fall. She hadn’t heard her sister’s voice in about 6 blood moons and now, she calls to tell her she’s getting married and wants her home, like it would mean anything if she returned. Her heart broke as she kept thinking. “Please, Issy. Mom would want us to be together, don't you think so too?” Ivy whispered into her ear and for a moment, she was stunned. It never crossed her mind that Ivy would bring the subject of theirmom’s death into the conversation. Her mind reeled as she recollected the past and how everybody in the family blamed her for their mother’s death. It's not like she even asks to be born or to be cursed. She wondered why she was even born. She wondered why their mother had to leave forever. She wondered why she was the only one going through hell because of it. “Issy, are you there?” Ivy's voice pulled her from her thoughts. “I can hear you.” Issy returned with a sigh. “It’s my wedding, Issy, and you’re my only sister. You're the only sibling I have. Don't abandon me.” “You say that like you'll even care once I’m there. Go to hell, Ivy.” “I know you’re mad at me. I’ll be mad at myself too but it was so sudden. His family wanted the rites done immediately and you know how father is. He couldn’t say no. I know you're angry at me and I'm so sorry. If there's a word bigger than sorry I’d say it. Please, Issy, come home. I’ll make you your favorite chocolate.” Issy hated to hear her sister beg. The scheming fox knew how to get into her head but this time, she won't let her. She still didn’t want to go to a wedding in a place where no one cared about her. She has had enough. “I’ve got classes tomorrow, Ivy. I’m sorry, I can’t make it. These classes are really important. I hope you understand.” “Issy, please, just be here for me. I know those classes can be skipped and besides, you know we were wolves don't use the same time as the humans. You can go back early if you want. I’ll make sure of that.” “I still can't make it, Ivy. I don’t want to be there” “Issy, Please, do this for our mother. This is what she would have wanted, she wouldn’t have wanted you to miss my wedding. She wouldn’t have wanted us to be apart on my special day. I wouldn’t miss yours for the world either. You know that.” Issy could feel the tears pouring down her cheeks. Ivy had succeeded in ruining her day just before it had even started. Every time it was always; “Do it for your mother!” “Mother would have wanted you to do this!” “Mother would have been proud!” “What would mother say!” “What would mother think?” “What would mother have done?” Issy wanted to say she didn’t care so bad. She wanted to flip the bird and screamed “Screw mother. She can go to hell with the rest of you.” but she couldn't. Deep down, she would do anything to get her mother’s approval. To have her mother smile at her and pat her head. To have her say she was proud of her To have her say things to her her father could never say, neither could her sister. Issy could feel tears well in her eyes. “Issy, I’m still here” Ivy’s voice echoed in her ears. “I’ll think about it” Issy found her voice, pretending she wasn't crying a second ago. “Please!!” “I said I’ll think about it” Issy screamed as she hung up the phone without waiting for her sister’s reply. Her bottom lip quivered and she rushed to her bed, pulling the covers over her head as she sobbed into her pillow. Meanwhile, “What happened?” Dimitri asked, his voice taking an icy tone. “She said she’ll think about it.” Ivy had a huge grin on her face as she dropped the phone on the coffee table. “That little cursed thing! She had the audacity to end the call on you.” Dimitri cupped his daughter's face, his thumbs stroking her cheek lovingly. “She’s just a child, father. Don't mind her.” Ivy placed her hand over her father's. “Did she buy it? Will she come? She did say she was going to come right?” He looked between her eyes, awaiting her answer. “Don’t worry, father. she’s going to be here, all we do now is prepare and wait.” Ivy's lips curled into a smirk as she stared at the shadows gathering outside.