The Alpha’s Weakness

Chapter 8 - Isabella

I woke up to my parents shaking me awake for lunch. I definitely slept quite a bit longer than I was expecting. Technically, lunch had already come and gone. However, my parents decided that I should get some real food inside of me. They took me down to the dining room on the first floor, where I helped myself to some mashed potatoes and chicken and noodles. It wasn’t my favorite, but it would suffice. My mother sat next to me. My father went back to work. He did still have a kingdom to tun. I’m assuming they already ate since they didn’t grab a plate.

Mom sat there and rubbed my back while I slowly ate. I knew she was itching to ask me what last night was about, but I couldn’t bring myself to talk about it quite yet. I was lucky she didn’t push the matter. She knew I was going through a lot right now. As I’m eating my meal; I see a group of men running together. I can only assume that it’s training, but I couldn’t help but notice that Xander was in the front.

I know I was staring, but I couldn’t help it. As if knowing I was doing it, he flicked his eyes to mine and slowed down a little. I turn red and flick my eyes away quickly. I needed to be more careful with what I was doing. I twiddle with the necklace on my neck, waiting for the group to pass by. That’s when my mother couldn’t hold it in anymore. I had a curious soul, and I most definitely got it from my mother.

“Okay what is up with you two. First he tells us last night that he has been dreaming of you for weeks, and now you are blushing like a rose because he caught you staring like some love-sick puppy. Don’t tell me it’s nothing because I have been alive a lot longer than you and I’m not blind.”

It all comes out so quickly, I honestly could hardly catch it all. After a minute of silence I finally told her. I was hoping that this could stay silent for a while, but that would have been a delicacy around here. I push a stray noodle across my plate and don’t meet my mother in the eye.

”Well it turns out I have a second chance mate.” I said quietly enough that only she could hear.

“What?”

“Mr. Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack, turns out to be my second chance and my true mate. Ryker was apparently only there that way my powers could be activated from his death. At least, that is what Sierra told me when I woke up. I’m guessing part of the reason why I was asleep so long was because Sierra left long enough to have a conversation with the Moon Goddess herself.” I sigh softly

“Wow. That is quite a bit to take in.” My mother replies.

“Well you're not the one being told that your first mate was only created that way he could die” I mention.

“Well what did you tell Xander?”

“ I didn’t reject him, if that is what you’re asking.” I look over to her annoyed “I just told him I wasn’t ready to accept him yet. I had too much going on. He didn’t say anything but I could tell it hurt.”

She presses her lips together in a tight line, thinking for a moment. “Well just know, the man has waited a very long time to find his mate. Now that you are here and you both have recognized each other as mates, it’s going to be extremely hard to stay away. For both of you. And the longer you two stay away from each other, the more painful it will be.” With that, she kissed me on the forehead and walked out to join my father.

She was right of course, I could feel a small hole growing inside of my chest already. It makes sense. I mean your mate is your other half and without it you start to feel empty. I could also feel Sierra’s growing need to be with him, but I was going to make it a point to get my peace for a few days. No matter what.

I needed something to get my mind off of a few things. I instantly head towards the training building. I could spar with someone. Being out for two weeks left me feeling a little rusty, so I’m sure a little training couldn’t hurt. I run upstairs and grab my gym bag and head over; stopping just outside the door to make sure that Xander isn’t near.

As I cross the lawn, I make note of how nice it is today. The weather was just perfect. Not too hot or too cold, and a very slight breeze. With this weather, it would be perfect for a few laps around the track. I head towards my office, unlocking it and closing the door behind me. I quickly changed into my teal leggings and black sports bra. I take my necklace off and lay it across the picture of me and Ryker.

“I promise he’s okay.” Sierra says softly to me.

“How do you know?”

“Because She showed me he was”

I could tell the conversation was over after that. I wipe a stray tear running down my cheek and grab my phone and headphones before running out to the track. I put the headphones in my ears and hit play once I get to the track. Ed Sheeran. Well I guess I could work with that. I soon took off running.

I don’t know how long I ran for or how much I ran. I check the time and there should be someone down at the gym I could surely spar with. I walk in and see my entire class stretching. Once the door closes behind me, everyone inside turns towards the noise. I can see smiles light up most of their faces, and a few shocked. I’m sure they are surprised I’m in here training myself, since I did only wake up from a three week nap not even 24 hours ago.

“What are you doing here coach?” I hear someone call from the crowd.

“Well I thought since it's been a few weeks; you girls needed some proper butt whooping from a real man” I say proudly.

I hear a few chuckles from the guys. “Well that three weeks didn’t change her all too much.” I hear Matthew laugh. A few of them shake their heads in agreement. I walk over to the group and pat a few of them on the backs as they give condolences and say how much they missed me. I smile at the comments and soon another door closing gets everyone’s attention. I step around one of the taller guys, so I can see who came in. Great. Xander has just come in followed closely by, I’m assuming, his beta.

Well so much for trying to get some sparring in. I wasn’t going to stick around long enough for him to try and make a conversation with me. I quickly hide behind the guy and start walking to my office, as the smell of rain and mowed grass fills my nostrils. I hear him start talking to all of the guys when I reach my door and close it behind me. I take a deep breath in and lean against the door. Maybe he didn’t notice me. I might have gotten lucky. All of those men’s scents could have cloaked mine.

I sit down at my desk and consider doing some paperwork that I have missed out on. When I open my desktop, a picture of Ryker and I, outside of the movie theaters, pops up. It was one of my favorite pictures of us. It was taken just a few months ago. Soon I’m thinking about that night and I can’t help but smile at the memory.

Flashback

“And why am I the one stuck doing this?” I complain from my closet as I change into my jeans.

“Because you’re the only friend I have, that's a girl. I couldn’t ask a different person otherwise I would be in the same position I’m in now; just with a different chick.”

I roll my eyes and continue to get dressed. I put on a nice maroon silk shirt. It was one of my favorites, and definitely one of my nicest. I can’t believe I have to pretend to go out on a date with Ryker. A small part of me is annoyed because it's fake. But on the other hand, I’m mostly excited because even though it is fake, it will be the closest thing to a date I've ever had. It was also with Ryker. So there was that too. But I didn’t want him to know that.

“Okay well how is this?” I came out to show him my outfit. I had a pair of skinny jeans on, and a pair of black knee high boots on, and of course the maroon silk shirt on. I mess with the end of the sleeves on my wrists. I also pull my shirt down a little showing my cleavage off a little more. I looked at his face to see his jaw was hanging a little as he looked me up and down.

“It’s too much, isn’t it?” I say while my cheeks turn red.

“No, no, no. I just wasn’t expecting that to be honest.” He says quickly.

We leave my room and out of the front doors. As we head downstairs, all of the guy’s jaw drops and turns to watch me as I walk by. Even a few girls turn their faces away from me in jealousy. I either should never wear something like this again or do it more often, I think to myself. I do dress up every once in a while. But that is expected at the functions for my parents. I was the second in line after all.

I wear fancy floor-length gowns though, and no one other than the higher up families, gets to see me in those. I try my best to avoid unwanted attention like that. But I had to admit, this was kind of nice. I wish that girl had started hitting on Ryker a little sooner in this case. I brush my hair off of my shoulder before striking a conversation with Ryker.

“So what do you have planned tonight?” I ask curiously.

“Well first thing is dinner. We are going to the place she works, because I know she is working tonight, and we will start there. We will get supper and then your payment for helping me out is to the movie theaters to see that movie you want to see so badly.” I could tell he was proud of coming up with that last thing.

“So dinner and ‘Cruella’ for a movie? Sounds perfect to me.” I smile. I was kind of a Disney fan. I loved anything and everything Disney. I could sit and watch old Disney princess movies all day if I could. When I did get the chance, I took it. With this movie coming out, I couldn’t stop talking about how badly I wanted to go and see it.

Once we get to the restaurant, I almost instantly recognize the girl that has been practically stalking Ryker. I instantly didn’t like her either. She notices us come in and gives Ryker the biggest, and fakest smile I have ever seen. I roll my eyes and her eyes flash to mine. I can see her face fall slightly before giving me a death glare. We get directed to a table and we both order a water and a bottle of champagne. One of the perks of being a werewolf, was definitely the fact that we mature quicker than a human. We are allowed to start drinking legally at the age of 16. As long as we stay in pack territory then we can order it too. If we go outside of our territory, into human territory. We must follow the 21 year rule when it comes to alcohol.

As luck would have it, Ms. Wanna be Ryker’s Girlfriend is our waitress. I think she may have had something to do with that since all of her other tables are on the other side of the restaurant. When she comes to take our orders I can tell she has `freshened up”, if that is what you want to call it. She has unbuttoned a few more buttons on her shirt; obviously trying to show off what she clearly doesn’t have. Her hair was now out of her ponytail and hanging down to her shoulders.

“What can I get you to eat?” She says clearly to Ryker and only him. She was hard-core pretending I didn’t exist and she was hard-core starting to get on my nerves. Ryker looks over at me

“Do you know what you’ll have?” He smiles at me with a slight twinkle of amusement in his eyes. Oh I see what this is, he thinks this is funny. Well I came here pretending to be his girlfriend. It’s time to start acting like it I guess.

“Why don’t you order for me, babe” I say with a hint of amusement. I slowly reach over and trace my fingers over his hand.

I see him gulp slightly. Oh this was going to be fun.

“We will both take the special, don’t bother telling me what it is, I saw the sign coming in. Then we will take a slice of cheesecake afterwards. We will share that.” He tells her without taking his eyes off of me.

I could tell she was getting upset but I didn’t care. That was what he and I both wanted. She scribbles it into her notepad and storms off. She was an omega I have never seen before. Which, considering she works here, doesn’t surprise me. Although it makes me curious on how she knows Ryker. I take my hand away once she is out of view, and we both crack up laughing.

End of flashback

I smile as I think of that night. It seems like it was just yesterday. I reach over for my necklace and look at it, rubbing my fingers against it. A sudden knock makes me jump slightly.

“Come in!” I say after a moment’s hesitation

“So I hear you can kick everyone’s ass in this gym when it comes to sparring”

I turn to face Xander standing in my doorway. s**t. I knew my big mouth was going to bite me in the ass one day.