Submitted to Love

Chapter 20

--Isabella--

Last few days have upended my life and my future plans. The Luna has decided, for my protection, that I will stay back in the castle and would be home schooled for now, till they figure out why Kahn is so interested in me. I sighed while looking out at the darkness ascending the grounds. I would miss my classes, my friends, Jasper and so much more. But I am also touched by Luna’s concern. No one ever bothered about my wellbeing like she has, time and again. It would be difficult also to stay in the same building as Mr. Skyrise. My body betrays me. I want him and I want him bad. But I have enough self - respect to never let him come near me. But why does every cell of my body yearn to be near him? And it is not only lust…he feels like home…he feels my own. Shaking my head, I gathered myself up from my bed when Ariana entered my room with a tray of every junk food one can think of.

Rolling my eyes, I shoved my blanket to let her sit on the bed. The girl could not just wait and have already started munching some chips!

“Bells, we are still having Joseline’s baby shower. It is set tomorrow. Some guests will come, though quite a few of the guests have declined invitation on the ground of safety issue. Some of our close allies are coming though….”

The thought put a smile on my face. Joseline is looking radiant, even after all the ordeals from last few days.

“Would you need some help? I would love to help you all set things up” I asked Ari.

“Nah…not really …umm.” Ariana was hesitating to share something with me and I am not exactly sure what is it that is bothering her. She took a deep breath and continued.

“The Alpha is hoping Adrian chooses someone as his Luna in the baby shower…. umm…a few daughters of some Alpha's are coming to the gathering.”

Ariana finished and stared at me.... eyes full of wary, trepidation and pity.

It felt like I have gulped ice cold water, the world stopped around me and Ariana went out of focus. I wanted to cry and I wanted to cry so bad. It felt like someone has taken my heart and broken it into million pieces but whom did I give me heart to? I know the answer even if I don’t want to admit it to myself or to anyone else. Why does it feel like someone took away a part of me? Why do I feel so hollow?

It was not long before the despair gave way to anger…fire was burning inside me and again I could not pin point the reason. It should not matter right? Then why does this feel like a betrayal? Why do I feel so much rage inside me against those girls whom I have not even seen? Why do I feel even more anger at Adrian?

I was hurt, I was angry, I was broken.

“Bells…I know this…we are trying to…Adrian is not aware that the Alpha plans…” Ariana was trying to reason with me. I cut her mid-sentence. I should get a grip on myself and I must not let these wild emotions control me. What am I? I am a human. I can reason with myself.

“Ari, it is not my concern who sets up whom.” I spoke without looking at her. I took my purse, a deep breath and turned back to her. “Would you like to join me for a shopping spree? Afterall I would require a proper dress with so many *important* people coming to the gathering.” I smiled at her broadly while I felt like hitting something hard around me.

“Umm Bells…we have all the food…” Ari was staring at me half scared. My face must be either deathly pale or positively livid and I do not know which one.

“Well, you are welcome to stay in my room. I will find Jasper.” And without a second word and paying no heeds to multiple calls from Ariana I left my room and ran towards Jasper’s room without giving myself time to think. I know the water work is near…very near and I simply cannot let the dam burst now. I am livid and I do not know why. I feel petty, vindictive and snarky. Well time to get some action on the floor.

I knocked at the door loudly and entered, only to find Jasper playing a violin…a tune with so much melancholy that I almost burst into tears from all my pent-up emotions.

“Hei girlfriend, what’s up? You look mad.” Jasper is blunt as always.

“I am not.” I spoke in a high-pitched tone which is unrecognisable to my own ears. “I need your help to choose a dress for tomorrow’s event. Care to join me in my dress hunt?.” I tried to speak as normally as I could. Not sure if Jasper suspected anything, but he was tactful enough to not show it on his face. Grinning he took my hand and said “Let’s go find some kickass dress.” You read my mind Jaz.

Coming out of his door I almost bumped into Adrian. He was staring at us and his eyes darted from me to my hand which Jasper was holding. That damn Highrise had the audacity to look pissed.

“Where are you going?” He asked. His voicing dripping in possessiveness and irritation. Though the sound of his voice still makes my body melt, I am beyond mad right now to mellow down.

I raised an eyebrow at him and pulled Jasper towards me to start walking. Adrian pulled me by my arm and asked angrily. “I asked you a question. Where are you going with him?”. Well, you should never poke an irked woman they say and they are right.

“My respected future Alpha. Get the f_uck out of my way. Don’t you dare touch me again. Who the f_uck you think you are? I don’t answer to you. I will go wherever the f_uck I wish to. You have a problem? Take it up with the Luna. Now stop blocking my way before I scream this place down.” I hissed, keeping my voice as low as possible. His jaw dropped to the floor and I don’t blame him. I am angry at him, angry that he is choosing another girl tomorrow, angry that I am affected by all of it and angry that my body is in dire need of him always.

Pulling Jasper away I marched towards the entrance while Adrian stared at my back ...confused and shocked.

-- Adrian--

Okay, my mate is angry. I understand she is angry because of how cold I have been towards her and have been giving her mixed signals but this is different. This is fresh anger. I am scratching my head to really understand why. Does she know I peeped into her room yesterday? May be. But it is very unlikely that she would know. Moreover , this seemed bigger than that. I was actually going to gift her a necklace. I felt bad for entering her private space and wanted to gift her something as a way of saying my silent sorry. My wolf was whimpering. It did not know what is wrong but is hurt to receive a bashing from our mate.

But what is truly going on? Coming back to my room I find my mother sitting on my bed, worry painted across her face.

“What is wrong Ma?” The Luna jumped at my voice as she was deep in some thoughts. She looked up and smiled at me.

“Did you find Isabella?” My cheeks got heated and I stared anywhere but her.

“I …umm…why would I go meet her? …”

“Because she is your mate and you love her.” I was shocked to my core and spun around to see my mother staring intently at me.

“Mom…I…its not that…I know we need a strong Luna…umm…”

“Of course, we need a strong Luna but we need a strong Alpha too. Our other half should make us stronger not miserable” That is a really strange thing for her to say. I stared at her confused while she continued.

“You father has invited a couple of Alphas and their daughters and hopes that you might chose your Luna.” She paused staring possibly at a livid face of mine because my wolf is howling inside my head, baring its teeth at the comments. My mom sighed deeply before leaving my room only to turn back and say “I want you to make the right choice tomorrow even if it means going against some ideas which you have believed to be irrefutable.”

I nodded at her with knots at my throat. Sitting down on my bead I covered my face with my hand. My mind, my body and my soul yearn for Isabella. I cannot stand her being with anyone else. I wanted to rip apart Jasper today. How can I stand myself being with someone else? Would she be able to? Does human also feel the same as us wolves? I knew this day would come but I was really hoping to postpone this as much as I could. I never dreamt this would come to early in my life.

Wait, does she know of this somehow? Is that why she was angry? While my heart was beating fast, my face broke out into a wide smile. So, is it possible that she feels for me the pull that I feel for her? Is she jealous? The thought that she might be jealous about me being with someone else was more pleasurable than anything else and I let myself momentarily savour the feeling. I need to figure out a way to get out of this mess tomorrow. If I know my dad Crystal is the girl, he wants me to choose as my Luna. Crystal was the daughter of the Alpha of one of the formidable packs and they are our ally. I have seen her doing two things in life: swooning over me and adjusting her makeup. She is a sweet girl but I have already given my heart to someone else. Selene, please get me out of this mess.

-- Isabella--

Well, okay this is something.

I was staring at the mirror. I was not staring at myself but some runaway model or something. Yesterday in my rage I had bought a navy-blue dress that exposed way more than what I would have liked. I had seen Jasper’s eyes bulge out and I wanted more of that in Adrian. Joseline, surprisingly, has been extremely approving of the dress when I had shown it to her. It is an off-shoulder dress, backless with a wide slit from the hem to my hips. Joseline gave me a push-up bra which is giving a nice view of my ample breast, as if hidden but in plain sight. There are triangular cuts around my waist exposing my belly button. A huge diamond in the shape of a snake adorned my neck and played peek a boo with my cleavage. The set belongs to Luna who has been over enthusiastic about dolling me up. A harlot red lipstick has found place on my lip while my eyes are dreamy, smoky shade of black. A golden stiletto gave my legs an illusion of never ending. I cannot recognize the girl standing in front of me. Sensuous and feral.

Gulping loudly, I turned around to see Joseline and Luna Mary smiling at me with twinkling in their eyes. Callum entered my room and made a show of slipping on the floor while staring at me. I rolled my eyes and waited for Jasper to take me to the event.

Jasper stopped at his tracks seeing me and I was kind of freaked out seeing a shade of black crossing his eyes. Quickly he recovered himself and smiled broadly. “How many men do you plan to kill tonight exactly?” I punched his shoulder playfully and took his arms. I am nervous. Nervous because I knew Adrian will not approve of this dress, this is too exposed even for my liking. I bought it in jest. I was feeling petty but now I feeling nervous. I am worried about his reaction.

Taking a deep breath and plastering a smile on my face I entered the hall. Some heads turned our way, some eyes were checking me, some eyes were jealous of my attire but the eyes I was searching for is facing Callum with taunt back towards me. I walked towards Joseline while Adrian slowly turned my way.

If fury had a face, it would be his right now. His eyes are charcoal black while his eyes travelled from the tip of my toes upwards and finally he stared at my eyes. While my heart was beating hard from nervousness , desire was pooling in between my thighs. Adrian advanced me like a hunter to his prey, his fist balled up and his eyes clouded in lust and anger. I shivered from his stare and was fixed at my spot unable to move. Growling lowly he tried to grab my hand when The Alpha stopped him in his tracks and mentioned something to him. His face hardened while he changed his course of direction but his anger was palpable. I didn’t realise I have held my breath till he walked away the other way. But why do I feel this night is not over? Something is looming in the air. Exciting yet dangerous, alluring yet scary…..