Isabella’s P.O.V.I was never the kind of person to get too involved in other people’s business. I still am not. And this was proved when Mason ditched class for God knows what reason. I being a dutiful mate texted him once asking him where he was and when he shut me out, may I add a bit too harshly, I didn’t bother him again. I know the importance of giving people their personal space and I appreciate just as much. Call me heartless, but it is what it is.
As soon as the class was over, I made my way towards my car and was a bit worried when I realized none of my friends were actually there.
That’s really unusual.
I took my phone out and dialed Ryan’s number and he picked on the first ring itself. He sounded frantic and from the background voices I could guess that he was in a car, which was driving too fast which could be analyzed by all the whooshing sound the air made. “Bella you there?” his voiced brought me back to the present situation.
I couldn’t help but worry about where he was going in such a hurry and why the hell did he pick his phone if he was driving his car so goddamn fast? I asked, “Where are you Ry?”
I could hear him release a breath and felt him compose himself before replying, “I’m on my way Home”
Why didn’t he wait for me?
“Wh...” before I could even say something, he said, “Something happened back home Bella.”
I was confused, would be the understatement of the century. I wasn’t just confused, I was worried. My family, my pack members, my friends, everyone was there and I wasn’t. What if something bad happened?
I think Ryan felt the wheels reeling in my head as he continued, “It’s not what you’re thinking. It could have been, but it isn’t.”
I was annoyed by all the riddles he was throwing my way, which made me shout, “Will you just tell me what the actual fuck happened over there?”
He knew, not to delay the news anymore as he slowly answered, not in a full statement but just a word, “Rogues.”
Fuck.
“I’ll be there in a few minutes” is all I said before disconnecting the call, not even waiting for his reply. I slid inside my car, ignited the engine to a start and roared it to life making my way back to the pack house within minutes. I think I broke a lot of traffic rules and will most probably be charged a hefty fine for it, but I didn’t really care at that particular moment. All I cared about was to see if everyone was safe, especially my baby brothers’. They were just two years old for crying out loud.
Within a matter of few minutes I was parking outside the pack house. It was eerily quiet for a pack house, whose pack was just attacked by Rogues. I walked inside, searching for my brothers’, but was met with the eyes of our Ex-Luna at the kitchen table. She just gave me an assuring nod and mind linked saying, “They are asleep in your room” addressing to my brothers’ absence. My presence was sensed by almost everyone, as I made my way up to the Alpha’s Office, I know for a fact, that everyone might be huddled up in there. And I’m proved right, when I enter the room, may I add without knocking; as everyone’s eyes turn in my direction.
“What the fuck happened guys?” is all I say, when I see Matt releasing a breath and addressing me with a nod to settle down in the seat. Caleb, Rose and Ryan are already present there and by the look they have on their face, it looks bad. Rose looks pissed and about to tear someone up, Ryan and Caleb are both having uneasy looks on their face and Matt has a look that says his mind is working overtime.
“Would anyone of you care to explain?” Their silence is conspicuous, even a dumb person could notice it and that exactly was making me angry.
I looked at them, one by one, as my gaze met with Matt, he nodded and said, “There was an incident and we have the culprit. I want you to deal with him.”
I nodded, agreeing with his demands and asked, “Was anyone harmed?” Instead of an answer, silence was all I was met with. That confirmed my interpretation about it.
“How many?”
“Just one” was Ryan’s reply.
“Who?” I asked again. I was the warrior head and knew each one of the members of my pack. Our pack was a close knit one, we were all, one big family. I was the second most fearless and brutal person in my pack after Matt, of course. But I still cared for everyone, just as much as Rose did. So, when Ryan told me the person’s name, it kind of left me disturbed for a few moments.
“Ava” was all he said. Hearing her name, led me from disturbed to infuriated in a matter of seconds. Ava was an 8 years old girl, the most hyper-active bundle of joy I’ve ever seen. Her parents are Warriors in our pack; hence she would accompany them on weekends to the training field and watch them train. That’s when I met her. She loved to see everyone train and that’s when she approached me and asked in her baby voice, “Hello Warrior Princess. Would you teach me how to fight like you?” It was so cute that I couldn’t deny her and since then, every weekend she would come and learn something new from me. She was too passionate for an 8 year old kid and I loved that about her. I somehow saw myself in her, how she was eager to learn things and fight like a beast, her words not mine.
I didn’t know yet, what happened to her and it kind of agitated me to no end. The worst scenarios started running through my head, thoughts about her being too hurt or even worse, like being dead filled up my mind. I didn’t even realize when I growled out, “Is she alive?”
Caleb responded with a small “Yes” but it did not help with my aggravation. I asked again, “Will anyone please tell me, what is going on? Why does it feel like there is still something left to this story that I don’t know about.”
Rose was in turmoil of emotions, I could see various feelings running through her eyes.
Pain. Anger. Frustration. Restlessness. Sympathy.
“Okay. I’m done here. I don’t think I’m going to get any answers from you’ll. Where is she? I’ll see her myself.”
Hearing this, Rose said, “I don’t think that’s a good idea Bella.”
“What do you mean by that Rose?” I retorted back.
She walked towards me, taking my hand in her she said, “She is not in the state to speak to anyone.”
“For fuck sake just tell me what happened to her?” I couldn’t help but shout at my best friend. She visibly flinched and that kind of made me feel like a bad person. I released a breath and held onto her arms and requested, “Please Rosy, just tell me. You guys are scaring me now. What happened to her? What did he do? Did he break her arms, ripped her flesh. What? Just tell me.”
She took a deep breath, tears glazing her eyes before replying, “She was RAPED.”
The floor beneath my feet shifted, it felt like the floor was tearing up and would consume me within itself. I was beyond furious. My fists were opening and closing up, nostrils flaring; all I could see was red. “I am going to kill that bastard” I barked gritting my teeth.
“NO” was Matt’s reply. I was appalled by his reply. I took a step towards him with angry running through my veins I screeched, “What?”
He just looked at me, shaking his head and continuing, “No. I don’t want you o kill him.”
“What the hell is wrong with you Matt?” I screamed. He just took a step near me, placed his hands on my shoulder, squeezing them in a comforting manner and said, “Killing him would be an easy death Bella. I want you to make him regret being born.”
Hearing him say this, left a sinister smile on my face; I knew then and there that I was going to enjoy doing this. Nodding in agreement I asked, “Where have you kept that fucker?”
“He is unconscious right now. They beat the shit out of him” he said, pointing towards Caleb and Ryan. I looked at them and could see them tensing up a little. Friends or not, they knew not to interfere in my work, I never liked interference. I was the only person who was supposed to deal with prisoners and they were allowed to deal with them only after my command. Now, looking at them, having the expression of someone who was practically about to shit their pants, told me that they knew they fucked up.
I moved my gaze back to Matt and asked, “So I’m supposed to wait till he gains consciousness because these two couldn’t keep it in their pants?” Matt just nodded. I was furious when I turned towards them and shouted, “How many times have I told you not to fucking interfere in my matters?” Both of them didn’t even dare to look at me, so I took it as my chance to continue, “But seeing the situation, I’m going to let you live this time. Next time you do this, your heads won’t be attached to your necks anymore. DO YOU GET IT?” They both nodded in agreement.
Matt cleared his throat to bring my attention to him as he said, “I’d suggest you to take the kids home and once he wakes up, I’ll call you.” I didn’t want to, not when Ava was going through so much pain because some prick couldn’t keep it in his pants. But that wasn’t rational thing to do, No matter how angry I was; I had siblings to look after. They needed me, after such a long day; I needed them too. So I agreed and made me way downstairs.
It had been quite some time, so I knew the boys must have woken up by now. As I reached the living area, I saw them sitting on the couch watching cartoon. I made my way towards them and called out, “How are my babies doing?” All three pair of eyes flicked towards me and a huge smile plastered on their faces. I bend down a little and they came running in my arms, wrapping their tiny arms around me and showering me with kisses. I fell at ease in their presence. My siblings were everything I ever needed whenever I hit a low point.
Just as I was making way towards the exit, the door opened with a frantic looking Iris and Mia. Their eyes roamed the area until they landed on us and both of them released a breath of relief. I knew, they were worried about me; more than the kids. Because they knew, no matter what the kids were safe at the Pack house but since I didn’t bring them home, they might have thought something happened to me.
They came running to me and wrapped their arms around me, signing audibly loud. I wrapped them in a warm hug and whispered a “Sorry”. They both stepped out of my arms and said simultaneously, “We were worried about you Sis.” I gave them a small smile and they understood something was off about the situation, without further questioning, Mia picked Winston, Iris picked Lucas and with Theo in my arms; we made our way towards our home.