Isabella’s P.O.V.The moment I walk out of the cellar, the first thing I do is check my phone for any messages from my siblings or friends, but to my surprise it’s switched off; I think it died during the interrogation. I make my way to the pack house and as soon as I enter the house or should I say mansion, the first person that comes into view is Rachel who is settled on the couch watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows part two. Her concentration is so strong that she doesn’t even realize that I’m standing at a two-step distance beside her.
I clear my throat to grab her attention and it does work, when she turns to see who it is and as soon as her eyes meet mine, she jumps out of her seat and wraps me in her arms babbling, “Oh my god Bella. Are you okay? What did the guys made you see there? Did you speak to Ryan? HE has been calling me in every 30 minutes to ask about you. You need to call him before he runs all the way here to check up on and also he said that your siblings want to talk to you too.” She pulls away, takes a breather and asks, “Are you even listening woman?”
“Of course I did, you were screaming in my ear weirdo” I say followed by a small smile, shaking my head when she frowns and says, “Hey that’s rude.” I wrap my arms around her waist as I wrap her in a hug and reply, “Don’t worry, I still love you.” Her smile is enough for me to know that she is happy with my answer and I take that as my chance to continue, “Now for the question at hand. Can I borrow your phone; I need to call Ry and my phone is dead.”
She nods and turns to get her phone from the couch where it is lying, when I hear Mason say, “You can use mine” as he hands his phone over to me. I smile and grab it, saying a small thank you I turn towards Rach to inform her that I got it ; only to notice her already settled on the couch with a thumbs up in the air to say ‘Don’t worry’.
I make my way to the front door and settle myself on the porch stairs, the whole village can be seen from her and the mild hustle and bustle is clearly perceptible. The calm yet cold winds are soothing yet nippy at the same time making it a very mesmerizing atmosphere to enjoy, the kind you enjoy with a hot cup of coffee.
Taking my surrounding in, I turn to focus at the task in hand; i.e. the phone. I start typing Ryan’s number and his name pop’s up and within a second I swipe it to dial him a call. After a ring, he picks it up and before I could utter a word comes his question, “Is Bella okay?” I can’t help the smile forming on my face as I reply with, “Hey there Bro. Missed me?”
“Bella?” I hear him ask, taking a deep breath he continues, “Thank god you’re fine, I was worried sick about you sis.” I can’t help the chuckle that leaves my mouth which is continued by, “I’m totally fine and I think you should relax too. I’m at my Mate’s place Ry, not some rogue’s abduction hide out place, so stop worrying about me and go and take some rest.” He sighs as he says, “I know but I’m a brother; I can’t help it. Worrying about you is my job woman and the fact that you aren’t ordinary scares me more.”
I release a loud audible sigh myself as I say, “I’m fine Ry and I know why you are always worried about me; but that does not mean that you sacrifice your health worrying about me. So go and rest up. I’ll see you in the morning”
“Yeah I’ll now” is his reply; before he could say anything else I ask, “What about the kids? Are they asleep? What about the girls? What did you tell them, why am I not home today?”
“Whoa, slow down tiger. I’m home with them and so is Rose, even Matt will be coming over for the night after he is done with his work at the pack house” I hear Ryan say and instantly I thank the Moon Goddess for blessing me with the best people in the whole world. He finds my silence weird as he asks, “You there Bells?” “Yeah, I’m right here. I was just…” I pause a little thinking about how to say it when he asks, “just what?”
“Just thanking the Moon Goddess for blessing me with you people. You guys are the best Ry, what would I do without you all?” I mumble, tears brimming at the corner of my eyes. “There isn’t an option for you being without us Bells. Remember we are a package, plus Matt” I can’t help the giggle that leaves my mouth as his words register in my mind.
Just as he is about to say something, I hear someone speaking behind him and from the voice of it, I think it’s one of the boys; and my assumptions are said right when Ry says, “Your little man wants to talk to you Bells, here talk to him” and followed by his voice is a very sleepy, groggy voice Lucas, “Mommy, is that you?”
“Yes baby, its mommy. Why are you still awake honey? It’s way past your bed time.” I ask Lucas and he instantly replies with, “Lucas misses mommy. Lucas wants to sleep with mommy. Come back home mommy. I promise I’ll be a good boy.”
Oh my poor baby
“I promise that I’ll be back home tomorrow baby. Mommy misses you too and mommy wants to sleep with her babies too. But mommy is stuck at work right now honey. How about you sleep with Aunt Rose tonight, she always has a new bed-time story for you.” I say, trying to distract him from the present situation to which he gives an adamant reply, “NO. I want you.”
“Baby, I…” before I could say anything, a little commotion can be heard on the other side of the call and a few seconds later, I hear Winston’s voice, “Don’t worry mommy, I and Theo will take good care of Lucas. You complete your work and get back home soon.”
My boys are growing up so fast.
“Yes baby, mommy will be there tomorrow. Until then take good care of each other, especially Lucas. Also don’t trouble anyone. Okay baby?” I tell Winston and he replies with an adorable, “Yes mommy. I miss you mommy and I love you. Come back soon.” I can’t help the tears shedding through my eyes as I answer with, “Mommy misses you too baby and I love you too. Now go back to your room and sleep. Good night baby.” “Good night mommy” comes his reply; next up the phone is taken by Theo, who to my surprise is still awake or usually he is the first one who is fast asleep.
Theo takes the phone and asks, “Mommy?” I wipe the tear stains with the back of my hand as I say, “Yes baby.” “I miss you mommy. When are you coming back? Lucas was crying the whole evening today when Uncle Ryan told us, that you are not coming home because you have some work.”
Before I could ask and say something, I hear Winston shout from somewhere far, “You were not supposed to tell mommy that Theo. Now she will worry about us and won’t be able to work. Why don’t you listen to me when I tell you something?” followed by a whining Lucas, “You are such a complaint box Theo.”
I can’t hide the chuckle that leaves my mouth as I hear my boys fighting with each other because they didn’t wanted to trouble me. I compose myself and ask, “Theo baby, could you please put the phone on speaker for me?” He quickly answers with a “Yes mommy” and the very next moment, I’m up on speaker.
I take this opportunity to talk to all of them at the same time, “Boys, No fighting with each other. Winston and Theo what did I tell you?” The answer in unison, “To take care of each other and Lucas.” “Good. And Lucas, what did I tell you?” “To be a good boy and not trouble anyone.” He replies. I know he is avoiding the last thing on purpose, so I ask him, “And?” “To sleep with Aunt Rose tonight” he says.
“Good. Now that you all have spoken to me, I want all three of you to go to sleep. And remember, mommy loves you a lot” I say with a heavy heart and get three adorable, “I love you too mommy” all at the same time, overlapping each other. Ryan takes the phones and addresses the boys with, “Of you go boys. Lucas is going to sleep with Aunt Rose and Uncle Matt while Winston and Theo, you guys sleep with me.” His command is followed by the sound of running steps and as the steps fade away, Ry speaks, “The girls are already asleep, they made me call you every 30 minutes since they wanted to talk to you and know whether you are okay, but you weren’t available so they waited and then I sent them to sleep. Don’t worry they are all fine and we are with them. Your sisters and your boys are in good hands. Now I suggest, you go and take some rest yourself. You sound tired.”
“Yes, I’m a little. I’m going to go and take a hot shower and then maybe get some sleep” I inform him. “Great. Good night. Stay safe and call me if you need anything” replies my idiotic brother. I smile and answer with “Yeah. Will do Ry. Love you. Bye.” Soon he answers with, “Love you too sis. Bye” and disconnects the call.
I get up and am about to turn to walk back towards the house when I notice a shadow standing at the far end of the forest, watching my moments with a lot of interest. I compose myself and narrow my eyes to focus on the figure, trying to recognize who it is.
I’m busy trying to recognize the person to whom the shadow belongs when I feel someone touch my shoulder. The action startles me and I turn to look at the person only to realize that it’s none other than Mason. He looks at my face and asks, “All okay love?” I turn back towards the forest saying, “I just thought I saw someone…”
“Where?” is his quick question as he starts scanning the area in all direction, his moments are livid which makes me feel stupid for troubling him over petty issue. It’s a forest area, warrior wolves usually round up the perimeter at this time to keep the area in check; and there is a fair chance that it was one of those wolves. I grab his hand and pull him towards me as I say, “Forget it Macey, could you please guide me to my room. I’m tired and filthy. I need to have a nice hot shower followed by some sleep. So please Macey, could you?”
He looks at me with lust swimming in his eyes as walks closer now that the only thing separating us is the flimsy clothes on our body; dipping his head a little, he whispers in my ear, “Your wish is my command love” picking me up bridal style and making his way towards my; no, I think OUR ROOM.