The moment Isaiah left the room, he changed into his training clothes and made his way to the gym. When he got there, Hunter and a small team of warriors were already training. He could see some of them were fatigued by their lethargic movements, but no one dared say anything to him. A part of him felt bad, but ever since Alaia, he wanted his pack to be better in case of another attack.
Isaiah started his usual training. The good ole punching bag has been the only way for him to de-stress since she left. Now she’s back and she brought home a man. Just fucking perfect!
Lost in thought, Isaiah punched a hole in the bag and stepped back to take a breath. He couldn’t help but feel the lackadaisical spirit in his warriors accompanied with unnecessary staring and yawning. It was only making him even more irritated. He needed some peace.
“Alright,” he yelled, getting everyone’s attention as he walked about the room. “I can see how much you all love the extra training, but now it’s a bit distracting at the present moment. So, go home and rest.” Isaiah could instantly see the change in demeanor on some of their faces, which only made him feel worse. “But I’m expecting you all up bright and early tomorrow and ready to work. Got it?”
“Yes, Alpha!”
They couldn’t leave fast enough, as they scrambled, one by one, out of the room.
“I can stay and spot you,” Hunter offered.
“No, go to your family, Hunter. You’ve done enough for me today.”
Hunter hesitated but eventually left with the others while Isaiah set up another punching bag. Thinking about that moment with Zira earlier had him starting another round on the punching bag. With every punch he could feel Devon’s anger towards him for leaving her. They had been on the same page about her leaving but the moment Devon saw her he flipped like a pancake.
“She is our mate, and I am a simple werewolf with simple needs. It doesn’t take much for her to entice me,” Devon snapped.
Isaiah ignored him and his desire. Horny bastard, Isaiah thought, but he couldn’t blame Devon. It was a while since they last saw her in person, touched her, and held her body close to theirs. Just the thought made him want to run back up the stairs to her.
Not to forget the fact that she was still stunning. And those eyes just cut right through him. He had almost forgotten how beautifully they shone in the light. She took his breath away as if he was seeing her for the first time. Just merely watching her get out of the car melted months of anger until Isaiah saw the company she kept.
The last time they talked she blew him off for someone else. Isaiah was starting to feel like the third wheel in her life. Again. First, after James died and now this new guy. He was back to feeling like he felt long ago. Abandoned.
*Few months ago*
Isaiah sat near a blank screen, tapping his foot and anxiously waiting to see her face. The last time she called he gave the phone to Zacharias. Isaiah wanted him to see as much of her as possible, even though his three-year-old was more interested in everything else but the phone. The more time passes without her here, the more Zacharias seems to forget who she is. She’s been gone too long. Isaiah picked up his phone and called the new number she had given him months ago. She finally answered and there she was. He was glad that he was able to get her on the phone. He’s been trying for weeks now.
“Zira?”
The video was choppy, but he could at least see her face. His heart fluttered at just the sight like it did every time he got the chance to see her.
“Isaiah…something wrong…hear me,” she asked, but he could barely hear her over the noise in the background and the phone’s video quality.
It sounded like an explosion of some kind. Isaiah sat up in his chair full of worry. After about a minute, she became a little clear with a gritty background. She was in a forest. Noise flooded the background again and he watched as she moved out of view. For a moment he thought he saw something fly by in the sky. Was that a dragon?
“Zira, where the hell are you,” Isaiah yelled into the phone.
He kept his eyes trained on the screen, but even they were threatening to close. Having meetings with other Alphas, taking care of his mother and Arias, and basically trying to keep his head above water was draining him. He couldn’t remember the last time he slept in his bed.
He had help and Hunter was a great Beta, but he was in the same boat as him. His mate and their child were running him ragged, but at least he had someone helping him balance everything while Zira was halfway across the world, doing Goddess knows what. All that mattered was that she wasn’t here.
“I’m so sorry…dead zone…crazy guy…” Her phone started to static.
“What? What guy? Are you in danger?” Isaiah could feel the tension in his shoulders returning. Months she has been gone and the moment she finally calls back is to say she's with some crazy guy.
“...help us save Arias,” she continued to come through with even more static.
Isaiah was so over this. He rubbed his face with frustration. “That’s it, Zira. I can’t understand a word you’re saying. I can’t even tell if you’re in danger or not. Just…come home,” Isaiah said, trying to control his frustration.
“Home…can’t…more time.”
“I don’t care, Zira,” Isaiah gritted through my teeth. Every day she didn’t call was another day he worried if she was okay. They weren’t mated, so he couldn’t sense if she was in trouble or hurt. It was a guess, especially since it was hard to get in touch with her.
“You’re coming home and you’re coming home NOW,” he growled.
“Don’t take…with me, Isaiah…for Arias.”
“Yes, you’re doing this for Arias. That seems to be your go-to excuse to avoid coming back home. He needs you here, right now, Zira,” Isaiah paused, struggling to say the next words, but she needed to hear them. “I need you here. Don’t you get that?”
There was silence as he held his breath waiting for her to say something and the only word he could hear was, “Sorry”, before the phone went blank.
“Zira?”
He waited a beat, staring at the blank screen until the call ended itself. He dialed the number she called from, knowing it was a lost cause. After trying three more times, he gave up and threw the phone across the room, smashing it against the door before slumping into his chair. It was the last time they spoke until now.
PRESENT
Isaiah continued his assault on the punching bag for another hour and could sense someone watching him. By her scent he knew exactly who it was.
“It’s a little late for training, isn’t it?”
Isaiah stopped and saw his mother standing in the doorway drinking from her teacup. She looked almost as tired as he did.
“Mother, you should be asleep,” Isaiah said as he moved closer to her to make sure it was just tea in her cup.
“It's just tea,” she said as she looked at her over the rim of the glass before placing it back on the little plate, “and I will sleep when you do.”
He looked away as she studied him, knowing how much Zira’s homecoming was affecting him. “Isaiah, I know you’re angry, but she is here, and she is safe. At least for now, enjoy that while you can.”
Isaiah knew she was referring to losing his father. His death nearly killed her, but his mother was strong. She told him she thought of them and the fact that their father would’ve been pissed if she gave in that easily. Though finding out Zacharias was alive contributed to bringing her back to life, and Isaiah appreciated it. Without her and Zelda’s help, he would’ve been lost a long time ago.
“I’ll try,” Isaiah smiled weakly.
“No, try, you will do,” Luna Bella said defiantly. “You have a child who is sick, Isaiah. So, whatever crap you both need to air out, do it now and move forward. I will not let this,” she waved her hand in the air, “whatever this is, rob me of the only grandchild and probably the only grandchild I will ever have if I leave it up to your sister.” That got a laugh from them. “So go upstairs and fix it.”
This was the most she had spoken to him or anyone in the past few months. Well, aside from Zacharias and, on occasion, Zelda, but even then, he would watch her stare off into the distance for long periods of time. He was going to say something, but she held up her hand and shook her head. Then she turned on her heels and walked away.
Guess that’s the end of that, Isaiah thought.
“Couldn’t have said it better myself,” Devon grumbled.
“Shut up.” Isaiah was about to start another round on the punching when he heard his mother call out.
“Isaiah,” Luna Bella spoke loudly. “Don’t make me drag you up there.”
Isaiah rolled his eyes and walked up the steps towards his room. There was no way he would disobey his mother even if he could. She was right about getting Zacharias the help he needed, but that didn’t mean he had to forgive Zira just yet.
So instead of going to his room, he went to his office. He sat in his chair, trying to think of a way to talk to her, when his phone rang. He couldn’t understand who would be calling him then, but when he looked at the caller ID, he groaned.
Why is she calling me so late, he wondered as he let it go to voicemail. It wasn’t long until she called again, and Isaiah couldn’t help but smile. She was persistent and he knew she would just keep calling, so Isaiah picked up.
“A little late for house calls, isn’t it, Councilwoman?”
He could hear her laugh. “And here I thought our relationship garnered me some privileges.”
“What is this about Lana?”
“Hmmm, straight to the nitty gritty. That’s what I like about you, Isaiah. I heard that Zacharias’s mother is back in the picture?”
Isaiah sighed. “How did you find out so quickly? She just got back.”
There was a long pause on the other line at the point Isaiah looked at his screen to make sure the call hadn’t ended. He heard her sigh.
“I have my ways. Anyway, there’s been some talking…”
“Right, because the Elders have nothing better to do than stay up waiting for the next hot gossip."
“Joke all you want, Isaiah, but this is serious,” Lana said with a more earnest tone.
“I know,” Isaiah sighed. “How long do I have to prepare?”
The other end of the line went silent as Isaiah waited for her response. He was expecting this call, but he didn’t think it was going to be this soon. He also didn’t like that she found this out as quickly as she did.
“We will be in touch soon. Make sure she doesn’t leave this time,” Lana warned before hanging up the phone.