ISAIAH
Hunter and the warlock George held me back as I tried to take control from Devon. To him, Alaia did no wrong. She was his mate and had no faults. Me, on the other hand, had an inkling that something was off with her, but I couldn’t blame her without any proof. If we were wrong about this, it would only create friction in our relationship. That thought alone made Devon come out in full force.
“How dare you blame her when she helped you rescue your witch, your mate,” Devon snapped at Zack while pushing Hunter and George away.
It was Zack’s turn to growl at Devon for calling out his mate. Isabella and James stood in front of him. Now there were two angry Alphas in close quarters. Never a good sign. Isabella looked at me, pleading with her eyes.
“Devon and Isaiah, please. Zack wouldn’t implicate his own sister without reason. Let’s just hear him out, OK?”
Devon wanted to punch someone, mainly Zack, but even he was a little bit curious about what Zack wanted to say. He huffed at Isabella and shrugged off Hunter and George. Isabella turned to Zack to finish his explanation and I hoped for his sake it was a good one.
Zack regaled us with the tale of how he got Mirja. Starting with him finding Mirja at the wormhole, being tortured to finding out she was his mate and convincing Alaia to help him get her out.
I stopped myself a couple of times from interrupting. I wanted to get the whole story before saying anything. Zack told us how he knew Alaia still had magic when he saw the bracelet I was wearing. This time I did interrupt.
“That bracelet did nothing to me.”
“We thought the same thing about Maria until she took it off. She had a scar on her wrist like the bracelet was fusing with her skin,” James spoke up.
Zack and Isabella looked at my wrist, which had a light scar from the bracelet Alaia gave me. It made no sense. It never harmed me or made me harm others. It was just a little scar.
“I knew it,” Isabella started. “I knew it! She has to be the one messing around Zira.”
“Isabella-,” I warned her.
“What? I’m just saying,” Isabella said, grabbing my wrist so the others could see the scar. “A lot of magical s.hit has been happening and it didn’t start until Alaia came to our pack. She could be the one behind-”
“No,” I snapped at her while yanking my wrist away. “I won't accuse her of anything unless there’s proof. This could be an allergic reaction. We can’t blame her for everything just because she’s a witch.”
I knew it was going to go this way. Isabella has been trying to blame Alaia for everything but never gave me proof of any wrong-doing. Besides, Alaia was my mate. I don't think she would purposely hurt any one in our pack. Right?
“Well, speaking from experience, if there’s something Alaia wants she won’t hesitate to do whatever it takes to make sure she gets it,” James spoke up.
Devon growled through me again at James this time. Give it a rest Devon I yelled at him.
I could totally take him Devon said.
I could see him pacing back and forth in the back of my mind. He was itching to come and kill somebody. Just waiting for the right moment
Why do you always have to go there, Devon? We’re not the hot-headed type.
Speak for yourself.
“See, Isaiah? These people know her,” Isabella said to me.
“I said drop it, Isabella.” She started to say something but instead looked away. James took a step towards me. I don’t care who knows Alaia, I just can't believe she would do anything to hurt anyone. She had no reason to.
“Look Isai-”
“That’s Alpha Isaiah to you.”
James looked at Zack before turning back to me. I could tell he didn’t like that, but I didn’t care. If he knew what was good for him, he would respect my title. He smiled and held up his hands before continuing.
“Alpha Isaiah. I grew up with Alaia. I know how she operates. So if this Zira girl means anything to you, Alaia will see her as a threat. I understand she is your mate, but if I were you I would get her far away from this girl as soon as possible.”
“She isn’t like that anymore,” I nearly growled. “I had a conversation with them both, together. We worked something out.”
Everyone looked away as if I had said something strange. James had the audacity to actually laugh and that ruffled Devon’s fur. I could feel his anger rise in me, so I took a deep breath to control him.
“I’m sorry, Alpha Isaiah, I don't believe Alaia is innocent in all of this-”
I growled at him, feeling Devon nearing the surface. “Be careful with what you say about my mate.”
“Look, unlike everyone in here, I’m the only one that has a dead mate to prove how far she will go.”
At that moment, I felt a sharp pain in my chest. Devon took this chance to jump out and grab James by his neck. James didn’t react. He just kept his gaze on mine.
“I warned you,” Devon said through me.
“I mean no disrespect, Alpha. If you say she has changed, then that’s great,” James said through his teeth. “I'm just saying be cautious, that’s all.”
Devon, let him go.
Fine, but I won't be so nice if he speaks ill of her again.
Devon released his grip and hold, and I stepped back. I looked around the room and noticed everyone except the warlocks shared the same sentiment about Alaia as James. I sighed.
“I will talk with her. If there is any foul play I will-”
Isabella screamed and fell to the floor. I was there by her side in an instance. She was cringing on the floor, hugging herself.
“What’s wrong? What’s happening,” I asked her.
One of the warlocks walked over to touch her. “Something is happening to her mate.”
Isabella took a few deep breaths before looking at me. There were tears streaming down her face. “Something is wrong, Isaiah. We have to go back.”
I was already linking my crew to get ready to leave. I helped Isabella to her feet as we started out the door.
“We can go with you,” James offered.
“No, we will be fine-”
“It will take you over an hour to get there when George or Harry can get you there in seconds,” James offered again.
He had a point. Whatever was happening was happening now and the faster we get there the faster we can stop whatever this was. I nodded to James as the warlock George stepped up.
“I’ll go. Babe, you can stay here to help Zack with Mirja.” Harry walked over to George and gave him a lingering kiss before looking at James.
Don’t worry, I’ll bring him back safe,” James said as George walked over to me.
“Alpha Isaiah, I need you to think of your pack,” George said while touching my shoulder.
George needed help honing in on the location. He couldn’t portal anywhere he hasn’t been, so he used my thoughts to portal us near the pack house. The moment we walked through, I linked Jace and Chris. They both met us outside. I handed over Isabella and told him to get her to the pack house. At that moment, I felt a sharp pain in my chest. Alaia was in trouble. I needed to find her.
I howled to alert my patrols and shifted. I checked for Alaia’s scent. It was faint but it was enough to follow it. Along with hers I caught a whiff of a rogue. Just one. Why would one rogue be here? I made it to the clearing before the rest of my men and saw him near her.
“GET AWAY FROM HER!” Devon growled loud enough to make the snow from the trees fall to the ground.
Nas turned towards me and his eyes were black. His wolf was at the surface. I wasn’t worried about him. I could feel Alaia’s breathing slowing down. I needed to hurry and get her out of here. A blue wolf came to one side of me and a gray wolf on the other. Then the rest of my crew surround Nas.
He looked around and noticed he was surrounded. He stepped away from Alaia. I shifted and walked straight to Alaia. I dared him to do anything. He held up his hands as a few of my men went after him. Hunter took over escorting him back to the dungeons.
I turned Alaia over and noticed black veins covering her face. I didn’t know what Nas had done to her but I was hoping there was something we could do. I heard a gasp and watched James walk over to Victoria. She wasn’t moving and I couldn’t really hear her breathing.
I quickly scooped up Alaia and started the trek to the pack’s hospital. I saw James pick up Victoria, who looked pretty banged up. Alaia was going in and out of consciousness. She kept whispering something about losing her and being alone. I reassured her and linked Doctor Callie as soon as we got close.
I didn’t want to panic, but watching them wheel her away, I couldn’t help but notice her bleeding. I prayed to the Goddess that she would be okay, that they both would be okay.
My mother and father came in later to check on Isabella before meeting up with me. For an hour I stood in the hallway, pacing back and forth, while staring at the door to Alaia’s room. No news is good news, right? Every now and then, I felt pain from her and I wanted to bust down the door, but I knew it wouldn’t be wise. I heard her screaming and my father came to grab me before I actually bust the door down. He reminded me that they knew what they were doing and I would only be in the way. I knew he was right, but what if she needed me? What if she felt alone? I kept reminding myself that she wasn't dead, I would feel it.
Then the door finally opened and Doctor Callie walked through a bit slumped over as if she had just finished running a race. She saw us standing and staring at her. She smiled a bit, which was a good sign, before it slowly dropped and she straightened her spine. She walked over to us and sighed before telling us the one thing we weren’t prepared for.