Chapter 2

ALPHA XAVIER POV

Thornridge had always been a city of opportunities, her populace was notorious for being opportunist but then again, it was a city of possibilities. You could meet your doom or be blessed with good fortune.

As I walked away from the beautiful female, I knew that at the very least, something positive had come out of my trip to this city. Maybe, the moon goddess was trying to bless me with good fortune. My inner wolf was excited but I was not in the place where I really wanted a mate. This was the first time my wolf had been excited after meeting a female.

Isabel was on my mind all through the night, there was something about her I couldn't quite figure out. So early the next morning, I sought her out. I was not sure which way to go but somehow, I felt my wolf had forged a connection with her and so, I allowed my wolf to lead me through the maze of narrow streets that was synonymous with Thornridge.

"You again." She said with a little bit of excitement that was masked in a seamless grin when I finally found her.

"Isabel, right?" I asked softly and while trying to look everywhere but her.

"Yes." She blushed and a tiny smile formed on her lips.

"I keep running into you, if I don't know better, I'll think you are stalking me." Burn me if I tell her that I had painstakingly sought her out.

"Stalking you?" She asked, looking shocked. "I'd never..."

"Isabel!" I heard her name and turned to the direction and saw Alpha Dario walking towards us.

"Please don't say anything," Isabel whispered, with fear in her voice which made me a bit uneasy.

"Isabella," Alpha Dario paused and looked from Isabel to me and back at her. "I see you've met our guest, Alpha Xavier already." He pointed to me.

"Our guest? Alpha?" Isabel asked, looking more confused. This time, she looked from me to Alpha Dario and back at me.

"Yes, I personally invited Alpha Xavier to this year's Belleteyn festival and jousting tournament." There was pride in his voice.

"Really?" She asked with a confused expression. She smelled uncertain, I would have loved to know what she was uncertain about.

"Yes, it took a lot of convincing before he accepted." Alpha Dario said, smiling at me.

"Xavier." He said in a strong voice.

"Dario." We both called our names and shook hands.

"Welcome, this is my daughter, Isabel." He said, gesturing towards Isabel.

"Daughter?" It was my turn to be surprised, and I found myself looking from Isabel to Him and back at her. I was really taken by the information.

"Yes, she'll be your guide for the duration of your stay here." His confidence swelled. He must have seen my surprise look, no matter how much I tried to hide it.

"But father!" Isabel protested.

"Not one word." Alpha Dario said and walked away. "Remember your duty." He whispered.

I had a smirk on my face as I watched the confusing emotions that ran through Isabel's face. "Don't worry, I don't bite."

She studied me for a while before speaking. "I am not worried." She said, while still looking intently at me. Her smell of uncertainty had gone but was now replaced by something I couldn't figure out.

"Then what shall we call this face you are presently wearing?" I asked mockingly and was even satisfied when I saw it got to her. "If you ask me, I'd say you'd make a good guide."

"You like to pretend you are immune to the feeling I have for you. You may like to pretend otherwise but I'm sure that you didn't just decide to wander mistakenly to where I could be found. Nobody goes for a walk in the morning, yet here you are. I don't know much about the world of males and men, so I'm just going to say what I think and feel straight up even if they come out wrong. I don't know what to make of it but I feel something for you. I don't know what to call it or whatever you'd choose to call it but I am deeply attracted to you." She paused when she noticed she was shouting. "Somehow, my inner wolf has chosen you and I'm powerless to change it. Yet, I know you love me, even more than I can imagine." She said in a very soft voice and lowered her eyes.

"Now, I think you are delusional." I said, stepping closer to her.

"Oh! So I'm the one who's delusional?" She asked angrily. I was surprised with how quickly she could switch her emotions.

"Yes." I said softly and enjoyed watching the variations of emotions that ran across her face.

"Then tell me, please." She begged, barely above a whisper.

"I am incapable of love, I was cursed by the moon goddess and can't fall in love. It's really quite unfortunate if your wolf has chosen me." I leaned closer to her and whispered in her ear with a smirk on my face before walking away.

My wolf raged, and flared up but I was not going to profess love to someone I had just met, regardless of what my wolf desired.

****

ISABEL POV

I stood there and watched him leave, unsure about what to do or even how to go about this. Alpha Xavier had a way of breaking through all my walls even though I had only just met him but forced myself to carry on with my day. "Isabel, you are unhappy, I've been looking for you all day." I heard and snapped back to reality.

"I really don't know what to say, I am unsure what to do about it." I started to speak before I caught myself.

"What do you mean Isabel?"

"Don't worry Sara, it's nothing." I said and turned to leave, but she held my hand.

"If it had you looking like this." She gestured to all of me. "Then I definitely want to hear it."

"Okay," I sighed tiredly. "You remember the mysterious stranger we saw the other night?"

"Yes, the one who turned you into a poet the first you saw him." Sara said with a smile and winked at me.

"Yes, that one." I said, taking a deep breath.

"What about him?"

"Well, surprisingly, he's an Alpha."

"An Alpha?"

"Yes, Alpha Xavier."

"He's handsome and has a cool name." She paused and looked at me, "but I'm sure a cool name is not the reason you are so worked up."

"I have been mated to him."

"Okay, but if you love him, how is that a problem?" Sara asked, not understanding how I feel.

"Is that all you are going to say? I know he's charming and has a dark aura around---" I was still speaking when she interjected.

"Wait, what?"

"You are confusing me Sara."

"How are you mated to him when you've only just met him?" She asked, her expression suddenly fierce, I guess what I said finally hit home.

"That's the thing Sara, I'm confused." I said tiredly.

"What exactly do you mean?"

"I feel he's good and bad for me. Somehow, I can't stop yearning for him."

"Okay, back up a little." She said and paused to think. "This Alpha Xavier, do you love him?"

I took a deep breath before answering. "Yes."

"So what seems to be the problem?" Sara asked, looking more confused.

"Because, he-, he is not looking for love." I said softly.

"If he has blood running through his veins, then he'll definitely want love." Sara said with some form of certainty. "You have to build a steely determination and conquer his seemingly impenetrable heart with your love."

"How! How Sara! How am I supposed to do that?" I cried out with tears in my eyes. "I've watched from a distance as he interacted with the villagers, his charm undeniable, yet he treats everyone, especially me, shabbily, as if he carries a heavy burden."

"Are you stalking him?"

"No! Why?"

"How would you know all this about him if you've only just met him."

"I don't understand." I asked, surprised.

"It's a small village and---" Sara started to speak and suddenly went mute as I spoke and I couldn't understand why.

"Are you talking about me?" I heard Alpha Xavier's voice from behind me.

"I think I'm running late." Sara said suddenly and started to leave.

"Please don't go...." I started to speak but kept quiet.

Alpha Xavier kept quiet and we both kept looking at the direction Sara had gone, long after she could no longer be seen. "Walk with me, Isabel."

It felt more like a command than a request. Yet I indulged him. "Sure."

I followed and expected him to say something, but he said nothing and the awkward silence stretched until we got to his house. "So, why do you accuse me of treating you shabbily?" He asked softly, I guess the first time he has ever spoken to me in that manner.

"Why are you doing this?" I got out after a while, unable to speak nor think clearly. Alpha Xavier had the most beautiful females as maids, and they all revere him. A wonder he had never taken me seriously.

"What am I doing?" He asked as two maids came to take away his coat, revealing a broad chest and a strong exterior.

I knew I wanted him, and knew I have to go the extra mile to prove that I'm worthy of his love. "You can't keep pushing me away." I said, my voice trembling but resolute. "I'm willing to fight for what we have, even if it means breaking down the walls you've built around yourself."

"I did say you are delusional. We have nothing. Look around you." He said, spreading wide his hands and gesturing at all the beautiful females around him. "Does it look like I need you? Do you think you are as beautiful as any one of my maids? They all came wanting to win my heart over but failed and settled for being my maid, just as you will soon enough" He bragged.

"You are just a spoiled adult child, with a deluded ego and a greatly exaggerated view of yourself." I chided him and he looked shocked. "Don't be so shocked, I guess no one has called you out in your bullshit all this while."

He recovered quickly and smiled. "How interesting."

"You may have my heart, but never think for once that I'm scared of you."

Alpha Xavier's eyes revealed a glimmer of vulnerability, but his resolve remained unyielding. "You have no idea of the darkness that surrounds me, Isabel." He whispered.

"Then let me in, I could be the light to your darkness."

"No! never." He said curtly and I felt hurt. "I have allowed you close enough, closer than any other female has come." He stepped closer and kissed my cheek and planted feathery kisses on my neck. I felt like melting into him but he stepped back almost immediately. "You may go, and never come back."

I stood there, transfixed, rejected and tossed away like a bad habit. How could he? "Hey lady, you heard the boss, off you go." A very beautiful lady snapped her fingers bringing me back to reality and showing me the door. She quietly nudged me to the door and I could feel other maids looking at me. Shame and humiliation filling my soul.

The moment the door shut behind me, I heard heavy laughter from the other side. "Here is to another female, who thinks she can win Xavier's heart." And they all laughed.

"Alpha Xavier needs to have better taste in women. This thing is not as beautiful as any of us here." Another voice said.

"Well, I like that she's firey. I wouldn't mind having her join our ranks and becoming my personal plaything." Another female voice said.

I felt really embarrassed and belittled as I left his front porch. Was it all worth it, does duty to my family include sacrificing every atom of self worth I had. I had questions, but father had said I needed to make Alpha Xavier interested in me, it was the only way that our pack could be saved from the Zuzkies who were waging war against us. But what can I do if he's not interested in me? While he says he's not, my body tells me we have a connection. Something worthwhile.