Chapter 13

Isabella Martini - POV

I had walked aimlessly around the pack when I finally found a small clearing that had a lake, it looked so calm, I disturbed, which made something bubble within me. Since it was still early in the morning, there was not a soul in there, which made it the perfect location for me right now. I walked closer to the lake and took a seat as I dipped my feet in the cold water. 

"I don't think he would accept us as his mate, Rose. We should just leave this place." I said, but I heard her huff. 

"Leave and go where, Bella?" she retorted while I remained quiet. "Even though Arlo doesn't show any feelings, I can hear his wolf calling out to us, so I am not leaving this place unless he rejects us too," she said with a tone of finality before she retreated to the back of my mind. I let out an annoyed sigh as I looked ahead at the sky.

The midnight blue sky was gradually changing into a lighter orange color with tints of yellow and pink on the horizon. "No one is perfect." I heard a feminine voice say before I felt someone sit next to me. 

I turned around when I saw a woman around my age. She has wavy blonde hair and a sweetheart face. She turned around to face me with a smile on her face. "Looks like Arlo has rejected you?" she asked me, and I felt irritated. "But don't give up on him yet. His words might say one thing, but his heart is yearning for you."

"Who are you?" I asked her without a second thought, and this made a smile appear on her face. 

"I am Sofia. Jacob's younger sister." she introduced herself, but I was still wary about her. "You must have heard a lot about our pack and Arlo. And I wouldn't say those were all lies. Because some of it is true." 

"Why are you telling me all this?" I asked her with my eyebrows narrowed down at her. 

"Because I want you to trust Arlo. From the way you were staring at the water earlier, I know that you had ideas for leaving," she said, and I was shocked to hear her voice out my thoughts. 

"If you know Arlo so much. Then, I guess you must have figured out that he would never accept me as his mate." I told her, but she shook her head and placed her hand on my lap. 

"You have no idea what Arlo is going through, Bella. All I would say is, give him a chance. You are the only person who can break him out from the darkness." Sofia said as I stared into her eyes. I was beyond confused right now. 

"What do you want me to do?" I asked her, and a gleeful smile formed on her face. 

"Don't give up on him. Trust me when I tell you that his cold heart would eventually melt, and he would start to reciprocate your feelings. We are gradually losing him, Bella. Every day, he becomes a little more animalistic than human." she said. 

"Are you sure he has any feelings for me? Because I don't want to go on a wild goose chase, Sofia." 

"Trust me when I tell you that he does have feelings for you," she said. "I know you have gone through a lot, Bella. In fact, both of you are hurt, and only the two of you can mend each other's heart." 

"How do you know that I am hurting?" I asked Sofia as she got up from the floor and dusted her clothes. 

"I cannot tell you everything on our first day. But you will have to trust me." with those words, she walked out of there leaving me alone. I didn't know what to think or do right now. Should I pay heed to Sofia's words and try to get Arlo to acknowledge my presence? 

"She is right, Bella. I felt this weird aura coming from here." 

"And you want me to trust her based on that aura? What if she is trying to make a fool of us?" 

"I would have known that. But she genuinely cares for Arlo." Rose argued, and I remained silent. I know this is a risky business that I am going to do. I have never chased for a man's attention before, but for some reason, deep down, something was urging me to make Arlo notice me. 

I got up from the ground and dusted my clothes as I walked towards the pack house. As I walked inside, I passed by a lot of pack members who greated me with warm smiles on their faces, and this stunned me. I thought that the Black Knight pack members would be all serious and gloomy, but this was a total contrast. 

I followed the crowd as I walked inside a huge dining area when I saw Jacob sitting next to Sofia and the moment they noticed me, Sofia waved her hand to come and sit next to them. "Are you feeling better now?" Jacob asked me, and as I took my seat in between Jacob and Sofia. 

"You are the person who sent her, isn't it?" I asked him, and this made a frown appear on his face. 

"Send who?" he asked, and I saw the confusion in his eyes while I simultaneously felt a light squeeze on my thigh. 

"N…nothing," I mumbled as I turned around to face my plate. 

"Anyway, this is my sister, Sofia." Jacob introduced and I turned around with a smile on my face. 

"Nice to meet you, Sofia," 

"Same here, Luna," she said as she shook my hand. Abruptly, the lovely chatter around the dining room came to a standstill when the scent of blueberries and honey wafted in my direction. Every pack member in that room had their eyes cast down and not a single word was uttered. Arlo's eyes briefly locked with mine before he gestured for the omegas to bring in the food.