Chapter 14

Isabella Martini - POV

"You should go and sit next to our mate," Rose whined as we ate our breakfast in silence, making me huff. 

"I did say that I would make an effort to get to know my mate, but I didn't say that I would start right away, Rose. Give me some time to formulate a plan." I reasoned, which made her roll her eyes at me. Something felt different in this pack as my eyes scanned the few pack members who were dining with us today. 

No one made an effort to make conversation with anyone, and I was able to feel the tense atmosphere that was around us. Five minutes later, Arlo got up from his place, grabbing everyone's attention as he gave us all a curt nod before he walked out of there. The moment he was out of the room, I felt the atmosphere relax, and the conversations around the room resumed. 

"Am I missing something?" I asked Jacob when he shook his head. 

"It would take a long time to adjust to this pack. But for starters, whenever the alpha is in the room, there would be no conversations among the rest."

"Doesn't he like to hear his pack's opinion?" I asked him.

"It's not like that. I think he enjoys the peace." Jacob said in a vague tone, and this only confused me further.

Alpha Arlo Bianchi - POV

It's been three days since I found my mate, and every day seems a little harder for me to control my wolf, so now I have decided to spend most of my time in my office rather than in my house. "You look like shit!" I looked up from the paperwork I was reading when I saw Jacob walk into my office with a mug of coffee in his hand. 

"What do you want?" I growled as I got back to the papers on my desk. 

"The alpha of the crescent moon pack will be coming here tomorrow," Jacob announced, and this made a frown appear on my face. 

"What does he want?" I asked, and Jacob shrugged his shoulder. The crescent moon is our neighboring pack, and they have always been a pain in my ass, trying to bring me down with no luck. That was a pack of rogues who were able to get the approval to be recognized as a legitimate pack. 

"Maybe he wants a treaty with you." 

"I don't trust that asshole. He was always hostile towards me, and now, he wants a treaty." I exclaimed as I pushed the papers and got up from my place. "Nevertheless, let's hear what he has to say," I said, and Jacob nodded his head. I walked out of my office and made my way to the backyard. After closing the door behind me, I started walking into the forest.

I was nearing the eastern border when my nostrils picked a familiar scent. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as my lungs filled with the delicious scent of cinnamon and lavender. I didn't know how that combination would sound in real life, but right now, that's the most heavenly scent I have ever come across. 

I opened my eyes as I scanned through the darkness when I finally spotted her. She was sitting on a rock close to the river, staring up at the night sky. "Mate looks beautiful," Leo said with a whimper, and I was momentarily shocked to hear him sound so calm and composed. 

"Yes, and I don't think we should disturb her," I retorted, and surprisingly, Leo kept quiet. I didn't know how long I stood there, but a serene feeling washed over me as I stared at her from afar. 

"Do you think he likes me?" Bella spoke out loud, which made me narrow my eyebrows at her while I looked around for someone, but there was not a soul in sight. When a smile formed on my face. 

Looks like our little mate has a tendency to talk her thoughts out loud. 

"Well, even if he loves me, I know he would start to hate me when he finds out about my past." her words were like an encrypted letter that made my mind spiral into confusion. From the first time I met her, I knew that there was something she was hiding from me. 

She kept babbling about a lot of other things when she stopped talking, and I saw her body stiffen. "Who's there?" I heard her angelic voice call out. I walked away from my hiding place and made my way towards her. As I got close to her, I saw her eyes widen in shock while a blush tinted her cheeks. 

"Al…alpha Bianchi, I thought you had a meeting," Bella said as she quickly got up from her place and stood in front of me. 

"What are you doing here alone?" I asked her with my voice devoid of any emotions as I saw her flinch. 

"I came to relax and think," she said as I saw her take an unconscious step towards me. The air around us was electrified, and my lungs were filled to the brim with my mate's scent, driving me crazy while my body urged me to close the distance between us and envelop her in our arms. "Why don't you come up to your house anymore?" she blurted out, and I was monetarily surprised to know that she noticed.

"I don't want you trying to take advantage of me. I know women like you are only after the power and money that comes with being with an alpha." I spat out and even though it hurt to say those words, I knew that I must try to push her away. And if she had started caring for me, I know it would not work. 

"You have no idea what type of a woman I am," she said while I heard her voice tremble. I know she must be suppressing her cries. I was about to answer her when I felt an arrow zoom past my ear.