Big Bad Alphas

Chapter 33

Walking up to the house, I glance behind me at the two guards waiting in the car before ringing the

doorbell. An array of speedy footsteps and squeak-like cheers erupts from the other side, and I spot

Kendra peeking through the side window. I smile and wave. The door is swinging open in a matter of

seconds.

"Isabella!" She shouts and clings onto me. My arms wrap around her, a barrier between her and the

world. "I'm so excited!"

I squat down and brush the stray hairs from her beautiful face. "Did you do your hair yourself?"

"Yes, Moms with the Luna. She told me not to open the door unless it's you. I brushed it and tied it up

like you used to," she explains and twirls the crooked pigtails between her fingers.

"Alright. How about I braid it? My friend Caroline taught me how to do a Dutch braid, can I show you?"

Kendra's eyes beam.

The house is the same. Nothing has moved beside shifted magazines on the coffee table and a new

living chair beside the couch. Kendra leads me upstairs as if I am in a strangers house, and we sit on

her bed while I weave the strands of her hair together. Glancing to the side, I see her packed bag. "You

know, I was thinking that we could leave tomorrow. We can have a sleepover here."

"Why can't we go?"

"We can, I'm just a little tired that's all. If we leave tomorrow I'll have plenty of energy and we can do

stuff all day."

Kendra's head bobs in all directions, making the braiding more difficult than it was on Caroline. "Like

what?"

"Well we can get you unpacked, we can say hi to Caroline, my friend, we can go swimming in the lake

if you like."

"I want to swim."

I tie the braid at the end and hop off the bed. "Then we'll do that."

While here, I grab some clothing I left behind in my bedroom along with some other things. Being in my

room, staring at my white sheets, gazing at the old photographs, it all makes me anxious. Maybe I am a

stranger in this house.

Kendra asks to go outside and we do. My heart jolts when I find the guards leaning against the car

while their arms crossed, chatting. I rush towards them and apologize. "We're staying the night. I-I need

rest, so we'll leave in the morning if that's alright. I'll get you two set up in guest rooms when we get

back, for now, go on in and make yourselves comfortable."

Kendra pulls me towards the training grounds, which confuses me. I repeatedly ask her why we are

going there, but she ignores me. Finally, I catch a glimpse of my mother in the distance, walking with

my old Luna. Kendra shouts for them and I almost feel the need to hide. My mother's eyes land on me

and soon enough we are too close.

"Isabella," she says my name, and it is unpleasant to hear, not like when Eric says my name. "I thought

you two would be gone by now?"

"We're staying the night and leaving in the morning."

The Luna smiles at me, shifting the mood. "Well, it's lovely to see you again, especially since you are

now a Luna yourself. Who would have thought."

"Not me," I mutter and look around the sparsely filled field.

"How is your mate, Alpha Tate?"

A sensation comes over the pit of my stomach as I glance back at her. "He's good. Everything is good."

"That's nice to hear. Causing no problems I expect? Attacking any other lands?"

My brows furrow together. "No. Not attacking any other lands, Luna. We should go, it's almost time for

dinner and I was going to make Kendra breakfast."

"My favorite," she grabs my hand, wanting the meal right away now. "I love when you make pancakes

at night."

"Go on," my mother releases us. "I'll be home late tonight. We have much planning since the Alpha has

fallen ill."

"What's wrong?"

"He has bronchitis I'm afraid," the Luna informs me, "it's taken a toll on him, so I've volunteered to

manage the pack until he's feeling better."

Kendra and I rush home, as her stomach is rumbling loudly, a fact from Kendra herself. She sits up on

the kitchen counter and watches me cook, just like we used to. Her little fingers dip into the pancake

mix and I watch her as she oddly tastes it. "I like it," she mumbles.

Pancakes, eggs, orange juice, and toast, Kendra's favorite meal, breakfast for dinner. I grab the house

phone and wander into the hallway while she munches away. Holding the device up to my ear, I lean

against the wall as it rings.

"Isabella?" His calming, smooth voice comes through and my knees become weak.

"It's me. I'm just calling to tell you that I'm staying the night here. We'll leave in the morning. Kendra is

just too tired and I think it's best if she rests before the drive. She's never been one to sleep in cars."

There's a short pause. "Alright, let me know when you leave in the morning."

Our conversation is minimal, and when it's over Kendra and I watch some T.V. before bed. The guards

are set up in the guest rooms and I tuck Kendra in, doubting she will sleep at all, as excitement for

tomorrow is sure to keep her awake for awhile.

Slowly, I end up back in my room and I shut the door behind me. Opening the windows, the cool breeze

caresses my body and sends me into a sleepy state. The bed looks rather comfortable, so I reluctantly

climb into it and place my head on the pillow. From the bed I can see the tops of the trees outside, they

hardly reach the glowing moon. Stars clutter around the bright light, and my eyes scan each one of

them before drifting closed.

Laying on the bed, I hear the bedroom door open. Without glancing back, I smile. "Eric, turn off the

lights."

The lights stay on.

"I said turn off the—" Looking back, I do not see Eric, but Alpha Kenn standing in the doorway, a hungry

look in his eyes. He stalks towards me, and I fly off the bed, meeting him in the center of the bedroom.

"What are you doing here? Where's Eric?" My eyes wander to the place behind him.

Alpha Kenn says nothing as the room begins to spin.

"Why are you here?"

He moves closer.

"Why are you here, James?"

His hands grip my shoulders and shove me back, my body tumbling onto the bed behind me. Before I

can question and panic, James climbs on top of me, caging me in against his body. I breathe heavy as

he leans down, his lips leaving delicate kisses against my neck. My eyes squeeze shut.

Shooting up with a sharp inhale, I gasp for air in the familiar setting of my old bedroom. What has my

mind conjured up? Touching another, chest to chest, on my mates' bed?

I throw the covers off of me and knot my fingers through my tangled hair. The room's temperature has

dropped significantly, leaving a strong chill lingering in the air. I get up and frustratingly slide the window

shut, harder than normal. My hands stay on the window, bringing warmth to the frigid glass, and a soft

fog forms around my fingers. Letting them drop to my sides, I groan and sit back on the edge of my

bed.

My once cozy sheets have released any hints of warmth, leaving my bed cold.