He nodded. “Don’t start crying for me now.”
She laughed and playfully hit his chest. “I’m definitely not going to miss you teasing me.”
Even though Maya said those words, her voice gave her away. I could tell that everyone here was extremely attached to Lucas. Who wouldn’t be?
“It’s getting late; they expect you there for a specific time.” James said as he checked the clock.
Lucas nodded. After saying goodbye to everyone he left with Austin.
It was only a few minutes later when he rushed back into the house. Everyone stared at him in confusion. Why was he back here so soon and why did he look like something was wrong?
“We have trouble coming our way.” Lucas informed us as if reading my mind.
The tension reentered my body when I saw the look on Austin’s face. This wasn’t something simple, they’d definitely seen something crazy.
“What’s wrong?” Lucy asked as she rushed to her husband’s side. Even she could sense that there was something bad happening.
“It’s the council. They’re here.”
“The council?” Eden whispered. “What are they doing here?”
Austin shrugged his shoulders. “I have no idea. They don’t usually come this far unless they’re looking for a fight. A lot of the members are present; they have this determined look in their eyes. It’s only a few seconds before they barge in here.”
“I hope it’s nothing crazy.” Lucy prayed. “I can’t handle another big battle right now.”
I felt sorry for my sister. This wasn’t the time for her to have to worry about these kinds of things. We were growing closer and closer to her delivery date; this wasn’t good for her baby.
“The women can stay here; we will talk to them and find out what they’ve come for.” James announced.
Eden shook her head just as fast as Lucy had done. “no, we’re coming with you. We are a unit, all of us. Where the men go, the women do as well.”
“It’s no use trying to fight it.” Austin said with a defeated look sent James’s way. “I’ve tried with Lucy; she just doesn’t listen to me … Ever.”
James sighed and accepted Eden’s words. “Just don’t do or say anything that could put you in harm’s way.” He warned.
“When do I ever do that?” She asked, feigning hurt.
He shook his head at her and I followed my family out the door. The council members were already gathered outside the gate with a bunch of guards. If they brought this many guards then they were definitely not here for something good. Whatever it was, they expected a fight to get it.
“What are you doing here Vincent?” Austin growled.
“We’ve come for Isabella.”
I fell completely still at his words. They came for me? Oh God, they must already know everything. I was stupid to think that I would be able to stay out here with my sisters for a while when I was still tied to the council. My marriage to Hunter had broken that tie but now that they knew that the marriage was null and void, all of that would change. Vincent saw my horrified gaze and there was an evil glint in his eyes at seeing my unhappiness.
“Word travels fast my dear.” He explained. “We understand that Hunter’s wife returned and that he wants nothing to do with you anymore. As such, we’ve come for you.”
I was hoping that they would set me free to live my life but again I was crazy to ever hope for something like that.
Eden gasped and had to hold onto James for support.
“Can’t she stay here with us for a few more days?” Lucy pleaded.
He shook his head. “I’m afraid we can’t do that.”
“And why is that?” Eden asked with narrowed eyes. She knew the council just as well as I did. They’d definitely done something crazy if they came all the way over here to fetch me.
Cassandra stepped forward then. “Since you no longer belong to Hunter, it means you’re still indebted to us. As such, we went ahead and planned your wedding with Jerome, the Alpha you were supposed to get married to before Hunter entered the picture.”
I gasped and clutched at my chest in horror. Get married to the Alpha I was promised to before any of this? no!
I couldn’t imagine being married to anyone that wasn’t Hunter. He held my heart and it would always be that way. I could never give myself to someone else, that would completely break me if I had to do it.
“Please,” I whispered. “Is there nothing else that you can do? I do not want to be remarried. I would do anything you ask of me, anything, just don’t get me married to that Alpha. Please.”
Vincent shook his head at me. “now now Isabella, we’ve thought you to be better than this. I don’t know if Hunter allowed you to have an input in decisions back at his home but you should know that the council is not like that. Your father sacrificed your freedom in return for protection. now you must repay us. We need you to marry someone that can benefit us, Hunter was the perfect fit but now that he isn’t available, Jerome is the one that you must marry. He was quite upset when he’d found out that we’d married you off to Hunter. now we can fix that alliance and we’re quite happy with this turn of events. You should be as well.”
“You can’t do that to her.” Austin hissed as he pushed himself between our family and the council.
“You need to leave.” Lucas added.
“This is our territory.” James said as he joined his brothers.
I looked at my sisters. They were happy. They had a good life here with their husbands. I didn’t want to be the reason for any uproar in their peaceful lives. I needed to stop this before it got out of hand.
“It’s okay.” I said. “My life is with the council now that Hunter is no longer in my life. I understand this and I need to do my part. Please do not disrupt your lives for me. I will be fine, my parents and brothers are still back home. They will help me get through this. I promise.”
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